Northwest Arctic Borough School District

776 Third Ave
Kotzebue, AK 99752
(District boundaries shown in map)
1/
10
Bottom 50%
For the 2025 school year, there are 13 public schools serving 2,009 students in Northwest Arctic Borough School District. This district's average testing ranking is 1/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public schools in Alaska.
Public Schools in Northwest Arctic Borough School District have an average math proficiency score of 7% (versus the Alaska public school average of 24%), and reading proficiency score of 8% (versus the 30% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 99% of the student body (majority American Indian), which is more than the Alaska public school average of 53% (majority American Indian).

Overview

This School District
This State (AK)
# Schools
13 Schools
500 Schools
# Students
2,009 Students
130,460 Students
# Teachers
106 Teachers
7,187 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
19:1
19:1

District Rank

Northwest Arctic Borough School District, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 53 school districts in Alaska (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2021-2022 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 70-74% has decreased from 80-84% over five school years.
This School District
State Average (AK)
#48 out of 53 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
This chart displays the overall district rank of Northwest Arctic Borough   School District, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
3%
23%
This chart displays the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of Northwest Arctic Borough   School District and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of Alaska by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
5%
29%
This chart displays the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Northwest Arctic Borough   School District and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Alaska by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
8%
38%
70-74%
78%
This chart displays public school graduation rate of Northwest Arctic Borough   School District and public school graduation rate of Alaska by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.

Students by Ethnicity:

0.15
0.71
# American Indian Students
1,854 Students
28,192 Students
% American Indian Students
92%
22%
# Asian Students
14 Students
6,424 Students
% Asian Students
1%
5%
# Hispanic Students
5 Students
9,991 Students
% Hispanic Students
n/a
8%
# Black Students
4 Students
2,947 Students
% Black Students
n/a
2%
# White Students
26 Students
61,102 Students
% White Students
2%
47%
# Hawaiian Students
1 Student
4,122 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
3%
# Two or more races Students
105 Students
17,682 Students
% of Two or more races Students
5%
13%

Students by Grade:

# Students in PK Grade:
121
3,308
# Students in K Grade:
129
9,246
# Students in 1st Grade:
160
9,690
# Students in 2nd Grade:
123
10,021
# Students in 3rd Grade:
138
9,773
# Students in 4th Grade:
152
9,936
# Students in 5th Grade:
150
9,837
# Students in 6th Grade:
166
9,754
# Students in 7th Grade:
141
9,643
# Students in 8th Grade:
164
9,623
# Students in 9th Grade:
142
10,140
# Students in 10th Grade:
137
9,935
# Students in 11th Grade:
146
9,806
# Students in 12th Grade:
140
9,748
# Ungraded Students:
-
-

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $41,562 is higher than the state median of $20,163. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $45,714 is higher than the state median of $21,240. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
This School District
This State (AK)
Total Revenue
$84 MM
$2,630 MM
This chart displays total revenue of Northwest Arctic Borough   School District and median value from total revenues of all school districts in Alaska by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Spending
$92 MM
$2,771 MM
This chart displays total spending of Northwest Arctic Borough   School District and median value from total spendings of all school districts in Alaska by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Revenue / Student
$41,562
$20,163
This chart displays average revenue per public school student in Northwest Arctic Borough   School District and average revenue per public school student of all school districts in Alaska by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Spending / Student
$45,714
$21,240
This chart displays average spending per public school student in Northwest Arctic Borough   School District and average spending per public school student of all school districts in Alaska by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.

Best Northwest Arctic Borough School District Public Schools (2025)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Nwabsd Home School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
744 Third Ave
Kotzebue, AK 99752
(907) 442-1811
Grades: K-12
| 21 students
Rank: #2 - 32. - 3.
Deering School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
36 Main St
Deering, AK 99736
(907) 363-2121
Grades: PK-12
| 53 students
Rank: #2 - 32. - 3.
Kobuk School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
101 Mushers Way
Kobuk, AK 99751
(907) 948-2231
Grades: PK-12
| 32 students
Rank: #44.
Ambler School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: ≤10%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
109 Ambler Dr
Ambler, AK 99786
(907) 445-2154
Grades: PK-12
| 64 students
Rank: #55.
Shungnak School
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: ≤10%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
#6 West River Rd
Shungnak, AK 99773
(907) 437-2151
Grades: PK-12
| 72 students
Rank: #66.
Kotzebue Middle/high School
(Math: ≤5% | Reading: 10-14%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
744 Third Ave
Kotzebue, AK 99752
(907) 442-1875
Grades: 6-12
| 336 students
Rank: #77.
June Nelson Elementary School
(Math: 6-9% | Reading: 6-9%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
744 Third Ave
Kotzebue, AK 99752
(907) 442-1877
Grades: PK-5
| 305 students
Rank: #88.
Kiana School
(Math: ≤5% | Reading: 6-9%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
190 Casanoff St
Kiana, AK 99749
(907) 475-2115
Grades: PK-12
| 104 students
Rank: #9 - 139. - 13.
Aqqaluk High/noorvik Elementary School
(Math: ≤5% | Reading: ≤5%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
165 Fireweed Dr
Noorvik, AK 99763
(907) 636-2178
Grades: PK-12
| 211 students
Rank: #9 - 139. - 13.
Buckland School
(Math: ≤5% | Reading: ≤5%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
9900 University Dr
Buckland, AK 99727
(907) 494-2127
Grades: PK-12
| 211 students
Rank: #9 - 139. - 13.
Davis-ramoth School
(Math: ≤5% | Reading: ≤5%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
2600 Musk Ox Pkwy
Selawik, AK 99770
(907) 484-2142
Grades: PK-12
| 269 students
Rank: #9 - 139. - 13.
Kisimgiugtuq School
(Math: ≤5% | Reading: ≤5%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
#6 Oceanside Expressway
Kivalina, AK 99750
(907) 645-2125
Grades: PK-12
| 159 students
Rank: #9 - 139. - 13.
Napaaqtugmiut School
(Math: ≤5% | Reading: ≤5%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
#2 Airport Rd
Noatak, AK 99761
(907) 485-2153
Grades: PK-12
| 172 students

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools belong to Northwest Arctic Borough School District?
Northwest Arctic Borough School District manages 13 public schools serving 2,009 students.
What is the rank of Northwest Arctic Borough School District?
Northwest Arctic Borough School District is ranked #48 out of 53 school districts in Alaska (bottom 50%) based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data for the 2021-2022 school year.
What is the racial composition of students in Northwest Arctic Borough School District?
92% of Northwest Arctic Borough School District students are American Indian, 5% of students are Two or more races, 2% of students are White, and 1% of students are Asian.
What is the student/teacher ratio of Northwest Arctic Borough School District?
Northwest Arctic Borough School District has a student/teacher ratio of 19:1, which is higher than the Alaska state average of 18:1.
What is Northwest Arctic Borough School District's spending/student ratio?
The school district's spending/student of $45,714 is higher than the state median of $21,240. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.

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Quick Stats (2025)

  • District size: 13 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 2,009 students
  • Student:Teacher Ratio: 19:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 99%
  • : 70-74% (Top 50% in AK)
  • : Bottom 50%
  • : 3% (Btm 50%)
  • : 5% (Btm 50%)
  • : 8% (Btm 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), AK Dept. of Education

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