Public schools in Ketchikan, AK
9 open public schools with an address in Ketchikan, operated by 1 education agency. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
9
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
2,043
9 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
12.6:1
Alaska median 14.6:1
Charter schools
2
1 virtual
An overview of Ketchikan public schools
The federal directory lists 9 public schools in Ketchikan, AK: 5 elementary, 1 middle, 2 high, 1 combined or other. The 9 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 2,043 students, an average of 227 per school. The largest campus is Ketchikan High School (551 students), and the largest elementary school is Houghtaling Elementary (310).
Every listed school belongs to Ketchikan Gateway Borough School District. City names come from school mailing addresses, which often differ from district or municipal boundaries.
Across schools that reported staffing, the median student–teacher ratio is 12.6:1, lower than the statewide school median of 14.6:1. A ratio counts classroom-teacher FTE against total enrollment, so specialized programs and part-time staffing can move it; ask schools for actual class sizes by grade.
School choice options include 2 charter schools, 1 virtual school. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 3 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 2 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 2 of 3 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 38% of students in reporting schools were eligible for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. This describes the community served; it is not a quality signal, and community-eligibility schools can report differently.
School districts and agencies serving Ketchikan
Elementary schools in Ketchikan
5| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fawn Mountain Elementary Ketchikan Gateway Borough School District | PK–03 | 210 | 10:1 | |
| Houghtaling Elementary Ketchikan Gateway Borough School District | PK–06 | 310 | 11.9:1 | |
| Ketchikan Charter School Ketchikan Gateway Borough School District · Charter | KG–08 | 190 | 15.2:1 | |
| Point Higgins School Ketchikan Gateway Borough School District | PK–03 | 204 | 11.3:1 | |
| Tongass School of Arts and Sciences Charter School Ketchikan Gateway Borough School District · Charter | PK–06 | 140 | 14.7:1 |
Middle schools in Ketchikan
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Schoenbar Middle School Ketchikan Gateway Borough School District | 07–08 | 252 | 12.6:1 |
High schools in Ketchikan
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ketchikan High School Ketchikan Gateway Borough School District | 09–12 | 551 | 19.7:1 | |
| Revilla Jr/Sr High School Ketchikan Gateway Borough School District · Alternative School | 07–12 | 110 | 10.5:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Ketchikan
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fast Track Ketchikan Gateway Borough School District · Virtual | KG–12 | 76 | 38:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White52.1%
- Hispanic1.4%
- Black1%
- Asian7.9%
- American Indian / Alaska Native29.7%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.9%
- Multiracial7.1%
Enrollment-weighted across 9 Ketchikan schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (2,043 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Ketchikan
How many public schools are in Ketchikan, AK?
The current NCES directory lists 9 open public schools with a location address in Ketchikan: 5 elementary, 1 middle, 2 high, 1 combined or other. Together they reported 2,043 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Ketchikan?
All listed public schools with an address in Ketchikan belong to Ketchikan Gateway Borough School District. Mailing cities do not always match district boundaries, so confirm the district for a specific home address.
What is the largest public high school in Ketchikan?
Ketchikan High School reported the largest high-school enrollment in Ketchikan, with 551 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Ketchikan?
Yes. 2 of the 9 public schools in Ketchikan are identified as charter schools in the NCES directory, including Ketchikan Charter School, Tongass School of Arts and Sciences Charter School. Charter schools are public and tuition-free, but admission usually uses an application or lottery.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Ketchikan schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Ketchikan public schools is 12.6:1, lower than the Alaska school median of 14.6:1. The ratio divides enrollment by classroom-teacher FTE; it is not an average class size.
Does living in Ketchikan guarantee a seat at a specific school?
No. Assignment depends on the district's attendance boundaries, programs, and enrollment rules, which can split a city or cross city lines. Use the district profile and its official boundary or school-locator tool to confirm the assigned school for an exact address.
Nearby Alaska cities
Sources: NCES Common Core of Data 2025–26 preliminary directory (schools, grades, addresses, charter status) and 2024–25 nonfiscal files (enrollment, teachers, race/ethnicity, meal eligibility); Civil Rights Data Collection 2021–22 (AP and computer science). Cities are grouped by school mailing address. Methodology · All Alaska cities