Mt. Edgecumbe High School

Mt. Edgecumbe High School (MEHS), located in Sitka, Alaska, is a unique, state-operated residential boarding school that serves students from across Alaska, particularly those from rural and remote communities. As a public institution, its primary mission is to provide an academically challenging environment that promotes leadership, cultural pride, and personal growth. By bringing together students from diverse backgrounds—including a significant population of Alaska Native students—the school creates a vibrant, tight-knit community that prepares young Alaskans for post-secondary success while fostering a deep connection to their heritage.

The school is well-regarded for its rigorous academic curriculum and its focus on holistic student development. Beyond the classroom, MEHS emphasizes residential life, offering a variety of extracurricular activities, athletics, and cultural programs that help students develop independence and social responsibility. Because it serves as a statewide hub, the school acts as a bridge between the traditional lifestyles of Alaska’s rural villages and the broader opportunities of the modern world, consistently focusing on preparing its graduates to become the future leaders of the state.