Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District

Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District
Address
501 North Gulkana Street
, Alaska, 99645
United States
District information
TypePublic[1]
MottoPreparing Students for Success
GradesPK–12[1]
SuperintendentRandy Trani
Budget$150,531,684
NCES District ID0200510[1]
Students and staff
Students19,495[1]
Teachers1,015.1[1]
Staff1,242.65[1]
Student–teacher ratio19.21[1]
Other information
ScheduleAugust to May[2]
Websitewww.matsuk12.us Edit this at Wikidata

Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District (MSBSD) is a school district based in the city of Palmer, Alaska. It serves 40 schools across Mat-Su Borough, which each enroll from 15 to 1300 students.[3] The borough's boundary is that of the school district.[4] The estimated sum of the total number of students attending schools in this district is 15,969.[5] MSBSD is the second-largest school district in Alaska,[6] with the largest district being Anchorage School District.[7]

In the 2007-2008 school year, Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District had an expenditure of $150,531,684, which is a $9,426 expenditure for every student.[8]

The current superintendent is Dr. Randy Trani.[9]

History

In April 2020 the school district board deemed five books, Catch-22, The Great Gatsby, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Invisible Man, and The Things They Carried, to be inappropriate for use in the classroom.[10] Among the reasons cited were "anti-white" sentiments. A local attorney responded with a "book challenge," asking students to read all five works.[11] In May of that year the school board restored the books to the curriculum.[12]

Schools

K-12 schools

6-12 schools

  • Susitna Valley Junior/Senior High School, a public secondary school, serving grades 6–12, in Talkeetna
  • Joe Redington Senior Junior/Senior High School, a public secondary school, serving grades 6–12, in Knik

High schools

K-8 schools

  • Academy Charter School, a charter school, serving grades K–8, in Palmer
  • Fronteras Spanish Immersion Charter School K-8, a public charter school in Wasilla

Middle schools

  • Colony Middle School, a public middle school in Palmer
  • Houston Middle School, a public middle school in Big Lake
  • Palmer Middle School, a public middle school in Palmer
  • Teeland Middle School, a public middle school in Wasilla
  • Wasilla Middle School, a public middle school in Wasilla

Elementary schools

  • Big Lake Elementary School in Big Lake
  • Butte Elementary School in Palmer
  • Cottonwood Creek Elementary School in Wasilla
  • Dena'ina Elementary in Wasilla
  • Finger Lake Elementary School in Wasilla
  • Goose Bay Elementary School in Wasilla
  • Iditarod Elementary School in Wasilla
  • John Shaw Elementary School in Wasilla
  • Larson Elementary School in Wasilla
  • Machetanz Elementary School in Wasilla
  • Meadow Lakes Elementary School in Wasilla
  • Pioneer Peak Elementary School in Palmer
  • Sherrod Elementary School in Palmer
  • Snowshoe Elementary School in Wasilla
  • Sutton Elementary School in Sutton
  • Swanson Elementary School in Palmer
  • Talkeetna Elementary School in Talkeetna
  • Tanaina Elementary School in Wasilla
  • Trapper Creek Elementary School in Trapper Creek
  • Willow Elementary School in Willow

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Search for Public School Districts – District Detail for Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District". National Center for Education Statistics. Institute of Education Sciences. Retrieved April 17, 2026.
  2. ↑ "Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District Transportation" (PDF). Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District. June 6, 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 20, 2009. Retrieved January 15, 2009.
  3. ↑ Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District 2007 – 2008 Adopted Budget p. 11
  4. ↑ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Matanuska-Susitna Borough, AK" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved December 21, 2024. - Text list
  5. ↑ Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District 2007 – 2008 Adopted Budget p.16
  6. ↑ Fry, Eric (February 9, 2005). "Alaska's schools seek more money". Juneau Empire. Archived from the original on February 25, 2012. Retrieved January 15, 2009.
  7. ↑ "Mat-Su Borough School District". Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District. Archived from the original on February 12, 2009. Retrieved January 15, 2009.
  8. ↑ Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District 2007 – 2008 Adopted Budget p. 56
  9. ↑ "Mat-Su Borough School District". Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District. Archived from the original on September 16, 2009. Retrieved January 15, 2009.
  10. ↑ Li, David K. (April 28, 2020). "Alaska school board removes 'The Great Gatsby,' other famous books from curriculum for 'controversial' content". NBC News. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
  11. ↑ Taylor, Derrick B. (April 29, 2020). "Alaska School District Votes Out 'Catch-22,' 'Gatsby' and Other Classics". New York Times. Retrieved April 30, 2020.
  12. ↑ "Alaskan school board lifts ban on Gatsby and Catch-22 after protests". The Guardian. May 22, 2020. Retrieved May 22, 2020.

References