Houston Middle School

Houston Middle School is a small public school in Houston, Alaska, serving 318 students in grades 6–8 as part of the Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District. The school serves a far more disadvantaged population than nearby schools: 74% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch versus 49% at Wasilla Middle School and 22% at Mirror Lake Middle School, the latter in the Anchorage School District. Despite ranking in Alaska's bottom fifth of middle schools (72nd of 90, earning 1 star), Houston Middle School spends more per student ($17,303) than Wasilla ($14,949) or Mirror Lake ($12,619) and maintains a lower student-teacher ratio.

Houston's test scores trail state and district averages. English Language Arts proficiency is 27% versus a 33% statewide average, while math proficiency is 24% — well below the district's 42% and the state's 32%. Science is a notable bright spot at 40%, slightly above the state average. Grade-level data reveals a steep slide: 6th graders exceed state and district averages in reading (44.7% proficient), but proficiency drops to roughly 17–18% by 7th and 8th grade. Math declines steadily from 30% in 6th grade to 17% by 8th grade, making the middle grades a likely intervention point.

Houston's statewide percentile has trended upward from the 6th percentile in 2021–2022 to the 20th percentile in 2025–2026, but the school remains in 1-star territory. Subgroup outcomes are mixed — special education students earned a mid-level 3-star rating in 2025–2026, while low-income students rank near the bottom fifth statewide — suggesting instructional supports are not equally effective across all student groups. For parents, the takeaway is nuanced: the school offers strong per-pupil funding, small classes, solid science instruction, and promising 6th grade reading results, but the sharp academic drop-off in 7th and 8th grade merits close monitoring.