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John Shaw Elementary

Public Grades PK, KG-5

8^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 175 Alaska Elementary Schools

Better than 95% of Alaska elementary schools

Summary

John Shaw Elementary is a high-performing public elementary school in Wasilla, Alaska, serving 483 students in grades PK-5. The school is part of the Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District, which is ranked 10th out of 24 districts in the state.

John Shaw Elementary consistently ranks among the top elementary schools in Alaska, with a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger. The school's proficiency rates in STAR/English Language Arts, STAR/Mathematics, and ASA/Science are significantly higher than the district and state averages across all grade levels. For example, in the 2024-2025 school year, John Shaw Elementary had a 72.31% proficiency rate in STAR/Mathematics, compared to 40.92% for the district and 32.18% for the state. The school also excels in the performance of various student subgroups, including female students, male students, white students, and students from low socioeconomic backgrounds.

When compared to nearby schools in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District, Colony Middle School and Iditarod Elementary, John Shaw Elementary stands out with its higher academic proficiency rates and lower proportion of economically disadvantaged students. The school's higher per-student spending of $13,883 in the 2018-2019 school year, compared to the district average, may contribute to its strong academic outcomes and the resources available to support student learning.

507

Students ?

16.3

Student/teacher ratio ?

$13,883

Per pupil spending ?

41.2%

Free/discounted lunch ?

3750 E Paradise Ln
Wasilla, AK 99654

(907) 352-0500

District: Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District

Racial breakdown:

White:

77.9%

Two or more races:

8.9%

American Indian:

6.5%

See top rated Alaska elementary schools

Compare John Shaw Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 88th percentile in 2014 → 95th in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Alaska average (65% vs 33% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 5% 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 school65%

District avg42%

Alaska avg33%

8^th of 175

Alaska public elementary schools ?

Top 5%▲ up 23 pts since 2015

From top 27% (2015) to top 5% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Alaska Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

2^nd 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)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2025	90.6	8 of 175	95.4%	★★★★★
2024	85.4	15 of 173	91.3%	★★★★★
2023	70.5	42 of 176	76.1%	★★★★☆
2022	59.1	64 of 171	62.6%	★★★☆☆
2021	74.1	39 of 173	77.5%	★★★★☆
2019	75.4	34 of 185	81.6%	★★★★☆
2018	79.6	32 of 186	82.8%	★★★★☆
2017	75.9	32 of 180	82.2%	★★★★☆
2015	66.5	67 of 246	72.8%	★★★★☆
2014	79.9	26 of 218	88.1%	★★★★☆
2013	79.0	30 of 223	86.5%	★★★★☆
2012	73.8	52 of 227	77.1%	★★★★☆
2011	73.8	55 of 223	75.3%	★★★★☆
2010	67.0	87 of 229	62.0%	★★★☆☆
2009	64.9	95 of 226	58.0%	★★★☆☆
2008	63.6	94 of 219	57.1%	★★★☆☆
2007	73.7	54 of 212	74.5%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2025	90.5	3 of 154	98.1%	★★★★★
2024	83.8	12 of 142	91.5%	★★★★★
2023	69.5	36 of 152	76.3%	★★★★☆
2022	45.0	73 of 143	49.0%	★★★☆☆
2021	63.0	45 of 141	68.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	70.4	45 of 159	71.7%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2025	96.2	1 of 125	99.2%	★★★★★
2024	87.1	6 of 122	95.1%	★★★★★
2023	65.2	37 of 119	68.9%	★★★☆☆
2022	55.6	38 of 104	63.5%	★★★☆☆
2021	59.2	39 of 110	64.5%	★★★☆☆
2019	78.9	20 of 147	86.4%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2025	88.4	8 of 149	94.6%	★★★★★
2024	79.7	14 of 150	90.7%	★★★★★
2023	65.1	44 of 148	70.3%	★★★★☆
2022	63.1	45 of 148	69.6%	★★★★☆
2021	76.1	23 of 142	83.8%	★★★★☆
2019	78.8	25 of 159	84.3%	★★★★☆

Migrant

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2025	86.7	3 of 35	91.4%	★★★★★
2024	82.4	2 of 28	92.9%	★★★★★
2023	45.2	18 of 30	40.0%	★★☆☆☆
2022	41.1	9 of 15	40.0%	★★★☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2023	69.7	21 of 74	71.6%	★★★★☆
2022	43.1	37 of 58	36.2%	★★☆☆☆

Native American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2019	64.0	16 of 50	68.0%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2025	58.4	10 of 29	65.5%	★★★☆☆
2024	78.0	3 of 27	88.9%	★★★★★
2023	42.0	8 of 16	50.0%	★★★☆☆
2021	49.1	4 of 10	60.0%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2025	85.4	9 of 139	93.5%	★★★★★
2024	76.9	21 of 133	84.2%	★★★★☆
2023	53.5	62 of 138	55.1%	★★★☆☆
2022	42.6	83 of 137	39.4%	★★☆☆☆
2021	58.1	47 of 127	63.0%	★★★☆☆
2019	68.6	35 of 147	76.2%	★★★★☆

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)

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)99th percentile+4 vs school

Female (2025)98th percentile+3 vs school

Male (2025)95th percentile~ school

White (2025)94th percentile~ school

Migrant (2025)91st percentile-4 vs school

Multi-racial (2023)72nd percentile-5 vs school

Native American (2019)68th percentile-14 vs school

Special Education (2025)66th percentile-30 vs school

By subject vs Alaska (2024-2025) ?

