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Big Lake Elementary

Q: Is Big Lake Elementary a good school?

Big Lake Elementary ranks 118 th of 166 Alaska elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Q: How many students attend Big Lake Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 362 students attended Big Lake Elementary.

Q: What is the racial makeup of Big Lake Elementary?

Students at Big Lake Elementary are 61% White, 18% Two or more races, 11% American Indian, 8% Hispanic, 1% Pacific Islander.

Q: What schools do graduates of Big Lake Elementary attend?

Students who attend Big Lake Elementary usually go on to attend: Middle : Houston Middle School High : Houston High School

Public Grades PK, KG-5

118^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 166 Alaska Elementary Schools

Better than 29% of Alaska elementary schools

Summary

Big Lake Elementary, a PK–5 public school in Big Lake, Alaska, serves 362 students and is part of the Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District. The school currently ranks in the lower tier of Alaska elementary schools, at 118th out of 166, placing it well behind several nearby schools in the same district.

Academically, the biggest concern is English language arts: only about 27% of students scored proficient, a gap of nearly 15 points behind the district average of 41%. Math performance tells a more complicated story — 3rd graders essentially match the district average, but by 5th grade only 26% are proficient, compared with 55% districtwide. Science is a relative bright spot, with about 49% of students proficient, above the state average and close to the district. Big Lake also serves a high-poverty population, with roughly 62% of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, though that rate has declined in recent years.

By comparison, Snowshoe Elementary, Knik Elementary, and Dena'ina Elementary — all nearby and in the same district — rank in the top half of Alaska schools. Meadow Lakes Elementary ranks lower, while Larson Elementary and Iditarod Elementary sit between extremes. Big Lake's ranking has swung considerably over the past decade, suggesting inconsistent programming rather than a steady trend. The clearest takeaway is that Big Lake has early-elementary strengths to build on, especially in 3rd-grade math and science, but needs focused attention on reading and upper-elementary math. Nearby schools with similar funding and demographics show that improvement is achievable within this district.

362

Students ?

16.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$15,634

Per pupil spending ?

61.9%

Free/discounted lunch ?

Mile 4.5 South Big Lake Rd
Big Lake, AK 99652

(907) 892-9700

District: Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District

Students who attend Big Lake Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Houston Middle School
High:	Houston High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

60.8%

Two or more races:

18.0%

American Indian:

11.0%

See top rated Alaska elementary schools

Compare Big Lake Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 30th percentile in 2015 → 29th in 2026

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 (2025-2026) ?

This school33%

District avg43%

Alaska avg33%

118^th of 166

Alaska public elementary schools ?

Bottom 29%▼ down 24 pts since 2017

From top 47% (2017) to bottom 29% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Alaska Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

21^st 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	33.0	118 of 166	28.9%	★★☆☆☆
2025	40.1	109 of 175	37.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	48.2	94 of 173	45.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	27.3	132 of 176	25.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	16.4	148 of 171	13.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	36.1	113 of 173	34.7%	★★☆☆☆
2019	47.9	99 of 185	46.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	50.5	94 of 186	49.5%	★★★☆☆
2017	50.9	84 of 180	53.3%	★★★☆☆
2015	26.5	173 of 246	29.7%	★★☆☆☆
2014	54.4	118 of 218	45.9%	★★☆☆☆
2013	60.3	100 of 223	55.2%	★★★☆☆
2012	56.6	114 of 227	49.8%	★★★☆☆
2011	61.8	104 of 223	53.4%	★★★☆☆
2010	64.6	94 of 229	59.0%	★★★☆☆
2009	57.4	113 of 226	50.0%	★★★☆☆
2008	57.8	115 of 219	47.5%	★★☆☆☆
2007	60.6	105 of 212	50.5%	★★★☆☆
2006	56.7	118 of 218	45.9%	★★☆☆☆
2005	56.9	114 of 213	46.5%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2026	35.1	99 of 140	29.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	41.0	95 of 154	38.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	35.7	97 of 142	31.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	26.1	115 of 152	24.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	19.0	124 of 143	13.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	27.5	105 of 141	25.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	64.9	60 of 159	62.3%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2025	39.5	79 of 125	36.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	38.6	83 of 122	32.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	32.5	82 of 119	31.1%	★★☆☆☆
2022	22.7	84 of 104	19.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	39.5	64 of 110	41.8%	★★☆☆☆
2019	51.0	70 of 147	52.4%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2026	27.1	111 of 145	23.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	31.1	107 of 149	28.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	47.9	81 of 150	46.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	23.4	119 of 148	19.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	10.9	140 of 148	5.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	32.7	101 of 142	28.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	32.3	116 of 159	27.0%	★☆☆☆☆

Migrant

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2023	69.2	6 of 30	80.0%	★★★★☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2026	51.2	33 of 65	49.2%	★★★☆☆
2025	66.0	14 of 62	77.4%	★★★★☆
2024	44.2	43 of 68	36.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	39.6	48 of 74	35.1%	★★☆☆☆

Native American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2019	62.6	23 of 50	54.0%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2021	6.9	10 of 10	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2026	18.4	115 of 128	10.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	19.4	124 of 139	10.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	29.9	103 of 133	22.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	12.6	132 of 138	4.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	4.6	137 of 137	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	25.8	109 of 127	14.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	31.5	109 of 147	25.9%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

Migrant (2023)80th percentile+55 vs school

Native American (2019)54th percentile+8 vs school

Multi-racial (2026)49th percentile+20 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)37th percentile~ school

Female (2026)29th percentile~ school

Male (2026)23rd percentile-5 vs school

White (2026)10th percentile-19 vs school

Special Education (2021)<1st percentile-35 vs school

By subject vs Alaska (2025-2026) ?

