Education in Alaska

Education in Alaska is provided through locally governed public school districts, a statewide university system and tribal and community colleges. In 2022 the state had 502 public schools in 53 school districts serving 131,587 students. Because Alaska has no counties, school districts are organized by boroughs, cities and rural educational attendance areas, and the state pays the full cost of schools in unincorporated areas [1][2][3].

Public School System

In 2022 Alaska had 502 public schools, 53 districts, 131,587 students and 7,459 teachers, a ratio of about 18 students per teacher compared with the national 16. The graduation rate was 80 percent in 2018–19, up from 71.8 percent in 2012–13 [1]. Schooling is compulsory through high school and run by local boards [2].

Governance

The State Board of Education and Early Development has nine members appointed by the governor and appoints the education commissioner, subject to the governor’s approval. It sets academic standards and high school graduation requirements, approves school construction projects and regulates Title I programs. Districts are overseen by locally elected school boards of five to 11 members who serve three-year staggered terms [1].

Kinds of Districts

There are 15 borough districts, 20 city districts and 19 Regional Educational Attendance Areas (REAAs), which serve politically unorganized rural areas. The Anchorage School District is the largest, with 43,363 students in 2023–24 [1]. Organized boroughs must operate schools, while cities in boroughs generally cannot [4].

Funding

Per-pupil spending was $18,313 in 2020, compared with a national figure of $13,494. In fiscal year 2013 about 67.1 percent of revenue came from the state, 20.3 percent from local sources and 12.6 percent from federal sources, and total public school revenue was about $2.5 billion [1]. The state pays the full cost of schools in unincorporated areas and more than half the cost in incorporated cities [2].

Teachers

Average teacher salaries were $65,468 in 2012–13, above the national average of $56,383 [1].

Higher Education

The University of Alaska, founded in 1917 as a land-grant institution, has campuses in Fairbanks, Anchorage and Juneau and, as a system, enrolls nearly 30,000 students [2][3]. Ilisagvik College in Utqiaġvik, established in 1995, is a two-year tribal college serving the Iñupiat community [2]. See the entries on the University of Alaska System and the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

Constitutional Basis

Article VII of the Alaska Constitution addresses education and public welfare and establishes the university [3].

FAQs

How many school districts does Alaska have? Fifty-three in 2022.

How many students attend Alaska public schools? About 131,587 in 2022.

What are REAAs? Regional Educational Attendance Areas that serve politically unorganized rural areas of the state.

What is Alaska’s largest school district? The Anchorage School District, with 43,363 students in 2023–24.

Who sets Alaska education standards? The State Board of Education and Early Development.

Sources

1. Ballotpedia: Public education in Alaska
2. Encyclopaedia Britannica: Alaska: Government and society
3. Wikipedia: University of Alaska System
4. Alaska Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development: Local Government in Alaska

Editorially reviewed by Specialty Digest Editorial TeamLast reviewed November 12, 2026Researched and drafted with AI assistanceReport an issue