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Whatcom Middle School

Q: Is Whatcom Middle School a good school?

Whatcom Middle School ranks 109 th of 514 Washington middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 6-8

109^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 514 Washington Middle Schools

Better than 79% of Washington middle schools

Summary

Whatcom Middle School is a public school serving 637 students in grades 6–8 in the Bellingham area, within the Bellingham School District. It ranks 109th out of 514 Washington middle schools, placing it in the 79th percentile statewide. Whatcom is an improving, upper-tier school with particularly strong math and science results, although it currently ranks behind Kulshan Middle School and Fairhaven Middle School among the district’s middle schools.

Academically, Whatcom performs above Washington averages in all three tested subjects: 56.04% of students are proficient in English language arts, 55.42% in math, and 62% in science. Math is the clearest strength, exceeding the state average in every grade and reaching 57% proficiency in eighth grade. Science also showed an encouraging rebound, rising from 52.33% to 62% in the latest year. Eighth grade is generally the strongest grade, while sixth-grade ELA—at 48.03%—is the most notable area for attention. Compared with nearby schools, Whatcom’s math result is slightly higher than Fairhaven’s 53.32% and well above Shuksan Middle School’s 30.52%, but it trails Kulshan’s 58.97%.

Whatcom also appears relatively effective in serving English language learners, special education students, and students from low-income households, with subgroup effectiveness rankings ranging from the 71st to 80th percentiles. Families may want to monitor the school’s rising student-teacher ratio, which reached 18.5 in 2024–2025, and its less consistent ELA results. Spending was moderate among nearby schools at $17,842 per student, nearly matching Fairhaven and below Kulshan. Overall, Whatcom offers strong and improving academic performance, especially in math and science, while leaving room to narrow the gap with Bellingham’s two leading middle schools.

637

Students ?

18.5

Student/teacher ratio ?

$17,842

Per pupil spending ?

42.4%

Free/discounted lunch ?

810 Halleck St
Bellingham, WA 98225-3243

(360) 676-6460

District: Bellingham School District

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

Racial breakdown:

White:

58.9%

Hispanic:

20.9%

Two or more races:

9.6%

See top rated Washington middle schools

Compare Whatcom Middle School to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 89th percentile in 2016 → 79th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Washington average (57% vs 48% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 21% of Washington middle schools

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 10 percentile points since 2016

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

!Near the bottom of Bellingham School District's ranking

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school57%

District avg52%

Washington avg48%

109^th of 514

Washington public middle schools ?

Top 21%▼ down 10 pts since 2016

From top 11% (2016) to top 21% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Washington Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

