GAMBELL SCHOOL

Gambell School is a Title I public school that is part of the Bering Strait School District school district, located in Gambell, AK with about 183 students offering grade levels from Pre-Kindergarten to 12th Grade. A Title I school provides supplemental financial assistance to school districts for children from low-income families. Its purpose is to provide all children significant opportunity to receive a fair, equitable, and high-quality education. With about 17 teachers, Gambell School has a student/teacher ratio of about 10:1. The national average for public schools is about 15:1. A lower student/teacher ratio is a key factor that determines how much a teacher can devote his/her time to each individual student thus improving, or reducing (in the event of a higher student/teacher ratio) the attention each student is given for their educational needs.

Gambell School is a remote K-12 institution located in the village of Gambell on St. Lawrence Island, Alaska. Situated just south of the Arctic Circle and only about 40 miles from the Chukotka Peninsula of Russia, the school serves a predominantly Yupik student population. It operates as part of the Bering Strait School District (BSSD), a district known for navigating the unique logistical and cultural challenges associated with providing education to isolated, fly-in communities in Western Alaska.

The school serves as a vital hub for the local community, emphasizing the preservation of the St. Lawrence Island Yupik language and cultural traditions alongside academic core subjects. Because of its extreme geographic isolation, the school plays a crucial role in providing students with technological resources and a connection to broader educational opportunities. By balancing state-mandated curriculum standards with the traditional values and subsistence lifestyle of the Gambell community, the school strives to prepare its students for both local leadership and success in the world beyond the island.

For more information, contact Gambell School at (907) 985-5515 or visit the school personally to speak with a faculty or administrative member about any specific questions you may have.