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Dena'ina Elementary School

Q: Is Dena'ina Elementary School a good school?

Dena'ina Elementary School ranks 65 th of 166 Alaska elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

65^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 166 Alaska Elementary Schools

Better than 61% of Alaska elementary schools

Summary

Dena'ina Elementary School is a PK–5 school in Wasilla, Alaska, serving 396 students as part of the Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District. The school has climbed from the bottom quarter of Alaska elementary schools a few years ago to the upper half today, ranking 65th of 166 elementary schools statewide (61st percentile, 3 stars) in the 2025–2026 school year.

Dena'ina's clearest strengths are science and upper-grade math. In 2025–2026, 65.2% of its 5th graders were proficient in science—well above the 51.0% district average and the 37.8% state average, and ahead of nearby schools like Iditarod Elementary (42.7%) and Meadow Lakes Elementary (23.3%). Its 5th-grade math proficiency of 68.2% was the highest among nearby schools in the comparison, surpassing Birchwood ABC Elementary (67.5%) and Chugiak Elementary (62.0%). The school has also earned 5-star ratings for migrant students—ranking #1 in Alaska—and for low-income students, who placed 13th of 125 schools statewide in 2024–2025.

The biggest concern is early-grade learning. Only 24.2% of Dena'ina 3rd graders were proficient in math and 25.8% in English Language Arts—about 20 points below district averages and far behind high-performing neighbors like Snowshoe Elementary. Spending does not explain the results, as Dena'ina spends less per pupil than several lower-performing nearby schools. Free/reduced lunch eligibility also dropped sharply, from 85% to 46% in one year, which may reflect changing demographics or reporting. Overall, the school is on a positive trajectory, but its 3rd-grade results suggest that early literacy and math support will be critical to sustaining the gains.

396

Students ?

15.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$15,640

Per pupil spending ?

46%

Free/discounted lunch ?

7068 S Knik Knack Mud Shack Ro
Wasilla, AK 99687

(907) 864-5600

District: Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District

Students who attend Dena'ina Elementary School usually attend:

High:

Joe Redington Senior Junior/Senior High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

55.6%

Two or more races:

23.7%

American Indian:

10.9%

See top rated Alaska elementary schools

Compare Dena'ina Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 26th percentile in 2019 → 61st in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Alaska average (46% vs 33% meeting standards)

✓Ranking is trending up — up 35 percentile points since 2019

✓Above the Alaska median (61st percentile)

Worth a look

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school46%

District avg43%

Alaska avg33%

65^th of 166

Alaska public elementary schools ?

Top 39%▲ up 35 pts since 2019

From bottom 26% (2019) to top 39% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Alaska Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

16^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	59.2	65 of 166	60.8%	★★★☆☆
2025	66.6	56 of 175	68.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	47.9	95 of 173	45.1%	★★☆☆☆
2023	39.5	109 of 176	38.1%	★★☆☆☆
2022	34.2	119 of 171	30.4%	★★☆☆☆
2021	63.5	66 of 173	61.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	30.3	137 of 185	25.9%	★☆☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2019	61.4	11 of 41	73.2%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2026	49.0	78 of 140	44.3%	★★☆☆☆
2025	77.0	22 of 154	85.7%	★★★★☆
2024	44.5	81 of 142	43.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	29.4	110 of 152	27.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	44.8	75 of 143	47.6%	★★☆☆☆
2021	63.1	44 of 141	68.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	25.2	131 of 159	17.6%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2025	81.1	13 of 125	89.6%	★★★★★
2024	39.1	82 of 122	32.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	32.0	83 of 119	30.3%	★★☆☆☆
2022	51.9	45 of 104	56.7%	★★★☆☆
2021	80.5	15 of 110	86.4%	★★★★☆
2019	31.4	103 of 147	29.9%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2026	62.8	50 of 145	65.5%	★★★☆☆
2025	50.7	75 of 149	49.7%	★★★☆☆
2024	42.4	89 of 150	40.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	44.2	90 of 148	39.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	30.9	104 of 148	29.7%	★★☆☆☆
2021	54.3	63 of 142	55.6%	★★★☆☆
2019	34.3	108 of 159	32.1%	★★☆☆☆

Migrant

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2025	92.9	1 of 35	97.1%	★★★★★
2024	67.3	9 of 28	67.9%	★★★★☆
2022	62.8	8 of 15	46.7%	★★★☆☆
2019	32.0	18 of 24	25.0%	★★☆☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2026	65.6	17 of 65	73.8%	★★★★☆
2025	48.3	34 of 62	45.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	40.2	45 of 68	33.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	18.5	69 of 74	6.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	49.8	31 of 58	46.6%	★★☆☆☆
2021	62.7	19 of 45	57.8%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2026	42.2	18 of 30	40.0%	★★☆☆☆
2025	39.8	16 of 29	44.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	25.6	22 of 27	18.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	40.9	10 of 16	37.5%	★★★☆☆
2021	42.1	7 of 10	30.0%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2026	43.4	79 of 128	38.3%	★★☆☆☆
2025	54.3	66 of 139	52.5%	★★★☆☆
2024	32.0	99 of 133	25.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	34.3	100 of 138	27.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	26.4	112 of 137	18.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	45.2	75 of 127	40.9%	★★☆☆☆
2019	22.2	130 of 147	11.6%	★☆☆☆☆

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 (2025)97th percentile+29 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)90th percentile+22 vs school

Multi-racial (2026)74th percentile+13 vs school

English Language Learner (2019)73rd percentile+47 vs school

Male (2026)66th percentile+5 vs school

Female (2026)44th percentile-17 vs school

Special Education (2026)40th percentile-21 vs school

White (2026)38th percentile-23 vs school

By subject vs Alaska (2025-2026) ?

Science65%+27 vs state

Mathematics45%+13 vs state

English Language Arts41%+8 vs state

★

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Schools Near Dena'ina Elementary 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Chugiak Elementary	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-6	19932 Old Glenn Hwy	Chugiak	99567	Anchorage Municipality	Anchorage School District	No	Yes	No	No	(907) 742-3400	439	25	17.3	17.5%	290 (66.1%)	5 (1.1%)	59 (13.4%)	10 (2.3%)	27 (6.2%)	7 (1.6%)	41 (9.3%)	77.7	30^th of 166 public elementary schools	81.9%		55.9	77^th of 175 public elementary schools	56.0%	47	53.3	44.3	49.3				48.6	70.0	50.6	62.0				60.0	66.2		66.2	$12,355	$779	$11,576
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

Frequently Asked Questions about Dena'ina Elementary School

What schools do graduates of Dena'ina Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Dena'ina Elementary School usually go on to attend:

High : Joe Redington Senior Junior/Senior High School

How many students attend Dena'ina Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 396 students attended Dena'ina Elementary School.

Is Dena'ina Elementary School a good school?

Dena'ina Elementary School ranks 65^th of 166 Alaska elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What district is Dena'ina Elementary School in?

Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District

What is the racial makeup of Dena'ina Elementary School?

Students at Dena'ina Elementary School are 56% White, 24% Two or more races, 11% American Indian, 9% Hispanic.

Rate Dena'ina Elementary School!

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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.