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Tanaina Elementary

Q: Is Tanaina Elementary a good school?

Tanaina Elementary ranks 97 th of 175 Alaska elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Q: How many students attend Tanaina Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 324 students attended Tanaina Elementary.

Q: What is the racial makeup of Tanaina Elementary?

Students at Tanaina Elementary are 63% White, 20% Two or more races, 8% American Indian, 7% Hispanic, 2% Pacific Islander.

Q: What schools do graduates of Tanaina Elementary attend?

Students who attend Tanaina Elementary usually go on to attend: Elementary : Teeland Middle School Middle : Wasilla Middle School

Public Grades PK, KG-5

97^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 175 Alaska Elementary Schools

Better than 45% of Alaska elementary schools

Summary

Tanaina Elementary is a public elementary school located in Wasilla, Alaska, serving grades PK-5 with a student population of 377. It is part of the Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District, which is ranked 10th out of 24 districts in Alaska and has a 3-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Tanaina Elementary has consistently ranked in the bottom half of Alaska elementary schools, with its performance on standardized tests generally below the district and state averages across subjects and grade levels. For example, in 2024-2025, only 36.75% of Tanaina students were proficient or better in English Language Arts, compared to 40.81% for the district and 32.69% for the state. The school's performance is particularly weak for certain student subgroups, such as White students and Special Education students, who rank in the bottom 20-30% of their respective statewide subgroups. Tanaina Elementary spends $16,334 per student, which is higher than the district average, but it has a higher student-teacher ratio of 14.7 compared to nearby schools.

Tanaina Elementary's academic performance lags behind many of the nearby schools in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District, such as Snowshoe Elementary, Fred and Sara Machetanz Elementary School, and John Shaw Elementary, which all outperform Tanaina on standardized tests and have higher statewide rankings. These higher-performing schools tend to have lower percentages of students from low-income backgrounds, which may contribute to their stronger academic outcomes. Addressing the challenges faced by Tanaina Elementary will likely require a multifaceted approach that addresses both the academic and socioeconomic factors impacting student success at the school.

324

Students ?

14.7

Student/teacher ratio ?

$16,334

Per pupil spending ?

55.2%

Free/discounted lunch ?

2550 Lucille St
Wasilla, AK 99654

(907) 352-9400

District: Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District

Students who attend Tanaina Elementary usually attend:

Elementary:	Teeland Middle School
Middle:	Wasilla Middle School

Racial breakdown:

White:

62.7%

Two or more races:

19.8%

American Indian:

8.0%

See top rated Alaska elementary schools

Compare Tanaina Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Rebounding — 27th percentile in 2022 → 45th in 2025

Strengths

✓Ranking is rebounding — up to 45th (2025) from a 27th-percentile low (2022)

Worth a look

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

!Near the bottom of Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District's ranking

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school38%

District avg42%

Alaska avg33%

97^th of 175

Alaska public elementary schools ?

Bottom 45%▼ down 7 pts since 2015

From top 48% (2015) to bottom 45% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Alaska Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

18^th 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	44.2	97 of 175	44.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	45.8	99 of 173	42.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	39.0	110 of 176	37.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	31.3	124 of 171	27.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	45.4	90 of 173	48.0%	★★☆☆☆
2019	35.4	124 of 185	33.0%	★★☆☆☆
2018	57.7	75 of 186	59.7%	★★★☆☆
2017	47.9	93 of 180	48.3%	★★☆☆☆
2015	48.1	118 of 246	52.0%	★★★☆☆
2014	72.9	62 of 218	71.6%	★★★★☆
2013	72.8	55 of 223	75.3%	★★★★☆
2012	69.2	68 of 227	70.0%	★★★★☆
2011	50.1	134 of 223	39.9%	★★☆☆☆
2010	52.7	130 of 229	43.2%	★★☆☆☆
2009	67.2	89 of 226	60.6%	★★★☆☆
2008	52.1	128 of 219	41.6%	★★☆☆☆
2007	65.2	90 of 212	57.5%	★★★☆☆
2006	51.4	132 of 218	39.4%	★★☆☆☆
2005	47.3	138 of 213	35.2%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2025	33.6	108 of 154	29.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	41.1	86 of 142	39.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	38.0	90 of 152	40.8%	★★☆☆☆
2022	28.9	107 of 143	25.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	39.8	79 of 141	44.0%	★★☆☆☆
2019	35.4	113 of 159	28.9%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2025	48.8	64 of 125	48.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	46.5	71 of 122	41.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	39.4	75 of 119	37.0%	★★☆☆☆
2022	39.8	60 of 104	42.3%	★★☆☆☆
2021	41.7	59 of 110	46.4%	★★☆☆☆
2019	30.7	107 of 147	27.2%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2025	49.4	79 of 149	47.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	38.9	97 of 150	35.3%	★★☆☆☆
2023	33.1	105 of 148	29.1%	★★☆☆☆
2022	33.6	99 of 148	33.1%	★★☆☆☆
2021	40.9	85 of 142	40.1%	★★☆☆☆
2019	34.0	109 of 159	31.4%	★★☆☆☆

