Gunston Middle

Summary:

Gunston Middle is a public middle school located in Arlington, Virginia, serving grades 6-8 with a total enrollment of 1,111 students. The school is part of the Arlington County Public Schools district, which is ranked 26th out of 130 school districts in Virginia and has a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Gunston Middle has a more diverse student population compared to the nearby schools, with a higher percentage of Hispanic (36.18%) and African American (16.65%) students. The school performs well in certain subject areas, particularly in Algebra I and Geometry, where the school's proficiency rates exceed the district and state averages. However, the school's performance in Mathematics and English Reading is more mixed, with some grades performing below the district and state averages. Gunston Middle's White and multi-racial students perform exceptionally well, ranking in the top 50 schools in Virginia for these subgroups, but the school's performance for other subgroups, such as Asian, African American, Hispanic, and low socioeconomic status students, is more varied, with some subgroups ranking in the bottom half of Virginia schools.

Gunston Middle's diverse student population is a strength, but the school's performance for certain subgroups suggests that the school may need to focus on addressing the unique needs of these groups to improve their academic outcomes. The nearby schools, such as Williamsburg Middle and Dorothy Hamm Middle, consistently outperform Gunston Middle in academic measures, despite serving a less diverse student population. This suggests that factors beyond student demographics, such as instructional practices, resource allocation, and school leadership, may play a significant role in a school's academic performance. Gunston Middle's lower spending per student compared to the nearby schools may also be a contributing factor to its mixed academic performance.


Detail:

Public 6-8

 2700 S Lang St
       Arlington, VA  22206


(703) 228-6900

District: Arlington County Public Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
185th of 417 Virginia Middle Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $10,677 Help


Students who attend Gunston Middle usually attend:

High:    Wakefield High

Feeder schools for Gunston Middle:

Elementary:    Hoffman-Boston Elementary
    Oakridge Elementary

Student/teacher ratio:  13.1 Help
Number of students:  1,111

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:
36.2%
White:
33.8%
African American:
16.7%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  36.5% Help


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Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Gunston Middle ranks better than 55.6% of middle schools in Virginia. It also ranks 4th among 6 ranked middle schools in the Arlington County Public Schools District. (See more...)
Help
Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 58.65. (See more...)
Help
Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.
Student Body
Help
Compare Details Gunston Middle has the largest middle school student body size in the Arlington County Public Schools District.  (See more...)
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Gunston Middle is $10,677, which is the lowest among 6 middle schools in the Arlington County Public Schools District!
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Gunston Middle:

SchoolDigger ranks Gunston Middle 185th of 417 Virginia public middle schools. (See Gunston Middle in the ranking list.)

Middle School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Multi-racial students:
English Language Learner students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Disabled students:
Military Connected students:
Male students:
Asian students:
African American students:
Hispanic students:
White students:


Arlington County Public Schools:

SchoolDigger ranks Arlington County Public Schools 26th of 130 Virginia school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

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Rank History for Gunston Middle

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Compare

Rank History for all students at Gunston Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools VA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2005 36.73 267th 340 21.5%
2006 23.45 352nd 383 8.1%
2007 30.06 333rd 387 14.0%
2008 29.97 328th 391 16.1%
2009 34.69 293rd 390 24.9%
2010 26.80 349th 408 14.5%
2011 39.12 286th 413 30.8%
2012 41.30 272nd 413 34.1%
2013 59.06 131st 416 68.5%
2014 55.18 159th 416 61.8%
2015 50.93 193rd 412 53.2%
2016 57.00 159th 409 61.1%
2017 64.24 103rd 415 75.2%
2018 59.45 141st 413 65.9%
2019 56.07 184th 424 56.6%
2021 58.38 140th 419 66.6%
2022 50.47 198th 415 52.3%
2023 55.51 194th 422 54.0%
2024 58.65 185th 417 55.6%
See the entire list of Virginia Middle School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Gunston Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools VA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 71.84 58th 231 74.9%
2024 76.81 32nd 237 86.5%
See the entire list of Best Virginia Middle Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Gunston Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools VA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 50.13 37th 100 63.0%
2024 47.46 50th 122 59.0%
See the entire list of Best Virginia Middle Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Gunston Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools VA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2024 36.80 273rd 402 32.1%
See the entire list of Best Virginia Middle Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Gunston Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools VA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 56.88 180th 411 56.2%
2024 58.95 185th 407 54.5%
See the entire list of Best Virginia Middle Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Disabled students at Gunston Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools VA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 56.04 103rd 278 62.9%
2024 43.38 144th 281 48.8%
See the entire list of Best Virginia Middle Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for Military Connected students at Gunston Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools VA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 50.48 62nd 114 45.6%
2024 53.24 60th 123 51.2%
See the entire list of Best Virginia Middle Schools for Military Connected Students!

