Best Public Schools in Zip Code 99926

ZIP code 99926 is served by three public schools in Metlakatla, Alaska — Richard Johnson Elementary (PK-5), Charles R. Leask Senior Middle School (6-8), and Metlakatla High School (9-12) — which together enroll roughly 301 students in the Annette Island School District, a system ranked near the bottom of Alaska. These are small, high-poverty schools with very low student-teacher ratios, yet every campus falls in the bottom 20th percentile of its school type statewide.

Across the three schools, Richard Johnson Elementary is the clear academic leader: it is the only school that beats district averages in ELA (29.41% proficient), math (25.49%), and science (28.57%), though those scores still trail state levels. The biggest concern is Charles R. Leask Senior Middle School, where ELA proficiency is just 5.66% — nearly six times lower than the state average — making it a significant drag on the district. Metlakatla High School has the weakest state ranking (5th percentile) and low test scores in ELA and science, but it does report a solid four-year graduation rate of 86.3%, a standout positive in an otherwise struggling picture.

All three schools spend generously — between $28,000 and $38,000 per student — and maintain student-teacher ratios below 10, yet proficiency remains very low, suggesting that money and small classes alone are not enough; targeted literacy and math support is critical. Science is the relative strength across the district but remains below state averages, and because enrollment is so small, year-to-year proficiency swings can be dramatic. In short, families in this area face a consistently low-performing K-12 system, but Richard Johnson Elementary stands out as the strongest option, and Metlakatla High School’s graduation rate offers some encouragement even as academic mastery lags.