Whatcom Middle School

Summary:

Whatcom Middle School is a public middle school located in Bellingham, Washington, serving around 600 students in grades 6-8 as part of the Bellingham School District, which is ranked 86 out of 247 school districts in the state.

Whatcom Middle School consistently ranks in the top 30% of Washington middle schools, with a statewide ranking between 50-165 over the past 10 years. The school's performance on state assessments is generally above the Bellingham School District and Washington state averages, particularly in English Language Arts and Math, with 7th and 8th-grade students consistently outperforming their peers in the district and state. Whatcom Middle School also has a more diverse student population compared to the surrounding schools, with a higher percentage of Hispanic and Asian students. However, the school has seen a significant increase in the percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, from 22.3% in 2020-2021 to 42.5% in 2022-2023, which is an important factor to consider when analyzing the school's academic performance.

Compared to other middle schools in the Bellingham School District and surrounding areas, Whatcom Middle School generally performs well academically, with higher proficiency rates on state assessments than the district and state averages. However, some nearby schools, such as Fairhaven Middle School and Kulshan Middle School, have even stronger academic performance and higher statewide rankings. By addressing achievement gaps, leveraging its small class sizes, and learning from the best practices of these higher-performing schools, Whatcom Middle School can continue to provide a quality education for its diverse student population.


Detail:

Public 6-8

 810 Halleck St
       Bellingham, WA  98225-3243


(360) 676-6460

District: Bellingham School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
165th of 535 Washington Middle Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $18,110 Help


Students who attend Whatcom Middle School usually attend:

High:    Squalicum High School

Feeder schools for Whatcom Middle School:

Elementary:    Cordata Elementary School
    Parkview Elementary School
    Silver Beach Elementary School
    Sunnyland Elementary School

Student/teacher ratio:  16.3 Help
Number of students:  600

Racial breakdown:

White:
61.8%
Hispanic:
19.0%
Two or more races:
9.0%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  42.5% Help


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Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Whatcom Middle School ranks better than 69.2% of middle schools in Washington. It also ranks 3rd among 4 ranked middle schools in the Bellingham School District. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 65.75. (See more...)
Student Body
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Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (61.8%), Hispanic (19%), two or more races (9%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 42.5% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Whatcom Middle School is 16.3, which is the 2nd best among 4 middle schools in the Bellingham School District. (See more...)
Help
Compare Whatcom Middle School employs 36.7 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Whatcom Middle School is $18,110, which is the lowest among 4 middle schools in the Bellingham School District!
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Whatcom Middle School:

SchoolDigger ranks Whatcom Middle School 165th of 535 Washington public middle schools. (See Whatcom Middle School in the ranking list.)

Middle School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Multi-racial students:
Special Education students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Male students:
Asian students:
Hispanic students:
White students:


Bellingham School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Bellingham School District 86th of 247 Washington school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Your rating for Whatcom Middle School?