Rank History for Male students at Gunston Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools VA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 54.29 188th 409 54.0%
2024 57.59 177th 407 56.5%
See the entire list of Best Virginia Middle Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Asian students at Gunston Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools VA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 47.24 82nd 132 37.9%
2024 42.09 92nd 128 28.1%
See the entire list of Best Virginia Middle Schools for Asian Students!

Rank History for African American students at Gunston Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools VA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 43.59 179th 298 39.9%
2024 52.05 146th 299 51.2%
See the entire list of Best Virginia Middle Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Gunston Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools VA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 40.97 159th 275 42.2%
2024 47.21 145th 272 46.7%
See the entire list of Best Virginia Middle Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Gunston Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools VA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 79.10 42nd 402 89.6%
2024 78.08 44th 396 88.9%
See the entire list of Best Virginia Middle Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Virginia Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Gunston Middle Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 





Data source: Virginia Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 3.8)
67%

0%

0%

17%

17%

  

Reviews:
by a parent
Monday, February 21, 2022

Open Quote Too many resources allocated for behavior problems, good kids penalized staff and administration make promises they don't keep poor communication Close Quote


by a citizen
Friday, June 10, 2016

Open Quote Exception made for some teachers which are dedicated to teach the Administration of this school seems out of touch with the community of families and children they are expected to serve. On top of that an assistant teacher is arrested for selling pot to a student.... Close Quote


by a parent
Sunday, February 16, 2014

Open Quote Gunston is a great middle school with amazing diversity in its students and staff. Its partial immersion program in Spanish is top-notch and its Spanish for Fluent Speakers program allows students who speak Spanish at home but have never studied it the opportunity to become truly knowledgeable about their language. Excellent academic programs, dedicated teachers, an active PTA, and a principal who is always striving for the best make Gunston a perfect choice. Close Quote



Enrollment information for Gunston Middle

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1995 155 223 48 152 0 n/a n/a 0 578
1996 155 223 48 152 0 n/a n/a 0 578
1997 146 233 55 165 1 n/a n/a 0 600
1998 142 206 53 203 1 n/a n/a 0 605
1999 182 226 57 276 0 n/a n/a 0 741
2000 183 194 57 267 1 n/a n/a -4 698
2001 170 178 68 305 2 n/a n/a 0 723
2002 144 180 57 299 0 n/a n/a 0 680
2003 144 180 57 299 0 n/a n/a 0 680
2004 140 170 43 275 0 n/a n/a 5 633
2005 163 166 48 289 0 n/a n/a 9 675
2006 160 161 53 274 0 n/a n/a 3 651
2007 155 140 46 274 1 n/a n/a 5 621
2008 165 105 47 250 0 n/a n/a 1 568
2009 209 99 48 259 2 n/a n/a 4 621
2010 232 119 50 258 1 n/a n/a 9 669
2011 200 139 50 322 1 1 42 0 755
2012 224 130 52 308 1 3 47 0 765
2013 245 111 69 299 0 3 54 0 781
2014 280 126 71 289 0 2 71 0 839
2015 307 146 70 313 3 1 73 0 913
2016 329 162 78 332 2 0 74 0 977
2017 350 142 82 348 2 0 66 0 990
2018 347 148 87 380 2 1 58 0 1023
2019 379 160 76 393 4 0 51 0 1063
2020 370 196 85 447 4 1 59 0 1162
2021 363 221 91 445 3 0 68 0 1191
2022 355 236 91 424 4 0 73 0 1183
2023 376 185 69 402 4 0 75 0 1111

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Gunston Middle

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1995 578 n/a 0.0 66.8
1996 578 n/a 0.0 66.8
1997 600 n/a 0.0 52.2
1998 605 n/a 0.0 51.2
1999 741 58.0 12.8 49.1
2000 698 n/a 0.0 52.8
2001 723 63.0 11.5 62
2002 680 83.1 8.2 52.2
2003 680 83.1 8.2 52.2
2004 633 54.5 11.6 52.9
2005 675 55.2 12.2 54.1
2006 651 60.0 10.9 56.5
2007 621 57.7 10.8 49.5
2008 568 39.9 14.2 43
2009 621 40.3 15.4 42.6
2010 669 43.7 15.3 38.9
2011 755 39.8 18.9 39.5
2012 765 60.0 12.7 38
2013 781 64.5 12.1 37.3
2014 839 66.8 12.5 29.8
2015 913 73.0 12.5 31.5
2016 977 81.0 12.0 30.9
2017 990 87.3 11.3 32.4
2018 1023 85.6 11.9 32.6
2019 1063 84.8 12.5 33.4
2020 1162 89.4 12.9 35.9
2021 1191 87.5 13.6 n/a
2022 1183 83.5 14.1 35.2
2023 1111 84.7 13.1 36.5

