The Lower Kuskokwim School District is the largest rural school district in Alaska, in number of sites, teachers, and students. Headquartered in Bethel, the district is comprised of twenty-one villages as well as three schools in Bethel. These villages are spread over an area the size of Ohio and are located along the Kuskokwim River and coastline of Southwestern Alaska. 280 teachers serve approximately 3400 students in kindergarten through grade twelve. The land is flat and marked by lakes and sloughs.
Summer usually finds muddy conditions everywhere and rubber boots are a necessity.
Travel from Bethel and among the villages is by boat in the summer, and by sno-machine in the winter, or small plane when the weather permits. Housing in the villages is usually provided by the District. Included in the rent are electricity, heat, water, and sewage fees. Houses are sometimes substandard and inconveniences can be expected during the year because of the weather. School buildings are in most cases new and contain a small gym.