About Us

About Mt. Edgecumbe High School

Mt. Edgecumbe High School is a public boarding school operated by the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development. Initially established in 1947 by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Mt. Edgecumbe provided Alaska Native students in grades 1-12 the opportunity to acquire a traditional education unavailable in rural Alaska. Serving as many as 600 students at its largest, the school closed temporarily in 1983 as the Bureau of Indian Affairs reduced its role in Alaskan Education. Two years later, the school reopened under the governance of the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development. The central role of Mt. Edgecumbe High School in Alaskan education is to provide a broad range of academic and extra-curricular opportunities that are unavailable to students in isolated home schools and communities. Academic expectations are high and students who attend are expected to enroll in higher education. The official governing body charged with oversight is the Alaska State Board of Education.

Demographics: Typically, over 400 students from 110 villages throughout Alaska attend Mt. Edgecumbe. About 65 percent of the student body is female and 35 percent are male. Alaska Native students comprise 80-95 percent of the student population, 6-10 percent are typically Caucasian and we usually have a population that includes students of Asian, Hispanic, and African American descent. Between 60-80% of students in attendance generally meet federal guidelines for free & reduced lunches. Annually, between 75-90% graduates are accepted into a post-secondary university or training programs.

Selection Criteria: Applicants must be Alaska residents of high school age who possess a demonstrated interest in learning and who are capable of living successfully in a residential setting. The State Board of Education has established the following criteria for acceptance at Mt. Edgecumbe High School: availability of a high school program in the student's home community, any particular requirements (educational, emotional or family) that make the structured, residential setting provided at Mt. Edgecumbe High School advisable, degree to which the student is expected to benefit from the academic and social programs, the degree to which the student will bring background experiences, skills and abilities that will enhance the academic potential of the student body and academic performance as demonstrated by transcripts and test scores.

Graduation Requirements: 24 Carnegie units for a 4 year attendee: English – 4 credits ( English I-English IV), Math – 3 credits (Basic Math-Calculus), Social Studies – 4 credits (World Geography, Alaska History, US History, Government, Alaska Issues, Pacific Rim Cultures), World Language - 1 credit (Japanese, Indigenous Languages, Spanish, Chinese), Science – 3 credits, (1 Physical Science, 1 Biological Science, 1 Elective Science), Health / PE – 2 credits, (Health/Wellness, Team Sports, Individual/Dual Sports, Weight Training). A full range of academic electives are offered as well as: Driver's Education, Welding, CNA, ETT, EMT, Choir, Band, Yearbook, Digital Storytelling, Cutting Edge News,  and more. MEHS offers a full suite of AP courses and qualified students are encouraged to enroll in courses at the adjoining campus of the University of Alaska Southeast for which we pay the tuition of up to two classes.

Grading System: A = 4.0, B = 3.0, C = 2.0, NC = no credit. 70% is the minimum passing score.