This report provides data on the academic achievement gap that separates low-income and minority students from other students, examining how well different groups of students perform in Alaska and noting inequities in teacher quality, course offerings, and funding. Included are tables and data that provide: a frontier gap analysis (a comparison of Alaska to the leaders in achievement and gap closing); student profile (the demographic distribution of youth in Alaska); state performance levels for 1996 (academic achievement and educational attainment); opportunity (well prepared teachers, challenging curricula, special student placements, effective instruction, and annual per pupil investments); minority achievement gains, state by state; and analysis of minority-white achievement gaps by subject area and grade level. Student achievement data are based on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). Since Alaska did not participate in these tests in 1998, it is impossible to provide an overview of the state's gaps and progress in student achievement. Based on the 1996 test results, however, Latino 8th graders in Alaska score more than 3 years behind white 8th graders in the state in math and more than 2 years behind in science. The state's poor/non-poor achievement gap would close for 8th graders in science if poor students in Alaska scored as well as poor students in North Dakota. (Contains 24 references.) (SM)