What share of students in Alaska are proficient in math?

In 2024, 22% of eighth graders in Alaska public schools were at or above NAEP Proficient in mathematics (11th lowest among the 50 states and DC) and 22% in reading, compared with 29% and 23% in 2019 (national public 2024: 27% and 29%).

Education in Alaska, United States: official figures

77.8% of public high school students in Alaska graduated within four years of starting ninth grade in the 2021-22 school year (the adjusted cohort graduation rate); 3rd lowest among the 49 states (including DC) with data (U.S.: 86.6%).

High school graduation rate (4-year ACGR)

77.8%

2021-22

NAEP fourth-grade reading score

202

2024

NAEP eighth-grade mathematics score

264

2024

Current spending per pupil, public schools

$21,004

FY2024

Public school enrollment

131,243

Fall 2023

Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher

32.8%

2024

Is the graduation rate in Alaska rising?

The four-year graduation rate in Alaska was 77.8% in 2021-22, compared with 70% in 2011-12 and 80.4% in 2018-19, before the pandemic; nationally the rate went from 80% in 2011-12 to 86.6% in 2021-22.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What is the graduation rate for disadvantaged students in Alaska?

In 2021-22 the four-year graduation rate in Alaska was 70.2% for economically disadvantaged students, 61.0% for students with disabilities and 65.0% for English learners (U.S.: 81.3%, 71.4%, 72.1% respectively).

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What is the graduation rate by race in Alaska?

By race and ethnicity, the 2021-22 graduation rate in Alaska was 74.0% for Black, 77.0% for Hispanic and 83.6% for White students (U.S.: 81.0%, 82.8%, 89.8%).

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in Alaska score in grade 4 reading?

Public school students in Alaska averaged 202 in fourth-grade reading on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), 2nd lowest among the 50 states and DC, down from 204 in 2019 (national public: 214, 219 in 2019). 22% scored at or above Proficient and 53% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in Alaska score in grade 8 reading?

Public school students in Alaska averaged 246 in eighth-grade reading on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), 2nd lowest among the 50 states and DC, down from 252 in 2019 (national public: 257, 262 in 2019). 22% scored at or above Proficient and 43% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in Alaska score in grade 4 math?

Public school students in Alaska averaged 226 in fourth-grade mathematics on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), 2nd lowest among the 50 states and DC, down from 232 in 2019 (national public: 237, 240 in 2019). 30% scored at or above Proficient and 36% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in Alaska score in grade 8 math?

Public school students in Alaska averaged 264 in eighth-grade mathematics on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint 7th lowest among the 50 states and DC, down from 274 in 2019 (national public: 272, 281 in 2019). 22% scored at or above Proficient and 46% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How much does Alaska spend per student?

Public school systems in Alaska spent $21,004 per pupil on current operations in fiscal year 2024, 13th highest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: $17,619), according to the Census Bureau's Annual Survey of School System Finances.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Is school spending per pupil in Alaska going up?

Current spending per pupil in Alaska rose from $18,394 in fiscal 2019 to $21,004 in fiscal 2024, up 14.2% before inflation (U.S.: up 33.6%); the change on fiscal 2023 was up 3.3%.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What does Alaska spend school money on?

Of the $21,004 spent per pupil in Alaska in fiscal 2024, $10,742 went on instruction and $9,504 on support services; salaries and wages came to $9,494 per pupil and employee benefits $5,145.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Where does school funding in Alaska come from?

Public school systems in Alaska received $2.9 billion in revenue in fiscal 2024: 21.0% from the federal government, 55.2% from the state and 23.8% from local sources such as property taxes (U.S.: 11.6%, 45.2% and 43.2%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Alaska spend on public schools in total?

Total spending by public school systems in Alaska was $3.0 billion in fiscal 2024, of which $2.8 billion was current spending and $250.20 million capital outlay on buildings and equipment; the systems owed $539.11 million in debt at the end of the year.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many students are in public schools in Alaska?

