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Fairbanks B.E.S.T.

Q: Is Fairbanks B.E.S.T. a good school?

Fairbanks B.E.S.T. ranks 64 th of 175 Alaska alternative schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public, Virtual, Alternative Grades PK, KG-12

64^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 175 Alaska Alternative Schools

Better than 63% of Alaska alternative schools

Summary

Fairbanks B.E.S.T. is an alternative public virtual school serving grades PK-12 in the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District in Alaska, with 940 students. This relatively large alternative school consistently outperforms the district and state averages in academic proficiency across various subjects and grade levels, including science, English language arts, and mathematics. For example, in the 2024-2025 school year, Fairbanks B.E.S.T. is projected to have 31.03% of students proficient or better in science, compared to 43.52% for the district and 37.87% for the state.

Another notable characteristic of Fairbanks B.E.S.T. is its low percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, at just 0.37% in the 2022-2023 school year. This is significantly lower than the district and state averages, which may suggest the school is attracting a different demographic of students. However, the school has an extremely high student-teacher ratio, with 470 students per teacher in the 2023-2024 school year, which is much higher than the district and state averages. This high ratio could be a contributing factor to the school's academic performance, as smaller class sizes and more individualized instruction are often associated with better student outcomes.

When compared to other alternative schools in the region, such as Interior Distance Education of Alaska, Raven School, and Alternative Learning Systems, Fairbanks B.E.S.T. stands out as a high-performing alternative school, consistently outperforming its peers in academic proficiency. However, the school's extremely high student-teacher ratio may be a potential area of concern that could impact its ability to provide personalized support to its students.

784

Students ?

784.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

$8,068

Per pupil spending ?

0.4%

Free/discounted lunch ?

397 Hamilton Avenue
Fairbanks, AK 99701-4756

(907) 452-2000

District: Fairbanks North Star Borough School District

Racial breakdown:

White:

62.9%

Two or more races:

16.6%

Hispanic:

10.3%

See top rated Alaska elementary schools

Compare Fairbanks B.E.S.T. to nearby alternative schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 90th percentile in 2021 → 13th in 2025

Strengths

✓Above the Alaska median (63rd percentile)

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 77 percentile points since 2021

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

!Large classes — about 784 students per teacher

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school33%

District avg37%

Alaska avg33%

Elementary school

64^th of 175

Alaska public elementary schools ?

Top 37%▲ up 20 pts since 2015

From bottom 43% (2015) to top 37% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Alaska Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

Middle school

49^th of 94

Alaska public middle schools ?

Bottom 48%▼ down 32 pts since 2015

From top 21% (2015) to bottom 48% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Alaska Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

High school

52^nd of 60

Alaska public high schools ?

Bottom 13%▼ down 47 pts since 2015

From top 39% (2015) to bottom 13% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Alaska High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

15^th of 24Fairbanks North Star 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)

Elementary school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2025	61.8	64 of 175	63.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	64.1	60 of 173	65.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	80.1	23 of 176	86.9%	★★★★☆
2021	73.0	42 of 173	75.7%	★★★★☆
2019	40.6	114 of 185	38.4%	★★☆☆☆
2018	56.1	78 of 186	58.1%	★★★☆☆
2017	75.7	33 of 180	81.7%	★★★★☆
2015	42.0	139 of 246	43.5%	★★☆☆☆
2014	35.5	155 of 218	28.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	30.6	165 of 227	27.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	22.9	176 of 223	21.1%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2021	76.0	24 of 142	83.1%	★★★★☆
2019	69.0	40 of 159	74.8%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2025	64.8	44 of 139	68.3%	★★★☆☆
2021	53.9	56 of 127	55.9%	★★★☆☆
2019	25.0	125 of 147	15.0%	★☆☆☆☆

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2025	47.5	49 of 94	47.9%	★★★☆☆
2024	61.3	33 of 91	63.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	80.8	11 of 92	88.0%	★★★★☆
2022	95.9	2 of 95	97.9%	★★★★★
2021	87.6	8 of 84	90.5%	★★★★★
2019	35.5	66 of 99	33.3%	★★☆☆☆
2018	56.7	42 of 96	56.3%	★★★☆☆
2017	76.2	13 of 88	85.2%	★★★★☆
2015	73.3	31 of 151	79.5%	★★★★☆
2014	39.6	73 of 138	47.1%	★★☆☆☆
2013	74.0	36 of 136	73.5%	★★★★☆
2012	37.2	78 of 135	42.2%	★★☆☆☆
2011	42.0	74 of 133	44.4%	★★☆☆☆
2010	17.4	102 of 136	25.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	32.1	81 of 131	38.2%	★★☆☆☆
2007	45.4	70 of 128	45.3%	★★☆☆☆
2006	52.8	66 of 132	50.0%	★★★☆☆
2005	50.4	67 of 138	51.4%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2025	57.2	28 of 72	61.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	70.9	15 of 69	78.3%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2025	73.6	13 of 68	80.9%	★★★★☆
2021	96.8	1 of 62	98.4%	★★★★★

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2025	45.7	37 of 70	47.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	35.1	51 of 74	31.1%	★★☆☆☆
2021	81.6	5 of 58	91.4%	★★★★★