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Gunston Middle

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1995 578 n/a 0.0 66.8
1996 578 n/a 0.0 66.8
1997 600 n/a 0.0 52.2
1998 605 n/a 0.0 51.2
1999 741 58.0 12.8 49.1
2000 698 n/a 0.0 52.8
2001 723 63.0 11.5 62
2002 680 83.1 8.2 52.2
2003 680 83.1 8.2 52.2
2004 633 54.5 11.6 52.9
2005 675 55.2 12.2 54.1
2006 651 60.0 10.9 56.5
2007 621 57.7 10.8 49.5
2008 568 39.9 14.2 43
2009 621 40.3 15.4 42.6
2010 669 43.7 15.3 38.9
2011 755 39.8 18.9 39.5
2012 765 60.0 12.7 38
2013 781 64.5 12.1 37.3
2014 839 66.8 12.5 29.8
2015 913 73.0 12.5 31.5
2016 977 81.0 12.0 30.9
2017 990 87.3 11.3 32.4
2018 1023 85.6 11.9 32.6
2019 1063 84.8 12.5 33.4
2020 1162 89.4 12.9 35.9
2021 1191 87.5 13.6 n/a
2022 1183 83.5 14.1 35.2
2023 1111 84.7 13.1 36.5

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Gunston Middle

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $20 (0.2%) $11,451 (99.8%) $11,471
2020 $00 (0.0%) $10,960 (100.0%) $10,960
2021 $00 (0.0%) $10,677 (100.0%) $10,677

Data source: Virginia Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Gunston Middle

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 184th of 424 Middle schoolsRanks 194th of 422 Middle schools
 2.6%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
6th Grade Mathematics (Gunston Middle)7955.6
 23.4%
   6th Grade Mathematics (Arlington County Public Schools)8470.1
 13.9%
   6th Grade Mathematics (Virginia)7857.8
 20.2%
6th Grade English Reading (Gunston Middle)7974.3
 4.8%
   6th Grade English Reading (Arlington County Public Schools)8478.7
 5.3%
   6th Grade English Reading (Virginia)7770.4
 6.6%
7th Grade Mathematics (Gunston Middle)7240.1
 31.9%
   7th Grade Mathematics (Arlington County Public Schools)7545.3
 29.7%
   7th Grade Mathematics (Virginia)7851.4
 26.6%
7th Grade English Reading (Gunston Middle)8173.2
 7.8%
   7th Grade English Reading (Arlington County Public Schools)8578
 7%
   7th Grade English Reading (Virginia)7970.3
 8.7%
8th Grade Writing (Gunston Middle)8563.6
 21.4%
   8th Grade Writing (Arlington County Public Schools)8674.5
 11.5%
   8th Grade Writing (Virginia)7055.5
 14.5%
8th Grade Mathematics (Gunston Middle)7945.6
 33.4%
   8th Grade Mathematics (Arlington County Public Schools)8652.6
 33.5%
   8th Grade Mathematics (Virginia)7748.4
 28.6%
8th Grade Science (Gunston Middle)7962.2
 16.8%
   8th Grade Science (Arlington County Public Schools)8571.8
 13.2%
   8th Grade Science (Virginia)7860.7
 17.3%
8th Grade English Reading (Gunston Middle)8174
 7.1%
   8th Grade English Reading (Arlington County Public Schools)8479.9
 4.1%
   8th Grade English Reading (Virginia)7670.7
 5.3%
End of Course Geometry (Gunston Middle)10091
 9%
   End of Course Geometry (Arlington County Public Schools)8890
 2%
   End of Course Geometry (Virginia)8380
 3%
End of Course Algebra I (Gunston Middle)9995
 4%
   End of Course Algebra I (Arlington County Public Schools)9287
 5%
   End of Course Algebra I (Virginia)8680
 6%
End of Course Geography (Gunston Middle)8068
 12%
   End of Course Geography (Arlington County Public Schools)8676
 10%
   End of Course Geography (Virginia)8066
 14%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students10631111
 4.5%
African American160185
 15.6%
American Indian44
Asian7669
 9.2%
Hispanic393402
 2.3%
Pacific Islander00
White379376
 0.8%
Two or More Races5175
 47.1%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients33.4%36.5%
 3.1%


Schools Near Gunston Middle









Frequently Asked Questions about Gunston Middle

In the 2022-23 school year, 1,111 students attended Gunston Middle.

Students at Gunston Middle are 36% Hispanic, 34% White, 17% African American, 7% Two or more races, 6% Asian.

Gunston Middle ranks 185th of 417 Virginia middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Students who attend Gunston Middle usually go on to attend Wakefield High


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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.





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