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Academy Charter School

Public, Charter Grades K-8

3^rd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 175 Alaska Elementary Schools

Better than 98% of Alaska elementary schools

Summary

Academy Charter School is a high-performing elementary school serving grades K-8 in Palmer, Alaska, part of the Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District. With consistently strong academic achievement, the school ranks among the top 20 elementary schools in the state and has earned a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Academy Charter School significantly outperforms the district and state averages on standardized tests, with 78.41% of students proficient or better in STAR/Mathematics compared to 40.92% for the district and 32.18% for the state. The school also excels in serving different student subgroups, often placing in the top 10 or 20 schools in Alaska for female, male, white, and low-socioeconomic status students. Additionally, the school's relatively low student-teacher ratio, ranging from 13.2 to 14.2, and higher spending per student of $16,769 may contribute to its academic success.

Overall, Academy Charter School stands out as a high-performing and equitable educational institution, consistently delivering exceptional academic outcomes for its students. The school's strong performance across multiple measures suggests it has a robust educational model and effective teaching practices that enable it to outpace the district and state averages.

268

Students ?

13.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

$16,769

Per pupil spending ?

1.1%

Free/discounted lunch ?

801 East Arctic
Palmer, AK 99645

(907) 746-2358

District: Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District

Racial breakdown:

White:

75.7%

Two or more races:

10.8%

Hispanic:

7.1%

See top rated Alaska elementary schools

Compare Academy Charter School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 91st percentile in 2014 → 98th in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Alaska average (72% vs 33% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 2% of Alaska elementary schools

✓Ranking is trending up — up 7 percentile points since 2014

Worth a look

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

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school72%

District avg42%

Alaska avg33%

Elementary school

3^rd of 175

Alaska public elementary schools ?

Top 2%▲ up 16 pts since 2015

From top 18% (2015) to top 2% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Alaska Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

Middle school

1^st of 94

Alaska public middle schools ?

Top 1%▲ up 6 pts since 2015

From top 7% (2015) to top 1% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Alaska Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

1^st of 21Elementary Schools in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District

10^th of 24Matanuska-Susitna 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)

Elementary school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2025	93.3	3 of 175	98.3%	★★★★★
2024	93.7	4 of 173	97.7%	★★★★★
2023	91.0	6 of 176	96.6%	★★★★★
2022	84.3	19 of 171	88.9%	★★★★☆
2021	88.9	17 of 173	90.2%	★★★★★
2019	93.1	5 of 185	97.3%	★★★★★
2018	70.9	46 of 186	75.3%	★★★★☆
2017	59.3	68 of 180	62.2%	★★★☆☆
2015	75.0	44 of 246	82.1%	★★★★☆
2014	82.4	19 of 218	91.3%	★★★★★
2013	76.8	43 of 223	80.7%	★★★★☆
2012	74.5	48 of 227	78.9%	★★★★☆
2006	75.1	48 of 218	78.0%	★★★★☆
2005	70.3	64 of 213	70.0%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2025	89.3	4 of 154	97.4%	★★★★★
2024	86.3	9 of 142	93.7%	★★★★★
2023	92.5	3 of 152	98.0%	★★★★★
2022	83.8	10 of 143	93.0%	★★★★★
2019	83.7	17 of 159	89.3%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2025	87.6	5 of 125	96.0%	★★★★★
2024	97.2	2 of 122	98.4%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2025	87.9	9 of 149	94.0%	★★★★★
2024	74.6	26 of 150	82.7%	★★★★☆
2023	75.5	24 of 148	83.8%	★★★★☆
2022	83.2	9 of 148	93.9%	★★★★★
2021	76.5	22 of 142	84.5%	★★★★☆
2019	92.9	2 of 159	98.7%	★★★★★

Migrant

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2025	65.3	9 of 35	74.3%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2025	87.4	8 of 139	94.2%	★★★★★
2024	86.5	7 of 133	94.7%	★★★★★
2023	83.8	10 of 138	92.8%	★★★★★
2022	75.1	18 of 137	86.9%	★★★★☆
2021	73.1	26 of 127	79.5%	★★★★☆
2019	88.8	6 of 147	95.9%	★★★★★

