Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives

Northwest Arctic Borough School District

Alaska · Public School District
13
Schools
1,911
Students
$57,541
Per-Pupil Spend
+301% nat'l
97.0%
Free Lunch Rate
+45pp vs nat'l
64.9%
Graduation Rate
-21.6pp vs nat'l
District Overview

Northwest Arctic Borough School District is a public school district in Alaska serving 1,911 students across 13 schools. It includes 1 elementary, 1 high schools. Its graduation rate of 64.9% is below the national average of 86.5%. Per-pupil spending of $57,541 is above average for a US public school district. 97% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting significant economic need in the community. Opportunity scores across its schools are limited, with a district median of 23/100.

⇄ Compare with another district
All Schools (13)
Elementary School1 school
SchoolGradesStudents
June Nelson ElementaryPK–05265
High School1 school
SchoolGradesStudents
Kotzebue Middle/High School06–12328
Other Schools11 schools
SchoolGradesStudents
Ambler SchoolPK–1257
Aqqaluk High/Noorvik ElementaryPK–12203
Buckland SchoolPK–12200
Davis-Ramoth SchoolPK–12245
Deering SchoolPK–1254
Kiana SchoolPK–1299
Kisimgiugtuq SchoolPK–12156
Kobuk SchoolPK–1235
Napaaqtugmiut SchoolPK–12157
NWABSD Home SchoolKG–1228
Shungnak SchoolPK–1284
District Finances
Per-Pupil Expenditure$57,541+301% nat'l avg
National avg $14,347
Revenue Sources
69%
13%
State
69.3%
Local (property tax)
12.6%
Federal
18.1%

State funding accounts for 69% of the budget — this district relies more on state aid than local tax revenue.

Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey. District-level data.
District Snapshot
13
Schools
1,911
Students
97%
Free Lunch
$58K
Per-Pupil
Graduation Rate64.9%
Opportunity Score23/100
StateAlaska →
School Rankings
Strengths & Considerations
High per-student investment
Spends $57,541 per pupil — 301% above the national average of $14,347.
Below-average graduation rate
At 64.9%, graduation is 21.6 points below the national average of 86.5%.
High economic need in community
97% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch — above the national rate of 52.2% — reflecting broader economic challenges.
Low opportunity scores
Median opportunity score of 23/100, below the national median of 50, which can correlate with weaker long-term economic mobility for students.
Location
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Northwest Arctic Borough School District?
Northwest Arctic Borough School District has 13 public schools, serving a total of 1,911 students.
What is the graduation rate for Northwest Arctic Borough School District?
The graduation rate is 64.9%, which is below the national average of 86.5%.
How much does Northwest Arctic Borough School District spend per student?
Northwest Arctic Borough School District spends $57,541 per pupil — 301% above the national average of $14,347.
What percentage of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch in Northwest Arctic Borough School District?
97% of students in Northwest Arctic Borough School District qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, compared to the national rate of 52.2%.
Are there charter schools in Northwest Arctic Borough School District?
No, Northwest Arctic Borough School District does not currently include any charter schools.
What grade levels does Northwest Arctic Borough School District serve?
Northwest Arctic Borough School District serves grades PK through 12, covering elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the opportunity score for Northwest Arctic Borough School District?
The median opportunity score across schools in Northwest Arctic Borough School District is 23/100. The national median is 50/100. Opportunity scores reflect long-term economic mobility prospects for children who grow up in these communities.
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.