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Clubs Cultural and Language, Social and Hobbies, Leadership and Professional
Stages Kindergarten, Primary School, Middle School
Introduction
Rilke Schule German Charter School of Arts and Sciences is a tuition-free K–8 charter school within the Anchorage School District in Anchorage, Alaska. The school offers a German immersion program for Kindergarten through eighth grade, the first immersion in the district. All students learn German while the core curriculum follows the Anchorage School District's Common Core Standards. German language standards align with National Foreign Language Standards and ASD world language expectations; starting in Grade 2, students complete an annual German assessment called STAMP. In Grades 3, 6, and 8, German exams produced by Germany (A1, A2, B1) are administered; Service High School administers the B2/C1 exam, often required for German universities. The school uses ASD RTI and tracks progress with AIMSweb and ASD testing. The Abbott Loop campus includes a gym, library, spaces for special services, and a hot lunch program, with a five-year occupancy waiver and upcoming fire-system upgrades.
Rilke Schule German Charter School of Arts and Sciences has 485 pupils, typical class sizes of 25, instruction in German, English.
Location
8427 Lake Otis Pkwy, Anchorage, AK 99507, United States. It is within the Anchorage School District. The school serves students from Kindergarten through 8th grade. It is located in eastern Anchorage near Lake Otis Parkway.
Stages
Kindergarten through 8th grade (K-8).
Type
tuition-free K-8 charter school within the Anchorage School District
Country affiliation
Germany (official recognition and financial support from the German government).
School day structure
German language immersion for half of the school day.
Fees
Annual tuition at Rilke Schule German Charter School of Arts and Sciences ranges from USD 225 for 2026/27.
Application fees - Rilke Schule uses the Anchorage School District online lottery for admissions; there is no separate Rilke Schule application form or separate school-level application fee.
Tuition fees (by school year / year group) - K–8 tuition: There is no tuition charged to students who reside within the Anchorage School District; Rilke Schule is a tuition‑free K–8 charter school. (Tuition = USD 0 per year for all K–8 grades.) - Annual school fees (applies schoolwide): Activity Fee — USD 125 (annual). Supply Fee — USD 100 (annual). These fees are charged per student to cover field trips, guest speakers, buses, special class activities, and classroom/school supplies. The activity and supply fees are collected annually (see Billing schedule). - School meal costs (district rates, by grade level): - Elementary students: Breakfast USD 4.50; Lunch USD 6.25. - Middle school students: Breakfast USD 4.75; Lunch USD 6.75. - (High school rates are higher but Rilke serves K–8.) These meal prices are set by the Anchorage School District nutrition service and apply when students purchase school meals. - Middle‑school activity/sports participation fees (district policy applied to ASD schools including charters): Middle school ASD‑sponsored sport fee is set per sport (example district reference: USD 110 per sport) and the district maintains caps and waiver rules for activity fees; specific sport fees and caps are collected at team registration. If your child participates in district‑sponsored activities, expect separate per‑activity fees in addition to the annual activity/supply fees.
Billing schedule and payment terms - Activity and supply fees: Can be paid beginning in August and may be paid at any time during the school year; families are asked to pay in the first semester when possible so the school can plan for materials and activities. Payments are collected per student and are annual amounts (Activity USD 125; Supply USD 100). - Sports/activity fees: Collected at the start of each activity/season according to district scheduling and eligibility procedures; deadlines and refund eligibility follow district activity rules. - Meal payments: Meal charges are posted at point of sale and billed according to student meal-account practices; accounts may be funded in advance. Cash is accepted for cafeteria transactions; district meal account options and account funding procedures are available through the district nutrition service.
Boarding fees (if applicable) - Not applicable. Rilke Schule is a K–8 day charter school; there is no boarding program and therefore no boarding fees.
