Palmer High School vs. Colony High School
Should you attend Palmer High School or Colony High School? Visitors to our site frequently compare these two schools. Compare their rankings, test scores, reviews and more to help you determine which school is the best choice for you.
School Overview
School
Top Rankings
Palmer High School ranks among the top 20% of public schools in Alaska for:
Category
Attribute
Graduation Rate
Colony High School ranks among the top 20% of public schools in Alaska for:
Category
Attribute
Graduation Rate
Overview
Palmer High School in Palmer, AK serves 649 students in grades 9–12 with a student–teacher ratio of 15:1, which is lower than the district average ratio reported at 18 to 1.
The school's graduation rate is 95%, significantly higher than the state average of 78% and district average of 80%, ranking it in the top 1% for graduation rates in Alaska.
Math proficiency at Palmer High is 30–34%, which is approximately equal to the state average of 32% but notably lower than the district average of 41%; math scores have fluctuated without clear improvement over recent years.
Reading proficiency stands at 35–39%, higher than the state average of 29% but lower than the district average of 32%, with proficiency remaining relatively stable in the top half statewide.
Enrollment increased from 649 students recently to about 760–785 students between 2021 and 2023, while eligibility for free lunch rose from 22% in 2016 to nearly 30% in recent years, indicating a shift toward a higher proportion of students from low–income households at this Alaska public high school.
Serving 1,046 students in grades 9-12, Colony High School ranks in the top 50% of all schools in Alaska for overall test scores (math proficiency is top 50%, and reading proficiency is top 50%).
The percentage of students achieving proficiency in math is 34% (which is higher than the Alaska state average of 32%). The percentage of students achieving proficiency in reading/language arts is 39% (which is higher than the Alaska state average of 29%).
The student-teacher ratio of 21:1 is higher than the Alaska state level of 15:1.
Minority enrollment is 33% of the student body (majority Hispanic and American Indian), which is lower than the Alaska state average of 53% (majority American Indian).
Grades Offered
9-12
9-12
Total Students
616 students
1,046 students
Total Classroom Teachers
37 teachers
51 teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
17:1
21:1
Test Scores
Overall Testing Rank
#194 out of 441 schools in AK
(Top 50%)
(Top 50%)
#183 out of 441 schools in AK
(Top 50%)
(Top 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
30-34%
34%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
35-39%
39%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
45-49%
38%
Graduation Rate
≥95%
90%
Students by Grade
Students by Grade
Grade 9 Students
193
290
Grade 10 Students
145
316
Grade 11 Students
150
211
Grade 12 Students
128
229
Students by Ethnicity
% American Indian
8%
7%
% Asian
1%
1%
% Hispanic
10%
8%
% Black
1%
1%
% White
67%
67%
% Hawaiian
1%
n/a
% Two or more races
12%
16%
Diversity Score
0.53
0.52
Additional Information
Eligible for Free Lunch
31%
27%
Eligible for Reduced Lunch
4%
4%