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Ethel M. Gildersleeve Middle

Q: Is Ethel M. Gildersleeve Middle a good school?

Ethel M. Gildersleeve Middle ranks 308 th of 416 Virginia middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

Public Grades 6-8

308^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 416 Virginia Middle Schools

Better than 26% of Virginia middle schools

Summary

Ethel M. Gildersleeve Middle is a grades 6–8 school in Newport News, VA, serving about 1,087 students as part of Newport News City Public Schools. The school currently ranks 308th out of 416 Virginia middle schools (26th percentile, 1 star), placing it in the bottom quarter of the state — but it's worth noting that Gildersleeve is the top-performing middle school in its district, ahead of Mary Passage Middle, Ella J. Fitzgerald Middle, Homer L. Hines Middle, Crittenden Middle, and Huntington Middle.

Gildersleeve's biggest academic strength is math. Sixth-grade math proficiency is 72.8%, about 10 points above the state average, and 8th-grade Algebra I proficiency is 94.7% — above both district and state averages. The school also outperforms the Newport News district average in every tested subject, including reading, science, and civics. Advanced math is a genuine bright spot: 7th-grade Algebra I students posted 100% proficiency in both 2024–2025 and 2025–2026. Given that nearly 98% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch, these results show the school is achieving solid outcomes with a very high-poverty population.

The most persistent challenge is reading, where proficiency sits roughly 14 points below the state average in 7th and 8th grades. Chronic absenteeism is also a concern: at 20.5% in 2024–2025, it's above the district rate of 18.5% and well above nearby higher-performing schools like Thomas Eaton Middle (3.6%) and Tabb Middle (6.8%). Notably, Gildersleeve spends more per student ($10,215) than several higher-performing schools in nearby York County Public Schools, suggesting that funding alone doesn't explain the performance gap. Addressing attendance and reading proficiency will be key if the school hopes to move beyond its current bottom-quartile ranking.

1,087

Students ?

15.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

$10,215

Per pupil spending ?

97.7%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1 Minton Dr
Newport News, VA 23606

(757) 591-4862

District: Newport News City Public Schools

Students who attend Ethel M. Gildersleeve Middle usually attend:

High:

Menchville High

Feeder schools for Ethel M. Gildersleeve Middle:

Elementary:	B.C. Charles Elementary
	Hidenwood Elementary
	Richard T. Yates Elementary

Racial breakdown:

African American:

32.6%

White:

31.7%

Hispanic:

23.2%

See top rated Virginia middle schools

Compare Ethel M. Gildersleeve Middle to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 35th percentile in 2016 → 26th in 2026

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 9 percentile points since 2016

!English Reading scores 10 pts below the Virginia average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school65%

District avg58%

Virginia avg70%

308^th of 416

Virginia public middle schools ?

Bottom 26%▼ down 9 pts since 2016

From bottom 35% (2016) to bottom 26% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Virginia Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

2^nd of 7Middle Schools in the Newport News City Public Schools

105^th of 131Newport News City Public Schools among Virginia districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	36.1	308 of 416	26.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	32.5	313 of 419	25.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	36.9	287 of 417	31.2%	★★☆☆☆
2023	35.0	297 of 422	29.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	28.5	312 of 415	24.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	24.4	332 of 419	20.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	30.2	329 of 424	22.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	26.9	344 of 413	16.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	30.9	319 of 415	23.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	41.3	264 of 409	35.5%	★★☆☆☆
2015	35.8	282 of 412	31.6%	★★☆☆☆
2014	31.5	306 of 416	26.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	41.8	243 of 416	41.6%	★★☆☆☆
2012	46.7	232 of 413	43.8%	★★☆☆☆
2011	52.9	181 of 413	56.2%	★★★☆☆
2010	47.8	217 of 408	46.8%	★★☆☆☆
2009	53.2	166 of 390	57.4%	★★★☆☆
2008	57.2	144 of 391	63.2%	★★★☆☆
2007	68.0	82 of 387	78.8%	★★★★☆
2006	69.8	61 of 383	84.1%	★★★★☆
2005	74.8	62 of 340	81.8%	★★★★☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	44.2	193 of 297	35.0%	★★☆☆☆
2025	35.8	210 of 297	29.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	42.2	184 of 299	38.5%	★★☆☆☆
2023	38.6	198 of 298	33.6%	★★☆☆☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	28.0	106 of 137	22.6%	★☆☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	33.6	191 of 292	34.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	31.5	191 of 281	32.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	29.6	192 of 278	30.9%	★★☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	36.2	83 of 134	38.1%	★★☆☆☆
2025	36.4	88 of 135	34.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	40.2	58 of 122	52.5%	★★★☆☆
2023	28.5	78 of 100	22.0%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	34.6	310 of 409	24.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	30.4	314 of 403	22.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	37.2	279 of 407	31.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	32.5	308 of 411	25.1%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	19.2	246 of 283	13.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	14.6	256 of 279	8.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	21.5	231 of 272	15.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	19.7	234 of 275	14.9%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	40.4	264 of 401	34.2%	★★☆☆☆
2025	30.9	311 of 403	22.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	39.7	258 of 402	35.8%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	37.0	288 of 410	29.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	33.7	296 of 404	26.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	36.4	275 of 407	32.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	37.4	274 of 409	33.0%	★★☆☆☆

