University Park Elementary

University Park Elementary, a mid-tier primary school in Fairbanks, Alaska, operated by Fairbanks North Star Borough School District, caters to 361 students, covering grades pre-K through 5. Compared to the state average of about 277 students per school, that is 30% bigger than typical.

Fairbanks North Star Borough School District comprises 34 schools with combined enrollment of 12,214 students; University Park Elementary is among them.

On demographics, University Park Elementary logs that the most-represented group is White (48%), with the rest of the student body spread across multiple groups. Other groups include 22% multiracial, 16% Native American, 10% Hispanic, 2% Asian. That is meaningfully less White than the county at large, where the share is closer to 69%.

On the resource side, On paper, University Park Elementary has 21 full-time-equivalent teachers, translating to a class-load average of around 17.2:1. The state averages around 15.3:1, so this campus is higher than the state norm typical. Roughly 36% of students at University Park Elementary qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a commonly cited indicator of low-income enrollment.

On a residual basis (actual vs predicted given the student mix), University Park Elementary tracks the demographic baseline. The model predicts 41.0% given the school's FRL share; actual proficiency is 31.7%.

In the broader community, the surrounding county (Fairbanks North Star Borough) shows that median household earnings sit near $88,267, about 33% of the adult population holds a bachelor's degree or above, and roughly 3% of residents live below the federal poverty line. Across Fairbanks North Star Borough's 39 public schools (combined enrollment of about 23,777 students), University Park Elementary is one campus in the mix.

The closest other public school is Effie Kokrine Charter School, roughly 0.2 miles away. Within five miles, there are 8 other public schools.

The campus sits in a metropolitan setting.

Looking at the recent track record. University Park Elementary's enrollment has edged down 24% since 2018, when it stood at 475 (now 361). The White share of enrollment ticked down from 55% to 48% over that span.

On this page, the feed for University Park Elementary typically covers school events, parent volunteer needs, and clubs. Parents, students, alumni, and staff are welcome to weigh in.