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Butte Elementary

Q: Is Butte Elementary a good school?

Butte Elementary ranks 49 th of 166 Alaska elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

49^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 166 Alaska Elementary Schools

Better than 70% of Alaska elementary schools

Summary

Butte Elementary is a small Pre-K through 5th grade school in Palmer, Alaska, serving 263 students in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District. Butte Elementary currently ranks 49th of 166 Alaska schools with a 4-star rating, placing it in the 70th percentile statewide. That's a strong result for a small school, but the neighborhood is unusually competitive: nearby Academy Charter School ranks #2, with Fronteras Charter School at #22, Pioneer Peak Elementary at #24, and Finger Lake Elementary at #26 all ahead of Butte. Butte's long-term trend is positive though, climbing from the 35th percentile in 2014-2015 to its current standing.

Science is clearly Butte's academic identity. In 2025-2026, Butte 5th graders posted a 68.75% science proficiency rate, beating the district (51.03%) and state (37.81%) averages by wide margins—a streak that has now lasted four consecutive years. Early math is a second bright spot: about 61% of 3rd graders met math standards in 2025-2026, and only Academy Charter did better nearby. The school also appears to serve its most vulnerable students well. Butte's low-income students ranked in the 92nd percentile of Alaska schools in 2024-2025 with a 5-star rating, and special education students have also finished in the top quarter of the state in recent years.

Reading, in contrast, is Butte's biggest challenge. All-grade ELA proficiency (40.35%) trailed the district and every nearby tested school in 2025-2026, and the issue sharpens by 5th grade, when only 28.13% of Butte students were proficient—roughly 11 points below the state average. Nearby Cottonwood Creek Elementary (59.32%) and Finger Lake Elementary (64.94%) show that 5th grade ELA can be far stronger. Because Butte serves just 263 students, a single challenging cohort can skew grade-level numbers, so this bears watching rather than judgment. Notably, the school benefits from the lowest student-teacher ratio (13.1) and highest per-pupil spending ($17,654) in its local cluster, which makes the reading gap all the more puzzling—and suggests real opportunity for improvement.

263

Students ?

13.1

Student/teacher ratio ?

$17,654

Per pupil spending ?

38.4%

Free/discounted lunch ?

4006 S Butte Rd
Palmer, AK 99645

(907) 861-5200

District: Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District

Students who attend Butte Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Palmer Middle School
High:	Palmer High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

68.8%

Two or more races:

12.5%

Hispanic:

9.9%

See top rated Alaska elementary schools

Compare Butte Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 35th percentile in 2015 → 70th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Alaska average (49% vs 33% meeting standards)

✓Ranking is trending up — up 35 percentile points since 2015

✓Above the Alaska median (70th percentile)

Worth a look

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school49%

District avg43%

Alaska avg33%

49^th of 166

Alaska public elementary schools ?

Top 30%▲ up 24 pts since 2017

From bottom 47% (2017) to top 30% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Alaska Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

