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Nikiski North Star Elementary

Q: Is Nikiski North Star Elementary a good school?

Nikiski North Star Elementary ranks 89 th of 166 Alaska elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

89^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 166 Alaska Elementary Schools

Better than 46% of Alaska elementary schools

Summary

Nikiski North Star Elementary is a small pre-K–5 school in Kenai, Alaska, serving 214 students within the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District. The school currently ranks 89th out of 166 Alaska elementary schools, placing it near the middle of the state — a significant improvement from its 140th-place showing just a few years ago.

Nikiski’s strongest subject is math, where 47.7% of students are proficient — well above the district’s 38.4% and the state’s 32.2%. This math strength is most visible in 3rd and 4th grades, where proficiency rates top 55%. By comparison, the school’s English Language Arts scores are closer to average, though they have improved steadily over the past four years, climbing from 24.6% proficient in 2022-23 to 36.7% in 2025-26. Science is the school’s biggest concern: proficiency has fallen sharply from 50% in 2022-23 to just 27.3% today, well behind the district’s 43.9%. The 5th-grade transition appears to be the driving factor — 5th graders score well below district averages in every subject, while 3rd and 4th graders perform at or above their district peers. In contrast, nearby schools like Redoubt Elementary and Soldotna Elementary show more consistent results across grade levels.

Compared to nine nearby elementary schools, Nikiski ranks fourth overall, though its math proficiency is third-best in the group, trailing only Aurora Borealis Charter School and Soldotna Montessori Charter School. The school also serves its low-income students relatively well, with that subgroup performing above the state median. A favorable student-teacher ratio of 12.1 — better than most nearby schools — gives teachers additional capacity for small-group instruction. If Nikiski can address its 5th-grade slide and science gap while sustaining its early-grade math success, it has a solid path toward becoming a stronger 3-star school.

214

Students ?

12.1

Student/teacher ratio ?

49.1%

Free/discounted lunch ?

45600 Holt Lamplight Rd
Kenai, AK 99611

(907) 776-2600

District: Kenai Peninsula Borough School District

Students who attend Nikiski North Star Elementary usually attend:

High:

Nikiski Middle/Senior High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

66.8%

Two or more races:

19.2%

American Indian:

7.9%

See top rated Alaska elementary schools

Compare Nikiski North Star Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Rebounding — 18th percentile in 2022 → 46th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Alaska average (40% vs 33% meeting standards)

✓Ranking is rebounding — up to 46th (2026) from a 18th-percentile low (2022)

Worth a look

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

!Science scores 11 pts below the Alaska average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school40%

District avg39%

Alaska avg33%

89^th of 166

Alaska public elementary schools ?

Bottom 46%▲ up 9 pts since 2017

From bottom 38% (2017) to bottom 46% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Alaska Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

9^th of 15Elementary Schools in the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District

10^th of 23Kenai Peninsula Borough School District among Alaska districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2026	50.3	89 of 166	46.4%	★★☆☆☆
2025	45.1	95 of 175	45.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	36.5	113 of 173	34.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	39.6	108 of 176	38.6%	★★☆☆☆
2022	20.5	140 of 171	18.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	34.1	120 of 173	30.6%	★★☆☆☆
2019	38.9	117 of 185	36.8%	★★☆☆☆
2018	28.4	145 of 186	22.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	40.3	112 of 180	37.8%	★★☆☆☆
2015	52.0	111 of 246	54.9%	★★★☆☆
2014	62.7	92 of 218	57.8%	★★★☆☆
2013	66.7	80 of 223	64.1%	★★★☆☆
2012	69.3	67 of 227	70.5%	★★★★☆
2011	72.6	57 of 223	74.4%	★★★★☆
2010	79.1	34 of 229	85.2%	★★★★☆
2009	75.7	45 of 226	80.1%	★★★★☆
2008	76.0	40 of 219	81.7%	★★★★☆
2007	76.4	40 of 212	81.1%	★★★★☆
2006	65.8	92 of 218	57.8%	★★★☆☆
2005	54.1	122 of 213	42.7%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2026	49.3	74 of 140	47.1%	★★☆☆☆
2025	38.4	101 of 154	34.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	30.3	102 of 142	28.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	49.7	72 of 152	52.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	26.6	112 of 143	21.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	34.4	92 of 141	34.8%	★★☆☆☆
2019	41.8	99 of 159	37.7%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2025	61.3	48 of 125	61.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	40.3	79 of 122	35.2%	★★☆☆☆
2023	45.6	64 of 119	46.2%	★★☆☆☆
2021	40.8	62 of 110	43.6%	★★☆☆☆
2019	42.7	88 of 147	40.1%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2026	52.0	74 of 145	49.0%	★★★☆☆
2025	49.8	76 of 149	49.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	41.2	91 of 150	39.3%	★★☆☆☆
2023	42.5	91 of 148	38.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	22.4	120 of 148	18.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	26.4	111 of 142	21.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	33.5	110 of 159	30.8%	★★☆☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2026	65.4	18 of 65	72.3%	★★★★☆
2019	59.1	23 of 73	68.5%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2026	34.2	99 of 128	22.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	34.2	101 of 139	27.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	17.6	123 of 133	7.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	24.7	115 of 138	16.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	7.9	135 of 137	1.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	18.1	121 of 127	4.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	26.9	118 of 147	19.7%	★☆☆☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Multi-racial (2026)72nd percentile+26 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)62nd percentile+16 vs school

