Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives
Elementary· 47 schools in district

Academy Charter School

801 East Arctic, Palmer, AK 99645Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District →
Federal DataRegular SchoolGrades KG–08Charter
261
Students
Total enrolled
$18,753
Per-Pupil Spend
Nat'l avg $14,347
↑ 31% vs nat'l
14.2 : 1
Student:Teacher
Nat'l avg 15.4:1
↓ 8% vs nat'l
36/100
Opportunity Score
Neighborhood outcomes
↓ 29% vs nat'l
⇄ Compare with another school
Small public school
Serves 261 students in grades KG–08 in Palmer, Alaska.
31% above average funding
District spends $18,753 per pupil, 31% more than the national average of $14,347.
Below-median opportunity
Children from this neighborhood historically reach the 36th income percentile as adults, per Harvard/Census Opportunity Atlas data.
About This School

Academy Charter School is a mid-sized elementary in Palmer, Alaska, serving grades KG–08 with 261 students. The district invests $18,753 per student — 31% above the national average of $14,347, with a 14.2:1 student-teacher ratio near the national norm. With only 1% of students on free or reduced-price lunch, the school primarily serves an economically stable community. A neighborhood opportunity score of 36/100 — below the national median of 50 — is worth factoring into a fuller picture of long-term student outcomes.

Student Body & Demographics at Academy Charter School

261
Total Students
14.2 : 1
Student:Teacher
1%
Free Lunch
18
Teacher FTE
Grade Range
Highlighted grades (KG–08) are served by this school
Gender Distribution122 male · 139 female
47%
53%
Male 47%Female 53%
Free / Reduced Lunch Eligibility1%
National avg 52% · 3 students
Student Composition
77%
11%
Asian1%
White77%
Hispanic / Latino7%
Multiracial11%
Native American4%
NCES Common Core of Data · Race/ethnicity self-reported · NCES ID: 020051000311

Academic Outcomes at Academy Charter School

Neighborhood Opportunity Score
36
/ 100
Below-median opportunity

Children from modest-income families in this neighborhood reach the 36th income percentile as adults. This school is in the 11th percentile nationally.

0 — Low50 — MedianHigh — 100
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census) · Census tract · ZIP 99645

School Resources & Funding

Per-Pupil Expenditure$18,753Above avg
National avg $14,347
Per-Pupil Spending Comparison
This school
$18,753
State avg
$36,093
National avg
$14,347
How School Funding Is Typically Spent
44%
19%
12%
15%
Instruction$8,251
Student Support$3,563
Administration$2,250
Operations$2,813
Other$1,875
Estimated using national average spending distribution (NCES) · School-level breakdowns not publicly reported
Of the $18,753 spent per student, an estimated $8,308 (~44%) goes directly to classroom instruction.
Where Funding Comes From
63%
23%
State government
62.7%
Local (property tax)
22.6%
Federal programs
14.7%
NCES F-33 Finance Survey · District-level data applied to this school
Strengths & Considerations
Strengths
  • Above-average funding — $18,753/student vs $14,347 nationally
  • Low economic disadvantage rate — only 1% of students on free or reduced lunch
  • Charter school — may offer specialized curriculum or alternative teaching approaches
Worth Considering
  • Below-median neighborhood opportunity score (36/100) — national median is 50
Strengths and considerations are derived from federal data thresholds — not editorial judgements. See data sources below.
K–12 Pathway in District
Elementary
John Shaw ElementaryPioneer Peak ElementaryFred and Sara Machetanz Elementary SchoolCottonwood Creek Elementary
+13 more
↓
Middle
Colony Middle SchoolTeeland Middle SchoolWasilla Middle SchoolPalmer Middle School
+1 more
↓
High School
Colony High SchoolWasilla High SchoolPalmer High SchoolMat-Su Career & Tech Ed High School
+2 more
School Profile
TypeRegular School
LevelElementary
GradesKG – 08
Location—
CountyMatanuska-Susitna Borough
CharterYes
VirtualNo
DistrictMatanuska-Susitna Borough School District →
Phone: (907)746-2358
NCES ID: 020051000311
Who Is This School For?

Best suited for families in Palmer seeking a charter elementary 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 Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District
Other
Mat-Su Central School
2,254 students · KG–12
● 36 opp0% FRL
High
Colony High School
1,117 students · 09–12
● 36 opp29% FRL
High
Wasilla High School
848 students · 09–12
● 36 opp35% FRL
High
Palmer High School
760 students · 09–12
● 36 opp33% FRL
High
Mat-Su Career & Tech Ed High School
743 students · 09–12
● 36 opp24% FRL
Mid
Colony Middle School
735 students · 06–08
● 36 opp31% FRL
Mid
Teeland Middle School
719 students · 06–08
● 36 opp41% FRL
Mid
Wasilla Middle School
610 students · 06–08
● 36 opp44% FRL
District School Rankings
Location
801 East Arctic, Palmer, AK 99645
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.

Elementary
1
How is early reading and literacy taught?
Look for evidence-based, structured approaches
2
How does the school communicate with families?
Frequency, channels, translation support
3
What support exists for students who fall behind?
Tutoring, intervention programs, IEPs
4
What's the average class size here?
National avg is ~23 for elementary
5
What before/after-school programs are available?
Important for working parents
6
How is student social-emotional wellbeing supported?
Counselors, community circles, conflict resolution
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.