Choosing a school? Youāve got options.
If you live in Alaska and are making a decision about K-12 education for your child, this post is for you. Where you send your child to school is one of the most impactful decisions you can make, but youāre not alone in it. Thousands of Alaska parents make school choices each year. And remember, each child is unique. So, the ābestā school for your child may look different than the ābestā school for your neighborās child.
A good starting point for choosing a school is knowing your options. This post will break down the main learning environments available in Alaska. In short, you can choose fromĀ traditional public schools,Ā public charter schools,Ā public magnet schools,Ā private schools,Ā online learning, homeschooling, and microschooling and mix-and-match learning.
One of the many factors families consider when choosing a school is transportation. In Alaska, transportation is available for students who attend their assigned public school, attend private schools and travel comparable distances along the same routes as public school students, or have transportation services in their Individualized Education Plan (IEP). Transportation may be available for other types of schools – we cover what’s available and who to reach out to for transportation assistance in our guide.
Looking for special education options? You can learn what special education services are available in Alaska in the Ultimate Guide to Special Education.
Widely
Available
Traditional Public Schools
Private Schools
Homeschooling
Microschooling
Partially
Available
Public School Transfers
Public Charter Schools
Public Magnet Schools
Online Learning
Not
Available
State Choice Funding
Widely
Available
Traditional Public Schools
Private Schools
Homeschooling
Microschooling
Partially
Available
Public School Transfers
Public Charter Schools
Public Magnet Schools
Online Learning
Not
Available
State Choice Funding
Download the School Choice Snapshot for Alaska
Click a School Type to See Your Options
Traditional Public School
Free public school based on your address or zone
Public Charter School
Free public schools open to all students run by an independent board of directors
Homeschool
School that takes place in your own home
Online Learning
Schools where students attend virtually, can be free public or private schools
Microschool
School that takes place with a small group of students
Alaska Traditional Public Schools
By far, most families in Alaska (68.8%) and around the country choose traditional public school. Traditional public schools are free to attend, open to all students, operated by schoolĀ districts, and funded by federal, state, and local government.
Did you know that Alaska spends an average ofĀ $20,340Ā per pupil in public school?
Alaska hasĀ limited open enrollment lawsĀ for public schools. What this means is that parents of students who are assigned to a particular neighborhood school may in some cases be able to transfer their children to another school in their district. For example, theĀ Fairbanks North Star Borough School District has an online application portalĀ where families can apply to a school outside their zoned āattendance area.ā In other cases, children may be required to attend the school assigned to them by their district.
Open enrollmentĀ is an important way that parents have access to a broader variety of public schools. Find out more about public schools in your state at theĀ Alaska Department of Education & Early DevelopmentĀ and contact your school district to learn about your open enrollment options.Ā You can also learn more about Alaskaās open enrollment options in thisĀ 50-state report.
Alaska Charter Schools
Depending on where you live in Alaska, publicĀ charter schoolsĀ may be another public school option available to you. Like traditional public schools, charter schools are public, free, and usually have no requirements for entry. What distinguishes charter schools is that they have extra freedom to innovate with learning methods and are accountable toĀ authorizersĀ for results.
Alaska passed charter schoolĀ legislation in 1995Ā and currently has more thanĀ 30 charter schoolsĀ that serve more than 7,000 (5.8%) students. Each school has a charter which explains the schoolās purpose and what specific community need it serves. For example, one of Alaskaās newest charter schools isĀ Knik Cultural School, which offers Alaska Native culture and values-based learning opportunities, such as fishing, moose hunting, and berry picking! If there are more families seeking admittance to a charter school than there are seats, a good old-fashioned lottery system is typically used to determine admittance.
Free transportation is available to some students who attend charter schools in Alaska and live within the district where the charter school is located.Ā All students with special needs who have an Individualized Education Program (IEP) are eligible to receive transportation assistance.
Find frequently asked questions about Alaska charter schools atĀ Alaskaās Department of Education & Early Development.
Alaska Magnet Schools
A third free, public school option is found in Alaskaās magnet schools. Magnet schools allow kids to narrow in on a specific learning track, such as engineering or the performing arts. Magnet schools teach all subjects through the lenses of their specific track. In Alaska,Ā 12.2% of all K-12 studentsĀ attend a public magnet school.
Alaska has a handful of magnet schools scattered throughout the state. For example,Ā Barnette Magnet School, located in the Fairbanks North Star Borough District, describes its offering this way: āBarnetteās magnet or ādrawā is a combination of: small exploration classes, a community-based Friday in Fairbanks Program, and quarterly all-school Exhibit Nights. These are the elements of the school that set it apart from other schools and make the Magnet School experience a rewarding one for both students and parents.ā
If youād like to learn more, you may want to check outĀ U.S. News & World Reportās ranking of magnet high schools in your state.
