Compulsory Attendance

Your child’s age is your first indicator of his or her eligibility for beginning school. Students may start 1st grade at age 6 by must enroll but his or her 7th birthday.

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Required Documentation

Alaska school districts set the requirements for what documentation is required prior to enrolling a student in their district. To get that information, contact the district directly.

Some legal documents are required for Alaska students to attend school:

• Certified Birth Certificate/proof of identity
• Official copy of records/transcripts from the previous school the child most recently attended.
• A shot immunization record (or proof that immunization is not required for the child)
  • Click here to view the immunization requirements
• Proof of home address (for example, a rental agreement or tax statement)

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What are Charter Schools?

Charter Schools are tuition-free public schools operated by independent, non-profit governing bodies.

Parents, teachers, and community leaders sign a “charter” or contract with a school district or state agency to create a charter school and give students more educational options than their assigned school. Charter schools have flexibility over classroom hours, curriculum, and employment policies, but are subject to periodic reviews based on student performance. In Alaska, public charter school students are measured against the same academic standards as students in other public schools. Local boards of education monitor the academic and financial performance of charter schools, and, can revoke  or refuse to renew a school’s charter.

Alaska Charter Schools

A list of the active charter schools can be found at Alaska Department of Education.

In Alaska, children can attend school online in virtual classrooms with state certified teachers.  Some virtual programs are open to in-district students only, while others have enrollment open to students across the state.

ASD iSchool

(907) 742-1230

Grades: 9-12

What makes a school “private”?

Private schools charge tuition, and many have a religious mission. Some private schools offer families assistance to make tuition payments. Click below for the complete list of over 43 private schools across the state.

Private School Review offers free, detailed information on U.S. private schools combined with useful community data (e.g., housing costs) and maps of the surrounding areas.

*Information on non-public school admission requirements should be obtained from the school directly.

George Washington University Online High School is an online college preparatory academy for motivated students who are willing to be challenged to become the best students and persons they can be. Combining award-winning curriculum with small class sizes and intensive college counseling, students receive a flexible, individualized education attuned to their own needs and goals.

International Academy is a K12, Inc accredited, online private school for grades K–12. Students earn a U.S. high school diploma while using award-winning K¹² curriculum

They offer extensive, individualized academic and counseling support keep students on track. The flexibility allows students to explore their passions. Full-time and part-time options are available.

Your options

In Alaska, parents have the option to educate their children at home, an option known as homeschooling or home education. Parents in Alaska may choose to homeschool their own children in grades K – 12. T Parents desiring to homeschool their own children may do so by choosing one of the following four options – Independent Home School, With a Private Tutor, With School Board Approval or With a Religious Private School. All four options are discussed below.

Independent home school students must:

A church school offers instruction in grades K–12 or any combination thereof, including preschool, through onsite or home programs, and is operated as a ministry of a local church, group of churches, denomination, and/or association of churches that does not receive any state or federal funding. A home may be the location where a child receives instruction as a student attending a church school. A parent may establish a church school in the home, or the home may be an extension of an existing church school.

Homeschooling with a Private Tutor:

Students can be taught at home by a private tutor that is a Alaska-certified teacher.

Homeschooling with school board approval:

Alaskan students do not have to physically attend school. To homeschool under this option a parent or legal guardian must submit a written request to the principal or school administrator of the school your child attends to receive a written excuse from school attendance.

Connections Alaska Homeschool Program

(907) 714-8880
Grades: K-12

Interior Distance Education of Alaska (IDEA)

(907) 789-6106
Grades: K-12

Raven Homeschool

(907) 374-9401
Grades: K-12

College Credit

Dual enrollment courses are college credit courses. High school students enroll in college courses and earn postsecondary credit upon successful completion of the course. High school credit can also be awarded based on local school policy. Dual enrollment courses can be taught on the college campus, at the student’s high school, or online. The location of the course does not affect its status as a dual enrollment course. Home school students are also eligible for dual enrollment.

While there is no statewide policy in Alaska, dual enrollment is offered on an institutional basis.