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Aerial view of Kotzebue 2013Photo: Petty Officer 1st Class Shawn Eggert · Public domain
C
Schools in Kotzebue · Northwest Arctic Borough School District

Kotzebue’s public schools score below 71% of Alaska districts on tests and graduation

Math proficiency in Kotzebue’s districts is 3%, below the Alaska average (23%). The grade covers the public school district serving Kotzebue, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Alaska, not nationally.

#39of 41 Alaska townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Alaska state tests taken in spring 2022, when 89% 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
5%
▼ 24 pts vs AK 29%
2021–22
Math proficiency
3%
▼ 20 pts vs AK 23%
2021–22
Graduate on time
75–79%
▼ 1–3 pts vs AK 78%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$44.1K
▲ 109% vs AK $21.1K
FY2024
Students per teacher
15.9
AK 15.7
Schools in town
3
626 students on the public path
In brief

Kotzebue’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 74 Alaska towns with household incomes within a quarter of Kotzebue’s, its schools beat 11%, lower than their 29% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 5% of tested students were proficient in reading and 3% in math, against 29% and 23% statewide; 89% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

75–79% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 78% across Alaska (the state reports Kotzebue’s rate as a range). Districts ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $44,063 per student, against $21,070 across Alaska (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

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 Kotzebue’s grade

C− Test scoresB− Graduation

C: better than 29% of Alaska school districts, #39 of 41 Alaska towns. Both inputs trail the Alaska average; graduation is the closer of the two to typical.

Alaska school districts we grade (48)Better than 29%
Lower resultsHigher results
Alaska towns with similar household incomes (74)Better than 11%
C−C+A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 962 test results and a graduating class of 136 could put Kotzebue anywhere from C− to C+. The tests are from spring 2022, when 89% of Kotzebue’s students in the tested grades sat them (953 in math, 970 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
PK–122 schoolsDepends on your addressC−

Kotzebue’s public schools are run by Northwest Arctic Borough School District, which also serves Ambler, Buckland, Deering and Kiana and others. 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.

Northwest Arctic Borough School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 13 schools · 1,945 students, down 5% since 2020–21 · 15.9 per teacher (AK 15.7)
$44,063AK $21,070 · FY2024
C
Test scores · 2021–22

Well below the state in reading

Reading5%
State average 29.4% · 970 students tested
Math3%
State average 22.8% · 953 students tested

Kotzebue vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
KotzebueCNorthwest Arctic Borough

Every school in Kotzebue

3 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 Kotzebueby address
June Nelson Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5
C−
302 students16:1Rate it →
NWABSD Home School
Grades K–12
25 students25:1Rate it →
Kotzebue Middle/High School
High · Grades 6–12
C
299 students17:1Rate it →

Questions about Kotzebue’s schools

Are Kotzebue’s schools good?

On Alaska’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Kotzebue children attend score below 71% of Alaska’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C Schools grade, #39 of 41 Alaska towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 11%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Kotzebue in?

Northwest Arctic Borough School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 1,945 students in 13 schools (2024–25).

What is Kotzebue’s graduation rate?

75–79% of the class of 2023 in Northwest Arctic Borough School District graduated in four years, against 78% across Alaska.

How much does Kotzebue spend per student?

$44,063 in Northwest Arctic Borough School District (FY2024), against $21,070 across Alaska. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Kotzebue families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Kotzebue → 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.