Military Connected

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2021	33.2	15 of 20	25.0%	★☆☆☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2025	55.5	23 of 62	62.9%	★★★☆☆
2024	72.4	15 of 68	77.9%	★★★★☆
2023	24.0	62 of 74	16.2%	★☆☆☆☆

Native American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2019	40.0	35 of 50	30.0%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2025	18.1	29 of 29	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	23.1	13 of 16	18.8%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2025	22.5	117 of 139	15.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	23.9	111 of 133	16.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	22.9	117 of 138	15.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	15.8	126 of 137	8.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	35.4	96 of 127	24.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	25.6	121 of 147	17.7%	★☆☆☆☆

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 (2025)63rd percentile+18 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)49th percentile+4 vs school

Male (2025)47th percentile~ school

Native American (2019)30th percentile-3 vs school

Female (2025)30th percentile-15 vs school

Military Connected (2021)25th percentile-23 vs school

White (2025)16th percentile-29 vs school

Special Education (2025)<1st percentile-45 vs school

By subject vs Alaska (2024-2025) ?

Science40%~ state avg

Mathematics38%+6 vs state

English Language Arts37%+4 vs state

5.0

1 rating · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a parent
Friday, September 1, 2023

This school is wonderful I absolutely love taking my children here. The teachers the staff it’s all what my family needs to further progress. Close Quote

Schools Near Tanaina 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 (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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Meadow Lakes Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1741 Pittman Rd	Wasilla	99687	Matanuska-Susitna Borough	Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District	No	No	No	Yes	(907) 352-6100	308	25	12.3	65.9%	181 (58.8%)	1 (0.3%)	19 (6.2%)	3 (1.0%)	37 (12.0%)	0 (0.0%)	67 (21.8%)	16.7	151^st of 175 public elementary schools	13.7%		13.6	149^th of 173 public elementary schools	13.9%	2	22.7	15.5	29.0				21.4	34.1	8.5	12.8				17.6	32.5		32.5	$18,303	$2,517	$15,787
Snowshoe Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2001 W Fairview Loop	Wasilla	99654	Matanuska-Susitna Borough	Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District	No	No	No	Yes	(907) 352-9500	346	23	15.0	47.7%	208 (60.1%)	2 (0.6%)	34 (9.8%)	2 (0.6%)	29 (8.4%)	3 (0.9%)	68 (19.7%)	69.6	44^th of 175 public elementary schools	74.9%		74.5	31^st of 173 public elementary schools	82.1%	13	50.0	48.3	42.6				47.1	58.1	43.1	49.1				50.3	56.4		56.4	$15,447	$1,323	$14,125

Frequently Asked Questions about Tanaina Elementary

Is Tanaina Elementary a good school?

Tanaina Elementary ranks 97^th of 175 Alaska elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What district is Tanaina Elementary in?

Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District

What is the racial makeup of Tanaina Elementary?

Students at Tanaina Elementary are 63% White, 20% Two or more races, 8% American Indian, 7% Hispanic, 2% Pacific Islander.

How many students attend Tanaina Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 324 students attended Tanaina Elementary.

What schools do graduates of Tanaina Elementary attend?

Students who attend Tanaina Elementary usually go on to attend:

Elementary : Teeland Middle School
Middle : Wasilla Middle School

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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.