Other costs or fees (examples parents should expect) - Personal school supplies and consumables: Students remain responsible for personal items not covered by the supply fee (backpacks, binders, notebooks, pencils, lunch packs, water bottles, gym shoes, art shirts, and other personal items that travel between home and school). - Dress code / logo wear: Rilke does not require a full uniform; official logo t‑shirts, sweatshirts and hoodies are allowed but there is no mandatory uniform purchase. A used‑clothing exchange is run periodically; prices at that exchange (used clothing sale) are nominal (examples: USD 1 for tops, USD 2 for pants/shorts/skirts, USD 3 for dresses/sweaters/jackets/shoes). Families may choose (but are not required) to purchase logo wear. - Field trips and special activities: The annual activity fee is intended to cover many field trips and buses, but some special or optional trips, overnight travel, or external program costs may require additional parent payments or fundraising; district travel and trip cancellation policies apply. - Health/participation requirements for activities: Students who participate in interscholastic athletics are required to have a current sports physical; obtaining that physical is a family expense.
Refund information - Tuition: Not applicable (no tuition is charged). - Activity/supply fees: Standard practice is to address payment and refund inquiries through the school's payment office; refunds or credits for fees are handled under district and school procedures. For district‑sponsored activities, activity fees are refundable in specified circumstances (for example, if a student is not selected for a team) and refund requests typically must be made promptly according to district activity rules. Travel cancellations for safety reasons may be handled under district travel policy and in some cases the district may not be able to refund monies contributed for travel. Contact the school activity office or payment desk for specific refund processing.
Fee payment options - Activity and supply fees: Online payment by credit/debit card is supported via the student's ParentConnection (Q) account (use the Student's Q login to pay with a credit/debit card). Families may also coordinate payments through the school office. - School meals: Cash is accepted at the point of sale; cafeteria meal accounts may be funded and used for purchases. The district offers account options that can be funded with cash or check and used across ASD cafeterias. - District activity fees and other payments: District procedures generally allow online payments via the Q/ParentConnection system and schoolfront‑office processing; specific payment channels for sports, trips, or special programs follow district and school instructions at registration.
Summary (concise) - No tuition for K–8 students (tuition‑free charter school). Annual mandatory fees for school operations are limited to the Activity Fee (USD 125) and Supply Fee (USD 100) per student; additional costs may include meal purchases, per‑activity sports fees, personal supplies, optional trip costs, and the cost of required sports physicals. Payments for activity/supply fees are accepted online by credit/debit card through the ParentConnection (Q) system and meal accounts/cash are accepted for cafeteria purchases.
Academics
Rilke Schule German Charter School of Arts and Sciences teaches American Curriculum for students aged 5 to 14.
Curriculum
The school follows the Anchorage School District's Common Core State Standards in all subjects. German language standards are based on the National Foreign Language Standards, including the Alaska and ASD world language standards. Starting in grade 2, all students take part in an annual German language assessment called STAMP. In grades 3, 6 and 8, German exams produced by the Federal Republic of Germany (A1, A2, and B1) are administered; Service High School administers the B2/C1 level exam, which is often part of entry requirements at German universities. Assessments track math and language arts and the program uses the ASD RTI (Response To Instruction) Initiative; progress is reported through AIMSweb and ASD standardized testing. Grades are reported as follows: Grades 1-3 receive effort grades O, S+, S, S-, and N; Grades 4-5 use the A, B, C scale for academic grades; Grades 6-8 use academic grades only.
Wellbeing
Special Educational Needs (SEN)
Rilke Schule German Immersion School enforces nondiscriminatory enrollment; no student shall be denied participation because of a physical, mental, or learning disability, or special need.
English as an Additional Language (EAL)
The school uses a dual-language German immersion model with half-day German and half-day English instruction; the English side emphasizes reading and language arts, while the German side emphasizes speaking, reading, and writing German, science, geography, and social studies. The immersion faculty have native or near-native German language skills. SamstagsSchule - Saturday German Classes are offered for families seeking German language support.
Mental Wellbeing
A school nurse prioritizes the health and wellbeing of students; the nurse's corner provides health and wellness information and contact details for the nurse.
