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Colony Middle School

Public Grades PK, KG-8

Summary

Colony Middle School is a large traditional public middle school in Palmer, Alaska, serving 771 students in grades 6 through 8 within the Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District. The district itself is well regarded, ranking 6th of 23 districts in Alaska, and Colony's latest results match that reputation. Proficiency rates sit at 47.2% in English Language Arts, 49.4% in math, and 49.8% in science—all comfortably above state averages, with ELA and math also above district averages. Colony's math performance is particularly strong at roughly 17 points above the Alaska state average, and its scores have climbed steadily over the past several years.

Colony's standout year is 6th grade, where it far outpaces its closest traditional middle school peer, Teeland Middle School, located about 4.7 miles away. In 6th grade, Colony posts 59.1% proficiency in ELA versus Teeland's 35.5%, and 52.9% in math versus just 24.7%. While scores dip noticeably in 7th grade before partially recovering in 8th, Colony still outperforms Teeland in every grade and subject measured. This strength is notable given Colony's resource profile: it is the largest school in the area with the highest student-teacher ratio (20.8) and the lowest per-pupil spending—nearly $1,500 to $4,900 less per student than nearby schools—yet it still produces above-district results.

Colony also serves a comparatively more advantaged community than many area public schools, with a 30.7% free/reduced lunch rate, and families will find a wide range of nearby options. While smaller K-8 charter schools like Academy Charter School and Fronteras Charter School post higher scores with far lower student-teacher ratios and much higher per-student spending, Colony holds its own among traditional public schools and even edges out Birchtree Charter School in ELA and math on a fraction of the budget. For families seeking a large, efficient middle school with solid academics and steady improvement, Colony is a strong choice in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District.

771

Students ?

20.8

Student/teacher ratio ?

$11,831

Per pupil spending ?

30.7%

Free/discounted lunch ?

9250 E Bogard Rd
Palmer, AK 99645

(907) 761-1500

District: Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District

Students who attend Colony Middle School usually attend:

High:

Colony High School

Feeder schools for Colony Middle School:

Elementary:	Finger Lake Elementary
	Pioneer Peak Elementary

Racial breakdown:

White:

68.7%

Two or more races:

17.0%

Hispanic:

7.3%

See top rated Alaska public schools

Compare Colony Middle School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 75th percentile in 2015 → 71st in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Alaska average (48% vs 33% meeting standards)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school48%

District avg43%

Alaska avg33%

26^th of 90

Alaska public middle schools ?

Top 29%▲ up 19 pts since 2017

From top 48% (2017) to top 29% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Alaska Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

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	67.1	26 of 90	71.1%	★★★★☆
2025	55.8	41 of 94	56.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	50.7	47 of 91	48.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	45.9	50 of 92	45.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	37.7	63 of 95	33.7%	★★☆☆☆
2021	56.8	38 of 84	54.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	40.6	58 of 99	41.4%	★★☆☆☆
2018	48.3	51 of 96	46.9%	★★☆☆☆
2017	51.0	42 of 88	52.3%	★★★☆☆
2015	68.2	37 of 151	75.5%	★★★★☆
2014	79.8	20 of 138	85.5%	★★★★☆
2013	80.5	22 of 136	83.8%	★★★★☆
2012	82.0	13 of 135	90.4%	★★★★★
2011	81.4	18 of 133	86.5%	★★★★☆
2010	80.9	19 of 136	86.0%	★★★★☆
2009	81.2	18 of 131	86.3%	★★★★☆
2008	82.3	17 of 132	87.1%	★★★★☆
2007	79.3	21 of 128	83.6%	★★★★☆
2006	82.5	12 of 132	90.9%	★★★★★
2005	85.0	9 of 138	93.5%	★★★★★

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2019	56.2	9 of 22	59.1%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2026	66.8	18 of 72	75.0%	★★★★☆
2025	63.3	23 of 72	68.1%	★★★★☆
2024	50.1	34 of 69	50.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	46.9	36 of 66	45.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	35.3	42 of 66	36.4%	★★☆☆☆
2021	56.5	25 of 57	56.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	38.6	51 of 74	31.1%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2026	66.2	7 of 22	68.2%	★★★★☆
2025	51.3	11 of 22	50.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	46.5	13 of 26	50.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	62.1	6 of 21	71.4%	★★★★☆
2022	48.0	7 of 19	63.2%	★★★☆☆
2021	63.2	4 of 15	73.3%	★★★★☆
2019	58.8	6 of 19	68.4%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2026	63.6	6 of 26	76.9%	★★★★☆
2025	51.1	23 of 51	54.9%	★★★☆☆
2024	57.6	21 of 54	61.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	47.7	28 of 55	49.1%	★★★☆☆
2022	44.9	20 of 43	53.5%	★★★☆☆
2021	64.0	14 of 43	67.4%	★★★★☆
2019	27.6	47 of 64	26.6%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2026	67.5	21 of 74	71.6%	★★★★☆
2025	47.1	35 of 68	48.5%	★★★☆☆
2024	48.4	39 of 72	45.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	45.9	42 of 72	41.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	41.3	40 of 68	41.2%	★★☆☆☆
2021	60.1	22 of 62	64.5%	★★★☆☆
2019	37.9	47 of 73	35.6%	★★☆☆☆