Military Connected

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	26.2	108 of 125	13.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	36.7	99 of 130	23.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	35.1	97 of 123	21.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	29.1	97 of 114	14.9%	★☆☆☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	45.8	146 of 249	41.4%	★★☆☆☆
2025	52.9	116 of 244	52.5%	★★★☆☆
2024	48.2	125 of 237	47.3%	★★☆☆☆
2023	58.2	93 of 231	59.7%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	47.6	229 of 400	42.8%	★★☆☆☆
2025	52.9	195 of 400	51.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	64.2	129 of 396	67.4%	★★★☆☆
2023	53.0	196 of 402	51.2%	★★★☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

White (2026)43rd percentile+17 vs school

Multi-racial (2026)41st percentile+15 vs school

English Language Learner (2026)38th percentile+12 vs school

African American (2026)35th percentile+9 vs school

Disabled (2026)35th percentile+9 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)34th percentile+8 vs school

Male (2026)30th percentile+4 vs school

Female (2026)24th percentile~ school

Asian (2026)23rd percentile-3 vs school

Military Connected (2026)14th percentile-12 vs school

Hispanic (2026)13th percentile-13 vs school

By subject vs Virginia (2025-2026) ?

Algebra I97%~ state avg

Geometry94%-4 vs state

Civics and Economics65%-9 vs state

English Reading63%-10 vs state

Science61%-4 vs state

Mathematics56%~ state avg

★

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Schools Near Ethel M. Gildersleeve Middle