131,243 pupils were enrolled in public elementary and secondary schools in Alaska in fall 2023, down 0.6% on fall 2019 (132,017) and up 0.2% on fall 2013; nationally enrollment was down 2.5% since 2019.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What is the student-teacher ratio in Alaska?

Public schools in Alaska had 7,160 full-time-equivalent teachers in fall 2022, about 18.3 pupils per teacher, joint 7th most among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 15.4; Alaska in fall 2019: 17.6).

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What percentage of people in Alaska have a college degree?

32.8% of adults aged 25 and over in Alaska, about 163,000 people, held a bachelor's degree or higher in 2024; 15th lowest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 36.8%). That is unchanged on 2021 (32.8%), according to the American Community Survey.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many people in Alaska have a graduate degree?

In 2024, 13.1% of adults 25 and over in Alaska had a graduate or professional degree and 9.5% an associate degree as their highest qualification (U.S.: 14.7% and 8.8%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many adults in Alaska did not finish high school?

93.4% of adults 25 and over in Alaska had at least a high school diploma or equivalent in 2024, leaving 6.6% without one; that share is 12th lowest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 10.1%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Alaska compares with other states

Public high school 4-year graduation rate (ACGR) (2021-22)

Alaska ranks 47 of 49, highest first. Adjusted cohort graduation rate; New Mexico and Oklahoma did not report for 2021-22

Rank	Region	Public high school 4-year graduation rate (ACGR)
43	Nevada	81.7%
44	Oregon	81.3%
45	Michigan	81.0%
46	Idaho	79.9%
47	Alaska	77.8%
48	Arizona	77.3%
49	District of Columbia	76.4%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Graduation rate of economically disadvantaged students (2021-22)

Alaska ranks 42 of 48, highest first. Adjusted cohort graduation rate

Rank	Region	Graduation rate of economically disadvantaged students
39	New Hampshire	73.3%
40	Colorado	71.9%
41	Minnesota	71.1%
42	Alaska	70.2%
43	Michigan	69.6%
44	Idaho	69.6%
45	North Dakota	69.0%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP fourth-grade reading, average score (2024)

Alaska ranks 50 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP fourth-grade reading, average score
45	District of Columbia	209
46	Arizona	208
47	Oregon	207
48	Oklahoma	207
49	West Virginia	206
50	Alaska	202
51	New Mexico	201

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP eighth-grade reading, average score (2024)

Alaska ranks 50 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP eighth-grade reading, average score
45	District of Columbia	251
46	Alabama	250
47	Oklahoma	249
48	Delaware	249
49	West Virginia	247
50	Alaska	246
51	New Mexico	245

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP fourth-grade mathematics, average score (2024)

Alaska ranks 50 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP fourth-grade mathematics, average score
45	Arizona	232
46	West Virginia	232
47	District of Columbia	231
48	Arkansas	230
49	Oregon	229
50	Alaska	226
51	New Mexico	224

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP eighth-grade mathematics, average score (2024)

Alaska ranks 46 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP eighth-grade mathematics, average score
43	Arkansas	266
44	Nevada	265
45	Oklahoma	264
46	Alaska	264
47	Delaware	263
48	Alabama	262
49	District of Columbia	262

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Eighth graders at or above NAEP Proficient in mathematics (2024)

Alaska ranks 41 of 51, highest first. Public school students

Rank	Region	Eighth graders at or above NAEP Proficient in mathematics
38	Hawaii	23.2%
39	Missouri	23.0%
40	Mississippi	21.6%
41	Alaska	21.5%
42	Florida	21.1%
43	Louisiana	20.8%
44	Nevada	20.2%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Fourth graders below NAEP Basic in reading (2024)

Alaska ranks 2 of 51, highest first. Public school students

Rank	Region	Fourth graders below NAEP Basic in reading
1	New Mexico	53.1%
2	Alaska	52.6%
3	Oregon	48.3%
4	District of Columbia	48.0%
5	West Virginia	47.4%
6	Arizona	46.5%
7	Oklahoma	46.4%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Current spending per pupil, public schools (FY2024)

Alaska ranks 13 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau Annual Survey of School System Finances

