FAQ - Moving to Fairbanks?
- Tell me about the FNSB School District
- How Do I Know What School to Attend?
- If I live on Eielson AFB, which schools will my children attend?
- If I live on Ft. Wainwright, which schools will my children attend?
- Can our familiy live off base or post and still attend school on Ft. Wainwright or Eielson AFB?
- Do All Students Get Bused to School?
- How do I enroll my students in school?
- How old must students be to attend school?
- What immunizations are needed?
- When does school start?
- Is there a list of supplies my student should bring?
- Is it difficult to transfer into Fairbanks public schools from elsewhere?
- Tell me about elementary schools in Fairbanks
- Tell me about middle schools in Fairbanks
- Tell me about high schools in Fairbanks
- What sports and activities are available?
- Can my student participate in sports right away?
- What will my high school student need to graduate?
- What is the HSGQE?
- How do Fairbanks schools compare to other schools in the State or Nation?
- Which schools are best?
- What is taught? What is the curriculum?
- What are students expected to learn at each grade level and how do we know they're learning it?
- What services are provided for gifted students?
- What kind of Special Education services are available?
- Does it get cold in Fairbanks?!
- Is Fairbanks a diverse community?
- How can I get involved in the schools?
We operate 33 schools for approximately 15,000 students throughout the Fairbanks North Star Borough, including schools on two military installations, Ft. Wainwright Army Post and Eielson Air Force Base. Schools range in size from a small rural elementary school of fewer than 100 students to comprehensive high schools with 1200-1300 students, as well as various charter, magnet and specialized schools. All schools in our district are on the road system. Click here for an overview of the district or for individual school home pages.
Transportation zones are established for each school, which determines bus routes and attendance areas. Students within a transportation zone have preference for enrollment at the school in that zone.
Students may attend a school outside their tranportation zone if space is available, and if they provide their own transportation.
For questions on transportation zones, please call the district Transportation Office at 452-2000, x351.
K-3 students attend Anderson Elementary,3-6th graders attend Crawford Elementary. Secondary students attend Ben Eielson Junior/Senior High. Follow this link to the individual school homepages.
Elementary students living on Ft. Wainwright attend either Ticasuk Brown in North Pole or Arctic Light on Trainor Gate. 7-8th graders attend Tanana Middle School while 9-12 graders attend Lathrop High School. All those schools, with the exception of Arctic Light, also have a large civilian student population. Follow these links to the school homepages.
Yes! If you plan to live off base or post, please contact your principal to learn more about out-of-attendance area requests. Students must provide their own transportation and there must be space available in the desired class.
Bus transportation is provided for students living over 1 1/2 miles from school. Under certain hazardous conditions, the school board may decide to provide bus transportation within shorter distances. Kindergarten students are provided one-way bus transportation.
New students need to enroll at the school they will be attending. When schools are closed for the summer, new students may pick up school packets for open enrollment in our Student Records office in the Administrative Center (452-2000, ext 212).
Check your schools website to find out when your school is scheduling Open Enrollment (usually one week prior to first day of class).
A copy of the child's birth certificate is required for all pupils entering kindergarten and for first graders who haven't been enrolled in the district before. All new students must submit proof of immunization before being admitted. Please bring a copy of the student's transcript or report card to help with class placement. Also, proof of residency (utility bill such as phone, water, electric, etc.) is required at the time of registration.
State law requires every child between 7 and 16 years of age to attend school. Any child who will be 5 years old on or before September 1 is eligible to attend kindergarten. Children must be 6 years old on or before September 1 to attend first grade.
- DtaP (Diphtheria,Tetanus, Pertussis)
- Polio
- MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella)
- Hepatitis A and B
Please check out this link for more information
School generally starts the third week in August and ends the third week in May. The first semester ends before the two-week winter break and there is a one week break in March. Click here to see the current or upcoming school calendars.
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| 2009-2010 School Year Calendar | 92.49 KB |
School supply lists are often in the individual school homepages, and distributed during back-to-school events.
Our district is accustomed to students transferring in and out and we make every effort to ensure a smooth transition. Schools that serve our military community are especially adept at welcoming new students and have special programs in place to help.
