Stikine Middle School

Stikine Middle School is a very small public school in Wrangell, Alaska, serving just 59 students in grades 6–8, with roughly 20 students per grade. It is part of the Wrangell Public School District, one of Alaska's highest-ranked districts, yet Stikine's own statewide ranking has been highly volatile — climbing to among Alaska's top 10 middle schools with a 5-star rating in 2024–2025, then falling to the lower third of schools a year later. Because the school is so small, these dramatic swings are driven largely by the performance of a handful of students in each grade cohort, rather than broad changes in teaching quality or school climate.

In the most recent testing year, Stikine students scored slightly above Alaska statewide averages in English language arts (35% proficient vs. 33% statewide) and math (33% vs. 32%), but well below their own district averages, particularly in math. The biggest concern is the current 8th-grade class, where just 20% of students are proficient in both ELA and math — sharply below state averages and clearly the main reason for the school's recent drop in ranking. By contrast, the current 7th-grade cohort is performing well above state averages in both subjects, which suggests the school's overall numbers could rebound strongly next year as that class moves into 8th grade.

The school's most consistent strengths show up in its work with students who historically face the largest achievement gaps. Low-income students at Stikine have repeatedly ranked among the top 10–15% of comparable schools statewide, and results for Native American students have earned multiple 4- and 5-star ratings in recent years. With no other schools within 20 miles, Stikine is the only middle school option in this remote Southeast Alaska community, so for parents the takeaway is to look past any single star rating. This is a small school with real strengths in supporting underserved students and a high-performing 7th-grade class that offers cause for optimism, even as its overall ranking may continue to fluctuate from year to year.