Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives
Middle· 96 schools in district

Wendler Middle School

2905 Lake Otis rkwy, Anchorage, AK 99508Anchorage School District
Federal DataRegular SchoolGrades 0708Non-Charter
422
Students
Total enrolled
$18,698
Per-Pupil Spend
Nat'l avg $14,347
30% vs nat'l
16.0 : 1
Student:Teacher
Nat'l avg 15.4:1
~avg
39/100
Opportunity Score
Neighborhood outcomes
22% vs nat'l
Mid-sized public school
Serves 422 students in grades 07–08 in Anchorage, 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 39th income percentile as adults, per Harvard/Census Opportunity Atlas data.
About This School

Wendler Middle School is a mid-sized middle in Anchorage, Alaska, serving grades 07–08 with 422 students. The district invests $18,698 per student — 30% above the national average of $14,347, with a 16.0:1 student-teacher ratio near the national norm. About 60% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a mixed-income student body. A neighborhood opportunity score of 39/100 — below the national median of 50 — is worth factoring into a fuller picture of long-term student outcomes.

Student Body & Demographics at Wendler Middle School

422
Total Students
16.0 : 1
Student:Teacher
60%
Free Lunch
26
Teacher FTE
Grade Range
PK
K
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Highlighted grades (0708) are served by this school
Gender Distribution227 male · 195 female
54%
46%
Male 54%Female 46%
Free / Reduced Lunch Eligibility60%
National avg 52% · 253 students
Student Composition
14%
19%
16%
19%
16%
11%
Asian14%
White19%
Hispanic / Latino16%
Black5%
Multiracial19%
Native American16%
Pacific Islander11%
NCES Common Core of Data · Race/ethnicity self-reported · NCES ID: 020018000119

Academic Outcomes at Wendler Middle School

Neighborhood Opportunity Score
39
/ 100
Below-median opportunity

Children from modest-income families in this neighborhood reach the 39th income percentile as adults. This school is in the 24th percentile nationally.

0 — Low50 — MedianHigh — 100
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census) · Census tract · ZIP 99508

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
  • 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.
School Profile
TypeRegular School
LevelMiddle
Grades07 – 08
Location
CountyAnchorage Municipality
CharterNo
VirtualNo
Phone: (907)742-7300
NCES ID: 020018000119
Who Is This School For?

Best suited for families in Anchorage 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.

Location
2905 Lake Otis rkwy, Anchorage, AK 99508
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.