Best Middle Schools in Zip Code 99762

Middle Schools in zip code 99762 consist of just one school, Anvil City Science Academy, which serves grades 5–8 in Nome, Alaska, within the Nome Public Schools district, with a small enrollment of 60 students and a 12.7:1 student-teacher ratio. Because there is only one middle school in this area, this analysis focuses entirely on Anvil City Science Academy's performance relative to its district and the state of Alaska. The school stands out dramatically within its district, surpassing Nome Public Schools by wide margins in every core subject: math proficiency is 43.3% versus an 18.2% district average, science is 44.8% versus 25.6%, and English language arts is 36.7% versus 17.9%.

Statewide, Anvil City Science Academy performs above the Alaska state average in math and science, and slightly above in ELA. In 2025–2026, math proficiency was 43.3% compared to a 32.2% state average, science was 44.8% versus 37.8%, and ELA was 36.7% versus 32.9%. The school's ranking has also improved recently, moving from 55th among Alaska middle schools in 2024–2025 to 37th in 2025–2026, placing it in the 59th percentile with a 3-star rating. However, it is important to note that the Nome Public Schools district overall ranks in the bottom half of Alaska districts (22nd percentile, 1 star), making Anvil City Science Academy a clear academic bright spot within a struggling district.

One striking finding is that Anvil City Science Academy serves a 100% free/reduced lunch population, often an indicator of high economic need, yet still beats state averages in all three tested subjects. The strongest results come from 7th and 8th grade math, with 53.3% proficiency in both grades, and 8th grade science at 46.7%. Meanwhile, 5th grade performance is weaker, with math at 26.7% and ELA at 33.3%, both below state averages, which may point to a need for additional support when students enter the school. Year-over-year data shows ELA and science improved from 2024–2025 to 2025–2026, while math dipped slightly. Due to the very small enrollment—roughly 15 students per grade—individual grade results can shift easily with one or two students, so school-level figures are more reliable than grade-level breakdowns. Overall, Anvil City Science Academy offers a promising academic profile, especially in STEM subjects, despite its high-poverty population and small size.