The district has twenty elementary schools including those on Ft. Wainwright Army Post and Eielson Air Force Base. They offer a comprehensive academic program that includes general music, physical education, and art. Band and orchestra programs begin at fourth grade. Many schools also offer before and after school programs, breakfast programs, and tutoring. Every school has counselors and school nurses on staff. The average primary class has 23.5 students while intermediate classes average 25.5 students per class. Visit the Curriculum Department or individual school sites for more information.
Currently, the district has 4 middle schools for 7-8th grade and one junior high (Ben Eielson on EAFB). In addition, several of our charter and magnet schools serve grades K-8. These schools offer a full academic program including health and physical education, plus electives such as art, world languages, and music. The average class size is 25 students per teacher. See the individual school sites for more information.
The district's two largest 9-12 grade high schools (Lathrop and West Valley) have 1300 and 1200 students respectively; North Pole High has almost 900 students; and Ben Eielson Junior/Senior High has over 340 high school students. Several optional programs also serve high school students, including Hutchison High, a state-of-the-art career and technical high school focusing on five career clusters, and North Star Charter School consisting of a North Pole Career Academy and a Career Education Center. Our high schools offer a wide range of classes including many electives, honors courses, and advanced placement classes. The average class size in high school is 26.5 students per class. See the individual schools for more information.
The district offers a full array of sports and activities for students, including athletics, arts, special interest and academic clubs. Please see our links to student activities handbooks for more information.
Students MUST have a sports physical (available from your health provider) BEFORE participating in a practice and students must participate in 10 practices before playing a game. Football and some other sports start before school starts in Fairbanks because of our short outdoor season. It is vital students wanting to participate in these sports have a physical and watch the paper for start dates.
Students need 22 credits to graduate and must pass the High School Graduation Qualifying Exam (HSGQE). High school students should talk with their counselor as soon as possible to make sure they're on track to graduate.
The High School Graduation Qualifying Exam is a required state exam comprised of three sections: reading, writing, and math. Students have multiple opportunities to take the test starting in their sophomore year. Students can apply for a waiver to the HSGQE under three very specific conditions: late arrival, rare and unusual circumstances, and passing a comparable exam in another state. Talk with your school counselor for more information.
In 2005, the average Fairbanks student placed in the 63rd percentile on national standardized tests. Students in Fairbanks continue to outperform other Alaskan students on state and national tests at all grade levels and in all subjects. The average Fairbanks student has significantly higher composite SAT and ACT scores than state and national averages. Click here for detailed data on student assessment data.
Each school in our district is unique and has its own strengths. In general, families are fiercely loyal to the schools in their neighborhood. Click here for a list of schools. Follow this link for school report cards with test scores and other data.
Each curriculum area is updated according to a six-year review and revision cycle. For a copy of the adopted curriculum, visit the district's Curriculum Guides.
Grade level expectations and performance standards are set by the State of Alaska and tested according to Standards Based Assessments.
The district's Extended Learning Program (ELP) provided teachers at the elementary and middle school levels. A wide range of Advanced Placement Classes are offered at high schools for all students. Although not every class is offered at every school, approximately 25 Advanced Placement courses are offered throughout the district. Check out the high school course catalog for more information or individual school course catalogs for specific school offerings.
The Special Education Department provides assessment and direct services to students with fifteen different exceptionalities, and secondary services such as tranportation, translators, occupational and physical therapy, counseling, etc. Check out their department site for more information.
Remember, everything's relative! Fairbanks is semi-arid, so very little moisture reaches us from the coast. Winters are cold but dry; the skies are generally blue and the snow is dry and fluffy. Our students learn to dress in layers and have fun outdoors year-round. Recess is only cancelled when the temperature reaches 20 degrees below zero Fahrenheit. Trust me, the kids adjust quickly...as long as they bundle up!
Yes! Students in our district come from 50 different language backgrounds. Several federal programs help student adjust to our district, including English Language Learners tutoring. See the Federal Programs page for more information. In addition, the district's ethnicity report is posted on the webpage.
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| Enrollment & Ethnicity Report for the 2008-2009 School Year | 39.13 KB |
You would not believe how welcome family members are in Fairbanks schools. All schools welcome volunteers to help in the classroom, tutor students, share their culture and careers, chaperone trips, and share in various ways in the school life of our students. Did you know service members can earn credit when they volunteer in the school? Contact your local school for more information.