Male (2026)49th percentile+3 vs school

Female (2026)47th percentile~ school

White (2026)23rd percentile-24 vs school

By subject vs Alaska (2025-2026) ?

Mathematics48%+16 vs state

English Language Arts37%+4 vs state

Science27%-11 vs state

★

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Schools Near Nikiski North Star Elementary

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				STAR English Language Arts (2026)							STAR Mathematics (2026)					ASA Science (2026)			Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients (2025)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	STAR English Language Arts 3rd Grade	STAR English Language Arts 4th Grade	STAR English Language Arts 5th Grade	STAR English Language Arts 6th Grade	STAR English Language Arts 7th Grade	STAR English Language Arts 8th Grade	STAR English Language Arts All Grades	STAR Mathematics 3rd Grade	STAR Mathematics 4th Grade	STAR Mathematics 5th Grade	STAR Mathematics 6th Grade	STAR Mathematics All Grades	ASA Science 5th Grade	ASA Science 8th Grade	ASA Science All Grades	Total
Nikiski North Star Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	45600 Holt Lamplight Rd	Kenai	99611	Kenai Peninsula Borough	Kenai Peninsula Borough School District	No	No	No	Yes	(907) 776-2600	214	18	12.1	49.1%	143 (66.8%)	1 (0.5%)	9 (4.2%)	2 (0.9%)	17 (7.9%)	1 (0.5%)	41 (19.2%)	50.3	89^th of 166 public elementary schools	46.4%		45.1	95^th of 175 public elementary schools	45.7%	6	39.5	42.1	27.3				36.7	55.3	55.3	30.3		47.7	27.3		27.3
Kaleidoscope School of Arts & Science	Public, Charter	K-5	549 N Forest Dr	Kenai	99611	Kenai Peninsula Borough	Kenai Peninsula Borough School District	Yes	No	No	No	(907) 283-0804	205	15	13.5	38.5%	126 (61.5%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (7.3%)	4 (2.0%)	23 (11.2%)	0 (0.0%)	37 (18.0%)	32.3	121^st of 166 public elementary schools	27.1%		15.7	153^rd of 175 public elementary schools	12.6%	32	27.6	35.5	26.7				30.0	24.1	41.9	20.0		28.9	46.7		46.7
Tulen Charter School	Public, Charter	K-3	12271 Kenai Spur Highway	Kenai	99611	Kenai Peninsula Borough	Kenai Peninsula Borough School District	Yes	(n/a)	(n/a)	(n/a)	(907) 335-2829	0				0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Aurora Borealis Charter School	Public, Charter	K-8	705 Frontage Rd Ste A	Kenai	99611	Kenai Peninsula Borough	Kenai Peninsula Borough School District	Yes	No	No	No	(907) 283-0292	199	12	16.4		156 (78.4%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (5.0%)	1 (0.5%)	11 (5.5%)	3 (1.5%)	18 (9.0%)	95.7	1^st of 166 public elementary schools	99.4%		99.4	1^st of 175 public elementary schools	99.4%		81.0	52.2	87.0	72.7	68.8	73.3	72.5		78.3		86.4	90.8		73.3	86.8
Mt. View Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	315 Swires Rd	Kenai	99611	Kenai Peninsula Borough	Kenai Peninsula Borough School District	No	No	No	Yes	(907) 283-8600	449	32	14.1	57.5%	249 (55.5%)	3 (0.7%)	34 (7.6%)	1 (0.2%)	61 (13.6%)	3 (0.7%)	98 (21.8%)	34.8	116^th of 166 public elementary schools	30.1%		22.6	138^th of 175 public elementary schools	21.1%	22	22.2	31.7	40.3				31.8	33.3	34.2	34.7		34.1	42.3		42.3
Kalifornsky Beach Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	1049 E Poppy Lane	Soldotna	99669	Kenai Peninsula Borough	Kenai Peninsula Borough School District	No	No	No	No	(907) 260-1300	384	25	15.5	45.1%	252 (65.6%)	2 (0.5%)	31 (8.1%)	5 (1.3%)	37 (9.6%)	2 (0.5%)	55 (14.3%)	29.8	123^rd of 166 public elementary schools	25.9%		45	96^th of 175 public elementary schools	45.1%	27	25.0	24.6	28.3	28.6			26.6	34.6	36.9	46.7	29.2	37.3	31.7		31.7