Rank History for Whatcom Middle School

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Compare

Rank History for all students at Whatcom Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools WA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2004 81.11 58th 421 86.2%
2005 75.00 94th 425 77.9%
2006 72.20 111th 449 75.3%
2007 72.09 100th 463 78.4%
2008 78.55 74th 466 84.1%
2009 83.59 53rd 476 88.9%
2010 78.26 78th 483 83.9%
2012 83.56 52nd 497 89.5%
2013 84.06 50th 498 90.0%
2015 86.92 42nd 445 90.6%
2016 85.49 50th 443 88.7%
2017 84.08 53rd 435 87.8%
2018 84.45 62nd 437 85.8%
2019 77.76 99th 512 80.7%
2021 65.04 157th 529 70.3%
2022 63.42 164th 541 69.7%
2023 73.04 127th 539 76.4%
2024 65.75 165th 535 69.2%
See the entire list of Washington Middle School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Whatcom Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools WA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 76.48 39th 166 76.5%
2019 60.82 95th 246 61.4%
2021 66.22 62nd 250 75.2%
2022 69.12 66th 257 74.3%
2023 60.57 83rd 244 66.0%
2024 50.19 107th 243 56.0%
See the entire list of Best Washington Middle Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Whatcom Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools WA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 79.57 29th 268 89.2%
2019 50.46 77th 231 66.7%
2021 53.54 69th 210 67.1%
2022 26.86 152nd 199 23.6%
2023 37.58 99th 167 40.7%
2024 36.87 103rd 179 42.5%
See the entire list of Best Washington Middle Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Whatcom Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools WA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 65.73 80th 349 77.1%
2019 69.31 88th 448 80.4%
2021 35.14 307th 458 33.0%
2022 33.04 333rd 475 29.9%
2023 64.80 122nd 463 73.7%
2024 60.52 150th 455 67.0%
See the entire list of Best Washington Middle Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Whatcom Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools WA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 81.74 67th 376 82.2%
2019 72.23 108th 452 76.1%
2021 63.11 144th 469 69.3%
2022 59.66 164th 479 65.8%
2023 76.14 94th 464 79.7%
2024 68.05 132nd 464 71.6%
See the entire list of Best Washington Middle Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Whatcom Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools WA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 84.97 55th 371 85.2%
2019 81.24 74th 453 83.7%
2021 66.52 131st 476 72.5%
2022 64.79 141st 480 70.6%
2023 68.49 125th 470 73.4%
2024 61.52 152nd 466 67.4%
See the entire list of Best Washington Middle Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Asian students at Whatcom Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools WA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2021 19.49 122nd 149 18.1%
2022 22.57 124th 161 23.0%
2023 38.25 90th 145 37.9%
2024 35.34 94th 148 36.5%
See the entire list of Best Washington Middle Schools for Asian Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Whatcom Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools WA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 70.07 62nd 259 76.1%
2019 43.04 192nd 344 44.2%
2021 50.90 145th 353 58.9%
2022 44.76 174th 360 51.7%
2023 50.51 136th 336 59.5%
2024 45.42 171st 344 50.3%
See the entire list of Best Washington Middle Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Whatcom Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools WA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 81.18 55th 325 83.1%
2019 76.57 92nd 470 80.4%
2021 66.69 133rd 480 72.3%
2022 66.20 133rd 488 72.7%
2023 76.79 96th 488 80.3%
2024 73.59 103rd 486 78.8%
See the entire list of Best Washington Middle Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Washington Office of Superindentent of Public Instruction, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Whatcom Middle School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 






Data source: Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction

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Enrollment information for Whatcom Middle School

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Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 675 11 43 15 40 n/a n/a 0 784
1989 657 16 39 15 43 n/a n/a 0 770
1990 696 10 30 19 24 n/a n/a 0 779
1991 713 9 27 31 29 n/a n/a 0 809
1992 761 8 29 29 32 n/a n/a 0 859
1993 749 13 30 36 33 n/a n/a 0 861
1994 771 17 46 31 25 n/a n/a 0 890
1995 555 9 40 31 14 n/a n/a 0 649
1996 555 9 40 31 14 n/a n/a 0 649
1997 563 8 38 35 17 n/a n/a 0 661
1998 554 10 32 30 15 n/a n/a 0 641
1999 536 16 31 27 11 n/a n/a 0 621
2000 548 11 31 32 14 n/a n/a 0 636
2001 610 15 30 47 15 n/a n/a 0 717
2002 568 10 33 41 14 n/a n/a 0 666
2003 568 10 33 41 14 n/a n/a 0 666
2004 584 11 37 45 16 n/a n/a 0 693
2005 568 13 23 45 11 n/a n/a 0 660
2006 533 16 31 44 9 n/a n/a 0 633
2007 520 11 26 34 11 n/a n/a 4 606
2008 510 11 34 37 11 n/a n/a 4 607
2009 490 12 35 43 11 n/a n/a 7 598
2010 487 15 30 55 9 n/a n/a 0 596
2012 496 13 18 54 11 1 0 0 593
2013 482 8 18 59 12 1 42 0 622
2014 470 6 19 49 10 1 42 0 597
2015 477 7 27 47 7 1 35 0 601
2016 496 3 28 50 4 0 42 0 623
2017 548 5 23 55 4 0 47 0 682
2018 555 11 17 72 6 0 56 0 717
2019 530 10 23 66 5 0 59 0 693
2020 508 16 19 70 4 0 58 3 678
2021 462 9 20 56 5 0 54 4 610
2022 427 17 40 102 6 1 60 9 662
2023 371 11 37 114 6 0 54 7 600

