Big Lake Elementary

Located at Mile 4.5 South Big Lake Rd, in Big Lake, Alaska, Big Lake Elementary is a mid-sized elementary school that instructs 362 students (grades pre-K through 5), part of Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District. That puts it 31% bigger than the typical public school in Alaska, which averages around 277 students.

Within Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District, which oversees 49 schools and 19,495 students, Big Lake Elementary is one campus in the system.

On the student-mix side, Big Lake Elementary records that White students make up the majority at 61%. Beyond that, the school reports 18% multiracial, 11% Native American, 8% Hispanic. By comparison, Matanuska-Susitna Borough as a whole is about 77% White, so the school skews considerably less White than its surroundings.

In terms of school funding signals, Staff filings list 22 full-time-equivalent teachers, which works out to roughly 16.2:1 students per teacher. That figure is higher than the state norm's 15.3:1 average. Roughly 62% of students at Big Lake Elementary qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a number frequently used as a low-income enrollment indicator. By comparison, Matanuska-Susitna Borough runs at roughly 45%, so the school's eligibility rate is above the surrounding baseline.

After controlling for student poverty, Big Lake Elementary sits in the middle band of the BeatsExpectations distribution. Schools with this campus's student mix typically land near 32.0%; this one delivers 40.9%.

In the broader community, community-level numbers for Matanuska-Susitna Borough indicate median household income runs about $94,031, 24% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the poverty rate sits near 7%. Big Lake Elementary is one of 49 public schools in Matanuska-Susitna Borough (combined enrollment of about 19,495 students).

Nearest neighbor: Houston Middle School, around 3.6 miles off. Counting just inside five miles, 3 other public schools cluster around Big Lake Elementary.

The school occupies a rural site.

Over the past 7-year window. Looking back 7 years, enrollment at Big Lake Elementary has decreased 9%, going from 398 students in 2018 to 362 in 2025. The White share of enrollment decreased from 72% to 61% over that span.

Inside the community feed, the page collects discussion, questions, and updates around classroom updates, athletics, and weather closures. Parents, students, alumni, and staff are welcome to weigh in.