MCLAUGHLIN SECONDARY SCHOOL

McLaughlin Secondary School is a Title I public high school that is part of the Anchorage School District school district, located in Anchorage, AK with about 76 students offering grade levels from 6th Grade to 12th Grade. A Title I school provides supplemental financial assistance to school districts for children from low-income families. Its purpose is to provide all children significant opportunity to receive a fair, equitable, and high-quality education. With about 13 teachers, McLaughlin Secondary School has a student/teacher ratio of about 5:1. The national average for public schools is about 15:1. A lower student/teacher ratio is a key factor that determines how much a teacher can devote his/her time to each individual student thus improving, or reducing (in the event of a higher student/teacher ratio) the attention each student is given for their educational needs.

McLaughlin Secondary School, located in Anchorage, Alaska, is a unique educational facility operating under the Anchorage School District. Unlike traditional neighborhood high schools, McLaughlin functions as a specialized program serving students who are currently placed within the McLaughlin Youth Center, a secure juvenile detention and treatment facility. The school’s mission is to provide consistent, high-quality educational opportunities to incarcerated youth, ensuring they maintain academic progress while navigating the constraints of their residential environment.

The school offers a structured curriculum designed to meet state standards while accommodating the diverse academic levels and credit needs of its transient student population. Because the student body is composed of individuals in the justice system, the faculty emphasizes personalized instruction, social-emotional support, and credit recovery to help students stay on track for graduation or reintegration into their home schools. By maintaining a focus on academic achievement and skill-building, McLaughlin Secondary School strives to reduce barriers to success and provide a path toward long-term educational stability for its students.

For more information, contact McLaughlin Secondary School at (907) 742-1120 or visit the school personally to speak with a faculty or administrative member about any specific questions you may have.