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Meridian School District

Item: Meridian School District
Rating: 5
Author: Public School Review

214 W Laurel Rd
Bellingham, WA 98226-9623

( shown in map)

Bottom 50%

Tel: (360) 398-7111

www.meridian.wednet.edu

For the 2026 school year, there are 2 public preschools serving 791 students in Meridian School District. This district's average pre is 3/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public pre schools in Washington.

Public Preschools in Meridian School District have an score of 28% (versus the Washington public pre school average of 46%), and score of 37% (versus the 50% statewide average).

Minority enrollment is 43% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Washington public preschool average of 55% (majority Hispanic).

Overview

This School District

This State (WA)

# Schools

6 Schools

761 Schools

# Students

1,904 Students

270,540 Students

# Teachers

103 Teachers

16,823 Teachers

Student-Teacher Ratio

18:1

Student By Grade

View Data

Comparison of Students By Grade Trends
Grade	Meridian School District	Washington
Pre-K	26	67
Kind	144	127
1	109	117
2	140	122
3	131	122
4	117	115
5	124	112

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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%)

View Data

Overall School District Rank Trends
Year	Meridian School District
2023	#179
2022	#195
2021	#153
2019	#153
2018	#130
2017	#172
2016	#158
2015	#156
2014	#129
2013	#123
2012	#112

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32%

41%

View Data

Math Proficiency Trends
Year	Meridian School District	Washington
2023	32%	41%
2022	30%	40%
2019	45%	50%
2018	47%	51%
2017	43%	51%
2016	45%	51%
2015	41%	49%
2014	63%	65%
2013	60%	64%
2012	66%	63%
2011	59%	60%

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47%

53%

View Data

Reading and Language Arts Proficiency Trends
Year	Meridian School District	Washington
2022	47%	53%
2019	56%	61%
2018	47%	61%
2017	53%	61%
2016	54%	62%
2015	51%	56%
2014	72%	74%
2013	70%	73%
2012	68%	72%
2011	63%	70%
2010	64%	70%

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47%

49%

87%

84%

View Data

Graduation Rate Trends
Year	Meridian School District	Washington
2023	87%	84%
2022	87%	84%
2019	87%	84%
2018	95%	88%
2017	77%	82%
2016	77%	81%
2015	77%	81%
2014	82%	80%
2013	82%	78%
2012	77%	78%
2011	82%	77%

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(2022-23)

36.1%

34.7%

View Data

Chronic Absenteeism Rate Trends
Year	Meridian School District	Washington
2023	36.1%	34.7%
2022	13.3%	18.4%
2021	19.9%	24.3%

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Students by Ethnicity:

0.56

0.71

View Data

Comparison of Diversity Score Trends
Year	Meridian School District	Washington
2023	0.53	0.68
2022	0.52	0.68
2021	0.52	0.67
2020	0.51	0.65
2019	0.51	0.65
2018	0.46	0.64
2017	0.46	0.64
2016	0.45	0.63
2015	0.44	0.62
2014	0.42	0.61
2013	0.36	0.61
2012	0.35	0.60
2011	0.33	0.58
2010	0.35	0.56
2009	0.36	0.55
2008	0.35	0.54
2007	0.34	0.51
2006	0.32	0.49
2005	0.31	0.49
2004	0.29	0.48
2003	0.26	0.47
2002	0.26	0.45
2001	0.26	0.44
2000	0.24	0.42
1999	0.22	0.40
1998	0.21	0.40
1997	0.21	0.39
1996	0.20	0.39
1995	0.18	0.36
1994	0.16	0.35
1993	0.16	0.34
1992	0.17	0.33
1991	0.18	0.32

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% American Indian

View Data

American Indian Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1991-2023)
Year	Meridian School District	Washington
2023	1%	1%
2022	2%	1%
2021	2%	1%
2020	1%	1%
2019	1%	1%
2018	1%	1%
2017	1%	1%
2016	1%	2%
2015	1%	1%
2014	1%	1%
2013	1%	1%
2010	2%	4%
2009	2%	4%
2008	1%	4%
2007	2%	4%
2006	2%	3%
2005	2%	3%
2004	2%	3%
2003	2%	3%
2002	1%	3%
2001	2%	4%
2000	2%	3%
1999	2%	3%
1998	1%	3%
1997	2%	3%
1996	1%	3%
1995	2%	3%
1994	2%	3%
1993	1%	3%
1992	1%	3%
1991	1%	2%

