Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives
Middle· 96 schools in district

Mirror Lake Middle School

22901 Lake Hill Dr, Chugiak, AK 99567Anchorage School District →
Federal DataRegular SchoolGrades 06–08Non-Charter
563
Students
Total enrolled
$18,698
Per-Pupil Spend
Nat'l avg $14,347
↑ 30% vs nat'l
19.6 : 1
Student:Teacher
Nat'l avg 15.4:1
↑ 28% vs nat'l
41/100
Opportunity Score
Neighborhood outcomes
↓ 19% vs nat'l
⇄ Compare with another school
Mid-sized public school
Serves 563 students in grades 06–08 in Chugiak, Alaska.
30% above average funding
District spends $18,698 per pupil, 30% more than the national average of $14,347.
Below-median opportunity
Children from this neighborhood historically reach the 41th income percentile as adults, per Harvard/Census Opportunity Atlas data.
About This School

Mirror Lake Middle School is a large middle in Chugiak, Alaska, serving grades 06–08 with 563 students. The district invests $18,698 per student — 30% above the national average of $14,347, with a 19.6:1 student-teacher ratio near the national norm. With only 21% of students on free or reduced-price lunch, the school primarily serves an economically stable community.

Student Body & Demographics at Mirror Lake Middle School

563
Total Students
19.6 : 1
Student:Teacher
21%
Free Lunch
29
Teacher FTE
Grade Range
PK
K
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Highlighted grades (06–08) are served by this school
Gender Distribution282 male · 281 female
50%
50%
Male 50%Female 50%
Free / Reduced Lunch Eligibility21%
National avg 52% · 118 students
Student Composition
69%
8%
15%
Asian3%
White69%
Hispanic / Latino8%
Black1%
Multiracial15%
Native American4%
Pacific Islander1%
NCES Common Core of Data · Race/ethnicity self-reported · NCES ID: 020018000229

Academic Outcomes at Mirror Lake Middle School

Neighborhood Opportunity Score
41
/ 100
Below-median opportunity

Children from modest-income families in this neighborhood reach the 41th income percentile as adults. This school is in the 32th percentile nationally.

0 — Low50 — MedianHigh — 100
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census) · Census tract · ZIP 99567

School Resources & Funding

Per-Pupil Expenditure$18,698Above avg
National avg $14,347
Per-Pupil Spending Comparison
This school
$18,698
State avg
$36,093
National avg
$14,347
How School Funding Is Typically Spent
44%
19%
12%
15%
Instruction$8,227
Student Support$3,553
Administration$2,244
Operations$2,805
Other$1,870
Estimated using national average spending distribution (NCES) · School-level breakdowns not publicly reported
Of the $18,698 spent per student, an estimated $8,283 (~44%) goes directly to classroom instruction.
Where Funding Comes From
54%
28%
State government
54.1%
Local (property tax)
27.8%
Federal programs
18.1%
NCES F-33 Finance Survey · District-level data applied to this school
Strengths & Considerations
Strengths
  • Above-average funding — $18,698/student vs $14,347 nationally
  • Low economic disadvantage rate — only 21% of students on free or reduced lunch
  • Traditional public school — open enrollment, no application process required
Strengths and considerations are derived from federal data thresholds — not editorial judgements. See data sources below.
K–12 Pathway in District
Elementary
Northern Lights ABC K-8 SchoolBowman ElementarySand Lake ElementaryAurora Elementary
+8 more
↓
Middle
Nicholas J. Begich Middle SchoolClark Middle SchoolMears Middle SchoolRomig Middle School
+3 more
↓
High School
West High SchoolBettye Davis East Anchorage High SchoolService High SchoolDimond High School
+4 more
School Profile
TypeRegular School
LevelMiddle
Grades06 – 08
Location—
CountyAnchorage Municipality
CharterNo
VirtualNo
DistrictAnchorage School District →
Phone: (907)742-3500
NCES ID: 020018000229
Who Is This School For?

Best suited for families in Chugiak seeking a public middle school, especially those prioritizing above-average resources and classroom investment. We always recommend an in-person visit and a conversation with current families before making any enrollment decision.

More in Anchorage School District
High
West High School
1,763 students · 09–12
● 46 opp40% FRL
High
Bettye Davis East Anchorage High School
1,745 students · 09–12
● 39 opp71% FRL
Other
Family Partnership Charter School
1,740 students · KG–12
● 23 opp0% FRL
High
Service High School
1,544 students · 09–12
● 41 opp28% FRL
High
Dimond High School
1,443 students · 09–12
● 42 opp25% FRL
High
Bartlett High School
1,373 students · 09–12
64% FRL
High
South Anchorage High School
1,318 students · 09–12
● 44 opp13% FRL
High
Chugiak High School
905 students · 09–12
● 41 opp19% FRL
District School Rankings
Location
22901 Lake Hill Dr, Chugiak, AK 99567
Data Sources & Transparency
Enrollment & Profile
NCES Common Core of Data. Grades, enrollment, demographics, school characteristics. Updated annually.
Funding & Spending
NCES F-33 Finance Survey. District-level spending data. School-level breakdowns are not publicly reported.
Graduation Rate
EDFacts Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR). High schools only. Small cohorts may be range-coded for privacy.
Opportunity Score
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census Bureau). Census tract outcomes for children born in the 1980s.
Fact-Based Rankings
Best-school rankings are computed from federal metrics only — enrollment, per-pupil spending, student-teacher ratio, opportunity score, and graduation rate. No editorial opinion or paid placements.
Equity Data (Coming Soon)
AP access, counselor ratios, and chronic absenteeism from the CRDC will be added in a future update.

Questions to Ask on Your School Visit

Research shows the most important factors are invisible in the data. Here is what to ask when you visit.

Middle
1
How does the school support the transition from elementary?
Orientation programs, peer mentoring
2
What electives and clubs are available?
Arts, STEM, sports, extracurriculars
3
How are students grouped for core subjects?
Tracking policies can affect equity
4
What is the school's homework and study policy?
Look for balance and academic support
5
How is bullying and social pressure addressed?
Anti-bullying policies, counselor availability
6
What advanced or enrichment options exist?
Honors courses, gifted programs
7
What does the school do with student performance data?
How data is used to personalize instruction
8
How would you describe teacher retention here?
High turnover can disrupt continuity of learning
9
What's the culture around student diversity and inclusion?
How differences are celebrated and managed

Frequently Asked Questions

About this school and the data on this page

About This Data

All figures on this page come directly from US federal open datasets — NCES Common Core of Data, EDFacts, and the Opportunity Atlas — and we work hard to keep them accurate and up to date. That said, federal data is published on an annual cycle, so some figures may not yet reflect the very latest school-year changes or local updates. We recommend using this page as a helpful starting point and cross-checking with the school or district directly, or visiting the NCES Common Core of Data and ed.gov for the most authoritative figures before making any important decisions.