Photo: Malcolm Manners · CC BY 2.0South Lakes’s public schools outscore 77% of Alaska districts
26% of students in South Lakes’s public schools are proficient in math, above the Alaska average (23%). The grade covers the public school district serving South Lakes, 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.
From Alaska state tests taken in spring 2022, when 78% 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.
South Lakes’s schools, in brief
Above the state on both counts
Reading proficiency is 32% and math 26% in spring 2022, against 29% and 23% statewide; 85% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 78%. Test scores ↓
Spending and class size
The district spends $17,238 per student, against $21,070 across Alaska (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓
Two elementary schools, then ten middle schools
Which school depends on the address at every step. Enrollment is up 7% since 2020–21. See the path ↓
Choice beyond the district
Birchtree Charter School and Knik Charter School are in town. Knik Charter Correspondence School, 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.
What’s behind South Lakes’s grade
A−: better than 77% of Alaska school districts, #4 of 41 Alaska towns. Test scores and graduation are both above the Alaska average; graduation is the stronger of the two.
Where will my kid go?
Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve South Lakes, with each school’s own grade.
Pre-K in South Lakes · depends on your address
Pioneer Peak Elementary
Grades PK–5 · 449 students · 15:1 students per teacher · in Palmer
Cottonwood Creek Elementary
Grades PK–5 · 422 students · 16:1 students per teacher · in Wasilla
Kindergarten in South Lakes · depends on your address
Pioneer Peak Elementary
Grades PK–5 · 449 students · 15:1 students per teacher · in Palmer
Cottonwood Creek Elementary
Grades PK–5 · 422 students · 16:1 students per teacher · in Wasilla
1st grade in South Lakes · depends on your address
Pioneer Peak Elementary
Grades PK–5 · 449 students · 15:1 students per teacher · in Palmer
Cottonwood Creek Elementary
Grades PK–5 · 422 students · 16:1 students per teacher · in Wasilla
2nd grade in South Lakes · depends on your address
Pioneer Peak Elementary
Grades PK–5 · 449 students · 15:1 students per teacher · in Palmer
Cottonwood Creek Elementary
Grades PK–5 · 422 students · 16:1 students per teacher · in Wasilla
3rd grade in South Lakes · depends on your address
Pioneer Peak Elementary
Grades PK–5 · 449 students · 15:1 students per teacher · in Palmer
Cottonwood Creek Elementary
Grades PK–5 · 422 students · 16:1 students per teacher · in Wasilla
4th grade in South Lakes · depends on your address
Pioneer Peak Elementary
Grades PK–5 · 449 students · 15:1 students per teacher · in Palmer
Cottonwood Creek Elementary
Grades PK–5 · 422 students · 16:1 students per teacher · in Wasilla
5th grade in South Lakes · depends on your address
Pioneer Peak Elementary
Grades PK–5 · 449 students · 15:1 students per teacher · in Palmer
Cottonwood Creek Elementary
Grades PK–5 · 422 students · 16:1 students per teacher · in Wasilla
South Lakes’s public schools are run by Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District, which also serves Houston, Palmer and Wasilla. 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.
Above the state in reading
South Lakes vs. its neighbors
Schools grades for the Alaska towns that share South Lakes’s borders.
| Town | Schools | Main districts |
|---|---|---|
| South Lakes | A− | Matanuska-Susitna Borough |
| Wasilla | A− | Matanuska-Susitna Borough |
Every school in South Lakes
15 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).
Questions about South Lakes’s schools
Are South Lakes’s schools good?
By Alaska’s own tests, yes: the public schools South Lakes children attend outscore 77% of Alaska’s school districts on tests and graduation, an A− Schools grade, #4 of 41 Alaska towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 75%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.
What school district is South Lakes in?
Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 19,495 students in 49 schools (2024–25).
What is South Lakes’s graduation rate?
85% of the class of 2023 in Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District graduated in four years, against 78% across Alaska.
How much does South Lakes spend per student?
$17,238 in Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District (FY2024), against $21,070 across Alaska. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.
Parents talk
What South Lakes families are saying about school.
Looking for colleges? Colleges near South Lakes → 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.