Top Rankings
Bellingham School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Washington for:
Category
Attribute
Science Proficiency
Highest science proficiency (Top 20%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2025 school year, there are 6 public middle schools serving 2,661 students in Bellingham School District. This district's average middle testing ranking is 9/10, which is in the top 20% of public middle schools in Washington.
Public Middle Schools in Bellingham School District have an average math proficiency score of 47% (versus the Washington public middle school average of 37%), and reading proficiency score of 55% (versus the 51% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 36% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Washington public middle school average of 50% (majority Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (WA)
# Schools
25 Schools
800 Schools
# Students
11,487 Students
302,560 Students
# Teachers
665 Teachers
16,189 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
17:1
17:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Bellingham School District, which is ranked within the top 30% of all 306 school districts in Washington (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 79% has decreased from 85% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#68 out of 307 school districts
(Top 30%)
(Top 30%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
45%
41%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
57%
53%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
57%
49%
Graduation Rate
79%
84%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.55
0.68
% American Indian
1%
2%
% Asian
5%
8%
% Hispanic
19%
25%
% Black
2%
5%
% White
64%
50%
% Hawaiian
n/a
1%
% Two or more races
9%
9%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $18,822 is higher than the state median of $18,796. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $22,233 is higher than the state median of $19,246. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Total Revenue
$216 MM
$20,715 MM
Spending
$255 MM
$21,212 MM
Revenue / Student
$18,822
$18,796
Spending / Student
$22,233
$19,246
Best Bellingham School District Public Middle Schools (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Kulshan Middle School
(Math: 57% | Reading: 62%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
1250 Kenoyer Dr
Bellingham, WA 98229
(360) 676-4886
Bellingham, WA 98229
(360) 676-4886
Grades: 6-8
| 599 students
Rank: #22.
Fairhaven Middle School
(Math: 52% | Reading: 60%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
110 Park Ridge Rd
Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 676-6450
Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 676-6450
Grades: 6-8
| 581 students
Rank: #33.
Whatcom Middle School
(Math: 51% | Reading: 54%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
810 Halleck St
Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 676-6460
Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 676-6460
Grades: 6-8
| 639 students
Rank: #44.
Bellingham Family Partnership Program
Alternative School
(Math: ≥50% | Reading: ≥50% )
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
1409 18th St
Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 676-6424
Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 676-6424
Grades: K-12
| 254 students
Rank: #55.
Visions (Seamar Youth Center)
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: ≥50% )
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
1603 E Illinois St
Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 647-6871
Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 647-6871
Grades: 6-12
| 10 students
Rank: #66.
Shuksan Middle School
(Math: 28% | Reading: 41%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
2717 Alderwood Ave
Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 676-6454
Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 676-6454
Grades: 6-8
| 578 students
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