Safeguarding
Non-discrimination policies ensure enrollment and curriculum access without regard to race, religion, language, handicap, or national origin; the school adopts the Anchorage School District's nondiscrimination policy and code of conduct.
Admissions
Admissions
1. Apply to Rilke Schule via the Anchorage School District online lottery application process. 2. The school uses two lotteries annually: one during the last two weeks of March and another in late summer, the week prior to fall registration. 3. If more applicants apply than there are spaces, a waiting list is formed; the only standard prioritization in the lottery is for siblings; with special permission, the principal may preempt the process for documented hardship or to balance gender. 4. When a student's name is drawn, they are placed on the acceptance list in numerical order and enrolled in that order; siblings' names are drawn first, followed by all other names; admission continues down the list until all spaces are filled; remaining names are wait-listed. 5. If a student withdraws from the list, the next available waiting list name is admitted. 6. Lottery eligibility: pre-kindergarten students are eligible for the lottery only in the March preceding eligibility for school entrance; first grade students with no German background are eligible for admittance through the first quarter only; after that, they must have equivalent German knowledge to be admitted. 7. Parents of students who have entered the lottery and been chosen must accept or reject the school within two school days after notification; pre-kindergarten notification aligns with August kindergarten registration for actual enrollment. 8. Those who do not enroll within the designated period will be withdrawn from the waiting list and must reapply if they wish to attend; if contact attempts to offer a space are unsuccessful, the student remains on the list through the next lottery period or is removed if contact remains unsuccessful in the next cycle. 9. If students are already in the program and are withdrawn for any reason, they must follow lottery procedures if there is a waiting list; no student may accept a place in more than one program at the same time. 10. Openings in a grade level require notifying the next student on the waiting list, who must accept or reject within two days, with registration occurring as soon as possible after that date but no later than five days after acceptance. 11. Proof of residency will be verified for all new entrants. 12. There is no rollover waiting list from year to year; all students must reapply for the following school year. 13. NEW-TO-DISTRICT STUDENTS must submit the following documents at registration: birth certificate, current immunization records, physical examination (for kindergartners), current address and phone numbers for students and parents, emergency contacts and individuals who may pick up the child, name and address of previous school, and copies of legal papers if there is a custody situation. 14. Important lottery dates: February 1 at midnight – lottery opens; March 31 – lottery closes; April 7 at 4 pm – notifications are released to families.
Waitlist
A waiting list is formed when applications exceed spaces. Admission continues down the waiting list to fill openings, with siblings prioritized in the lottery; when a space becomes available, the next name on the waiting list is admitted. If attempts to offer a space fail, the candidate remains on the waiting list or is removed after the next lottery cycle. There is no rollover waiting list from year to year; all students must reapply for the next school year.
FAQs
Where is Rilke Schule located and what ages does it serve?
Rilke Schule is located at 8427 Lake Otis Pkwy, Anchorage, AK 99507, within the Anchorage School District. It serves Kindergarten through 8th grade, roughly ages 5 to 14. It is a K–8 charter school with a German immersion program.
What type of school is Rilke Schule and what curriculum does it follow?
Rilke Schule is a tuition-free K–8 charter school within the Anchorage School District. It follows the ASD Common Core State Standards in all subjects, with German language standards drawn from National Foreign Language Standards and Alaska/ASD world language standards. From grade 2, students take the annual STAMP German assessment; grades 3, 6 and 8 take German exams (A1, A2, B1), and Service High administers B2/C1.
Do families have to pay tuition to attend Rilke Schule?
No. K–8 attendance is tuition-free for students residing in the Anchorage School District. There are annual operational fees (Activity Fee of $125 and Supply Fee of $100 per student) plus costs for meals and any district-sponsored activities or sports.
How does the admissions process work, including lotteries and waitlists?
Rilke Schule uses the Anchorage School District online lottery with two annual cycles (late March and late summer). If applications exceed spaces, a waiting list is formed and siblings are given priority in the lottery. Openings are filled in order, with residency verified for new entrants; there is no rollover waiting list from year to year, and families must reapply for the next school year.
