DIOMEDE SCHOOL

Diomede School is a Title I public school that is part of the Bering Strait School District school district, located in Diomede, AK with about 23 students offering grade levels from Pre-Kindergarten 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 3 teachers, Diomede School has a student/teacher ratio of about 7:1. 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.

Diomede School, located on the remote island of Little Diomede in the Bering Strait, is one of the most isolated educational institutions in the United States. Part of the Bering Strait School District (BSSD), the school serves a small, tight-knit community of Inupiat residents. Because the island is situated only two miles from the International Date Line and the Russian border, the school functions as a critical hub for local culture, language preservation, and community life in an environment defined by extreme Arctic weather and limited accessibility.

Academically, Diomede School provides K-12 instruction with a focus on meeting the unique needs of its students through the BSSD curriculum. Due to the island’s geographic challenges—often accessible only by helicopter or seasonal barge—the school relies heavily on technology and distance-learning initiatives to supplement traditional instruction. Despite its remote location, the school remains deeply committed to fostering academic success while honoring the traditions and subsistence lifestyle of the Diomede community.

For more information, contact Diomede School at (907) 686-3021 or visit the school personally to speak with a faculty or administrative member about any specific questions you may have.