Mathematics72%+40 vs state

Science70%+32 vs state

English Language Arts56%+23 vs state

★

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Schools Near John Shaw Elementary

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
John Shaw Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	3750 E Paradise Ln	Wasilla	99654	Matanuska-Susitna Borough	Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District	No	No	No	Yes	(907) 352-0500	507	31	16.3	41.2%	395 (77.9%)	2 (0.4%)	29 (5.7%)	2 (0.4%)	33 (6.5%)	1 (0.2%)	45 (8.9%)	90.6	8^th of 175 public elementary schools	95.4%		85.4	15^th of 173 public elementary schools	91.3%	7	48.4	56.8	63.9				55.6	67.4	65.3	86.1				72.3	69.6		69.6	$13,883	$843	$13,040
Teeland Middle School	Public	PK, KG-8	2788 N Seward Meridian Pkwy	Wasilla	99654	Matanuska-Susitna Borough	Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District	No	No	No	No	(907) 352-7500	643	35	18.3	39.7%	420 (65.3%)	1 (0.2%)	55 (8.6%)	9 (1.4%)	43 (6.7%)	10 (1.6%)	105 (16.3%)								(n/a)				41.3	37.1	38.0	39.0				35.2	44.0	44.0	40.7		45.1	45.1	$13,334	$1,054	$12,280
Larson Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2722 E Seldon Rd	Wasilla	99654	Matanuska-Susitna Borough	Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District	No	No	No	Yes	(907) 352-2300	319	22	14.8	47.0%	184 (57.7%)	5 (1.6%)	40 (12.5%)	0 (0.0%)	37 (11.6%)	4 (1.3%)	49 (15.4%)	57.7	75^th of 175 public elementary schools	57.1%		78	25^th of 173 public elementary schools	85.5%	50	31.8	37.2	54.0				41.3	42.4	30.2	48.4				41.5	60.7		60.7	$17,109	$2,245	$14,863
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
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
Cottonwood Creek Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	800 N Seward Meridian	Wasilla	99654	Matanuska-Susitna Borough	Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District	No	No	No	Yes	(907) 864-2100	422	26	16.2	37.9%	286 (67.8%)	1 (0.2%)	35 (8.3%)	3 (0.7%)	17 (4.0%)	0 (0.0%)	80 (19.0%)	59.4	71^st of 175 public elementary schools	59.4%		63.6	61^st of 173 public elementary schools	64.7%	10	31.1	39.7	51.5				40.4	39.2	46.8	49.3				44.8	59.7		59.7	$14,532	$972	$13,560
Tanaina Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2550 Lucille St	Wasilla	99654	Matanuska-Susitna Borough	Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District	No	No	No	Yes	(907) 352-9400	324	22	14.7	55.2%	203 (62.7%)	1 (0.3%)	22 (6.8%)	3 (0.9%)	26 (8.0%)	5 (1.5%)	64 (19.8%)	44.2	97^th of 175 public elementary schools	44.6%		45.8	99^th of 173 public elementary schools	42.8%	2	25.9	44.3	39.2				36.8	42.6	32.8	39.6				38.1	39.6		39.6	$16,334	$1,666	$14,668
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
Iditarod Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	455 E Carpenter Cir	Wasilla	99654	Matanuska-Susitna Borough	Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District	No	No	No	Yes	(907) 352-9100	424	26	16.3	72.2%	244 (57.5%)	4 (0.9%)	50 (11.8%)	9 (2.1%)	24 (5.7%)	1 (0.2%)	92 (21.7%)	22.6	137^th of 175 public elementary schools	21.7%		35.9	115^th of 173 public elementary schools	33.5%	22	21.7	22.1	24.1				22.6	27.7	27.3	28.6				27.8	40.4		40.4	$17,072	$3,548	$13,525
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

Frequently Asked Questions about John Shaw Elementary

What district is John Shaw Elementary in?

Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District

How many students attend John Shaw Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 507 students attended John Shaw Elementary.

Is John Shaw Elementary a good school?

Yes! John Shaw Elementary is one of the best elementary schools in the state. It ranks 8^th of 175 Alaska elementary schools.

What is the racial makeup of John Shaw Elementary?

Students at John Shaw Elementary are 78% White, 9% Two or more races, 7% American Indian, 6% Hispanic.

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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.