Alaska Private Schools
Families in Alaska can also consider private schools, nonpublic schools that charge tuition. Private schools may offer a uniqueĀ curriculum, smaller class sizes, or a faith-based tradition. Overall, there are about 60Ā private schools across the state of Alaska servingĀ 3.1% of all K-12 students. These private schools come in all shapes and forms, from religious schools to schools designed for children with special needs. The average tuition for private schools in your state is $7,518Ā for elementary schools and $7,337Ā for high schools.
Unfortunately, there are no state-run scholarship options in Alaska at present, but private scholarships may be available. Additionally, Alaska has a funding assistance program that can make some private school courses more affordable for families. Essentially, the state sets aside funds in the form of an annual allotment for students enrolled in a state-funded correspondence program.Ā Families can then use their student allotment to request reimbursementsĀ for approved educational expenses. Currently, this may include courses at private schools (thoughĀ not full-time tuition).
Learn more at theĀ Alaska Department of Education & Early Development, Catholic Education ā Archdiocese of Anchorage,Ā andĀ Private School Review: Alaska.
Alaska Online Learning
Whether your child wants to accelerate learning or needs a quieter environment in which to focus, you may be interested in giving virtual school a try. Of course, virtual school is different and may feel like ādrinking from a fire hoseā at first, but for many families it becomes the perfect fit.Ā Alaska doesnāt offer any statewide online schools or multi-district online schools, but families can consider national online learning programs, likeĀ Virtual Learning Academy Charter School,Ā The Keystone School, andĀ Laurel Springs School,Ā for a fee.
On the district level,Ā middle- and high-school students in Ketchikan Gateway Borough School District can enroll in online courses through theĀ Alaska Digital Academy. Non-district students may also be accepted on a limited basis.Plus, the ASD Virtual ProgramĀ offers a free, fully online home learning program that Anchorage families can choose through their neighborhood or choice school. The virtual learning program is staffed by Anchorage School District teachers and allows families to maintain a connection to their local school. TheĀ Fairbanks North Star Borough School District also offers online courses for grades 9-12, and you can always ask your district about whether an online program is available to you.
In 2022, the Alaska legislature approved a new virtual education consortium which provides a library of virtual classes available to Alaska studentsĀ Additionally, Alaska has manyĀ correspondence school offerings, some of which are free, that families can choose from.
To read more about online learning in Alaska, check out theĀ Digital Learning Collaborativeās state profile.
Alaska Homeschooling
Alaska parents can also choose homeschooling, which sets a high bar for flexibility and customization for education. Homeschooling is the process of parents educating students at home and is an option in all 50 states.
In Alaska,Ā 10.3% of all K-12 students are homeschooled. In fact, according to Census data, Alaska is one of the states with the highest number of families choosing to homeschool. The state only requires notice of your intent to homeschool if you are homeschooling as a religious private school. If so, you will need to provide notice by the first day of school. Of course, it is recommended that you formally withdraw from your current school so that your student is not marked truant. If you decide to switch back to public school, a portfolio of work or assessmentsĀ will be used for placement.
You are not required toĀ teach specific subjects or use specific standardized testsĀ if you choose to homeschool in Alaska. If you homeschool, your child might still be eligible to participate in sports or activities at local public schools ā reach out to your district to learn more.
Alaska stands out among the states for its flexible funding assistance program available to many homeschoolers! Essentially, the state sets aside funds in the form of an annual allotment for students (including homeschoolers) enrolled in one of more than 30 state-funded correspondence programs. According toĀ Alaskaās Department of Education & Early Development, āThis allotment can pay for items such as a studentās books, classes, school supplies, technology support, tutoring, music or activity lessons, and other items related to the studentās education.ā
This allotment helps make homeschooling more affordable for some families. Note that the allotment amount may vary by correspondence program and may not be used to purchase religious curriculum.Ā Homeschool in AlaskaĀ offers families clearĀ information about allotment funds, as well asĀ tips for selecting the best correspondence program or homeschool program for your family. As of 2024, this program is currently under ongoing legal discussion. Check back for more updates.
You may also wish to check out theĀ Home School Legal Defense Association ā AlaskaĀ or theĀ Alaska Private and Home Educators Association.
Alaska Microschools and Mix-and-Match Learning
Today, many Alaska families are mixing and matching school options to come up with new ways to personalize education.Ā MicroschoolsĀ are one of these ways. A microschool refers to students gathering together in a small group ā with adult supervision ā to learn, explore, and socialize. Microschools can take a variety of shapes and legal forms, from homeschoolers coming together at an enrichment center to a private school committed to small classrooms. What microschools share in common is a commitment to small-group learning, close-knit relationships, and emphasizing children as individual learners.
Here is one example of a microschool started by homeschoolers in Alaska:Ā The Green RoomĀ in East Anchorage is a learning community offering in-person classes for homeschoolers, from chemistry to wholeness and health classes.
Remember, microschooling is more a mentality than a specific legal distinction in most cases. Often, a family participates in a microschool while legally homeschooling, or being enrolled in a private or online school.
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