Total enrollment
4,654
-525 (-10%) vs SY 2017-18
Bethel Census Area
Alaska · Public K-12
Of the 41 public K-12 schools in Bethel Census Area, the largest district by enrollment is Lower Kuskokwim School District (3,866 students). Total county enrollment runs around 4,697. That works out to 6 elementary and 5 high schools.
7-year change in Bethel Census Area
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
38
-2 (-5%) vs SY 2017-18
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Residents
18,394
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
41
3 districts
Enrollment
4,697
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$73,996
Below Alaska avg
Free/reduced lunch
93.5%
Above Alaska avg
Elementary
6
909 students
Middle
0
schools
High
5
592 students
Combined / other
30
3,196 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
Lower Kuskokwim School District
3,866 students · 3 districts in Bethel Census Area
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Bethel Census Area residents (Census ACS 5-year). Right bar is the enrollment-weighted makeup of public schools in the county (NCES CCD). NCES systematically under-reports Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment for many schools; where the resident share is meaningful but the reported school share is zero, we mark the school bar "not reported".
County residents
School enrollment
Bachelor's+
12.8%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
22.0%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
15.9%
civilian labor
Median age
29
34.7% under 18
Test scores in Bethel Census Area
Latest 2023-24 ELA proficiency, 3 schools ranked. Alaska state average: 35.2%.
Top 3 schools (ELA)
- Bethel Regional High School· 9.2%
- Ayaprun Elitnaurvik· 8.7%
- Gladys Jung Elementary· 7.0%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bethel Regional High School | Bethel | High | 07-12 | 410 | · |
| Gladys Jung Elementary | Bethel | Elementary | 03-06 | 309 | · |
| Mikelnguut Elitnaurviat | Bethel | Elementary | PK-02 | 261 | · |
| Ket'acik/Aapalluk Memorial School | Kwethluk | Combined | PK-12 | 255 | · |
| Akiachak School | Akiachak | Combined | KG-12 | 254 | · |
| Chief Paul Memorial School | Kipnuk | Combined | PK-12 | 222 | · |
| Ayaprun Elitnaurvik | Bethel | Elementary | PK-08 | 203 | · |
| Ayagina'ar Elitnaurvik | Kongiganak | Combined | PK-12 | 184 | · |
| Kuinerrarmiut Elitnaurviat | Quinhagak | Combined | PK-12 | 175 | · |
| Nelson Island Area School | Toksook Bay | Combined | PK-12 | 171 | · |
| Anna Tobeluk Memorial School | Nunapitchuk | Combined | PK-12 | 167 | · |
| Akiak School | Akiak | Combined | KG-12 | 135 | · |
| Chaputnguak School | Chefornak | Combined | PK-12 | 133 | · |
| Tuluksak School | Tuluksak | Combined | KG-12 | 133 | · |
| Z. John Williams Memorial School | Napaskiak | Combined | PK-12 | 132 | · |
| Lewis Angapak Memorial School | Tuntutuliak | Combined | PK-12 | 131 | · |
| Joann A. Alexie Memorial School | Atmautluak | Combined | PK-12 | 121 | · |
| Akula Elitnaurvik School | Kasigluk | Combined | PK-12 | 118 | · |
| Kwigillingok School | Kwigillingok | Combined | PK-12 | 112 | · |
| Paul T. Albert Memorial School | Tununak | Combined | PK-12 | 102 | · |
| Eek School | Eek | Combined | PK-12 | 98 | · |
| Negtemiut Elitnaurviat School | Nightmute | Combined | PK-12 | 83 | · |
| Mertarvik School | Mertarvik | Combined | PK-12 | 82 | · |
| William Miller Memorial School | Napakiak | Combined | PK-12 | 78 | · |
| Akiuk Memorial School | Kasigluk | Combined | PK-12 | 73 | · |
| Rocky Mountain School | Goodnews Bay | Combined | PK-12 | 72 | · |
| George Morgan Sr. H.S. | Kalskag | High | 06-12 | 64 | · |
| Auntie Mary Nicoli Elementary | Aniak | Elementary | PK-05 | 53 | · |
| Aniak Jr/Sr High School | Aniak | High | 06-12 | 50 | · |
| Kuskokwim Learning Academy | Bethel | High | 09-12 | 49 | · |
| Joseph S. & Olinga Gregory Elementary | Kalskag | Elementary | PK-02 | 46 | · |
| Nuniwarmiut School | Mekoryuk | Combined | PK-12 | 43 | · |
| Zackar Levi Elementary | Lower Kalskag | Elementary | 03-05 | 37 | · |
| Ayaprun School | Newtok | Combined | PK-12 | 33 | · |
| Johnnie John Sr. School | Crooked Creek | Combined | PK-12 | 22 | · |
| Qugcuun Memorial School | Oscarville | Combined | PK-12 | 20 | · |
| Bethel Youth Facility | Bethel | High | 05-12 | 19 | · |
| Jack Egnaty Sr. School | Sleetmute | Combined | PK-12 | 19 | · |
| Crow Village Sam School | Chuathbaluk | Combined | PK-12 | 18 | · |
| Arviq School | Platinum | Combined | KG-12 | 10 | · |
| Gusty Michael School | Stony River | Combined | PK-12 | 0 | · |
Cities in Bethel Census Area
Bethel6 schoolsAniak2 schoolsKalskag2 schoolsKasigluk2 schoolsAkiachak1 schoolAkiak1 schoolAtmautluak1 schoolChefornak1 schoolChuathbaluk1 schoolCrooked Creek1 schoolEek1 schoolGoodnews Bay1 schoolKipnuk1 schoolKongiganak1 schoolKwethluk1 schoolKwigillingok1 schoolLower Kalskag1 schoolMekoryuk1 schoolMertarvik1 schoolNapakiak1 schoolNapaskiak1 schoolNewtok1 schoolNightmute1 schoolNunapitchuk1 schoolOscarville1 schoolPlatinum1 schoolQuinhagak1 schoolSleetmute1 schoolStony River1 schoolToksook Bay1 schoolTuluksak1 schoolTuntutuliak1 schoolTununak1 school
About Bethel Census Area
In Alaska, Bethel Census Area is a low-population county of about 18,394 residents. 41 public schools across the county teaches about 4,697 students between them.
In context, census numbers show the median household earns about $73,996 a year, roughly 13% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and roughly 22% of residents live below the federal poverty line. That income level is 10% below the Alaska median.
In terms of grade levels, Bethel Census Area comprises 6 elementary schools (909 students), 5 high schools (592), and 30 combined or other schools.
Lower Kuskokwim School District is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 3,866 students across Bethel Census Area.
Looking at the last 7 years. Combined enrollment now sits at 4,654 students, shrank 10% from the 5,179 reported in SY 2017-18. The school count fell from 40 to 38 across the same 7-year window.
Within the allk12 community for this area, the community for Bethel Census Area discusses comparison threads between local schools and program reviews. Posts come from current and former families, staff, and alumni.
Frequently asked questions
Bethel Census Area school rankings
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data