Ethel M. Gildersleeve Middle…, Newport News, VA

Score breakdown

Compared against all 337 Virginia public middle schools. 1–4 is below the state average, 5–6 around it, 7–10 above it.

3.7 · Test scores

SOL pass rate of 62.8% across all subjects — 30th percentile statewide.

5.2 · Academic progress

Virginia's accreditation combined rate for English and Math, which credits schools for student growth — 46th percentile.

2.6 · Attendance

Chronic absenteeism of 22.1% — better attendance than 18% of peers statewide.

Test scores by subject

Percent of students passing Virginia SOL tests, 2024–2025.

This school Virginia average

Geometry

100%state 82%

Algebra I

99%state 85%

Civics & Econ

65%state 72%

Grade 8 Science

65%state 68%

Grade 6 Mathematics

55%state 65%

Grade 7 Mathematics

51%state 62%

Grade 8 Mathematics

35%state 63%

Grade 6 English Reading

55%state 73%

Grade 7 English Reading

59%state 73%

Grade 8 English Reading

64%state 74%

Source: Virginia Department of Education, School Quality Profiles — SOL pass rates, 2024–2025.

Ethel M. Gildersleeve Middle School & its school zone

A public middle school in Newport News Public Schools, Ethel M. Gildersleeve Middle School anchors its attendance zone in Newport News, VA 23606. Buyers searching homes for sale near Ethel M. Gildersleeve Middle School are shopping this Newport News school zone, one of the areas families compare when weighing Newport News middle school zones. On the VaHome School Score the school earns 3.9/10 — below the state average among Virginia's 337 public middle schools, based on Virginia Department of Education data for 2024–25.

The school's overall SOL pass rate is 62.8%, with standout results in Geometry (100% vs a 82% state average) and Algebra I (99% vs a 85% state average). Virginia's accreditation measures — which credit schools for student growth, not just pass rates — come in at 76% for English and 85% for Math. Chronic absenteeism is 22.1%, compared with the 15.2% state median for middle schools.

For house hunters comparing Newport News school zones, the listings on this page show active REIN MLS homes near Ethel M. Gildersleeve Middle School. School zoning and attendance boundaries can change between school years — always verify a specific address's assignment directly with Newport News Public Schools before making a housing decision based on school zone.

How the VaHome School Score works

Test scores (50%): the school's SOL pass rate across all subjects, ranked against every Virginia public school of the same level.
Attendance (20%): chronic absenteeism, ranked statewide (lower is better).
Academic progress (30%): Virginia's accreditation combined rate for English and Math, which gives schools credit for students showing growth.
The weighted statewide percentile maps to a score from 1.0 to 10.0: score = 1 + 9 × percentile. 1–4 is below the state average, 5–6 around it, 7–10 above it.
Every input is public data from the Virginia Department of Education, refreshed each school year. No opinions, no black box — you can check our math.

Data: Virginia Department of Education School Quality Profiles (2024–2025) · NCES. VaHome is not affiliated with VDOE, NCES, or GreatSchools.

At a glance

School district: Newport News City Public Schools
Grades served: 6-8
School type: Public middle school (regular, non-charter)
Principal: Jessica White Ottman
Established: Named 1989
Mascot & colors: Seahawks
Enrollment: 1,087 students (2024-2025)
Accreditation: Fully Accredited (2025-2026)
NCES school ID: 510264002208

Academic performance

SOL pass rates · 2024-2025

Reading

59%

Mathematics

65%

Science

65%

History & Social Sci.

65%

Attendance

2024-2025

20.3% of students were chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days).

About Ethel M. Gildersleeve Middle School

Ethel M. Gildersleeve Middle School is a public middle school in the Newport News City Public Schools division, serving grades 6-8 at 1 Minton Drive in Newport News, Virginia. The school was named in 1989 to honor Ethel May Gildersleeve (1898-1991), a longtime educator who served as a teacher, dean of girls, and assistant principal at Newport News High School from 1920 until her retirement in 1964. Its mascot is the Seahawks.

The school is located in a midsize-city setting on the Virginia Peninsula. As of the 2024-2025 school year it enrolled roughly 1,087 students and was Fully Accredited by the Virginia Department of Education for 2025-2026. The student body is racially and economically diverse, with substantial shares of economically disadvantaged students and English learners.

Contact

Phone: (757) 591-4862
Office hours: 7:30 am - 4:15 pm

Official school website ↗

Data sources

NCES Common Core of Data — Ethel M. Gildersleeve Middle — NCES/state school ID, address, phone, grades, type, enrollment total and by grade, locale, free/reduced lunch eligibility2024-2025 enrollment; 2025-2026 directory link ↗
Virginia School Quality Profiles — Ethel M. Gildersleeve Middle — Accreditation status, SOL pass rates, demographics, economically disadvantaged/EL/SWD percentages, chronic absenteeism2024-2025 metrics; 2025-2026 accreditation link ↗
Gildersleeve Middle School official website (Faculty & Staff) — Principal and assistant principal names2025-2026 link ↗
Gildersleeve Middle School official website (home) — Phone, office hours, mascot (Seahawks), website URL2025-2026 link ↗
Newport News Public Schools — School Namesakes & History — Namesake history (Ethel May Gildersleeve) and 1989 namingcurrent link ↗

Figures reflect the 2024-2025 (enrollment, demographics, SOL, attendance); 2025-2026 (accreditation, directory) unless noted. School zoning, boundaries, and ratings change — verify with the school division before making housing decisions.

Ethel M. Gildersleeve Middle School