Science49%+11 vs state

Mathematics34%~ state avg

English Language Arts27%-6 vs state

5.0

1 rating · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a parent on FaceBook
Thursday, February 4, 2016

All students receive free breakfast and lunch and the Special Education program is wonderful! I have no idea why this school has such a low rating, they are wonderful! Close Quote

Schools Near Big Lake 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
Big Lake Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	Mile 4.5 South Big Lake Rd	Big Lake	99652	Matanuska-Susitna Borough	Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District	No	No	No	Yes	(907) 892-9700	362	22	16.2	61.9%	220 (60.8%)	2 (0.6%)	28 (7.7%)	3 (0.8%)	40 (11.0%)	4 (1.1%)	65 (18.0%)	33	118^th of 166 public elementary schools	28.9%		40.1	109^th of 175 public elementary schools	37.7%	9	26.1	23.1	32.0				26.7	43.5	33.9	26.0				34.2	49.0		49.0	$15,634	$2,351	$13,283
Dena'ina Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	7068 S Knik Knack Mud Shack Ro	Wasilla	99687	Matanuska-Susitna Borough	Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District	No	No	No	Yes	(907) 864-5600	396	26	15.2	46.0%	220 (55.6%)	0 (0.0%)	35 (8.8%)	3 (0.8%)	43 (10.9%)	1 (0.3%)	94 (23.7%)	59.2	65^th of 166 public elementary schools	60.8%		66.6	56^th of 175 public elementary schools	68.0%	9	25.8	47.6	52.3				40.8	24.2	49.2	68.2				45.0	65.2		65.2	$15,640	$1,631	$14,010
Goose Bay Elementary	Public	PK, KG-2	6400 Hollywood Blvd	Wasilla	99654	Matanuska-Susitna Borough	Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District	No	No	No	Yes	(907) 352-6400	305	21	14.5	43.3%	200 (65.6%)	1 (0.3%)	25 (8.2%)	2 (0.7%)	21 (6.9%)	2 (0.7%)	54 (17.7%)								(n/a)																		$17,882	$1,993	$15,889
Knik Elementary School	Public	K-5	6350 W Hollywood	Wasilla	99687	Matanuska-Susitna Borough	Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District	No	No	No	Yes	(907) 352-0300	263	16	16.4	48.3%	137 (52.1%)	1 (0.4%)	25 (9.5%)	3 (1.1%)	20 (7.6%)	5 (1.9%)	72 (27.4%)	59	66^th of 166 public elementary schools	60.2%		50.3	84^th of 175 public elementary schools	52.0%	18	29.3	39.7	46.1				38.6	52.4	46.2	46.1				48.2	58.4		58.4	$14,106	$925	$13,181
Midnight Sun Family Learning Center	Public, Charter	K-8	7275 W Midnight Sun Cir	Wasilla	99654	Matanuska-Susitna Borough	Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District	Yes	No	No	No	(907) 357-6786	189	8	23.6		140 (74.1%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (6.3%)	1 (0.5%)	8 (4.2%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (14.8%)	80.1	25^th of 166 public elementary schools	84.9%		77.8	27^th of 175 public elementary schools	84.6%	2	57.1	57.9	42.9	68.8	41.2	62.5	54.0	60.7	68.4	55.2	56.3	41.2	62.5	57.6	60.7	58.8	60.0	$20,311	$100	$20,211
Meadow Lakes Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1741 Pittman Rd	Wasilla	99654	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%)	11.2	149^th of 166 public elementary schools	10.2%		16.7	151^st of 175 public elementary schools	13.7%	2	21.3	19.6	15.6				18.8	19.2	16.7	18.2				18.1	23.3		23.3	$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%)	73.2	36^th of 166 public elementary schools	78.3%		69.6	44^th of 175 public elementary schools	74.9%	8	57.5	59.1	47.5				54.6	59.6	47.0	47.5				50.6	55.7		55.7	$15,447	$1,323	$14,125
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%)	36.6	111^th of 166 public elementary schools	33.1%		22.6	137^th of 175 public elementary schools	21.7%	26	36.5	33.3	26.9				32.0	36.5	36.4	31.8				34.7	42.7		42.7	$17,072	$3,548	$13,525
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%)	49.3	90^th of 166 public elementary schools	45.8%		44.2	97^th of 175 public elementary schools	44.6%	7	21.8	36.0	45.2				34.7	32.7	44.0	50.0				42.5	55.7		55.7	$16,334	$1,666	$14,668
Birchwood ABC Elementary	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-6	17010 Birchtree St	Eagle River	99567	Anchorage Municipality	Anchorage School District	No	Yes	No	No	(907) 742-3450	246	15	15.9	24.8%	169 (68.7%)	4 (1.6%)	17 (6.9%)	7 (2.8%)	11 (4.5%)	0 (0.0%)	38 (15.4%)	75.3	33^rd of 166 public elementary schools	80.1%		87.2	13^th of 175 public elementary schools	92.6%	20	23.8	48.9	65.0				50.0	33.3	76.1	67.5				64.5	57.5		57.5	$16,061	$1,073	$14,987

Frequently Asked Questions about Big Lake Elementary

What is the racial makeup of Big Lake Elementary?

Students at Big Lake Elementary are 61% White, 18% Two or more races, 11% American Indian, 8% Hispanic, 1% Pacific Islander.

What district is Big Lake Elementary in?

Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District

What schools do graduates of Big Lake Elementary attend?

Students who attend Big Lake Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Houston Middle School
High : Houston High School

Is Big Lake Elementary a good school?

Big Lake Elementary ranks 118^th of 166 Alaska elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Big Lake Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 362 students attended Big Lake Elementary.

Rate Big Lake Elementary!

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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.