Rank	Region	Current spending per pupil, public schools
10	Rhode Island	$22,110
11	Illinois	$21,776
12	Pennsylvania	$21,091
13	Alaska	$21,004
14	California	$20,791
15	Wyoming	$20,521
16	Maryland	$20,208

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Change in current spending per pupil since FY2019 (FY2019-FY2024)

Alaska ranks 50 of 51, highest first. Current dollars, not adjusted for inflation

Rank	Region	Change in current spending per pupil since FY2019
45	Wyoming	+25.9%
46	Pennsylvania	+25.1%
47	Connecticut	+23.5%
48	North Dakota	+22.1%
49	Iowa	+20.7%
50	Alaska	+14.2%
51	Montana	+13.6%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Share of public school revenue from local sources (FY2024)

Alaska ranks 45 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau

Rank	Region	Share of public school revenue from local sources
42	Kansas	26.5%
43	Washington	26.1%
44	North Carolina	25.5%
45	Alaska	23.8%
46	Idaho	20.9%
47	New Mexico	16.7%
48	Nevada	16.3%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Pupils per teacher, public schools (Fall 2022)

Alaska ranks 7 of 51, highest first. Common Core of Data

Rank	Region	Pupils per teacher, public schools
4	Nevada	21.0
5	Oregon	18.7
6	Florida	18.3
7	Alaska	18.3
8	Alabama	17.9
9	Louisiana	17.5
10	Idaho	17.5

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Change in public school enrollment, fall 2019 to fall 2023 (2019-2023)

Alaska ranks 14 of 51, highest first. Common Core of Data

Rank	Region	Change in public school enrollment, fall 2019 to fall 2023
11	Louisiana	-0.3%
12	Nebraska	-0.3%
13	Montana	-0.4%
14	Alaska	-0.6%
15	Oklahoma	-0.7%
16	Ohio	-0.9%
17	North Carolina	-1.0%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Adults 25 and over with a bachelor's degree or higher (2024)

Alaska ranks 37 of 51, highest first. American Community Survey 1-year estimates

Rank	Region	Adults 25 and over with a bachelor's degree or higher
34	Michigan	33.3%
35	South Carolina	33.3%
36	Idaho	33.0%
37	Alaska	32.8%
38	Ohio	32.4%
39	Tennessee	32.4%
40	Wyoming	32.3%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Adults 25 and over without a high school diploma or equivalent (2024)

Alaska ranks 40 of 51, highest first. American Community Survey 1-year estimates

Rank	Region	Adults 25 and over without a high school diploma or equivalent
37	Nebraska	7.4%
38	Iowa	7.0%
39	Colorado	6.8%
40	Alaska	6.6%
41	Utah	6.4%
42	Wisconsin	6.3%
43	Hawaii	6.3%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

More on Alaska: overview · economy and jobs · health · poverty and living standards · government budget · the United States

Sources

National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): Digest of Education Statistics 2023, Table 219.46: Public high school 4-year adjusted cohort graduation rate (ACGR), by selected student characteristics and state, 2011-12 through 2021-22, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 1913b92e5e75…)
U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates, table-based summary file: Educational attainment for the population 25 years and over (B15003), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0c933281d2c2…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): Digest of Education Statistics 2024, Table 203.20: Enrollment in public elementary and secondary schools, by state, fall 1990 through fall 2023 (Common Core of Data), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 8e370b60d62a…)
U.S. Census Bureau: 2024 Annual Survey of School System Finances: summary tables (Public Elementary-Secondary Education Finance Data, fiscal year 2024), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 848133174f29…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP mathematics grade 4, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 913ed194a3d5…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP mathematics grade 8, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 7dc207d5418d…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP reading grade 4, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 7da857933d83…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP reading grade 8, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 790de8a24822…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): Digest of Education Statistics 2023, Table 208.40: Public elementary and secondary teachers, enrollment, and pupil/teacher ratios, by state, fall 2000 through fall 2022 (Common Core of Data), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c15568f58c4c…)

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