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Pioneer Peak Elementary

Q: Is Pioneer Peak Elementary a good school?

Pioneer Peak Elementary ranks 24 th of 166 Alaska elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

24^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 166 Alaska Elementary Schools

Better than 86% of Alaska elementary schools

Summary

Pioneer Peak Elementary is a public PK–5 school in Palmer, Alaska, enrolling 449 students and belonging to the Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District. The school is consistently high-performing, holding a 4-star rating and ranking 24th among Alaska elementary schools (86th percentile) in its most recent evaluation. Its academic profile is defined by exceptional math and science scores—science proficiency was nearly double the state average (74.7% vs. 37.8%), while math proficiency was about 30 points higher than the statewide rate (62.5% vs. 32.2%). English language arts is also well above average (52.3% vs. 32.9% statewide), though slightly less dominant than its STEM subjects.

Within the Palmer-Wasilla area, Pioneer Peak is among the strongest traditional elementary schools. It rivals John Shaw Elementary for top local honors and posts higher math proficiency than Fronteras Charter School, while outperforming Cottonwood Creek Elementary, Sherrod Elementary, Fred and Sara Machetanz Elementary School, and Birchtree Charter School across all core subjects. A distinctive pattern is the school's strength in upper elementary grades: while 3rd-grade reading falls slightly below the district average, 5th-grade proficiency in both ELA (68.5%) and math (74.4%) far exceeds district and state averages. Pioneer Peak also maintains a lower student-teacher ratio (15.4:1) than nearby schools like John Shaw (16.3) and Machetanz (18.3), providing more individualized staff attention.

Pioneer Peak's success is not limited to one demographic group. The school earns top-tier statewide rankings for its multi-racial students (1st) and Hispanic students (1st), along with very strong results for female, male, and economically disadvantaged students—the latter ranking in the 85th percentile despite nearly 40% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. The main caution flag is the special education subgroup, which experienced a sharp single-year decline from a 4-star ranking to the 14th percentile statewide in 2024–2025. Given the school's otherwise broad-based excellence, this specific area is worth monitoring in future reports to ensure all students share in Pioneer Peak's success.

449

Students ?

15.4

Student/teacher ratio ?

$14,640

Per pupil spending ?

39.4%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1959 N Stringfield Rd
Palmer, AK 99645

(907) 861-5700

District: Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District

Students who attend Pioneer Peak Elementary usually attend:

Elementary:	Colony Middle School
High:	Colony High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

69.5%

Two or more races:

13.8%

Hispanic:

9.4%

See top rated Alaska elementary schools

Compare Pioneer Peak Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 70th percentile in 2015 → 86th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Alaska average (60% vs 33% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 14% of Alaska elementary schools

✓Ranking is trending up — up 16 percentile points since 2015

Worth a look

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school60%

District avg43%

Alaska avg33%

24^th of 166

Alaska public elementary schools ?

Top 14%▼ down 4 pts since 2017

From top 10% (2017) to top 14% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Alaska Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

5^th of 22Elementary Schools in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District

6^th of 23Matanuska-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
2026	80.7	24 of 166	85.5%	★★★★☆
2025	81.7	19 of 175	89.1%	★★★★☆
2024	75.0	30 of 173	82.7%	★★★★☆
2023	72.6	36 of 176	79.5%	★★★★☆
2022	69.3	43 of 171	74.9%	★★★★☆
2021	93.6	3 of 173	98.3%	★★★★★
2019	80.6	26 of 185	85.9%	★★★★☆
2018	84.8	17 of 186	90.9%	★★★★★
2017	82.2	18 of 180	90.0%	★★★★★
2015	64.4	73 of 246	70.3%	★★★★☆
2014	77.5	40 of 218	81.7%	★★★★☆
2013	75.1	50 of 223	77.6%	★★★★☆
2012	82.6	21 of 227	90.7%	★★★★★
2011	87.3	6 of 223	97.3%	★★★★★
2010	88.6	4 of 229	98.3%	★★★★★
2009	88.3	3 of 226	98.7%	★★★★★
2008	85.8	8 of 219	96.3%	★★★★★
2007	81.3	17 of 212	92.0%	★★★★★
2006	76.6	39 of 218	82.1%	★★★★☆
2005	79.0	27 of 213	87.3%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2026	79.3	19 of 140	86.4%	★★★★☆
2025	83.1	15 of 154	90.3%	★★★★★
2024	73.7	28 of 142	80.3%	★★★★☆
2023	74.7	28 of 152	81.6%	★★★★☆
2022	72.8	31 of 143	78.3%	★★★★☆
2021	94.6	2 of 141	98.6%	★★★★★
2019	85.6	11 of 159	93.1%	★★★★★

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2026	74.7	5 of 24	79.2%	★★★★☆
2025	80.5	1 of 24	95.8%	★★★★★
2024	51.2	16 of 27	40.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	60.2	14 of 28	50.0%	★★★☆☆
2022	76.3	3 of 26	88.5%	★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2026	68.2	5 of 28	82.1%	★★★★☆
2025	78.2	19 of 125	84.8%	★★★★☆
2024	70.2	26 of 122	78.7%	★★★★☆
2023	67.0	35 of 119	70.6%	★★★★☆
2022	69.5	25 of 104	76.0%	★★★★☆
2021	98.9	1 of 110	99.1%	★★★★★
2019	74.1	33 of 147	77.6%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2026	76.3	25 of 145	82.8%	★★★★☆
2025	77.2	23 of 149	84.6%	★★★★☆
2024	68.1	40 of 150	73.3%	★★★★☆
2023	66.1	41 of 148	72.3%	★★★★☆
2022	58.7	55 of 148	62.8%	★★★☆☆
2021	90.5	4 of 142	97.2%	★★★★★
2019	72.9	31 of 159	80.5%	★★★★☆