High school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2025	19.7	52 of 60	13.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	97.8	1 of 62	98.4%	★★★★★
2019	66.0	27 of 77	64.9%	★★★☆☆
2018	56.9	34 of 74	54.1%	★★★☆☆
2017	45.3	49 of 83	41.0%	★★☆☆☆
2015	60.2	53 of 135	60.7%	★★★☆☆
2014	81.0	20 of 139	85.6%	★★★★☆
2013	72.6	35 of 148	76.4%	★★★★☆
2012	67.3	48 of 136	64.7%	★★★☆☆
2011	67.5	41 of 142	71.1%	★★★★☆
2010	56.3	57 of 140	59.3%	★★★☆☆
2009	69.1	47 of 151	68.9%	★★★☆☆
2008	43.2	77 of 151	49.0%	★★☆☆☆
2007	47.4	69 of 139	50.4%	★★★☆☆
2006	50.2	67 of 135	50.4%	★★★☆☆
2005	49.0	65 of 116	44.0%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2023	94.1	2 of 54	96.3%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2023	97.4	2 of 47	95.7%	★★★★★

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alaska percentile	Rating
2023	71.5	11 of 47	76.6%	★★★★☆
2019	40.7	41 of 56	26.8%	★★☆☆☆

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)

Elementary school

Male (2021)83rd percentile+7 vs school

White (2025)68th percentile+5 vs school

Middle school

Male (2025)81st percentile+33 vs school

Female (2025)61st percentile+13 vs school

White (2025)47th percentile~ school

High school

Female (2023)96th percentile~ school

Male (2023)96th percentile-3 vs school

White (2023)77th percentile-22 vs school

By subject vs Alaska (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts38%+5 vs state

Science31%-7 vs state

Mathematics29%-4 vs state

★

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Schools Near Fairbanks B.E.S.T.

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking ()				Ranking ()				STAR English Language Arts (2025)								STAR Mathematics (2025)								ASA Science (2025)				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	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score ()	Statewide Rank ()	State Percentile ()	SchoolDigger Rating ()	Average Standard Score ()	Statewide Rank ()	State Percentile ()	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 9th 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 9th Grade	STAR Mathematics All Grades	ASA Science 5th Grade	ASA Science 8th Grade	ASA Science 10th Grade	ASA Science All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Alternative Learning Systems	Public, Alternative	PK, KG-12	397 Hamilton Avenue	Fairbanks	99701	Fairbanks North Star Borough	Fairbanks North Star Borough School District	No	No	No	No	(907) 452-2000	184	12	15.6		74 (40.2%)	9 (4.9%)	16 (8.7%)	3 (1.6%)	41 (22.3%)	2 (1.1%)	39 (21.2%)								(n/a)																			25.0	21.1	$14,448	$693	$13,754
Fairbanks B.E.S.T.	Public, Virtual, Alternative	PK, KG-12	397 Hamilton Avenue	Fairbanks	99701	Fairbanks North Star Borough	Fairbanks North Star Borough School District	No	No	Yes	No	(907) 452-2000	784	1	784.0		493 (62.9%)	6 (0.8%)	81 (10.3%)	32 (4.1%)	39 (5.0%)	3 (0.4%)	130 (16.6%)								(n/a)		44.4		54.6	33.3	50.0	27.3	37.9		44.4		36.4	36.4	30.0		28.6		40.0	27.3	31.0	$8,068	$693	$7,374
Interior Distance Education of Alaska (IDEA)	Public, Alternative	PK, KG-12	2157 Van Horn Rd	Fairbanks	99701	Fairbanks North Star Borough	Galena City School District	No	No	No	No	(907) 374-2200	7,876	66	118.7		5,744 (72.9%)	91 (1.2%)	254 (3.2%)	85 (1.1%)	794 (10.1%)	92 (1.2%)	816 (10.4%)								(n/a)	50.7	44.9	52.8	53.1	51.3	56.1	62.8	53.3	38.2	33.3	45.7	32.1	46.9	41.0	28.6	38.0	66.7	49.1	70.8	59.7
Raven School	Public, Alternative	PK, KG-12	4762 Old Airport Way	Fairbanks	99709	Fairbanks North Star Borough	Yukon-Koyukuk School District	No	No	No	No	(907) 357-9573	3,687	30	123.9		2,259 (61.3%)	82 (2.2%)	179 (4.9%)	59 (1.6%)	567 (15.4%)	148 (4.0%)	393 (10.7%)								(n/a)	31.7	35.3	36.8	56.3	35.5	43.3	46.9	40.3	26.8	44.1	37.5	36.4	40.0	24.2	13.8	32.1	50.0	39.3	32.4	40.4	$5,756	$05	$5,751

Frequently Asked Questions about Fairbanks B.E.S.T.

How many students attend Fairbanks B.E.S.T.?

In the 2024-25 school year, 784 students attended Fairbanks B.E.S.T..

What is the racial makeup of Fairbanks B.E.S.T.?

Students at Fairbanks B.E.S.T. are 63% White, 17% Two or more races, 10% Hispanic, 5% American Indian, 4% Asian.

What district is Fairbanks B.E.S.T. in?

Fairbanks North Star Borough School District

Is Fairbanks B.E.S.T. a good school?

Fairbanks B.E.S.T. ranks 64^th of 175 Alaska alternative schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Rate Fairbanks B.E.S.T.!

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Schools in Fairbanks, AK

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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.