Guest, Sign inJoin

Post to Ketchikan

We’ll email a one-tap link to publish your post. No password, and nothing is public until you click it.
Already a member? Sign in
Creek Street Historic DistrictCreek Street Historic District · Photo: Jerzystrzelecki · CC BY 3.0
B+
Schools in Ketchikan · Ketchikan Gateway Borough School District

Ketchikan’s public schools outscore 67% of Alaska districts

The grade covers the public school district serving Ketchikan, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Reading proficiency in Ketchikan’s districts is 33%, above the Alaska average (29%). Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Alaska, not nationally.

#20of 41 Alaska townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Alaska state tests taken in spring 2022, when 92% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
33%
▲ 4 pts vs AK 29%
2021–22
Math proficiency
25%
▲ 2 pts vs AK 23%
2021–22
Graduate on time
80–84%
▲ 2–6 pts vs AK 78%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$25.1K
▲ 19% vs AK $21.1K
FY2024
Students per teacher
13.5
AK 15.7 · smaller classes
Schools in town
6
1,113 students on the public path
In brief

Ketchikan’s schools, in brief

Above the state on both counts

Reading proficiency is 33% and math 25% in spring 2022, against 29% and 23% statewide; 80–84% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 78%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $25,131 per student, against $21,070 across Alaska (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

One elementary school, then one middle and one high school

From grade 7 the district’s path is Schoenbar Middle School, then Ketchikan High School. Enrollment is down 5% since 2020–21. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

Ketchikan Charter School and Tongass School of Arts and Sciences Charter School are in town. Fast Track, an online school, is based here too; it isn’t counted as a local school. Every school ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Ketchikan’s grade

B+ Test scoresB+ Graduation

B+: better than 67% of Alaska school districts, #20 of 41 Alaska towns. Test scores and graduation are both above the Alaska average; graduation is the stronger of the two.

Alaska school districts we grade (48)Better than 67%
Lower resultsHigher results
Alaska towns with similar household incomes (118)Better than 64%
BA−A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 1,088 test results and a graduating class of 162 could put Ketchikan anywhere from B to A−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 92% of Ketchikan’s students in the tested grades sat them (1,089 in math, 1,086 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Ketchikan, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
PK–6Houghtaling ElementaryKetchikan Gateway Borough School DistrictB
7–8Schoenbar Middle SchoolKetchikan Gateway Borough School DistrictB−
9–12Ketchikan High SchoolKetchikan Gateway Borough School DistrictB+

Ketchikan’s public schools are run by Ketchikan Gateway Borough School District, which also serves Saxman. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

The district

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Ketchikan Gateway Borough School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 9 schools · 2,043 students, down 5% since 2020–21 · 13.5 per teacher (AK 15.7)
$25,131AK $21,070 · FY2024
B+
Test scores · 2021–22

Above the state in reading

Reading33%
State average 29.4% · 1086 students tested
Math25%
State average 22.8% · 1089 students tested

Ketchikan vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Alaska towns that share Ketchikan’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
KetchikanB+Ketchikan Gateway Borough

Every school in Ketchikan

7 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Alaska’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

District schools in Ketchikanby address
Houghtaling Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–6
B
310 students12:1Rate it →
Schoenbar Middle School
Middle · Grades 7–8
B−
252 students13:1Rate it →
Ketchikan High School
High · Grades 9–12
B+
551 students20:1Rate it →
Other district programsby referral or application
Revilla Jr/Sr High School
High · Grades 7–12
B−
Alternative Education
110 students10:1Rate it →
Charter schoolsfree, open by application
Ketchikan Charter School
Elementary · Grades K–8
B
Charter
190 students15:1Rate it →
Tongass School of Arts and Sciences Charter School
Elementary · Grades PK–6
A−
Charter
140 students15:1Rate it →
Online schools based in Ketchikannot counted as local schools
Fast Track
Grades K–12
A−
Online
76 studentsRate it →

Questions about Ketchikan’s schools

Are Ketchikan’s schools good?

By Alaska’s own tests, yes: the public schools Ketchikan children attend outscore 67% of Alaska’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B+ Schools grade, #20 of 41 Alaska towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 64%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Ketchikan in?

Ketchikan Gateway Borough School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 2,043 students in 9 schools (2024–25).

Where do Ketchikan kids go to high school?

Ketchikan High School, with 551 students; its own test results earn a B+.

What is Ketchikan’s graduation rate?

80–84% of the class of 2023 in Ketchikan Gateway Borough School District graduated in four years, against 78% across Alaska.

How much does Ketchikan spend per student?

$25,131 in Ketchikan Gateway Borough School District (FY2024), against $21,070 across Alaska. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Ketchikan families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Ketchikan → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Alaska. Stars are from neighbors.