Summary:
In zip code 99835 (Sitka, Alaska), there is exactly one middle school, Blatchley Middle School, serving grades 6 through 8 with an enrollment of 241 students. This school is a standout performer within the state, consistently ranking in the top quarter of Alaska middle schools and benefiting from membership in the top-ranked Sitka School District.
Blatchley has earned strong rankings year after year: it placed 19th out of 90 Alaska middle schools in 2025–2026 (79th percentile, 4 stars), 10th out of 94 the prior year (89th percentile, 5 stars), and 24th out of 91 in 2023–2024 (74th percentile, 4 stars). In the most recent testing year, proficiency rates far exceeded state averages: 52.26% in English language arts versus 32.89% statewide, 51.49% in math versus 32.20%, and 50.00% in science versus 37.81%. However, a clear pattern emerges within the school: 7th grade proficiency dips noticeably compared to 6th and 8th grades. For example, 6th grade ELA proficiency is 60%, but 7th grade is just 41.38%, while 8th grade recovers to 53.95%. A similar dip occurs in math, suggesting a possible “middle-year slump” or cohort-specific challenge worth monitoring.
Blatchley outperforms its own district averages in all-subject ELA and math results, and it appears to be the sole middle school provider in the Sitka School District for 7th and 8th grade tested subjects, as grade-level district scores exactly match the school’s numbers. One notable trend is a sharp decline in math and science proficiency from 2024–2025 to 2025–2026: math fell by 14.14 points and science by 10.47 points, while ELA improved by 2.71 points. This could be a one-year fluctuation due to cohort changes or assessments, but it deserves attention. With about 30.71% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch, Blatchley also demonstrates strong academic outcomes despite meaningful economic diversity, posting results far above Alaska state averages in every subject.
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