Redoubt Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	486 W Redoubt Ave	Soldotna	99669	Kenai Peninsula Borough	Kenai Peninsula Borough School District	No	No	No	Yes	(907) 260-4300	321	22	14.6	50.5%	208 (64.8%)	4 (1.2%)	23 (7.2%)	7 (2.2%)	27 (8.4%)	1 (0.3%)	51 (15.9%)	64.6	53^rd of 166 public elementary schools	68.1%		55	78^th of 175 public elementary schools	55.4%	25	45.7	51.1	50.0	47.2			48.8	42.9	53.2	50.0	38.9	46.9	50.0		50.0
Soldotna Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	162 E Park Ave	Soldotna	99669	Kenai Peninsula Borough	Kenai Peninsula Borough School District	No	No	No	Yes	(907) 260-5100	266	20	13.5	44.0%	172 (64.7%)	2 (0.8%)	24 (9.0%)	2 (0.8%)	21 (7.9%)	1 (0.4%)	44 (16.5%)	41.2	102^nd of 166 public elementary schools	38.6%		41.6	106^th of 175 public elementary schools	39.4%	4	28.1	47.4	22.6	35.3			34.1	37.5	36.8	40.6	38.2	38.2	43.8		43.8
Soldotna Montessori Charter School	Public, Charter	K-6	158 E Park Ave	Soldotna	99669	Kenai Peninsula Borough	Kenai Peninsula Borough School District	Yes	No	No	No	(907) 260-9221	164	10	15.8	24.4%	137 (83.5%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (4.3%)	1 (0.6%)	5 (3.0%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (8.5%)	87	15^th of 166 public elementary schools	91.0%		77.8	28^th of 175 public elementary schools	84.0%	13	48.0	54.2	69.6	80.0			62.9	60.0	41.7	78.3	68.0	61.9	78.3		78.3
Sterling Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	35096 Sterling Hwy	Sterling	99672	Kenai Peninsula Borough	Kenai Peninsula Borough School District	No	No	No	Yes	(907) 262-4944	114	10	11.2	38.6%	84 (73.7%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (3.5%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (7.9%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (14.9%)	37.6	109^th of 166 public elementary schools	34.3%		43.2	100^th of 175 public elementary schools	42.9%	9	33.3	30.8		26.3			24.6	38.9	53.9		36.8	33.9	20.0		20.0

Frequently Asked Questions about Nikiski North Star Elementary

What is the racial makeup of Nikiski North Star Elementary?

Students at Nikiski North Star Elementary are 67% White, 19% Two or more races, 8% American Indian, 4% Hispanic.

Is Nikiski North Star Elementary a good school?

Nikiski North Star Elementary ranks 89^th of 166 Alaska elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What district is Nikiski North Star Elementary in?

Kenai Peninsula Borough School District

What schools do graduates of Nikiski North Star Elementary attend?

Students who attend Nikiski North Star Elementary usually go on to attend:

High : Nikiski Middle/Senior High School

How many students attend Nikiski North Star Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 214 students attended Nikiski North Star Elementary.

Rate Nikiski North Star Elementary!

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Latest Alaska data All new data »

2025–26 ASA & STAR test scoresNewSep 3, 2026

2024–25 graduation ratesDec 12, 2025

2018–19 through 2023–24 graduation ratesSep 19, 2025

2024–25 ASA & STAR test scoresSep 5, 2025

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Alaska Department of Education and Early Developmenr.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.