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Whatcom Middle School

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Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 784 39.0 20.1 0
1989 770 39.0 19.7 n/a
1990 779 40.4 19.2 0
1991 809 42.7 18.9 n/a
1992 859 42.5 20.2 n/a
1993 861 42.5 20.3 n/a
1994 890 43.7 20.4 n/a
1995 649 30.7 21.1 n/a
1996 649 30.7 21.1 n/a
1997 661 31.8 20.8 n/a
1998 641 31.6 20.3 n/a
1999 621 31.6 19.7 n/a
2000 636 30.9 20.6 n/a
2001 717 33.7 21.3 n/a
2002 666 34.8 19.1 23.9
2003 666 34.8 19.1 23.9
2004 693 34.0 20.4 24.8
2005 660 34.5 19.1 22.4
2006 633 33.0 19.2 25
2007 606 30.5 19.9 25.1
2008 607 30.3 20.0 24.7
2009 598 30.3 19.7 28.4
2010 596 28.5 20.9 29.4
2012 593 28.3 20.9 30.7
2013 622 27.8 22.3 34.7
2014 597 n/a n/a 30
2015 601 30.0 20.0 27.1
2016 623 32.0 19.4 25.8
2017 682 34.4 19.8 26.7
2018 717 35.7 20.0 24.3
2019 693 35.4 19.5 23.2
2020 678 34.7 19.5 21.1
2021 610 33.6 18.1 22.3
2022 662 38.9 16.9 31.7
2023 600 36.7 16.3 42.5

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Whatcom Middle School

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Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 784 39.0 20.1 0
1989 770 39.0 19.7 n/a
1990 779 40.4 19.2 0
1991 809 42.7 18.9 n/a
1992 859 42.5 20.2 n/a
1993 861 42.5 20.3 n/a
1994 890 43.7 20.4 n/a
1995 649 30.7 21.1 n/a
1996 649 30.7 21.1 n/a
1997 661 31.8 20.8 n/a
1998 641 31.6 20.3 n/a
1999 621 31.6 19.7 n/a
2000 636 30.9 20.6 n/a
2001 717 33.7 21.3 n/a
2002 666 34.8 19.1 23.9
2003 666 34.8 19.1 23.9
2004 693 34.0 20.4 24.8
2005 660 34.5 19.1 22.4
2006 633 33.0 19.2 25
2007 606 30.5 19.9 25.1
2008 607 30.3 20.0 24.7
2009 598 30.3 19.7 28.4
2010 596 28.5 20.9 29.4
2012 593 28.3 20.9 30.7
2013 622 27.8 22.3 34.7
2014 597 n/a n/a 30
2015 601 30.0 20.0 27.1
2016 623 32.0 19.4 25.8
2017 682 34.4 19.8 26.7
2018 717 35.7 20.0 24.3
2019 693 35.4 19.5 23.2
2020 678 34.7 19.5 21.1
2021 610 33.6 18.1 22.3
2022 662 38.9 16.9 31.7
2023 600 36.7 16.3 42.5

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

6th Grade Immunization Rates

Whatcom Middle School

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Compare
YearCompletely ImmunizedReligious ExemptionMedical ExemptionConditionalPersonal ExemptionPolioDiphtheriaHepatitis BVaricellaMMRPertussis
201887.4%0.0%1.6%2.9%5.3%95.5%90.6%94.3%95.5%96.7%91.4%
201984.3%0.0%3.4%2.0%7.4%94.1%90.2%91.2%92.2%95.6%90.7%

