GIFFORD MIDDLE SCHOOL

GIFFORD MIDDLE SCHOOL is a 6-8 campus of small scale in VERO BEACH, Florida, run under INDIAN RIVER, instructing 608 students in grades 6 through 8. That puts it 23% leaner than the typical public school in Florida, which averages around 794 students.

GIFFORD MIDDLE SCHOOL is one of 28 schools operated by INDIAN RIVER, a district that enrolls 16,621 students overall.

Demographically, GIFFORD MIDDLE SCHOOL reports that the most-represented group is Black (37%), with the rest of the student body spread across multiple groups. Beyond that, the school records 35% White, 22% Hispanic, 5% multiracial. The wider county runs roughly 8% Black, putting the school's mix meaningfully more Black than the area baseline.

Looking at school resources, The school currently runs with 32 full-time-equivalent teachers, for a student-teacher ratio near 19.0:1. That tracks the state average closely. About 65% of enrolled students meet the income threshold for free or reduced-price lunch, which schools and policymakers use as a rough income-mix signal. Set against Indian River County (around 53%), the school's rate is meaningfully above typical.

On a demographically-adjusted basis, GIFFORD MIDDLE SCHOOL sits in the middle band of the BeatsExpectations distribution. Schools with this campus's student mix typically land near 48.8%; this one delivers 53.0%.

In the area at large, census data for Indian River County shows median household earnings sit near $73,491, about 34% of the adult population holds a bachelor's degree or above, and census figures put the poverty rate at about 8%. GIFFORD MIDDLE SCHOOL is one of 28 public schools in Indian River County (combined enrollment of about 16,621 students).

The closest other public school is ST. PETER'S ACADEMY, roughly 0.7 miles away. 8 of the 8 nearest public schools sit inside a five-mile radius. Among the 7 schools in that immediate cluster with test data (this one included), GIFFORD MIDDLE SCHOOL ranks 6th on composite proficiency, below the local average of 59.3%.

The school occupies a suburban site.

Five-year trend. GIFFORD MIDDLE SCHOOL's enrollment has decreased 13% since 2018, when it stood at 696 (now 608). The White share of enrollment fell from 46% to 35% over that span. Class-load math has loosened: from 15.5:1 in 2018 to 19.0:1 in 2025.

Within the allk12 community for this school, the page collects discussion, questions, and updates around open house dates, ride-share offers, and field-trip permission slips. Posting is open to anyone connected to the school.