Education

Empowering Minds: Education and Schools in Our Community

Soldotna is the headquarters of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District, one of the larger rural school districts in Alaska. The district has earned state and national recognition for its programs and has made significant capital investments in facilities and technology in recent years. Soldotna itself is well served with public schools at every level, plus private and faith-based options, a charter program, and a Montessori offering. Kenai Peninsula College, located on the western edge of the city, provides higher education access without the need to leave the peninsula.

Public Schools in Soldotna

Soldotna operates five public schools under the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District.

School	Level	Notes
Skyview Middle School	Middle (6–8)	Also serves as a trailhead for Tsalteshi Trails
Soldotna High School	High School (9–12)	Comprehensive public high school
Three elementary schools	K–5	Mt. View Elementary, Soldotna Elementary, and Redoubt Elementary

The district also operates a public charter program, a Montessori program, and a home school support program for families who prefer alternative learning structures.

Kenai Peninsula Borough School District (KPBSD)

Metric	Detail
Total schools in district	42–44 sites across 21 communities
Total students	~8,300–8,500
Geographic coverage	25,600 square miles (roughly the size of West Virginia)
Student-teacher ratio	16:1
Per-pupil spending	~$20,061 annually
Post-secondary enrollment	85% of district graduates enroll in post-secondary education or training
JumpStart program	Dual enrollment for qualifying juniors and seniors at reduced college tuition

Proficiency scores reflect the challenges common to rural Alaska school districts. District-wide, approximately 34–38% of students test at proficient or above in reading and 25–37% in math by grade level. The district acknowledges these figures and has made curriculum improvement a stated priority for the current school year.

Private and Faith-Based Schools

Several private schools operate in the Soldotna and Kenai area.

Multiple faith-based schools offer smaller class sizes and flexible curricula grounded in Christian education
Note that private schools in Alaska are not required to employ state-certified teachers, though many instructors hold degrees or are working toward them; families should inquire directly about credentials and programs

Higher Education

Kenai Peninsula College (KPC) — Kenai River Campus, Soldotna

KPC is a community campus within the University of Alaska Anchorage system, located on 300 wooded acres on Soldotna's west side.

Approximately 2,500 students per semester (some sources indicate 1,600 for recent years)
Offers associate degrees, bachelor's degrees, certificate programs, and occupational endorsements
Campus includes a library, laboratories, computer labs, a residential hall, and an art gallery
Free Wi-Fi and public computer access available at the on-campus library

Alaska Christian College (Soldotna)

Associate degrees in Behavioral Health, Christian Ministry, General Studies, and Paraprofessional Education
Focused on preparing Alaska Native students for community and ministry roles

Amundsen Educational Center (Soldotna)

Non-profit vocational and educational training school
Programs in building construction, office occupations, and medical coding
Located on the eastern edge of the city

Childcare

Licensed childcare centers in Soldotna range from larger facilities with structured developmental curricula to smaller group home daycares with a more relaxed approach. Options exist across the full range of age groups from infant through preschool. Families should plan ahead, as availability can be limited given the size of the community.