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% Asian

10%

View Data

Asian Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1991-2023)
Year	Meridian School District	Washington
2023	6%	9%
2022	5%	9%
2021	5%	8%
2020	6%	8%
2019	6%	8%
2018	5%	8%
2017	5%	8%
2016	5%	8%
2015	4%	8%
2014	4%	7%
2013	3%	8%
2012	3%	7%
2011	3%	7%
2010	4%	10%
2009	5%	10%
2008	5%	9%
2007	4%	8%
2006	4%	8%
2005	3%	8%
2004	3%	8%
2003	3%	8%
2002	4%	8%
2001	4%	7%
2000	4%	7%
1999	4%	7%
1998	4%	7%
1997	3%	7%
1996	3%	7%
1995	3%	6%
1994	2%	6%
1993	2%	6%
1992	2%	6%
1991	3%	6%

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% Hispanic

23%

27%

View Data

Hispanic Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1991-2023)
Year	Meridian School District	Washington
2023	20%	26%
2022	20%	25%
2021	20%	25%
2020	19%	24%
2019	19%	24%
2018	19%	23%
2017	19%	23%
2016	18%	22%
2015	18%	22%
2014	16%	21%
2013	13%	20%
2012	13%	20%
2011	12%	18%
2010	12%	16%
2009	12%	16%
2008	12%	15%
2007	12%	14%
2006	11%	14%
2005	11%	13%
2004	10%	12%
2003	8%	12%
2002	9%	11%
2001	8%	10%
2000	6%	10%
1999	6%	9%
1998	6%	9%
1997	7%	8%
1996	7%	8%
1995	5%	7%
1994	5%	7%
1993	5%	6%
1992	6%	6%
1991	6%	6%

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% Black

View Data

Black Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1988-2023)
Year	Meridian School District	Washington
2023	1%	5%
2022	1%	5%
2021	1%	5%
2020	1%	5%
2019	1%	5%
2018	1%	4%
2017	1%	4%
2016	1%	4%
2015	1%	4%
2014	1%	5%
2013	1%	5%
2012	1%	5%
2011	1%	5%
2010	2%	6%
2009	2%	5%
2008	2%	6%
2007	2%	6%
2006	1%	6%
2005	1%	6%
2004	1%	6%
2003	1%	6%
2002	1%	5%
2001	1%	5%
2000	1%	5%
1988	1%	4%

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% White

62%

44%

View Data

White Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1991-2023)
Year	Meridian School District	Washington
2023	65%	49%
2022	66%	50%
2021	66%	51%
2020	67%	53%
2019	67%	53%
2018	71%	55%
2017	71%	55%
2016	72%	56%
2015	73%	57%
2014	75%	58%
2013	79%	59%
2012	80%	60%
2011	81%	63%
2010	80%	64%
2009	79%	65%
2008	80%	66%
2007	80%	68%
2006	82%	69%
2005	83%	70%
2004	84%	71%
2003	86%	71%
2002	85%	73%
2001	85%	74%
2000	87%	75%
1999	88%	76%
1998	89%	76%
1997	88%	77%
1996	89%	78%
1995	90%	79%
1994	91%	80%
1993	92%	81%
1992	91%	81%
1991	90%	82%

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% Hawaiian

n/a

% Two or more races

10%

View Data

Two or More Races Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2013-2023)
Year	Meridian School District	Washington
2023	7%	9%
2022	6%	9%
2021	6%	9%
2020	6%	8%
2019	6%	8%
2018	3%	8%
2017	3%	8%
2016	3%	7%
2015	3%	7%
2014	3%	7%
2013	3%	6%

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All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $14,756 in this school district is less than the state median of $18,889. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.

The school district's spending/student of $13,665 is less than the state median of $19,341. 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

View Data

Total Revenues Trends
Year	Meridian School District	Washington
2023	$28 MM	$18 MM
2022	$27 MM	$18 MM
2021	$28 MM	$18 MM
2020	$27 MM	$18 MM
2019	$25 MM	$16 MM
2018	$23 MM	$13 MM
2017	$22 MM	$13 MM
2016	$21 MM	$14 MM
2015	$18 MM	$12 MM
2014	$23 MM	$12 MM
2012	$23 MM	$12 MM
2011	$19 MM	$12 MM
2010	$18 MM	$12 MM
2009	$18 MM	$12 MM
2008	$15 MM	$11 MM
2007	$14 MM	$10 MM
2006	$13 MM	$10 MM
2005	$13 MM	$9 MM
2004	$13 MM	$9 MM
2003	$12 MM	$9 MM
2002	$12 MM	$9 MM
2001	$11 MM	$9 MM
2000	$10 MM	$8 MM
1999	$10 MM	$8 MM
1998	$9 MM	$7 MM
1997	$9 MM	$7 MM
1996	$9 MM	$7 MM
1995	$8 MM	$6 MM

