Summary:
ZIP code 99687 in Wasilla, AK, is served by two public elementary schools — Dena'ina Elementary School and Knik Elementary School — both part of the Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District, with no middle schools, high schools, or alternative schools listed in the immediate area. Combined, they serve 659 elementary students across grades PK-5 at Dena'ina and K-5 at Knik. Both schools are strong performers: they rank nearly tied at 65th and 66th out of 166 Alaska schools, both hold 3-star ratings, and both beat Alaska state averages in every reported subject.
The two schools sit just one position apart in state rank, but they have very different academic profiles. Dena'ina is the standout in science (65.22% proficient vs. Knik's 58.43% and the state's 37.81%) and in upper-elementary performance, particularly fifth-grade math (68.18% vs. Knik's 46.07%). Knik, meanwhile, takes the edge in overall math (48.19% all-grade proficiency vs. Dena'ina's 44.97% and the state's 32.20%) and has shown steady improvement in state ranking over three years — moving from 88th to 84th to 66th — while Dena'ina jumped from 95th to 56th before slipping to 65th.
Grade-level data reveal different strengths: Dena'ina's third-grade scores are well below state averages, but by fifth grade its students soar well above them; Knik has notably strong third-grade math (52.44% vs. Dena'ina's 24.19%) but is more modest in upper grades. Both schools serve similar economically disadvantaged populations (about 46-48% free or reduced-price lunch), and English language arts is the relative weak point at both, coming in above the state but slightly below the district average. Families in ZIP 99687 should note that secondary education options lie outside this ZIP code's school list.
Thank you for your feedback!