11707 Dawn #3
Eagle River, AK 99577

Small town vibe that's connected to the very large Anchorage School District. Your child will likely have a good experience in English, Science, and History courses. If you child can teach themselves Math then they will do well. If your kiddo struggles (even just a little bit) they will have a hard time with the Math curriculum. Delta math for homework is frustrating and time consuming for very little pay off and there's no option to write out homework on paper and turn it in for credit (no worksheets, no text book homework assignments). I guess having Math students do their work online is easier for the teachers to grade but it's not so great for students that are trying to learn. The most engaging/amazing/fun Spanish teacher is Senor Bloom. Chugiak High School is part of the Spanish emersion program. Their German teacher is retiring this year (2024). It's unclear (other than Spanish) what foreign languages will be offered going forward. Culinary/Prostart should be taken by students that are interesting in learning (cooking/baking/plating/presentation) and not taken by students that are just there for an easy A, the teacher knows her stuff and expects students to be engaged. Once your student completes culinary they are eligible for Prostart with a chance to participate in competitions and after school events. Most all of Chugiak sports teams are highly competitive (although our football team and both basketball teams struggle intermittently). Most (but not all) sports teams have tryouts and cuts. The swing (varsity) choir travels for competition in the spring, they highly accomplished. The choral director is exceptional however, their is a perception that she plays favorites. There is a concert choir (no cuts) and the traveling choir (auditions and cuts). The band is also amazing and travels in the spring for competition. Drama - They typically have a straight play in the fall and a musical in late winter. The sets are spectacular and the performances are unbelievable (although rumor has it that the director is not very nice, again this could just be a perception). They have many other clubs including a competition riflery club (air rifle) and JROTC (drill competitions). Chugiak High School is the only school in the Eagle River/Chugiak area with an indoor pool. There's a high school swim team and a year round swim club. Soccer teams are good but I hope your kid has club experience or they will never make the cut.

For the most part all the teachers are great. But the principal is another story. She is a horrible principal. She does not try to resolve any conflicts/situations or even care. She doesn't interact with the kids and is not approachable. She's just not involved at all. All she does is sit in her office and gossips about the families and situations. You can definitely tell she's just there for the pay check. It Has potential to be a great school if they hired a principal who actually cares about her job and takes pride in what she does.

As a parent, I’ve been really impressed with Gruening Middle School. The staff is incredibly supportive, and they genuinely care about the students’ success. My child feels welcomed and encouraged every day. The school has a great sense of community, and the range of activities keeps the kids engaged both academically and socially. It’s been a wonderful experience, and I couldn’t be happier with the environment they’re creating for our children!