John Shaw Elementary

Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District

www.matsuk12.us/jse

507 Students

Elementary School Pre-K - 5th

School Overview

John Shaw Elementary is a public school located in Wasilla, Alaska, and serves as part of the Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District. Situated on East Paradise Lane, the school provides an educational environment tailored to primary-aged students, focusing on fundamental academic development and character growth. It operates under the district’s broader mission to provide high-quality learning opportunities that prepare students for future academic success within the unique context of the Mat-Su Valley community.

The school is deeply integrated into the local Wasilla area, acting as a central hub for families and neighborhood children. By utilizing the resources of the Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District, John Shaw Elementary emphasizes standard curriculum delivery while fostering a supportive classroom culture. Parents and community members can access ongoing updates, school calendars, and academic resources through the district’s official website at http://www.matsuk12.us/jse, which serves as the primary portal for school-home communication and administrative information.

507

Total Students

31.0

Full-Time Teachers

16.4

Student/Teacher Ratio

41.2%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for John Shaw Elementary
Demographic	Student Count
White	395
Hispanic	29
Black	2
Asian	2
Two or More	45
American Indian	33
Pacific Islander	1

White
395 (77.9%)
Two or More
45 (8.9%)
American Indian
33 (6.5%)
Hispanic
29 (5.7%)
Black
2 (0.4%)
Asian
2 (0.4%)
Pacific Islander
1 (0.2%)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Elementary School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction:	No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District
Phone:	(907)352-0500
Website:	http://www.matsuk12.us/jse
Grade Range:	Pre-K - 5th
Total Students:	507
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	31.0
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	16.4
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes participating without using any Provision or the CEO
Qualified Free Lunch:	178
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	31

* 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

Pre-Kindergarten 40

Kindergarten 79

Grade 1 70

Grade 2 72

Grade 3 96

Grade 4 77

Grade 5 73