Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District operates 8 schools (grades PK–12). Individual school names, addresses, and attendance zone boundaries are available directly from the district.
| Metric | Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District | National Average | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Student Enrollment | 4,000 | 3,700 | ≈ Near average |
| Number of Schools | 8 | 6 | Varies by district |
| Per-Pupil Spending | $18,000/yr (est.) | $13,700/yr | ↑ 53% above avg |
| District Type | Urban | Public District | — |
| Overall Rating | 10/10 — Excellent | — | Near average |
- Goose Bay Elementary — Grades PK–2 · 305 students
- Mat-Su Central School — Grades K–12 · 2780 students
- Glacier View School — Grades K–12 · 24 students
- Iditarod Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 424 students
- Palmer High School — Grades 9–12 · 616 students
- Sherrod Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 383 students
- Susitna Valley High — Grades 6–12 · 233 students
- Swanson Elementary — Grades PK–2 · 348 students
- Wasilla High School — Grades 9–12 · 816 students
- Academy Charter School — Grades K–8 · 268 students
- Midnight Sun Family Learning Center — Grades K–8 · 189 students
- Mat-Su Secondary School — Grades 6–12 · 10 students
- Snowshoe Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 346 students
- Meadow Lakes Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 308 students
- Valley Pathways — Grades PK–12 · 143 students
- Larson Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 319 students
- Teeland Middle School — Grades PK–8 · 643 students
- Houston Middle School — Grades 6–8 · 318 students
- American Charter Academy — Grades K–12 · 193 students
- Twindly Bridge Charter School — Grades K–12 · 601 students
- John Shaw Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 507 students
- Cottonwood Creek Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 422 students
- Palmer Middle School — Grades 6–8 · 563 students
- Wasilla Middle School — Grades 6–8 · 584 students
- Tanaina Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 324 students
- Pioneer Peak Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 449 students
- Finger Lake Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 445 students
- Houston High School — Grades 9–12 · 337 students
- Colony High School — Grades 9–12 · 1046 students
- Colony Middle School — Grades PK–8 · 771 students
- Edmunds Middle School — Grades 6–8 · 356 students
- Lyman C. Hunt Middle School — Grades 6–8 · 322 students
- Cantwell High School — Grades 9–12 · 921 students
About Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District
Zip code 99729 in Cantwell, Alaska is served by Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District for public school enrollment. The district covers grades K–12. This page provides a data-driven overview of Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District’s funding levels, size, rating, and what families should know before enrolling or making a housing decision in this area.
Funding and Resources
Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District reports per-pupil expenditure of approximately $18,000 per year, placing it near the Alaska state average of approximately $18,000 and above the national average nationally (U.S. average: $13,700/year). Above-average spending generally translates to more instructional resources per student, stronger program variety at the middle and high school levels, and better-maintained facilities. Per-pupil spending directly affects teacher compensation, class sizes, elective course offerings, technology access, and the depth of student support services — making it one of the most meaningful structural indicators of district capacity.
District Scale and Program Breadth
With 49 schools, Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District operates as a very large district serving students from K–12. The district enrolls approximately 19,705 students in total. Very large districts are complex systems with significant variation in school quality across attendance zones. They typically offer extensive programs — magnet schools, specialized high schools, dual-language tracks, advanced coursework — but navigating these options requires active engagement with the district.
Understanding the 10/10 Rating
Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District has earned an overall SchoolDistrictFinder rating of 10/10, placing it in the top-tier tier. Our ratings are based on state assessment results — the share of students scoring proficient or above in reading and math, as reported in the U.S. Department of Education’s EDFacts collection. We average each district’s reading and math proficiency, then rank it against other districts in the same state to produce a 1–10 score. Because Alaska is compared only against itself, the rating reflects how this district performs relative to its in-state peers.
Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District ranks among the highest-performing public school districts in Alaska on state assessments, with reading and math proficiency rates in roughly the top 10–20% statewide. Homes in and around zip code 99729 often carry a measurable premium relative to neighboring areas served by lower-rated districts. Families moving here for academic strength will find a district whose students test well above the state norm. Even within top-rated districts, individual school performance varies — confirm your specific school assignments directly with the district.
Enrollment for Families in Zip Code 99729
Children in zip code 99729 are assigned to Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District for public school enrollment, covering grades K–12. School assignments are address-specific — your elementary, middle, and high school placements depend on your exact street address within zip code 99729, not just your neighborhood. Two homes on opposite ends of the same zip code may be assigned to different schools within the same district.
To confirm your specific school assignments, contact Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District at the number listed on the district website or visit the district’s official website. Typical enrollment documents include proof of residency (lease or deed plus a utility bill), your child’s birth certificate, current immunization records, and prior school records. If your child has an IEP or 504 plan, bring that documentation to enrollment — Alaska districts are required to continue services within a reasonable period. Fall enrollment windows typically open in late winter or early spring; contact the district for exact dates and required steps.
School Districts and Home Values in Cantwell
School district quality is one of the most consistent factors in residential home pricing. Because Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District serves zip code 99729, homes in and around zip code 99729 often carry a measurable premium over comparable properties in adjacent lower-rated districts. District boundaries are address-specific — verify the exact district assignment for any property you’re seriously considering rather than assuming based on the neighborhood. A single block can place two adjacent homes in different districts with different ratings and different annual property tax implications.
Use the property tax estimator on this page to calculate estimated annual tax obligations based on your target purchase price. In Alaska, property taxes are a primary funding source for public schools — your tax payments directly support Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District programs and staff. Understanding both district quality and the associated tax burden is essential financial due diligence before committing to any home in zip code 99729.
Data Sources and Accuracy
All district information on this page is sourced from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024–2025, the U.S. Department of Education’s annual census of all public school districts — the same dataset used by researchers, journalists, and policymakers to analyze American public education. District boundaries, school assignments, phone numbers, and per-pupil expenditure figures are updated annually when NCES publishes new data, typically in spring. Always verify your specific school assignment and enrollment requirements directly with Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District before making any housing or enrollment decision based on zip code 99729 data.