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2025	97.3	1 of 94	98.9%	★★★★★
2024	97.3	1 of 91	98.9%	★★★★★
2023	88.6	9 of 92	90.2%	★★★★★
2022	90.5	5 of 95	94.7%	★★★★★
2021	92.2	2 of 84	97.6%	★★★★★
2019	97.6	1 of 99	99.0%	★★★★★
2018	93.3	2 of 96	97.9%	★★★★★
2017	84.7	7 of 88	92.0%	★★★★★
2015	88.8	10 of 151	93.4%	★★★★★
2014	85.4	9 of 138	93.5%	★★★★★
2013	84.4	11 of 136	91.9%	★★★★★
2012	79.0	21 of 135	84.4%	★★★★☆
2010	87.0	5 of 136	96.3%	★★★★★
2009	70.7	34 of 131	74.0%	★★★★☆
2007	87.4	6 of 128	95.3%	★★★★★
2006	86.1	7 of 132	94.7%	★★★★★
2005	80.4	21 of 138	84.8%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2025	97.7	1 of 72	98.6%	★★★★★
2024	94.3	1 of 69	98.6%	★★★★★
2023	85.1	4 of 66	93.9%	★★★★★
2022	90.6	1 of 66	98.5%	★★★★★
2021	88.4	2 of 57	96.5%	★★★★★
2019	94.7	2 of 74	97.3%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2025	87.9	5 of 68	92.6%	★★★★★
2024	93.8	2 of 72	97.2%	★★★★★
2023	89.4	4 of 72	94.4%	★★★★★
2022	79.0	10 of 68	85.3%	★★★★☆
2021	91.5	5 of 62	91.9%	★★★★★
2019	94.7	2 of 73	97.3%	★★★★★

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2025	97.5	1 of 70	98.6%	★★★★★
2024	92.3	1 of 74	98.6%	★★★★★
2023	77.9	7 of 75	90.7%	★★★★★
2022	85.6	4 of 69	94.2%	★★★★★
2021	88.3	2 of 58	96.6%	★★★★★
2019	97.0	1 of 72	98.6%	★★★★★

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)

Elementary school

Female (2025)97th percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)96th percentile~ school

White (2025)94th percentile-4 vs school

Male (2025)94th percentile-4 vs school

Migrant (2025)74th percentile-24 vs school

Middle school

Female (2025)99th percentile~ school

White (2025)99th percentile~ school

Male (2025)93rd percentile-6 vs school

By subject vs Alaska (2024-2025) ?

Mathematics78%+46 vs state

English Language Arts68%+35 vs state

Science65%+27 vs state

4.7

3 ratings · 2 written reviews

5★2

4★1

3★0

2★0

1★0

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What people are saying

by a parent
Wednesday, March 14, 2018

This is an amazing school if you have advanced students! The teachers and staff truly want whats best for EVERY child! Plus class sizes are smaller so your child gets more one on one attention! Close Quote

by a parent
Wednesday, July 7, 2010

This school challenges each child to their ability level. Children do not work at the level of the lowest child in the class. If you want your child to be challenged, while enjoying learning, send them to this school. The teachers are professionals and seem to enjoy teaching your child and they truly love what they do. They don't just teach the standards, they surpass them. The kids aren't even aware that they are reaching higher and higher and learning and understanding more and more. Nothing but good comments for the way this school teaches my kids. Close Quote

