Fred Ipalook Elementary

Fred Ipalook Elementary is an elementary school located in Utqiagvik, Alaska, serving grades PK-5 with a total enrollment of 529 students. The school is part of the North Slope Borough School District, which is ranked 22 out of 24 districts in Alaska and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Despite the school's relatively high per-student spending of $34,915 and low student-teacher ratio, Fred Ipalook Elementary consistently ranks in the bottom 20% of Alaska elementary schools, with its students performing significantly below the state and district averages on standardized tests across all grade levels and subject areas. For example, in the 2024-2025 school year, only 15.18% of Fred Ipalook students were proficient or better in English Language Arts, compared to the state average of 32.69% and the district average of 7.46%. Similarly, in Mathematics, only 30% of Fred Ipalook students were proficient or better, compared to the state average of 32.18% and the district average of 11.46%.

The data suggests that the school's persistent academic challenges may not be solely due to funding or resource allocation, but rather may be influenced by the unique needs of its student population, which includes a high percentage of students from low socioeconomic backgrounds. While these factors may contribute to the school's academic performance, it is important to avoid making any implication that the school's racial makeup is related to its performance. The data indicates that Fred Ipalook Elementary requires more targeted and specialized interventions to address the specific needs of its students and improve academic outcomes.