Summary:
Zip code 99684, encompassing the remote community of Unalakleet, Alaska, contains just one school—Unalakleet School—a PK–12 alternative school in the Bering Strait School District with 173 students and a 10.1 student–teacher ratio.
As the only school in the area, Unalakleet School serves as both the local elementary, middle, and high school, making it the automatic focal point for families. Its most striking feature is how dramatically it outperforms its district peers: in the 2025–2026 school year, the school posted 23.38% proficiency in English language arts, 16.88% in math, and 17.65% in science, compared with district-wide rates of 6.43%, 5.98%, and 8.18%, respectively. Although these numbers trail Alaska’s state averages, several grade-level subjects actually beat the state, including 4th grade ELA (42.86% vs. 33.68% statewide) and 3rd grade math (37.5% vs. 33.66%). The school also boasts a perfect 100% graduation rate for 2024–2025, far exceeding the district’s 73.1%. With 63% of students qualifying for free/reduced lunch and per-pupil spending of $36,225, the school clearly directs substantial resources toward a small, high-need population.
Year-over-year trends are mixed. ELA proficiency improved from 20.51% to 23.38%, and science edged up from 16.22% to 17.65%, but math dropped sharply from 24.36% to 16.88%—a decline worth watching. Because cohorts are small, these percentages can swing with just a few students, so families should interpret them with caution. Overall, Unalakleet School stands out as a relative bright spot within rural Alaska: it dramatically outpaces its district in test scores and graduation, offers a low student–teacher ratio and high spending, and shows that in a remote, high-poverty setting, the school is successfully moving most students to graduation even as statewide proficiency remains a challenge.
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