Migrant

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2026	63.6	6 of 26	76.9%	★★★★☆
2025	47.2	14 of 26	46.2%	★★★☆☆
2024	67.0	3 of 20	85.0%	★★★★☆
2023	63.6	6 of 20	70.0%	★★★★☆
2022	62.3	3 of 12	75.0%	★★★★☆
2021	67.4	2 of 10	80.0%	★★★★☆
2019	28.1	19 of 24	20.8%	★☆☆☆☆

Military Connected

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2026	73.8	2 of 15	86.7%	★★★★★
2025	48.3	7 of 12	41.7%	★★★☆☆
2024	31.8	12 of 14	14.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	24.8	14 of 17	17.6%	★★☆☆☆
2022	14.2	16 of 17	5.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	44.2	9 of 14	35.7%	★★★☆☆
2019	12.7	19 of 20	5.0%	☆☆☆☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2026	75.6	4 of 33	87.9%	★★★★★
2025	70.1	7 of 30	76.7%	★★★★☆
2024	49.1	12 of 31	61.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	44.4	16 of 31	48.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	35.5	16 of 28	42.9%	★★☆☆☆
2021	35.7	19 of 30	36.7%	★★☆☆☆
2019	62.4	8 of 34	76.5%	★★★★☆

Native American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2026	78.6	4 of 23	82.6%	★★★★☆
2025	67.0	3 of 21	85.7%	★★★★★
2024	86.6	1 of 20	95.0%	★★★★★
2023	85.2	3 of 20	85.0%	★★★★☆
2022	72.7	2 of 16	87.5%	★★★★★
2021	85.6	1 of 16	93.8%	★★★★★
2019	47.5	20 of 40	50.0%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2026	66.6	2 of 15	86.7%	★★★★★
2025	41.5	8 of 14	42.9%	★★★☆☆
2024	38.3	7 of 14	50.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	27.9	7 of 11	36.4%	★★☆☆☆
2022	48.7	1 of 1	0.0%	★★★★★
2021	73.2	1 of 2	50.0%	★★★★★
2019	31.8	8 of 12	33.3%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2026	56.4	28 of 67	58.2%	★★★☆☆
2025	45.0	38 of 70	45.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	39.8	47 of 74	36.5%	★★☆☆☆
2023	31.3	52 of 75	30.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	26.6	53 of 69	23.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	48.5	31 of 58	46.6%	★★☆☆☆
2019	29.5	51 of 72	29.2%	★★☆☆☆

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)

Multi-racial (2026)88th percentile+17 vs school

Special Education (2026)87th percentile+16 vs school

Military Connected (2026)87th percentile+16 vs school

Native American (2026)83rd percentile+11 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)77th percentile+6 vs school

Migrant (2026)77th percentile+6 vs school

Female (2026)75th percentile+4 vs school

Male (2026)72nd percentile~ school

Hispanic (2026)68th percentile-3 vs school

Asian (2019)59th percentile+18 vs school

White (2026)58th percentile-13 vs school

By subject vs Alaska (2025-2026) ?

Science50%+12 vs state

Mathematics49%+17 vs state

English Language Arts47%+14 vs state

★

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Schools Near Colony Middle School

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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
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
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
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
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%)	59.7	63^rd of 166 public elementary schools	62.0%		62.7	60^th of 175 public elementary schools	65.7%	3	34.1	45.4	48.3				43.2	37.8	48.6	42.6				43.3	60.0		60.0	$15,066	$1,445	$13,621
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%)	94.4	2^nd of 166 public elementary schools	98.8%		93.3	3^rd of 175 public elementary schools	98.3%	1	62.5	69.7	71.9	56.3	74.2	76.9	68.3	84.4	75.8	81.3	65.6	80.7		79.6	81.3	76.9	79.3	$16,769	$105	$16,664
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
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
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

Frequently Asked Questions about Colony Middle School

How many students attend Colony Middle School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 771 students attended Colony Middle School.

What schools do graduates of Colony Middle School attend?

Students who attend Colony Middle School usually go on to attend:

High : Colony High School

What is the racial makeup of Colony Middle School?

Students at Colony Middle School are 69% White, 17% Two or more races, 7% Hispanic, 5% American Indian.

What district is Colony Middle School in?

Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District

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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.