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Barrow AlaskaPhoto: Andrei from New York City/Juneau, U.S.A. · CC BY 2.0
C
Schools in Utqiaġvik · North Slope Borough School District

Utqiaġvik’s public schools score below 75% of Alaska districts on tests and graduation

Reading proficiency in Utqiaġvik’s districts is 7%, below the Alaska average (29%). The grade covers the public school district serving Utqiaġvik, 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.

K–12Where will my kid go?

From Alaska state tests taken in spring 2022, when 88% 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
7%
▼ 22 pts vs AK 29%
2021–22
Math proficiency
6%
▼ 17 pts vs AK 23%
2021–22
Graduate on time
70–74%
▼ 4–8 pts vs AK 78%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$46.5K
▲ 120% vs AK $21.1K
FY2024
Students per teacher
11.4
AK 15.7 · smaller classes
Schools in town
4
967 students on the public path
In brief

Utqiaġvik’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 64 Alaska towns with household incomes within a quarter of Utqiaġvik’s, its schools beat 3%, lower than their 25% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 7% of tested students were proficient in reading and 6% in math, against 29% and 23% statewide; 88% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

70–74% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 78% across Alaska (the state reports Utqiaġvik’s rate as a range). Districts ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $46,456 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 6 the district’s path is Eben Hopson Middle School, then Barrow High School. Enrollment is down 13% since 2020–21. See the path ↓

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 Utqiaġvik’s grade

C− Test scoresC Graduation

C: better than 25% of Alaska school districts, #40 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 25%
Lower resultsHigher results
Alaska towns with similar household incomes (64)Better than 3%
C−C+A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 930 test results and a graduating class of 142 could put Utqiaġvik anywhere from C− to C+. The tests are from spring 2022, when 88% of Utqiaġvik’s students in the tested grades sat them (917 in math, 942 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
PK–5Fred Ipalook ElementaryNorth Slope Borough School DistrictC−
6–8Eben Hopson Middle SchoolNorth Slope Borough School DistrictC
9–12Barrow High SchoolNorth Slope Borough School DistrictC−

Utqiaġvik’s public schools are run by North Slope Borough School District, which also serves Anaktuvuk Pass, Atqasuk, Kaktovik and Nuiqsut 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.

North Slope Borough School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 11 schools · 1,853 students, down 13% since 2020–21 · 11.4 per teacher (AK 15.7)
$46,456AK $21,070 · FY2024
C
Test scores · 2021–22

Well below the state in reading

Reading7%
State average 29.4% · 942 students tested
Math6%
State average 22.8% · 917 students tested

Utqiaġvik vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
UtqiaġvikCNorth Slope Borough

Every school in Utqiaġvik

4 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 Utqiaġvikby address
Fred Ipalook Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Utqiagvik
C−
494 students15:1Rate it →
Eben Hopson Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Utqiagvik
C
214 students15:1Rate it →
Barrow High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Utqiagvik
C−
259 students13:1Rate it →
Other district programsby referral or application
Kiita Learning Community
High · Grades 9–12 · Utqiagvik
Alternative Education
39 students10:1Rate it →

Questions about Utqiaġvik’s schools

Are Utqiaġvik’s schools good?

On Alaska’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Utqiaġvik children attend score below 75% of Alaska’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C Schools grade. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 3%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Utqiaġvik in?

North Slope Borough School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 1,853 students in 11 schools (2024–25).

Where do Utqiaġvik kids go to high school?

Barrow High School in Utqiagvik, with 259 students; its own test results earn a C−.

What is Utqiaġvik’s graduation rate?

70–74% of the class of 2023 in North Slope Borough School District graduated in four years, against 78% across Alaska.

How much does Utqiaġvik spend per student?

$46,456 in North Slope Borough School District (FY2024), against $21,070 across Alaska. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Utqiaġvik families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Utqiaġvik → 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.