Best High Schools in Zip Code 99611

Zip code 99611, serving the Kenai, Alaska area, contains three high schools spanning grades 7 through 12 and totaling 578 students, all part of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District. Kenai Central High School is the dominant comprehensive school with 525 students (90.8% of high schoolers in the zip code), while Kenai Alternative High School serves 45 students and Marathon School serves only 8 students in a 7–12 non-traditional setting.

The three schools differ dramatically in outcomes and student demographics. Kenai Central reports a 94% graduation rate, far above the district’s 85%, and is the only school with usable test score data. It performs above state averages in English language arts but only 19.2% of its students are proficient in math—a gap of roughly 19 points below the district and 13 points below the state. Kenai Alternative, by contrast, has a 71.1% free/reduced lunch rate and a 30.4% graduation rate, though its low 9.8 student-teacher ratio offers a more individualized environment than Kenai Central’s 17.7 ratio. Marathon School has the lowest ratio at 4.5 and reports a 100% graduation rate, but this figure is based on only 8 students and is not statistically meaningful.

For parents, the key takeaway is that high school quality in 99611 is highly uneven and strongly tied to school mission. Kenai Central is the academic anchor, with an improving state rank (#34 of 62 in 2025–2026) and a solid reading record, but its math proficiency is a clear red flag. Kenai Alternative serves a much higher-need population and struggles with extremely low graduation rates, despite smaller class sizes. Marathon School appears personalized and supportive, but its tiny size makes any comparison unreliable. Since 90% of local students attend Kenai Central, that school effectively defines the zip code’s reputation, while the alternative and satellite schools require a closer look at individual student needs rather than simple performance rankings.