Meridian School District

214 W Laurel Rd
Bellingham, WA 98226-9623
(District boundaries shown in map)
5/
10
Bottom 50%
For the 2026 school year, there are 3 public elementary schools serving 1,329 students in Meridian School District. This district's average elementary testing ranking is 4/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public elementary schools in Washington.
Public Elementary Schools in Meridian School District have an average math proficiency score of 29% (versus the Washington public elementary school average of 43%), and reading proficiency score of 45% (versus the 51% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 37% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Washington public elementary school average of 52% (majority Hispanic).

Overview

This School District
This State (WA)
# Schools
6 Schools
1,831 Schools
# Students
1,903 Students
739,936 Students
# Teachers
104 Teachers
44,872 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
18:1
18:1

Student By Grade

District Rank

Meridian School District, which is ranked within the bottom 50% 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 87% has increased from 75-79% over five school years.
This School District
State Average (WA)
#179 out of 307 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
32%
41%
47%
53%
47%
49%
87%
84%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.55
0.69
% American Indian
1%
1%
% Asian
6%
9%
% Hispanic
22%
26%
% Black
1%
5%
% White
63%
48%
% Hawaiian
n/a
2%
% Two or more races
7%
9%
All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $14,764 in this school district is less than the state median of $18,800. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $13,672 is less than the state median of $19,251. The school district spending/student has declined by 5% over four school years.
This School District
This State (WA)
Total Revenue
$28 MM
$20,715 MM
Spending
$26 MM
$21,212 MM
Revenue / Student
$14,764
$18,800
Spending / Student
$13,672
$19,251

Best Meridian School District Public Elementary Schools (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Meridian Parent Partnership Program
Alternative School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
240 W Laurel Rd
Bellingham, WA 98226
(360) 398-9324
Gr: K-8 | 222 students Student-teacher ratio: 32:1 Minority enrollment: 13%
Rank: #22.
Meridian Middle School
(Math: 26% | Reading: 46%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
861 Ten Mile Road
Lynden, WA 98264
(360) 398-2291
Gr: 6-8 | 359 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 40%
Rank: #33.
Irene Reither Elementary School
(Math: 28% | Reading: 37%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
954 E. Hemmi Road
Bellingham, WA 98226
(360) 398-2111
Gr: PK-5 | 748 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 43%

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Quick Facts (2026)

  • District size: 6 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 1,903 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 18:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 37%
  • : 87% (Top 30% in WA)
  • : Bottom 50%
  • : 32% (Btm 50%)
  • : 47% (Btm 50%)
  • : 47% (Top 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), WA Dept. of Education

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