12^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	66.4	49 of 166	70.5%	★★★★☆
2025	73.8	38 of 175	78.3%	★★★★☆
2024	62.9	62 of 173	64.2%	★★★☆☆
2023	63.0	57 of 176	67.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	41.9	98 of 171	42.7%	★★☆☆☆
2021	64.3	65 of 173	62.4%	★★★☆☆
2019	67.5	53 of 185	71.4%	★★★★☆
2018	69.8	49 of 186	73.7%	★★★★☆
2017	46.5	96 of 180	46.7%	★★☆☆☆
2015	32.4	161 of 246	34.6%	★★☆☆☆
2014	69.4	68 of 218	68.8%	★★★☆☆
2013	70.9	59 of 223	73.5%	★★★★☆
2012	68.5	72 of 227	68.3%	★★★☆☆
2011	71.3	61 of 223	72.6%	★★★★☆
2010	60.7	106 of 229	53.7%	★★★☆☆
2009	69.0	76 of 226	66.4%	★★★☆☆
2008	61.7	102 of 219	53.4%	★★★☆☆
2007	58.7	112 of 212	47.2%	★★☆☆☆
2006	66.8	86 of 218	60.6%	★★★☆☆
2005	70.2	66 of 213	69.0%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2026	59.3	52 of 140	62.9%	★★★☆☆
2025	76.0	26 of 154	83.1%	★★★★☆
2024	68.8	37 of 142	73.9%	★★★★☆
2023	72.0	31 of 152	79.6%	★★★★☆
2022	42.5	79 of 143	44.8%	★★☆☆☆
2021	51.1	64 of 141	54.6%	★★★☆☆
2019	72.5	39 of 159	75.5%	★★★★☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2026	80.8	3 of 24	87.5%	★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2025	81.9	10 of 125	92.0%	★★★★★
2024	70.9	24 of 122	80.3%	★★★★☆
2023	69.8	28 of 119	76.5%	★★★★☆
2022	59.0	35 of 104	66.3%	★★★☆☆
2021	57.2	41 of 110	62.7%	★★★☆☆
2019	67.5	41 of 147	72.1%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2026	66.3	44 of 145	69.7%	★★★★☆
2025	64.1	48 of 149	67.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	46.1	85 of 150	43.3%	★★☆☆☆
2023	57.9	54 of 148	63.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	33.0	101 of 148	31.8%	★★☆☆☆
2021	68.3	39 of 142	72.5%	★★★★☆
2019	59.6	62 of 159	61.0%	★★★☆☆

Migrant

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2023	36.6	22 of 30	26.7%	★☆☆☆☆

Native American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2019	78.8	6 of 50	88.0%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2025	67.0	5 of 29	82.8%	★★★★☆
2021	76.2	1 of 10	90.0%	★★★★★

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2026	53.0	62 of 128	51.6%	★★★☆☆
2025	64.8	45 of 139	67.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	46.2	73 of 133	45.1%	★★☆☆☆
2023	53.0	63 of 138	54.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	22.5	118 of 137	13.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	37.4	92 of 127	27.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	46.4	79 of 147	46.3%	★★☆☆☆

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)

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)92nd percentile+14 vs school

Native American (2019)88th percentile+17 vs school

Hispanic (2026)88th percentile+17 vs school

Special Education (2025)83rd percentile+4 vs school

Male (2026)70th percentile~ school

Female (2026)63rd percentile-8 vs school

White (2026)52nd percentile-19 vs school

Migrant (2023)27th percentile-41 vs school

By subject vs Alaska (2025-2026) ?

Science69%+31 vs state

Mathematics52%+20 vs state

English Language Arts40%+7 vs state

4.0

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What people are saying

by a parent
Monday, July 23, 2018

The teachers are amazing! Close Quote

Schools Near Butte 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
Butte Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	4006 S Butte Rd	Palmer	99645	Matanuska-Susitna Borough	Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District	No	No	No	Yes	(907) 861-5200	263	20	13.1	38.4%	181 (68.8%)	1 (0.4%)	26 (9.9%)	2 (0.8%)	18 (6.8%)	2 (0.8%)	33 (12.5%)	66.4	49^th of 166 public elementary schools	70.5%		73.8	38^th of 175 public elementary schools	78.3%	11	42.1	47.7	28.1				40.4	60.5	47.7	46.9				51.8	68.8		68.8	$17,654	$1,853	$15,801
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	≥ 90%	79.6	81.3	76.9	79.3	$16,769	$105	$16,664
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
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
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
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
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

Frequently Asked Questions about Butte Elementary

Is Butte Elementary a good school?

Butte Elementary ranks 49^th of 166 Alaska elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What schools do graduates of Butte Elementary attend?

Students who attend Butte Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Palmer Middle School
High : Palmer High School

How many students attend Butte Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 263 students attended Butte Elementary.

What is the racial makeup of Butte Elementary?

Students at Butte Elementary are 69% White, 13% Two or more races, 10% Hispanic, 7% American Indian.

What district is Butte Elementary in?

Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District

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Latest Alaska data All new data »

2025–26 ASA & STAR test scoresSep 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.