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				SOL Geometry (2026)		SOL Algebra I (2026)			SOL Algebra II (2026)	SOL Mathematics (2026)			SOL Science (2026)	SOL Earth Science (2026)	SOL English Reading (2026)			SOL Geography (2026)	SOL Civics and Economics (2026)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients (2025)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	SOL Geometry 7th Grade	SOL Geometry 8th Grade	SOL Algebra I 6th Grade	SOL Algebra I 7th Grade	SOL Algebra I 8th Grade	SOL Algebra II 8th Grade	SOL Mathematics 6th Grade	SOL Mathematics 7th Grade	SOL Mathematics 8th Grade	SOL Science 8th Grade	SOL Earth Science 8th Grade	SOL English Reading 6th Grade	SOL English Reading 7th Grade	SOL English Reading 8th Grade	SOL Geography 8th Grade	SOL Civics and Economics 7th Grade	SOL Civics and Economics 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Ethel M. Gildersleeve Middle	Public	6-8	1 Minton Dr	Newport News	23606	Newport News city	Newport News City Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(757) 591-4862	1,087	73	15.0	97.7%	345 (31.7%)	354 (32.6%)	252 (23.2%)	26 (2.4%)	5 (0.5%)	3 (0.3%)	102 (9.4%)	36.1	308^th of 416 public middle schools	26.0%		32.5	313^th of 419 public middle schools	25.3%	5	≥ 50%	93.6		100.0	94.7		72.8	34.8	48.2	61.0	≥ 50%	68.1	58.9	62.2			65.4	$10,215	$341	$9,874
Homer L. Hines Middle	Public	6-8	561 McLawhorne Dr	Newport News	23601	Newport News city	Newport News City Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(757) 591-4878	846	54	15.6	97.3%	133 (15.7%)	454 (53.7%)	151 (17.8%)	15 (1.8%)	4 (0.5%)	3 (0.4%)	86 (10.2%)	19.5	367^th of 416 public middle schools	11.8%		27.3	337^th of 419 public middle schools	19.6%	30		98.2		100.0	71.0		56.2	23.4	19.2	55.9		59.9	57.0	53.9			57.7	$9,185	$517	$8,669
Crittenden Middle	Public, Magnet	6-8	6158 Jefferson Ave	Newport News	23605	Newport News city	Newport News City Public Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(757) 591-4900	781	69	12.3	98.3%	60 (7.7%)	552 (70.7%)	100 (12.8%)	13 (1.7%)	3 (0.4%)	2 (0.3%)	51 (6.5%)	11.1	393^rd of 416 public middle schools	5.5%		13.3	386^th of 419 public middle schools	7.9%	7		88.6		97.7	95.7		56.2	12.9	17.7	29.9	97.6	52.8	54.1	45.8			43.2	$10,632	$447	$10,185
Tabb Middle	Public	6-8	300 Yorktown Rd	Yorktown	23693	York County	York County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(757) 898-0320	968	54	17.8	27.8%	536 (55.4%)	122 (12.6%)	150 (15.5%)	55 (5.7%)	1 (0.1%)	8 (0.8%)	96 (9.9%)	86.8	15^th of 416 public middle schools	96.4%		87.9	10^th of 419 public middle schools	97.6%	5		100.0		100.0	98.9		90.2	62.9	86.9	83.3		90.9	86.9	90.8			90.7	$8,152	$347	$7,805
Cesar Tarrant Middle	Public	6-8	1435 Todds Ln	Hampton	23666	Hampton city	Hampton City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(757) 825-4520	737	44	16.6	82.8%	110 (14.9%)	488 (66.2%)	48 (6.5%)	14 (1.9%)	3 (0.4%)	4 (0.5%)	70 (9.5%)	45.5	260^th of 416 public middle schools	37.5%		38.9	286^th of 419 public middle schools	31.7%	26	≥ 50%	90.6	519.0	100.0	100.0	516.0	57.1	32.1	57.1	69.7	100.0	66.2	64.5	68.8	≥ 50%		79.3	$9,251	$936	$8,315
Mary Passage Middle	Public	6-8	400 Atkinson Way	Newport News	23608	Newport News city	Newport News City Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(757) 886-7600	931	64	15.3	97.9%	176 (18.9%)	478 (51.3%)	162 (17.4%)	19 (2.0%)	3 (0.3%)	5 (0.5%)	88 (9.5%)	26.7	342^nd of 416 public middle schools	17.8%		20.2	369^th of 419 public middle schools	11.9%	27		96.8		100.0	90.7		59.2	34.2	38.9	53.3		63.3	60.6	60.2			62.5	$8,765	$679	$8,087
Huntington Middle	Public	6-7	5800 Marshall Ave	Newport News	23605	Newport News city	Newport News City Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(757) 928-6846	292	38	7.7	99.0%	9 (3.1%)	238 (81.5%)	23 (7.9%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.7%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (5.8%)	2.7	411^th of 416 public middle schools	1.2%		2.8	412^th of 419 public middle schools	1.7%	1							31.8	18.1				40.0	47.2					$12,208	$173	$12,034
Thomas Eaton Middle	Public	6-8	2108 Cunningham Dr	Hampton	23666	Hampton city	Hampton City Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(757) 825-4540	581	46	12.5	94.3%	111 (19.1%)	381 (65.6%)	34 (5.9%)	5 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	50 (8.6%)	73.1	91^st of 416 public middle schools	78.1%		51	217^th of 419 public middle schools	48.2%	126		100.0		100.0	100.0		79.0	312.0	53.7	81.0		80.9	78.6	77.9			85.9	$10,906	$621	$10,285
Grafton Middle	Public	6-8	405 Grafton Dr	Yorktown	23692	York County	York County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(757) 898-0525	937	55	16.8		519 (55.4%)	107 (11.4%)	123 (13.1%)	86 (9.2%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.2%)	100 (10.7%)	72.6	93^rd of 416 public middle schools	77.6%		76.8	67^th of 419 public middle schools	84.0%	26		93.3		99.0	95.0		76.6	28.8	35.6	81.0		85.7	83.2	84.4		≥ 50%	88.4	$8,353	$286	$8,067
C. Alton Lindsay Middle	Public	6-8	1636 Briarfield Rd	Hampton	23661	Hampton city	Hampton City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(757) 825-4560	612	46	13.4	80.1%	62 (10.1%)	441 (72.1%)	47 (7.7%)	14 (2.3%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.3%)	45 (7.4%)	51.4	229^th of 416 public middle schools	45.0%		35.9	299^th of 419 public middle schools	28.6%	70	490.0	100.0	547.0	100.0	97.6	480.0	70.8	54.1	57.4	69.2	100.0	67.0	66.3	67.8			77.9	$9,671	$1,056	$8,615

Frequently Asked Questions about Ethel M. Gildersleeve Middle

What is the racial makeup of Ethel M. Gildersleeve Middle?

Students at Ethel M. Gildersleeve Middle are 33% African American, 32% White, 23% Hispanic, 9% Two or more races, 2% Asian.

Is Ethel M. Gildersleeve Middle a good school?

Ethel M. Gildersleeve Middle ranks 308^th of 416 Virginia middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

How many students attend Ethel M. Gildersleeve Middle?

In the 2024-25 school year, 1,087 students attended Ethel M. Gildersleeve Middle.

What high school do graduates of Ethel M. Gildersleeve Middle attend?

Students who attend Ethel M. Gildersleeve Middle usually go on to attend Menchville High

What district is Ethel M. Gildersleeve Middle in?

Newport News City Public Schools

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Latest Virginia data All new data »

2025–26 SOL test scoresAug 25, 2026

2021–22 school spending dataFeb 16, 2026

2022–23 through 2023–24 school spending dataFeb 10, 2026

2024–25 dropout rates & graduation ratesJan 6, 2026

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Virginia Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.