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 2026-27 school year, there are 6 public middle schools serving 2,675 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
794 Schools
# Students
11,337 Students
302,552 Students
# Teachers
639 Teachers
15,929 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
18:1
18:1
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%)
Showing 2013–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
45%
41%
Showing 2012–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
57%
53%
Showing 2011–2022. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
57%
49%
Graduation Rate
79%
83.8%
Showing 2012–2023. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓
Chronically Absent Students
(2022-23)40.9%
34.7%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.56
0.68
Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓
% American Indian
1%
2%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓
% Asian
5%
8%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓
% Hispanic
20%
25%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓
% Black
2%
5%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓
% White
63%
50%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓
% Hawaiian
n/a
1%
% Two or more races
9%
9%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 11-year historical data available below ↓
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $22,588 is higher than the state median of $21,173. The school district revenue/student has grown by 8% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $23,031 is higher than the state median of $21,108. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Total Revenue
$256 MM
$23,221 MM
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Spending
$261 MM
$23,150 MM
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Revenue / Student
$22,588
$21,173
Showing 2012–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Spending / Student
$23,031
$21,108
Showing 2012–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Best Bellingham School District Public Middle Schools (2026-27)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
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
Gr: 6-8 | 575 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 27%
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
Gr: 6-8 | 588 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 33%
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
Gr: 6-8 | 637 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 41%
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
Gr: K-12 | 258 students Student-teacher ratio: 26:1 Minority enrollment: 22%
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
Gr: 6-12 | 11 students Minority enrollment: 55%
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
Gr: 6-8 | 606 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 47%
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