Valley Pathways

Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District

www.matsuk12.us/vps

200 Students

High School 9th - 12th

School Overview

Valley Pathways, located in Palmer, Alaska, is an alternative educational program within the Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District. Designed to serve students who may benefit from a non-traditional learning environment, the school focuses on providing a personalized approach to academics. By offering flexible scheduling and individualized instruction, Valley Pathways caters to students who need an alternative to the conventional comprehensive high school experience, helping them remain engaged and on track toward graduation.

The school emphasizes a supportive, community-oriented atmosphere where students can work at their own pace with the guidance of dedicated staff. Because it is part of the Mat-Su school system, it maintains high academic standards while prioritizing the unique social and emotional needs of its student body. Whether students are looking for a smaller campus setting, credit recovery opportunities, or a more autonomous path to earning their diploma, Valley Pathways serves as a vital resource for fostering student success in the Palmer area.

200

Total Students

10.8

Full-Time Teachers

18.5

Student/Teacher Ratio

49.0%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Valley Pathways
Demographic	Student Count
White	124
Hispanic	18
Black	1
Asian	1
Two or More	31
American Indian	24
Pacific Islander	1

White
124 (62.0 %)
Two or More
31 (15.5 %)
American Indian
24 (12.0 %)
Hispanic
18 (9.0 %)
Black
1 (0.5 %)
Asian
1 (0.5 %)
Pacific Islander
1 (0.5 %)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	High School
School Type:	Alternative School
Charter Status:*	Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction:	No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District
Phone:	(907)761-4650
Website:	http://www.matsuk12.us/vps
Grade Range:	9th - 12th
Total Students:	200
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	10.8
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	18.5
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Qualified Free Lunch:	98
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	0

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Grade 9 20

Grade 10 52

Grade 11 65

Grade 12 63