Tanana Middle School

Tanana Middle School serves 523 students in grades 6–8 in Fairbanks, AK, as part of the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District. It currently ranks 70th out of 90 Alaska middle schools (22nd percentile, 1-star rating). Proficiency rates are 32.2% in English language arts, 29.7% in math, and 35.8% in science—all slightly below district and state averages. About 35% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.

Among local schools, Tanana Middle School outranks North Pole Middle School and Ryan Middle School in overall state percentile but clearly trails Randy Smith Middle School. It actually bested North Pole Middle School in both ELA and math on the latest tests. Science is its clearest weakness, with proficiency about eight points behind the two stronger local schools. Grade-level patterns add nuance: 8th graders meet or beat district and state averages in math and ELA, while 6th and 7th graders lag—especially in 7th grade math, where only 25.3% of students are proficient, the lowest among the four local middle schools. Tanana also has the highest student-teacher ratio of the group (18.6) and spends less per student than Randy Smith Middle School or Ryan Middle School.

Tanana’s performance has also been volatile. In 2022–23, it exceeded state averages in ELA and science before sliding over the following two years and then partially rebounding. Outcomes are uneven across student groups: military-connected students rank at the very bottom statewide, while female, low-income, and multiracial students sit in low percentiles; Asian students are a relative bright spot. Given the Fairbanks area’s substantial military population, the military-connected result is especially worth attention. The bottom line: Tanana has real pockets of strength, especially at 8th grade, but has not achieved the consistent upward trend of Randy Smith Middle School.