The top reported proficiency rate is 28% in Science. The lowest is 20% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Annette Island School District
Annette Island School District serves the community of Metlakatla on Annette Island in Southeast Alaska, operating three schools that together cover pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. Richard Johnson Elementary handles the early grades, Charles R. Leask Sr. Middle School serves the middle years, and Metlakatla High School rounds out the pathway. The district is small, with an enrollment that keeps class sizes close-knit across all grade levels.
The student body is almost entirely Alaska Native, reflecting the Metlakatla Indian Community that calls this island home. This is a defining characteristic of the district rather than an incidental one. The cultural identity of the student population shapes the environment families encounter, and any family considering enrollment should understand that this is a district rooted in a specific Indigenous community. A handful of students identify as two or more races, and a very small number identify as Black or white.
On state assessments, the district's results are modest. In both math and English language arts, roughly one in five tested students in grades three through eight reached proficiency on the AK STAR assessment. Science results were somewhat stronger, with close to three in ten tested students meeting the proficiency bar on the Alaska Science Assessment. Participation rates were high across all subjects, which means the proficiency figures reflect nearly the entire eligible student body rather than a skewed subset. Still, a parent may want to look into this further with the school, as the gap between current proficiency and the state's proficiency bar is clear across all three subjects.
Average scale scores were not reported, so it is not possible to compare the district's results to the state average in more granular terms. Multi-year trend data was also absent, which means there is no way to tell from the available information whether proficiency is improving, declining, or holding steady. The district brief turned up little of lasting impact from recent public reporting, so there are no major announced changes or initiatives to note.
Several data fields that parents often rely on were missing entirely. No free-or-reduced-price lunch data was reported, so the economic profile of the student body is not available from the district's own figures. Individualized education program rates and English learner counts were also not reported. No graduation rate was provided. No housing, rent, or community economic context data was included in the materials. Discipline data, course access information, staffing levels, and attendance figures were all absent as well. These gaps mean the picture is partial, and a family considering the district would need to contact the schools directly for information on special education services, college and career course offerings, graduation outcomes, and day-to-day school climate.
What the data does show is a geographically isolated, culturally distinct district where nearly every student is Alaska Native, where test participation is strong, and where academic proficiency sits at levels that leave clear room for growth. The three-school structure gives students a continuous pathway from pre-kindergarten through graduation, all within a single community. For families who value a small, community-rooted setting tied to Metlakatla's cultural identity, this is the defining feature of what Annette Island School District offers. For families weighing academic outcomes against other options, the proficiency data is available to consider and discuss with district staff.
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