Enrollment
143
Alaska · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Valdez, AK
George H. Gilson Middle School
Federal NCES profile for George H. Gilson Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 42/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 020078000367
👥 S:T ratio 28
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 71
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
George H. Gilson Middle School earns 42/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 80% of Alaska schools.
- #2 of 4
- public schools in Valdez · Resource Index
- 42
- Resource Index · Typical
- 17.9:1
- large classes for Alaska
- 41.7%
- free-lunch eligible
George H. Gilson Middle School has class sizes larger than 80% of Alaska schools. Computed live against every Alaska school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, George H. Gilson Middle School ranks #2 of 4 public schools in Valdez, AK.
School address
District: Valdez City School District · Alaska
NCES ID 020078000367 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
8.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
17.9:1
vs 15.2:1 Alaska avg
+18% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
41.7%
vs 61.5% Alaska avg
-32% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How George H. Gilson Middle School compares with Alaska and U.S. medians
What stands out at George H. Gilson Middle School
George H. Gilson Middle School is a mid-sized middle school in Valdez, Alaska, enrolling 143 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 17.9:1 puts it in the larger third of Alaska schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 41.7% of students eligible for free meals.
With 143 students, its enrollment sits close to the Alaska median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 495 scored Alaska schools.
Against 20 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #6.
Its student body is led by White (63%) and Two or More (21%) (diversity index 55/100).
Counselor coverage is strong, about 143 students per counselor, inside the American School Counselor Association's recommended 250:1.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 65.0% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Valdez City School District spends $25,178 per pupil, 24% below the Alaska average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Valdez City School District also operates Hermon Hutchens Elementary (287 students) and Valdez High School (175 students) alongside George H. Gilson Middle School.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How George H. Gilson Middle School compares
George H. Gilson Middle School on the metrics families compare, against Alaska and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Alaska | Alaska avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 17.9:1 | ▲ 18% | 15.2:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 41.7% | ▼ 32% | 61.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 143 | top 55% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17.9:1
Leaner classes than 25% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
143
Bigger than 14% of US schools by enrollment, a small campus.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
41.7%
free-lunch eligible
- 32% below the Alaska average of 61.5%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
17.9:1
students per teacher
- 18% above state mean
Top 80% in Alaska - lower ratio than 20% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
65.0%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$25,178
per pupil, district-wide
- below Alaska avg of $33,240
Well above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting substantially higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 143 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
15
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 10.5 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 10.5 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
White 62.9%
Two or More 21.0%
American Indian / Alaska Native 9.1%
Hispanic or Latino 5.6%
African American 0.7%
Asian 0.7%
Largest group: White at 62.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 54.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 54.9, George H. Gilson Middle School is more mixed than the Alaska school average of 43.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Valdez City School District, which includes George H. Gilson Middle School.
$25,178
Per student
-24%
vs Alaska
Avg $33,240
+52%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 52.0%
State 38.5%
Federal 9.5%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How George H. Gilson Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hermon Hutchens Elementary | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Valdez High School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Valdez Home School | Smaller | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to George H. Gilson Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 287
- Students per teacher
- 11:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- Enrollment
- 175
- Students per teacher
- 13.5:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 50
- Students per teacher
- 50:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
Similar middle schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Alaska, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~143 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~17.9:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on George H. Gilson Middle School's federal record.
- Compare George H. Gilson Middle School against another school. Compare schools
- Valdez City School District's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about George H. Gilson Middle School
How many students attend George H. Gilson Middle School?
George H. Gilson Middle School has 143 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Valdez, AK.
What is the student-teacher ratio at George H. Gilson Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at George H. Gilson Middle School is 17.9:1, which is 18% higher than the Alaska average of 15.2:1 and 14% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at George H. Gilson Middle School?
41.7% of students at George H. Gilson Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Alaska average of 61.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of George H. Gilson Middle School?
The largest demographic group at George H. Gilson Middle School is White at 62.9% of enrollment, in Valdez, AK. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 54.9/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for George H. Gilson Middle School?
George H. Gilson Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 42/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does George H. Gilson Middle School rank among public schools in Valdez?
By Resource Investment Index, George H. Gilson Middle School ranks #2 of 4 public schools in Valdez, AK. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Valdez on the city page.
Is George H. Gilson Middle School a good school?
George H. Gilson Middle School earns 42/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 80% of Alaska schools. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Valdez City School District?
Besides George H. Gilson Middle School, Valdez City School District also operates Hermon Hutchens Elementary (287 students), Valdez High School (175 students), and Valdez Home School (50 students). See the Valdez City School District district page for the complete list.
Related tools
Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.