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Spending

$26 MM

$21,212 MM

View Data

Total Expenditure Trends
Year	Meridian School District	Washington
2023	$26 MM	$15 MM
2022	$27 MM	$17 MM
2021	$26 MM	$15 MM
2020	$27 MM	$17 MM
2019	$24 MM	$16 MM
2018	$23 MM	$14 MM
2017	$23 MM	$13 MM
2016	$22 MM	$13 MM
2015	$17 MM	$10 MM
2014	$22 MM	$11 MM
2012	$32 MM	$12 MM
2011	$20 MM	$11 MM
2010	$17 MM	$10 MM
2009	$16 MM	$11 MM
2008	$14 MM	$11 MM
2007	$13 MM	$10 MM
2006	$12 MM	$9 MM
2005	$12 MM	$9 MM
2004	$12 MM	$9 MM
2003	$12 MM	$8 MM
2002	$13 MM	$9 MM
2001	$11 MM	$9 MM
2000	$10 MM	$8 MM
1999	$9 MM	$8 MM
1998	$9 MM	$7 MM
1997	$9 MM	$7 MM
1996	$9 MM	$7 MM
1995	$8 MM	$6 MM

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Revenue / Student

$14,756

$18,889

View Data

Average Revenue Per Student Trends
Year	Meridian School District	Washington
2023	$15,471	$20,861
2022	$14,342	$20,595
2021	$15,302	$22,261
2020	$14,342	$20,595
2018	$12,796	$17,034
2017	$12,461	$16,266
2016	$12,128	$16,359
2015	$10,239	$11,994
2014	$12,514	$12,940
2012	$10,203	$12,445
2011	$8,031	$12,577
2010	$8,496	$11,994
2009	$9,485	$12,260
2008	$9,161	$11,273
2007	$8,618	$10,323
2006	$8,631	$9,385
2005	$8,441	$8,889
2004	$7,988	$9,060
2003	$7,858	$8,698
2002	$7,479	$7,902
2001	$6,922	$8,010
2000	$6,509	$7,416
1999	$6,243	$7,257
1998	$6,152	$6,806
1997	$6,089	$6,273
1995	$5,705	$5,897
1992	$6,498	$5,711
1990	$4,379	$4,869

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Spending / Student

$13,665

$19,341

View Data

Average Expenditure Per Student Trends
Year	Meridian School District	Washington
2023	$14,327	$17,883
2022	$14,448	$19,584
2021	$14,171	$19,082
2020	$14,448	$19,584
2018	$12,558	$17,238
2017	$13,108	$16,506
2016	$12,390	$15,517
2015	$9,725	$10,499
2014	$12,144	$12,404
2012	$14,277	$11,905
2011	$8,372	$11,693
2010	$8,070	$10,499
2009	$8,793	$11,231
2008	$8,394	$11,125
2007	$8,071	$9,967
2006	$7,924	$8,893
2005	$8,178	$8,879
2004	$7,613	$8,617
2003	$7,481	$8,253
2002	$8,460	$7,974
2001	$6,685	$8,055
2000	$6,258	$7,278
1999	$5,959	$7,029
1998	$6,041	$6,800
1997	$6,300	$6,422
1995	$5,710	$6,024
1992	$8,875	$6,438
1990	$4,201	$4,978

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Best Meridian School District Public Preschools (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)

Location

Quick Facts

Rank: #11.

Irene Reither Elementary School

(Math: 28% | Reading: 37%)
:

Bottom 50%

Add to Compare

954 E. Hemmi Road
Bellingham, WA 98226
(360) 398-2111

Gr: PK-5 | 765 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 43%

Rank: n/an/a

Meridian Special Programs

Special Education School

Add to Compare

214 W Laurel Road
Bellingham, WA 98226
(206) 398-7111

Gr: PK | 26 students Minority enrollment: 27%

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Quick Facts (2026)

District size: 6 schools
Grades: PK-12
Enrollment: 1,904 students
Student-Teacher Ratio: 18:1
Minority Enrollment: 38%
: 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