Alaska is known for its wildlife, scenic landscapes, and rugged outdoor lifestyle much more than it is for its schools, but they’re certainly something you have to consider if your family is considering moving to The Last Frontier. Obviously, the quality and choice of schools is something that parents should always think about when planning a move to a new area, but this is especially true when it comes to Alaska. Despite being the largest state in the union, the small, sparse population means there aren’t nearly as many schools to choose from as in other states. However, this doesn’t mean there aren’t great schools in the state. Here, we’ll be going over the top schools in Alaska to help you better plan your move.

High Schools

High school is a very formative time in one’s life, making it important to consider high school no matter where you decide to live. High school provides teens with the perfect opportunity to figure out their strengths and weaknesses, explore their interests, and start building a foundation for future success. It’s during high school that teens can really start imagining their futures by taking more specialized classes and applying to colleges. Furthermore, it’s the last low-stakes time in a person’s life where they are largely free of responsibilities, and consequences for their actions are less severe. Many people look back on this aspect of high school fondly, but it can also be a very stressful time. This makes it all the more important to research the top schools in Alaska when planning a move.

You definitely want your child to be able to look back on their high school experience fondly, but you also want them to get a quality education that will challenge them to be a high achiever and set them up for success in life. The top schools in Alaska will give your child both.

In order to graduate high school, all Alaska high school students must earn a minimum of 21 credits along with a half-credit in Alaska history. In total, there are 281 high schools in the state and a total of 52 districts. Below is the cream of the crop, as ranked by UsNews.com:

Mat-Su Career & Tech Ed High School
Petersburg High School
Cordova Jr/Sr High School
Eagle River High School
Homer High School

Higher Education

Having some form of higher education is almost a necessity if you want to get a good job today. The benefit of going to a college or university in Alaska is the fact that a degree means a little more there than in some of the other states. Employers are always seeking to add highly educated employees to their workforce, and because oil exploration is the state’s largest industry, many of the jobs are good-paying. Electrical, mechanical, and civil engineers and computer scientists are in high demand, and the Alaska Department of Labor estimates that hundreds of new engineers will be needed annually.

While Alaska may not have the same academic reputation as other areas of the country like the northeast, there are still many opportunities available. In fact, many of the top schools in Alaska offer unique opportunities in higher education that cannot be found elsewhere because of the abundant wilderness that surrounds them. Many of the top schools in Alaska offer in-state apprenticeships and job placement opportunities that would be hard to find elsewhere.

So, what are these top schools in Alaska? Here are the top five according to UsNews.com:

University of Alaska – Anchorage
Alaska Pacific University
University of Alaska – Fairbanks
University of Alaska – Southeast
Illisagvik College

Now that you know what the top schools in Alaska are, it’s time to turn your attention to planning other aspects of your move. For the best moving services that will take much of the stress and hassle out of the process, you want to go with an experienced moving company that’s helped people move to and from Alaska many times. Golden North Van Lines has been doing just that for over 50 years, making us the perfect choice for your move.