Best Public Schools in Zip Code 99686

In zip code 99686, which serves Valdez, Alaska, there are three public schools within the Valdez City School District: Hermon Hutchens Elementary (grades PK–5), George H. Gilson Middle School (grades 6–8), and Valdez High School (grades 9–12). Combined enrollment is 605 students, with the elementary school serving the largest share at 47%. This is a compact district that ranks 3rd out of 23 Alaska districts with a 5-star rating, yet school-level rankings vary.

Hermon Hutchens Elementary is the clear academic leader, ranking 39th of 166 Alaska elementary schools (4 stars) and outperforming district and state averages in science, English language arts, and math. It also has the lowest free/reduced lunch rate at 26.83% and the lowest student-teacher ratio at 12.4. George H. Gilson Middle School is the most improved, jumping from 2 to 3 stars and raising ELA proficiency from 30.95% to 40%, all while serving the highest percentage of economically disadvantaged students (34.97%) and having the largest student-teacher ratio (15.5). Valdez High School stands out for science and graduation: its science proficiency rate is 61.11%, far above the state average of 37.81%, and its graduation rate is 89.7%, above the district's 85.3%. However, its ELA (20.69%) and math (28.13%) proficiency rates are below state averages and the weakest among the three schools.

Science is a consistent strength across all grade levels, from elementary to high school, suggesting a district-wide focus that pays off. Another interesting takeaway is that the elementary school shows sharp grade-level swings—5th graders post strong scores while 4th graders dip—likely reflecting small cohort effects. The middle school's improvement, despite higher economic disadvantage, points to effective targeted efforts. Finally, the high school's high graduation rate paired with lower test scores suggests that students receive support to complete school even if proficiency metrics lag. Overall, these schools form a pipeline with strong early foundations, middle-level momentum, and a high school where science shines but literacy and math remain challenges for families to watch.