Schools Near Academy Charter School

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				STAR English Language Arts (2025)							STAR Mathematics (2025)							ASA Science (2025)			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	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	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 7th Grade	STAR Mathematics 8th Grade	STAR Mathematics All Grades	ASA Science 5th Grade	ASA Science 8th Grade	ASA Science All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Academy Charter School	Public, Charter	K-8	801 East Arctic	Palmer	99645	Matanuska-Susitna Borough	Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District	Yes	No	No	No	(907) 746-2358	268	21	13.0		203 (75.7%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (7.1%)	3 (1.1%)	14 (5.2%)	0 (0.0%)	29 (10.8%)	93.3	3^rd of 175 public elementary schools	98.3%		93.7	4^th of 173 public elementary schools	97.7%	1	46.7	71.0	70.0	70.0	76.0	76.7	68.2	63.3	80.7	76.7	86.7	76.0	86.7	78.4	66.7	63.3	65.0	$16,769	$105	$16,664
Swanson Elementary	Public	PK, KG-2	507 N Gulkana	Palmer	99645	Matanuska-Susitna Borough	Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District	No	No	No	Yes	(907) 861-5300	348	26	13.3	47.7%	217 (62.4%)	0 (0.0%)	32 (9.2%)	5 (1.4%)	27 (7.8%)	4 (1.1%)	63 (18.1%)								(n/a)																		$14,003	$1,636	$12,366
Sherrod Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	561 N Gulkana St	Palmer	99645	Matanuska-Susitna Borough	Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District	No	No	No	Yes	(907) 761-4100	383	23	16.6	62.4%	225 (58.7%)	2 (0.5%)	30 (7.8%)	3 (0.8%)	41 (10.7%)	3 (0.8%)	79 (20.6%)	62.7	60^th of 175 public elementary schools	65.7%		65.2	57^th of 173 public elementary schools	67.1%	3	54.0	45.7	47.6				49.0	44.3	47.8	37.6				43.1	50.0		50.0	$15,066	$1,445	$13,621
Colony Middle School	Public	PK, KG-8	9250 E Bogard Rd	Palmer	99645	Matanuska-Susitna Borough	Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District	No	No	No	No	(907) 761-1500	771	37	20.8	30.7%	530 (68.7%)	5 (0.6%)	56 (7.3%)	7 (0.9%)	40 (5.2%)	2 (0.3%)	131 (17.0%)								(n/a)				48.9	48.4	35.5	44.2				47.4	50.0	38.0	45.1		37.6	37.6	$11,831	$726	$11,105
Pioneer Peak Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1959 N Stringfield Rd	Palmer	99645	Matanuska-Susitna Borough	Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District	No	No	No	No	(907) 861-5700	449	29	15.4	39.4%	312 (69.5%)	3 (0.7%)	42 (9.4%)	2 (0.4%)	24 (5.3%)	4 (0.9%)	62 (13.8%)	81.7	19^th of 175 public elementary schools	89.1%		75	30^th of 173 public elementary schools	82.7%	11	40.3	52.6	57.1				50.6	52.1	67.4	64.7				62.2	64.0		64.0	$14,640	$838	$13,801
Butte Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	4006 S Butte Rd	Palmer	99645	Matanuska-Susitna Borough	Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District	No	No	No	Yes	(907) 861-5200	263	20	13.1	38.4%	181 (68.8%)	1 (0.4%)	26 (9.9%)	2 (0.8%)	18 (6.8%)	2 (0.8%)	33 (12.5%)	73.8	38^th of 175 public elementary schools	78.3%		62.9	62^nd of 173 public elementary schools	64.2%	24	47.1	42.9	58.1				49.6	47.1	37.1	58.1				48.1	72.1		72.1	$17,654	$1,853	$15,801
Birchtree Charter School	Public, Charter	K-8	1675 N Nadina St.	Palmer	99645	Matanuska-Susitna Borough	Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District	Yes	No	No	No	(907) 745-1831	416	24	17.6		329 (79.1%)	1 (0.2%)	17 (4.1%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (4.1%)	1 (0.2%)	51 (12.3%)	59	73^rd of 175 public elementary schools	58.3%		67.9	50^th of 173 public elementary schools	71.1%	23	31.9	43.8	45.5	60.0	54.6	54.2	47.3	27.7	58.3	38.6	45.5	45.5	64.0	45.2	55.6	64.0	58.6	$16,733	$116	$16,617
Finger Lake Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	5981 Eek St	Wasilla	99654	Matanuska-Susitna Borough	Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District	No	No	No	Yes	(907) 864-2200	445	27	16.4	41.3%	288 (64.7%)	1 (0.2%)	38 (8.5%)	4 (0.9%)	30 (6.7%)	0 (0.0%)	84 (18.9%)	66.9	54^th of 175 public elementary schools	69.1%		47.8	96^th of 173 public elementary schools	44.5%	42	38.1	47.1	49.3				45.0	46.0	49.3	56.1				50.5	52.2		52.2	$13,619	$1,424	$12,195
Fred and Sara Machetanz Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	4961 E Nelson Rd	Wasilla	99654	Matanuska-Susitna Borough	Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District	No	No	No	No	(907) 864-2300	468	26	18.3	29.1%	301 (64.3%)	1 (0.2%)	37 (7.9%)	7 (1.5%)	23 (4.9%)	5 (1.1%)	94 (20.1%)	77	29^th of 175 public elementary schools	83.4%		87.7	14^th of 173 public elementary schools	91.9%	15	43.6	51.9	57.1				51.0	51.3	44.4	64.3				53.5	63.0		63.0	$14,038	$875	$13,163
Fronteras Charter School	Public, Charter	K-8	2315 N Seward Meridian Pky	Wasilla	99654	Matanuska-Susitna Borough	Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District	Yes	No	No	No	(907) 376-2223	336	19	17.6		194 (57.7%)	4 (1.2%)	89 (26.5%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (2.1%)	0 (0.0%)	42 (12.5%)	66.9	55^th of 175 public elementary schools	68.6%		58.9	75^th of 173 public elementary schools	56.6%	20	31.7	43.6	66.7	36.4	71.4	68.8	50.0	22.0	67.6	68.8	52.2	75.0	58.3	54.6	87.1	58.8	77.1	$14,531	$114	$14,417

Frequently Asked Questions about Academy Charter School

How many students attend Academy Charter School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 268 students attended Academy Charter School.

What is the racial makeup of Academy Charter School?

Students at Academy Charter School are 76% White, 11% Two or more races, 7% Hispanic, 5% American Indian, 1% Asian.

Is Academy Charter School a good school?

Yes! Academy Charter School is one of the best elementary schools in the state. It ranks 3^rd of 175 Alaska elementary schools.

What district is Academy Charter School in?

Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District

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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.