What other costs should families plan for besides the base fees?
In addition to the annual Activity and Supply fees, families should budget for district meal costs if meals are used, potential per‑sport fees for middle-school activities, personal school supplies, and any optional trips or special activities not covered by the fees. There is no mandatory uniform, though logo wear is available, and a used‑clothing exchange runs periodically.
What curriculum and assessments define the academics at Rilke Schule?
The ASD curriculum uses Common Core State Standards in all subjects, with German standards based on National Foreign Language Standards. German language assessments include STAMP starting in Grade 2, and A1/A2/B1 exams in Grades 3/6/8; B2/C1 through Service High is often used for university entry requirements. Progress is tracked using the ASD RTI framework and reported via AIMSweb and ASD standardized testing.
How is student progress monitored and reported?
Student progress is tracked through the ASD RTI Initiative. Progress and achievement are reported using AIMSweb and ASD standardized testing, with grade reporting following the school's scale (effort grades for Grades 1–3; A–C for Grades 4–5; academic grades for Grades 6–8).
What facilities does the Abbott Loop building provide?
The Abbott Loop building includes a dedicated gym for physical education and activities, spaces for special services, and a library. It also supports a hot lunch program serving up to about 200 students daily and operates under a five‑year occupancy waiver with planned improvements, including a fire suppression system.
What clubs or activities exist beyond the classroom?
Rilke Schule offers Rilke Clubs as before/after‑school programs, Samstagsschule Saturday German Classes for families, and a music program with opportunities such as band. There is also an internship program coordinated by the Amity Institute and various volunteering and community events run by RSV.
Are there leadership or internship opportunities for students or families?
Yes. The internship program brings visiting German interns to the school, coordinated by the Amity Institute, with host families needed for three months. Rilke Clubs and RSV activities also provide leadership and community engagement opportunities.
What wellbeing and safeguarding support exists for students?
The school uses a nondiscriminatory enrollment policy and adheres to Anchorage ASD safeguarding standards. There is a school nurse on site for health and wellbeing information, and the English/German dual‑language model supports EAL needs; SamstagsSchule offers additional language support for families.
How does the school handle special educational needs or disability support?
Nondiscriminatory enrollment ensures participation regardless of disability or special needs, but the information provided does not list specific SEN services beyond the district's safeguarding and accessibility policies.
Is there a uniform, and what is the dress code like?
There is no mandatory uniform. The dress code requires solid color shirts with a collar and neutral-colored pants; official Rilke Schule logo wear is allowed, while non‑official logo wear is not worn in class. Traditional Bavarian attire may be worn on any day.
What is the food policy at school?
Students bring their own lunches and eat in classrooms or the gym. The school follows a healthy food policy: no candy, cookies, cake, soda, or sugary foods; only water, milk, or 100% fruit juice is allowed. Food sharing is not permitted.
How is governance structured at Rilke Schule?
Rilke Schule is a charter school within the Anchorage School District and is governed by the Academic Policy Committee (APC). The charter renewal documents outline ASD contracts and APC bylaws.
Does Rilke Schule have any accreditations or awards?
No accreditations or awards are listed in the available information.
What is special about the language provision at the school?
All students learn German as part of a German immersion program spanning Kindergarten through 8th grade. The Sprachmeister program encourages speaking only German during German language portions and uses flags as a reward for meeting speaking targets.
What is the German government's involvement with the school?
Rilke Schule has official recognition and financial support from the German government, reflecting its status as a German‑affiliated immersion program in the United States.
What is the school's history and origin?
Rilke Schule opened in August 2007 after a chartering process that began in 2006. It was the first immersion program in the Anchorage School District to span elementary and middle school, and it is named after the poet Rainer Maria Rilke; the mascot is a panther.
How can families get involved in the school's community life?
The RSV (Rilke Schule Verein) coordinates volunteers, fundraising, and culturally relevant events; the PTA/RSV teams organize community activities and sign‑ups. RSV meetings are typically held the first Wednesday of each month at 6:00 pm, and members can contact the board via email.
