West Valley High School

West Valley High School is one of the best schools in Alaska, providing a top-notch public education for students in grades 9–12. It is a well-known school in the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District that serves about 950 students from many different backgrounds. The student-to-teacher ratio is 18:1. The school is known for being one of the best in the country for academics, as shown by its high 34% Advanced Placement® participation rate. The school has a 43% minority enrollment, and 28% of the students are from low-income families. The school showed good levels of proficiency for the 2025–2026 school year, with 24% of students doing well in math and 38% doing well in reading. The campus is known for its strong arts and sports programs, and the district spends about $18,485 per student. West Valley High School is one of the best schools in the area because it has a tough college-preparatory curriculum and a lively, welcoming school environment, and it is one of the best high school in Alaska.

For the spring 2026 semester, West Valley High School will add more Career and Technical Education (CTE) classes, including ones that focus on video production, digital photography, and computer programming. The school recently won the Alaska Purple Star Award for its excellent work in helping military-connected students and their families through dedicated transition programs. The Class of 2026 is also having individual meetings to plan for their future after high school. These meetings are happening now in preparation for their graduation ceremony on May 12, 2026, at the Alaska Airlines Center.

Q1. Does West Valley High School have tests like the SAT and ACT that students need to take to get into college?

Ans. West Valley High School offers a lot of help to students who want to take the SAT and ACT, including special testing times all year long.

Q2. What special science opportunities do students in school have?

Ans. School students work on advanced STEM projects and research that often use the natural Alaskan landscape as a living laboratory.

Q3. How does the school help students see things from a global point of view?

Ans. A strong world language department and international exchange programs help students learn a lot about different cultures around the world.

Q4. What makes the music program for school kids special?

Ans. School students do very well in well-known orchestra and choral programs, and they often go to music festivals at the state and regional levels.

Q5. What do students get out of the school's elective classes?

Ans. Students can learn about a wide range of topics that go along with their main academic studies, from digital photography to outdoor leadership.