Migrant

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2026	68.2	5 of 28	82.1%	★★★★☆
2025	71.6	7 of 35	80.0%	★★★★☆
2024	51.4	14 of 28	50.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	46.2	16 of 30	46.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	87.7	1 of 15	93.3%	★★★★★
2019	75.0	3 of 24	87.5%	★★★★★

Military Connected

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2026	61.4	7 of 20	65.0%	★★★☆☆
2025	69.9	5 of 20	75.0%	★★★★☆
2024	46.5	13 of 23	43.5%	★★★☆☆
2023	64.2	6 of 22	72.7%	★★★★☆
2022	50.0	13 of 22	40.9%	★★☆☆☆
2021	90.3	1 of 20	95.0%	★★★★★

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2026	92.2	1 of 65	98.5%	★★★★★
2025	62.7	18 of 62	71.0%	★★★★☆
2024	89.7	3 of 68	95.6%	★★★★★
2023	67.3	24 of 74	67.6%	★★★★☆
2022	59.5	21 of 58	63.8%	★★★☆☆

Native American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2019	63.8	17 of 50	66.0%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2025	25.2	25 of 29	13.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	61.6	8 of 27	70.4%	★★★★☆
2023	50.4	7 of 16	56.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	58.6	8 of 14	42.9%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2026	72.1	22 of 128	82.8%	★★★★☆
2025	74.5	20 of 139	85.6%	★★★★☆
2024	65.3	33 of 133	75.2%	★★★★☆
2023	63.1	40 of 138	71.0%	★★★★☆
2022	54.7	60 of 137	56.2%	★★★☆☆
2021	90.8	4 of 127	96.9%	★★★★★
2019	72.4	29 of 147	80.3%	★★★★☆

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)98th percentile+13 vs school

Female (2026)86th percentile~ school

White (2026)83rd percentile-3 vs school

Male (2026)83rd percentile-3 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)82nd percentile-3 vs school

Migrant (2026)82nd percentile-3 vs school

Hispanic (2026)79th percentile-6 vs school

Native American (2019)66th percentile-20 vs school

Military Connected (2026)65th percentile-21 vs school

Special Education (2025)14th percentile-75 vs school

By subject vs Alaska (2025-2026) ?

Science75%+37 vs state

Mathematics62%+30 vs state

English Language Arts52%+19 vs state

5.0

1 rating · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a parent
Monday, December 20, 2010

The best elementary school in the Mat Su School District. My daughter absolutely loved this school, the staff, and curriculum. They are very encouraging to the students to go the distance. Close Quote

Schools Near Pioneer Peak 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 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
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%)	80.7	24^th of 166 public elementary schools	85.5%		81.7	19^th of 175 public elementary schools	89.1%	5	30.8	55.2	68.5				52.3	44.7	66.7	74.4				62.5	74.7		74.7	$14,640	$838	$13,801
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)				59.1	39.9	41.8	47.2				52.9	44.5	50.8	49.4		49.8	49.8	$11,831	$726	$11,105
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%)	60.2	61^st of 166 public elementary schools	63.3%		59	73^rd of 175 public elementary schools	58.3%	12	32.7	46.7	50.0	39.5	60.5	60.0	47.0	32.7	42.2	69.6	45.5	50.0	46.7	47.6	64.6	56.3	61.3	$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%)	80	26^th of 166 public elementary schools	84.3%		66.9	54^th of 175 public elementary schools	69.1%	28	38.8	53.6	64.9				53.0	44.8	56.4	70.1				57.8	70.7		70.7	$13,619	$1,424	$12,195
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%)	81.5	22^nd of 166 public elementary schools	86.7%		66.9	55^th of 175 public elementary schools	68.6%	33	41.2	74.3	72.0	63.0	47.8	62.5	60.0	37.5	47.2	80.8	65.4	47.8	70.0	55.6	84.0	83.3	83.7	$14,531	$114	$14,417
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)				35.5	37.9	37.0	36.9				24.7	43.2	47.0	38.3		41.1	41.1	$13,334	$1,054	$12,280
Cottonwood Creek Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	800 N Seward Meridian	Wasilla	99645	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%)	70	41^st of 166 public elementary schools	75.3%		59.4	71^st of 175 public elementary schools	59.4%	30	39.3	37.7	59.3				45.1	52.6	45.7	58.3				51.9	67.2		67.2	$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%)	85.8	18^th of 166 public elementary schools	89.2%		90.6	8^th of 175 public elementary schools	95.4%	10	44.3	53.0	56.6				51.4	61.0	63.3	80.6				67.6	74.3		74.3	$13,883	$843	$13,040
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%)	67.4	47^th of 166 public elementary schools	71.7%		77	29^th of 175 public elementary schools	83.4%	18	51.7	46.7	47.6				48.4	53.3	37.3	51.2				47.0	61.0		61.0	$14,038	$875	$13,163
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

Frequently Asked Questions about Pioneer Peak Elementary

Is Pioneer Peak Elementary a good school?

Pioneer Peak Elementary ranks 24^th of 166 Alaska elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Pioneer Peak Elementary?

Students at Pioneer Peak Elementary are 69% White, 14% Two or more races, 9% Hispanic, 5% American Indian.

What district is Pioneer Peak Elementary in?

Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District

How many students attend Pioneer Peak Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 449 students attended Pioneer Peak Elementary.

What schools do graduates of Pioneer Peak Elementary attend?

Students who attend Pioneer Peak Elementary usually go on to attend:

Elementary : Colony Middle School
High : Colony High School

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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.