Data source: Washington State Department of Health

Immunization Rates (Entire school)

Whatcom Middle School

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Compare
YearCompletely ImmunizedReligious ExemptionMedical ExemptionPersonal ExemptionPolioDiphtheriaHepatitis BVaricellaMMRPertussis
201988.4%0.0%2.8%7.1%95.0%95.6%93.6%93.5%95.7%96.6%

Data source: Washington State Department of Health
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Whatcom Middle School

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $358 (2.8%) $12,323 (97.2%) $12,681
2020 $134 (1.5%) $9,010 (98.5%) $9,143
2021 $254 (1.5%) $17,090 (98.5%) $17,343
2022 $484 (2.7%) $17,626 (97.3%) $18,110

Data source: Washington Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Whatcom Middle School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 99th of 512 Middle schoolsRanks 127th of 539 Middle schools
 4.2%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
6th Grade English Language Arts (Whatcom Middle School)67.554.4
 13.1%
   6th Grade English Language Arts (Bellingham School District)56.454.7
 1.7%
   6th Grade English Language Arts (Washington)57.847.9
 9.9%
6th Grade Math (Whatcom Middle School)54.860.4
 5.5%
   6th Grade Math (Bellingham School District)43.848.9
 5.1%
   6th Grade Math (Washington)47.738.1
 9.6%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Whatcom Middle School)75.352.9
 22.4%
   7th Grade English Language Arts (Bellingham School District)6756.9
 10.1%
   7th Grade English Language Arts (Washington)6252.1
 9.9%
7th Grade Math (Whatcom Middle School)62.147.1
 15.1%
   7th Grade Math (Bellingham School District)54.651.4
 3.2%
   7th Grade Math (Washington)49.938.6
 11.2%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Whatcom Middle School)76.263.2
 13%
   8th Grade English Language Arts (Bellingham School District)67.158.8
 8.3%
   8th Grade English Language Arts (Washington)59.651.3
 8.3%
8th Grade Math (Whatcom Middle School)56.548.7
 7.8%
   8th Grade Math (Bellingham School District)47.743.3
 4.5%
   8th Grade Math (Washington)47.234.4
 12.8%
8th Grade Science (Whatcom Middle School)67.459.2
 8.1%
   8th Grade Science (Bellingham School District)58.856.6
 2.1%
   8th Grade Science (Washington)53.143.9
 9.3%
All Grades English Language Arts (Whatcom Middle School)73.456.8
 16.6%
   All Grades English Language Arts (Bellingham School District)63.755.8
 7.9%
   All Grades English Language Arts (Washington)6152.9
 8.1%
All Grades Math (Whatcom Middle School)5851.6
 6.4%
   All Grades Math (Bellingham School District)46.945
 1.9%
   All Grades Math (Washington)50.141
 9%
All Grades Science (Whatcom Middle School)67.459.2
 8.1%
   All Grades Science (Bellingham School District)60.459.2
 1.2%
   All Grades Science (Washington)52.748.8
 4%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students693600
 13.4%
African American1011
 10%
American Indian56
 20%
Asian2337
 60.9%
Hispanic66114
 72.7%
Pacific Islander00
White530371
 30%
Two or More Races5954
 8.5%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients23.2%42.5%
 19.3%


Schools Near Whatcom Middle School









Frequently Asked Questions about Whatcom Middle School

Students at Whatcom Middle School are 62% White, 19% Hispanic, 9% Two or more races, 6% Asian, 2% African American, 1% Not Specified.

Whatcom Middle School ranks 165th of 535 Washington middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

In the 2022-23 school year, 600 students attended Whatcom Middle School.

Students who attend Whatcom Middle School usually go on to attend Squalicum High School


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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau, the Washington State Department of Health and the Washington Office of Superindentent of Public Instruction.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





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