George H. Gilson Middle School

George H. Gilson Middle School is a very small middle-grades school in Valdez, Alaska, part of Valdez City School District. The school caters to 143 students in grades 6 through 8. By comparison, Alaska's public schools average about 399 students each, so George H. Gilson Middle School sits 64% leaner than that benchmark.

Across the 3 schools in Valdez City School District (605 students total), George H. Gilson Middle School accounts for its share of the district's footprint.

On the student-mix side, George H. Gilson Middle School shows that 63% of the student body identifies as White; the rest looks like 21% multiracial, 9% Native American, 6% Hispanic. The wider county runs roughly 71% White, putting the school's mix visibly less White than the area baseline.

Looking at the economic backdrop, On paper, George H. Gilson Middle School has 9 full-time-equivalent teachers, translating to a class-load average of around 15.5:1. The state averages around 17.5:1, so this campus is tighter than the state norm typical. About 35% of enrolled students meet the income threshold for free or reduced-price lunch, often used as a Title I proxy. That share is below Chugach Census Area's rate of about 48%.

In the surrounding community, Chugach Census Area reports that the typical household earns roughly $90,509 per year, about 31% of the adult population holds a bachelor's degree or above, and census figures put the poverty rate at about 4%. In all, Chugach Census Area runs 10 public schools (combined enrollment of about 1,034 students), of which George H. Gilson Middle School is one.

Nearest neighbor: Valdez High School, around 0.1 miles off. 2 of the 3 nearest public schools sit inside a five-mile radius.

Geographically, the school is in a countryside area.

Over the past 7-year window. Looking back 7 years, enrollment at George H. Gilson Middle School has increased 4%, going from 138 students in 2018 to 143 in 2025. The student-to-teacher ratio grew from 12.5:1 in 2018 to 15.5:1 today.

In the discussion threads here, the page collects discussion, questions, and updates around science fair prep, picture-day reminders, and bus-route questions. Contributors range from current parents to recent graduates and teachers.