Public schools in Palmer, AK
16 open public schools with an address in Palmer, operated by 1 education agency. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
16
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
8,317
15 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
16.7:1
Alaska median 14.6:1
Charter schools
2
0 virtual
An overview of Palmer public schools
The federal directory lists 16 public schools in Palmer, AK: 7 elementary, 1 middle, 4 high, 4 combined or other. The 15 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 8,317 students, an average of 554 per school. The largest campus is Mat-Su Central School (2,780 students), and the largest elementary school is Colony Middle School (771).
Every listed school belongs to Matanuska-Susitna 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 16.7:1, higher 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. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 6 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 3 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 1 of 7 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 39% 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 Palmer
Elementary schools in Palmer
7| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Academy Charter School Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District · Charter | KG–08 | 268 | 13:1 | |
| Birchtree Charter School Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District · Charter | KG–08 | 416 | 17.6:1 | |
| Butte Elementary Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District | PK–05 | 263 | 13.2:1 | |
| Colony Middle School Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District | PK–08 | 771 | 20.8:1 | |
| Pioneer Peak Elementary Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District | PK–05 | 449 | 15.5:1 | |
| Sherrod Elementary Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District | PK–05 | 383 | 16.7:1 | |
| Swanson Elementary Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District | PK–02 | 348 | 13.4:1 |
Middle schools in Palmer
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Palmer Middle School Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District | 06–08 | 563 | 18.9:1 |
High schools in Palmer
4| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colony High School Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District | 09–12 | 1,046 | 20.4:1 | |
| Mat-Su Middle College School Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District | 08–12 | 222 | 111:1 | |
| Mat-Su Secondary School Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District · Alternative School | 06–12 | 10 | 10:1 | |
| Palmer High School Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District | 09–12 | 616 | 16.6:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Palmer
4| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beryozova School Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District | KG–12 | 39 | 19.5:1 | |
| Mat-Su Central School Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District | KG–12 | 2,780 | 99.3:1 | |
| Mat-Su Hybrid Learning Academy Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District | KG–12 | — | — | |
| Valley Pathways Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District · Alternative School | PK–12 | 143 | 14.3:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White70.3%
- Hispanic7.4%
- Black0.6%
- Asian0.9%
- American Indian / Alaska Native5.8%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.5%
- Multiracial14.6%
Enrollment-weighted across 15 Palmer schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (8,317 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Palmer
How many public schools are in Palmer, AK?
The current NCES directory lists 16 open public schools with a location address in Palmer: 7 elementary, 1 middle, 4 high, 4 combined or other. Together they reported 8,317 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Palmer?
All listed public schools with an address in Palmer belong to Matanuska-Susitna 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 Palmer?
Colony High School reported the largest high-school enrollment in Palmer, with 1,046 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Palmer?
Yes. 2 of the 16 public schools in Palmer are identified as charter schools in the NCES directory, including Academy Charter School, Birchtree 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 Palmer schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Palmer public schools is 16.7:1, higher 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 Palmer 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