The top reported proficiency rate is 29% in English language arts. The lowest is 25% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Houghtaling Elementary
Houghtaling Elementary sits on Baranof Avenue in Ketchikan, serving pre-kindergarten through sixth grade as part of the Ketchikan Gateway Borough School District. It is a standard public school, not a charter or magnet, and its enrollment is mid-sized for an elementary serving that grade range in a small Southeast Alaska town.
The student body reflects Ketchikan's particular mix. White students and American Indian or Alaska Native students each make up roughly three-eighths of enrollment, with Asian students representing a meaningful minority and a smaller group identifying as two or more races. Black, Hispanic, and Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander students each account for a very small share. A majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, which aligns with what one might expect in a community where the economy has transitioned from timber toward government services, tourism, and commercial fishing. Data on English learners and special education populations was not available, so those figures are left out here rather than guessed.
On the most recent Alaska state assessments, proficiency was modest across all three tested subjects. Just over a quarter of tested students reached proficiency in English language arts, about a quarter did so in math, and science results fell in a similar range. Participation was strong, with nearly all eligible students tested. These are not standout numbers, and a parent weighing this school may want to look into what instructional supports and interventions the school is using to move more students to proficiency. No multi-year trend data was available, so it is not possible to say from the data whether performance is improving or declining.
Ketchikan itself is a place shaped by geography and isolation. The city runs long and narrow along the waterfront, hemmed in by steep, forested terrain, and is reachable only by sea or air. There is no road connection to the rest of the state. Downtown is a National Historic Landmark District with buildings on pilings above the water, and the summer cruise season brings a large temporary influx of visitors. The surrounding borough extends north and south along the Tongass Highway, with small rural settlements accessible mostly by water. The economy relies on government at multiple levels, tourism, and fishing, with a pronounced seasonal swing. The former Ketchikan Pulp Company mill at Ward Cove was once a dominant employer but closed years ago, and the community has since diversified.
For families considering housing, the Ketchikan area sits above both state and national benchmarks for typical home values, and recent year-over-year appreciation has been notably strong. Rent data was not available. The broader national mortgage rate environment remains elevated, which affects what families can afford. At the district level, the school board recently approved a property tax mill rate increase for the current fiscal year, the first such increase in several years, which directly affects what residents pay. A parent may want to ask how that added revenue is being used to support classrooms like those at Houghtaling.
The district has also committed to a multi-year partnership with Sealaska Heritage Institute on the Tlingit Language Reclamation Project, working to integrate Tlingit language and culture into curriculum across schools. Given that a large share of Houghtaling's students are Alaska Native, this effort has direct relevance to the school community.
No data on discipline, course access, staffing ratios, or attendance was available for Houghtaling specifically, so those dimensions are not addressed here. The school does not serve high school grades, so graduation rate does not apply. What the available data paints is a small-town elementary with a culturally diverse student body, a majority of students facing economic need, and state test results that leave room for growth. The setting is one of a kind, a Southeast Alaska waterfront community cut off from the road system, where the school district is actively investing in both language revitalization and its budget bottom line.
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