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ENROLLMENT TRENDS · ALASKA

Alaska schools in decline

Alaska public schools with the largest enrollment loss from 2017-18 to 2024-25.

Schools in this report
50
steepest declines in state
Largest drop
-51%
Sterling Elementary
Range
-51% to -27%
2017-18 → 2024-25
TOP 50 AK PUBLIC SCHOOLS BY ENROLLMENT LOSS · 2017-18 → 2024-25
SchoolCityDistrict2017-182024-25% change ↑
Sterling ElementarySTERLINGKenai Peninsula Borough School District232114-50.9%
Lake Hood ElementaryANCHORAGEAnchorage School District364185-49.2%
Alpenglow ElementaryEAGLE RIVERAnchorage School District516278-46.1%
Sand Lake ElementaryANCHORAGEAnchorage School District654367-43.9%
Nikiski North Star ElementaryKENAIKenai Peninsula Borough School District368214-41.8%
Kincaid ElementaryANCHORAGEAnchorage School District541322-40.5%
Fire Lake ElementaryEAGLE RIVERAnchorage School District326195-40.2%
Rabbit Creek ElementaryANCHORAGEAnchorage School District478288-39.7%
Lake Otis ElementaryANCHORAGEAnchorage School District435264-39.3%
Turnagain ElementaryANCHORAGEAnchorage School District406247-39.2%
Eagle River ElementaryEAGLE RIVERAnchorage School District427266-37.7%
Ocean View ElementaryANCHORAGEAnchorage School District454285-37.2%
North Pole ElementaryNORTH POLEFairbanks North Star Borough School District487312-35.9%
Rogers Park ElementaryANCHORAGEAnchorage School District549354-35.5%
Baxter ElementaryANCHORAGEAnchorage School District362239-34.0%
Delta Junction Senior High SchoolDELTA JUNCTIONDelta/Greely School District190126-33.7%
Arctic Light ElementaryFORT WAINWRIGHTFairbanks North Star Borough School District538361-32.9%
Glennallen Jr/Sr High SchoolGLENNALLENCopper River School District12886-32.8%
Akiuk Memorial SchoolKASIGLUKLower Kuskokwim School District10873-32.4%
Midnight Sun Elementary SchoolNORTH POLEFairbanks North Star Borough School District476322-32.4%
Keet Gooshi Heen ElementarySITKASitka School District405275-32.1%
Chinook ElementaryANCHORAGEAnchorage School District536365-31.9%
XOOTS ELEMENTARY SCHOOLSITKASitka School District201137-31.8%
William H. Seward Elementary SchoolSEWARDKenai Peninsula Borough School District300205-31.7%
Whaley SchoolANCHORAGEAnchorage School District433298-31.2%
Fawn Mountain ElementaryKETCHIKANKetchikan Gateway Borough School District305210-31.1%
Kiana SchoolKIANANorthwest Arctic Borough School District13291-31.1%
Point Higgins SchoolKETCHIKANKetchikan Gateway Borough School District295204-30.8%
Taku ElementaryANCHORAGEAnchorage School District373258-30.8%
Russian Jack ElementaryANCHORAGEAnchorage School District367254-30.8%
Kali SchoolPOINT LAYNorth Slope Borough School District10875-30.6%
Ticasuk Brown ElementaryFAIRBANKSFairbanks North Star Borough School District504351-30.4%
Fred Ipalook ElementaryUTQIAGVIKNorth Slope Borough School District704494-29.8%
Spring Hill ElementaryANCHORAGEAnchorage School District414291-29.7%
Juneau Community Charter SchoolJUNEAUJuneau Borough School District10171-29.7%
Anthony A. Andrews SchoolST. MICHAELBering Strait School District159112-29.6%
Sand Point SchoolSAND POINTAleutians East Borough School District12085-29.2%
Wonder Park ElementaryANCHORAGEAnchorage School District405287-29.1%
Fort Yukon SchoolFORT YUKONYukon Flats School District10776-29.0%
Swanson ElementaryPALMERMatanuska-Susitna Borough School District488348-28.7%
Gladys Wood ElementaryANCHORAGEAnchorage School District374267-28.6%
Chester Valley ElementaryANCHORAGEAnchorage School District267191-28.5%
Craig ElementaryCRAIGCraig City School District11482-28.1%
Dillingham ElementaryDILLINGHAMDillingham City School District250180-28.0%
Airport Heights ElementaryANCHORAGEAnchorage School District333240-27.9%
North Star ElementaryANCHORAGEAnchorage School District439317-27.8%
Bayshore ElementaryANCHORAGEAnchorage School District468338-27.8%
Klatt ElementaryANCHORAGEAnchorage School District407294-27.8%
Meadow Lakes ElementaryWASILLAMatanuska-Susitna Borough School District425308-27.5%
Aniguiin SchoolELIMBering Strait School District12490-27.4%
50 of 50 rows · Brick-and-mortar only. Virtual, online, and cyber schools excluded. Schools must have had ≥100 students in 2017-18 and be open in both school years.↓ Download schools-in-decline-by-state-ak.csv

How this list was built

Every Alaska public school that reported total enrollment in both the NCES SY 2017-18 and SY 2024-25 vintages was scored on percent change in enrollment. Schools needed at least 100 students in 2017-18 to qualify, and must have been open in both school years. Schools that closed entirely are tracked in the separate school closures report. Virtual academies, cyber charters, and online schools are excluded so the list reflects neighborhood schools that families have moved away from rather than program-design changes.

Enrollment loss is not a verdict on a school. Schools shrink because catchment populations shrink, because new schools open nearby, because a magnet program elsewhere pulls transfers, because districts redraw boundaries, or because the building physically aged out. Use this list as a starting point for understanding which Alaska schools are operating with substantially fewer students than they were seven years ago.

Source data

NCES Common Core of Data, EDGE_ADMINDATA_PUBLICSCH MapServer, vintages 2017-18 and 2024-25. Refreshed yearly when NCES publishes a new admin-data release. School names, slugs, and current district affiliation come from the 2024-25 snapshot.

HOW TO CITE THIS REPORT

Anyone is welcome to cite or republish these findings. Please credit allk12.com and link back to this page so readers can verify the underlying data.

allk12 (2026). "Alaska schools in decline: enrollment loss 2017–2024." Retrieved from https://allk12.com/reports/in-decline/alaska
For interview requests or custom data pulls: [email protected]
DOWNLOAD THE DATA
↓ schools-in-decline-by-state-ak.csv
RELATED
Alaska schools on the rise · All Alaska schools · Best Alaska schools · All states
DATA NOTICE

allk12 is independent and not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by NCES, the US Census Bureau, any state education agency or assessment program, or any other government agency. Source data is compiled from public records and provided "as is," without warranty of accuracy or completeness. You rely on it, and any analysis derived from it, at your own risk. See the full disclaimer.