Top Rankings
Valdez City School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Alaska for:
Category
Attribute
Overall Rank
Highest overall rank (Top 20%)
Math Proficiency
Highest math proficiency (Top 20%)
Graduation Rate
Highest graduation rate (Top 10%)
For the 2026 school year, there are 2 public elementary schools serving 430 students in Valdez City School District. This district's average elementary testing ranking is 9/10, which is in the top 20% of public elementary schools in Alaska.
Public Elementary Schools in Valdez City School District have an average math proficiency score of 50% (versus the Alaska public elementary school average of 33%), and reading proficiency score of 37% (versus the 30% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 34% of the student body (majority American Indian), which is less than the Alaska public elementary school average of 54% (majority American Indian).
Overview
This School District
This State (AK)
# Schools
3 Schools
426 Schools
# Students
605 Students
102,584 Students
# Teachers
45 Teachers
5,399 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
13:1
13:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Valdez City School District, which is ranked within the top 30% of all 51 school districts in Alaska (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 85% has increased from 70-79% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#9 out of 53 school districts
(Top 20%)
(Top 20%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
48%
32%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
38%
29%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
45-49%
38%
Graduation Rate
85%
78%
Chronically Absent Students
(2022-23)44.8%
42.5%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.54
0.71
% American Indian
10%
23%
% Asian
1%
4%
% Hispanic
5%
8%
% Black
1%
2%
% White
64%
46%
% Hawaiian
1%
3%
% Two or more races
18%
14%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $34,385 is higher than the state median of $20,568. The school district revenue/student has grown by 22% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $33,083 is higher than the state median of $21,667. The school district spending/student has grown by 22% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$21 MM
$2,630 MM
Spending
$20 MM
$2,771 MM
Revenue / Student
$34,385
$20,568
Spending / Student
$33,083
$21,667
Best Valdez City School District Public Elementary Schools (2026)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Hermon Hutchens Elementary School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
1009 West Klutina
Valdez, AK 99686
(907) 835-4728
Valdez, AK 99686
(907) 835-4728
Gr: PK-5 | 287 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 33%
Rank: #22.
George H. Gilson Middle School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
357 Robe River Dr
Valdez, AK 99686
(907) 835-2244
Valdez, AK 99686
(907) 835-2244
Gr: 6-8 | 143 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 37%
Recent Articles
Media Literacy as a Core Skill: How to Tell if a School Teaches It Well
Learn how to evaluate whether a public school teaches media literacy effectively, from fact-checking and source evaluation to digital citizenship and critical thinking.
Screen Time, Paper Learning, and the New Back-to-Basics Debate
Explore why some public schools are reducing screen time, bringing back paper learning, and rethinking the balance between technology and traditional instruction.
Student Data, AI Tools, and Privacy: Questions to Ask Your District
Learn how public schools use AI, protect student data, and the key privacy questions every parent should ask their school district in 2026.
