#1Petersburg
unincorporated, Petersburg Borough · 3,227 peopleSchools grade, graded within the state·Overall A · #1 of 41 in AK
Petersburg, #1 on this list · Photo: John Bortniak · Public domainAlaska rankings · Schools
Towns with the best schools in Alaska
Petersburg ranks first on schools among Alaska’s 41 towns of 2,500+; 16 of the 41 grade A− or better (schools are graded within each state).
The Schools grade: state test results and graduation rates of the districts serving each town, compared with the state’s other districts (U.S. Department of Education). How grades work
#1A+
#2Unalaska
Aleutians West Census Area · 4,306 peopleSchools grade, graded within the state·Overall A− · #2 of 41 in AK
#3Sitka
Sitka City and Borough · 8,319 peopleSchools grade, graded within the state·Overall A− · #3 of 41 in AK
All 41 towns
Schools grade, best first (graded within Alaska). Towns with the same score share a rank (T = tied; 30 towns here); the overall grade and state rank are beside each.
41 towns ranked. Not here? See why a town may be missing.
#TownGradeOverall
1Petersburgunincorporated, Petersburg Borough · 3,227 peopleA+graded within the state·Overall A · #1 of 41
T4Big Lakeunincorporated, Matanuska-Susitna Borough · 3,585 peopleA−graded within the state·Overall C · #29 of 41
T4Butteunincorporated, Matanuska-Susitna Borough · 4,085 peopleA−graded within the state·Overall B− · #19 of 41
T4Farm Loopunincorporated, Matanuska-Susitna Borough · 2,894 peopleA−graded within the state·Overall B · #12 of 41
T4Fishhookunincorporated, Matanuska-Susitna Borough · 5,819 peopleA−graded within the state·Overall C+ · #27 of 41
T4Gatewayunincorporated, Matanuska-Susitna Borough · 6,845 peopleA−graded within the state·Overall B · #10 of 41
T4Knik-Fairviewunincorporated, Matanuska-Susitna Borough · 19,972 peopleA−graded within the state·Overall C · #31 of 41
T4Meadow Lakesunincorporated, Matanuska-Susitna Borough · 8,689 peopleA−graded within the state·Overall C− · #35 of 41
T4North Lakesunincorporated, Matanuska-Susitna Borough · 10,223 peopleA−graded within the state·Overall C+ · #22 of 41
T4South Lakesunincorporated, Matanuska-Susitna Borough · 6,180 peopleA−graded within the state·Overall B · #8 of 41
T4Tanainaunincorporated, Matanuska-Susitna Borough · 9,646 peopleA−graded within the state·Overall C+ · #21 of 41
T18Mill Bayunincorporated, Kodiak Island Borough · 3,654 peopleB+graded within the state·Overall C · #34 of 41
T21Kalifornskyunincorporated, Kenai Peninsula Borough · 8,663 peopleB+graded within the state·Overall B− · #17 of 41
T21Nikiskiunincorporated, Kenai Peninsula Borough · 4,773 peopleB+graded within the state·Overall C− · #36 of 41
T21Sterlingunincorporated, Kenai Peninsula Borough · 6,323 peopleB+graded within the state·Overall B · #9 of 41
T29Badgerunincorporated, Fairbanks North Star Borough · 18,677 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall C · #33 of 41
T29Chena Ridgeunincorporated, Fairbanks North Star Borough · 5,881 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall B− · #15 of 41
T29Collegeunincorporated, Fairbanks North Star Borough · 11,924 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall B · #13 of 41
T29Eielson AFBunincorporated, Fairbanks North Star Borough · 3,155 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall C · #32 of 41
T29Esterunincorporated, Fairbanks North Star Borough · 2,752 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall C+ · #25 of 41
T29FairbanksFairbanks North Star Borough · 31,468 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall C− · #38 of 41
T29Farmers Loopunincorporated, Fairbanks North Star Borough · 4,954 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall B+ · #6 of 41
T29Goldstreamunincorporated, Fairbanks North Star Borough · 3,294 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall B · #7 of 41
T29Steele Creekunincorporated, Fairbanks North Star Borough · 5,928 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall B+ · #5 of 41
Quick answers
Questions people ask
Which Alaska town has the best schools?
Petersburg (Petersburg Borough) ranks first on schools among 41 towns, with an A+; Unalaska and Sitka follow. Schools are compared within Alaska, so the letter is a state grade.
How are these towns ranked?
The Schools grade: state test results and graduation rates of the districts serving each town, compared with the state’s other districts (U.S. Department of Education). Towns are sorted on the grade’s score; the letter and rank are the same as on each town’s page. How grades work.
Why isn’t my town on this list?
The list covers towns of 2,500+ residents with a schools grade (41 in Alaska). Smaller towns have the grade on their page but no rank. Every town is on the Alaska page.
Go deeper
All Alaska rankings →More Alaska lists
Every list ranks the same 2,500+ towns, so a town’s rank means the same thing on each.
Best places to live41 towns · #1 PetersburgBest small towns33 towns · #1 PetersburgMost affordable towns41 towns · #1 KotzebueSafest towns18 towns · #1 UnalaskaHealthiest towns41 towns · #1 Chena RidgeBest towns for jobs & income41 towns · #1 Steele CreekMost walkable towns41 towns · #1 SitkaTowns with the lowest natural-hazard risk41 towns · #1 UtqiaġvikBest towns for the outdoors41 towns · #1 AnchorageMost historic towns41 towns · #1 KetchikanTowns with the most civic life17 towns · #1 SewardTowns with the least snow35 towns · #1 KetchikanDescribed, no lettersSnowiest towns35 towns · #1 ValdezDescribed, no lettersTowns with the mildest winters41 towns · #1 SitkaDescribed, no lettersTowns with the hottest summers41 towns · #1 GoldstreamDescribed, no lettersTowns with the coolest summers41 towns · #1 UtqiaġvikDescribed, no lettersTowns with the highest incomes41 towns · #1 GatewayDescribed, no lettersTowns with the lowest property taxes39 towns · #1 KotzebueDescribed, no lettersFastest-growing towns19 towns · #1 WasillaDescribed, no letters
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