3^rd of 4Middle Schools in the Bellingham School District

83^rd of 238Bellingham School District among Washington districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2026	76.5	109 of 514	78.8%	★★★★☆
2025	72.7	119 of 534	77.7%	★★★★☆
2024	65.7	165 of 535	69.2%	★★★☆☆
2023	73.0	127 of 539	76.4%	★★★★☆
2022	63.4	164 of 541	69.7%	★★★☆☆
2021	65.0	157 of 529	70.3%	★★★★☆
2019	77.8	99 of 512	80.7%	★★★★☆
2018	84.5	62 of 437	85.8%	★★★★☆
2017	84.1	53 of 435	87.8%	★★★★☆
2016	85.5	50 of 443	88.7%	★★★★☆
2015	86.9	42 of 445	90.6%	★★★★★
2013	84.1	50 of 498	90.0%	★★★★★
2012	83.6	52 of 497	89.5%	★★★★☆
2010	78.3	78 of 483	83.9%	★★★★☆
2009	83.6	53 of 476	88.9%	★★★★☆
2008	78.6	74 of 466	84.1%	★★★★☆
2007	72.1	100 of 463	78.4%	★★★★☆
2006	72.2	111 of 449	75.3%	★★★★☆
2005	75.0	94 of 425	77.9%	★★★★☆
2004	81.1	58 of 421	86.2%	★★★★☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	31.7	104 of 147	29.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	35.3	94 of 148	36.5%	★★☆☆☆
2023	38.2	90 of 145	37.9%	★★☆☆☆
2022	22.6	124 of 161	23.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	19.5	122 of 149	18.1%	★☆☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2026	65.8	29 of 143	79.7%	★★★★☆
2025	70.3	20 of 96	79.2%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2026	80.1	85 of 443	80.8%	★★★★☆
2025	76.5	94 of 471	80.0%	★★★★☆
2024	68.1	132 of 464	71.6%	★★★★☆
2023	76.1	94 of 464	79.7%	★★★★☆
2022	59.7	164 of 479	65.8%	★★★☆☆
2021	63.1	144 of 469	69.3%	★★★☆☆
2019	72.2	108 of 452	76.1%	★★★★☆
2018	81.7	67 of 376	82.2%	★★★★☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2026	41.4	197 of 347	43.2%	★★☆☆☆
2025	59.6	118 of 347	66.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	45.4	171 of 344	50.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	50.5	136 of 336	59.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	44.8	174 of 360	51.7%	★★★☆☆
2021	50.9	145 of 353	58.9%	★★★☆☆
2019	43.0	192 of 344	44.2%	★★☆☆☆
2018	70.1	62 of 259	76.1%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2026	66.6	130 of 453	71.3%	★★★★☆
2025	66.5	118 of 457	74.2%	★★★★☆
2024	60.5	150 of 455	67.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	64.8	122 of 463	73.7%	★★★★☆
2022	33.0	333 of 475	29.9%	★★☆☆☆
2021	35.1	307 of 458	33.0%	★★☆☆☆
2019	69.3	88 of 448	80.4%	★★★★☆
2018	65.7	80 of 349	77.1%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2026	71.2	114 of 454	74.9%	★★★★☆
2025	66.3	133 of 472	71.8%	★★★★☆
2024	61.5	152 of 466	67.4%	★★★☆☆
2023	68.5	125 of 470	73.4%	★★★★☆
2022	64.8	141 of 480	70.6%	★★★★☆
2021	66.5	131 of 476	72.5%	★★★★☆
2019	81.2	74 of 453	83.7%	★★★★☆
2018	85.0	55 of 371	85.2%	★★★★☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2026	71.5	58 of 222	73.9%	★★★★☆
2025	51.6	110 of 246	55.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	50.2	107 of 243	56.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	60.6	83 of 244	66.0%	★★★☆☆
2022	69.1	66 of 257	74.3%	★★★★☆
2021	66.2	62 of 250	75.2%	★★★★☆
2019	60.8	95 of 246	61.4%	★★★☆☆
2018	76.5	39 of 166	76.5%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2026	59.2	54 of 226	76.1%	★★★★☆
2025	59.5	49 of 186	73.7%	★★★★☆
2024	36.9	103 of 179	42.5%	★★☆☆☆
2023	37.6	99 of 167	40.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	26.9	152 of 199	23.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	53.5	69 of 210	67.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	50.5	77 of 231	66.7%	★★★☆☆
2018	79.6	29 of 268	89.2%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2026	80.4	80 of 453	82.3%	★★★★☆
2025	75.4	100 of 488	79.5%	★★★★☆
2024	73.6	103 of 486	78.8%	★★★★☆
2023	76.8	96 of 488	80.3%	★★★★☆
2022	66.2	133 of 488	72.7%	★★★★☆
2021	66.7	133 of 480	72.3%	★★★★☆
2019	76.6	92 of 470	80.4%	★★★★☆
2018	81.2	55 of 325	83.1%	★★★★☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

White (2026)82nd percentile+4 vs school

Female (2026)81st percentile~ school

English Language Learner (2026)80th percentile~ school

Special Education (2026)76th percentile-3 vs school

Male (2026)75th percentile-4 vs school

Multi-racial (2026)74th percentile-5 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)71st percentile-7 vs school

Hispanic (2026)43rd percentile-36 vs school

Asian (2025)29th percentile-48 vs school

By subject vs Washington (2025-2026) ?

Science62%+11 vs state

English Language Arts56%+3 vs state

Math55%+12 vs state

★

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Schools Near Whatcom Middle School

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				WCAS Science (2026)		SBAC English Language Arts (2026)				SBAC Math (2026)				Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients (2025)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	WCAS Science 8th Grade	WCAS Science All Grades	SBAC English Language Arts 6th Grade	SBAC English Language Arts 7th Grade	SBAC English Language Arts 8th Grade	SBAC English Language Arts All Grades	SBAC Math 6th Grade	SBAC Math 7th Grade	SBAC Math 8th Grade	SBAC Math All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Whatcom Middle School	Public	6-8	810 Halleck St	Bellingham	98225	Whatcom County	Bellingham School District	No	No	No	No	(360) 676-6460	637	34	18.5	42.4%	375 (58.9%)	6 (0.9%)	133 (20.9%)	48 (7.5%)	5 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	61 (9.6%)	76.5	109^th of 514 public middle schools	78.8%		72.7	119^th of 534 public middle schools	77.7%	10	62.0	62.0	48.0	59.7	58.4	56.0	54.9	54.2	57.0	55.4	$17,842	$320	$17,522
Shuksan Middle School	Public	6-8	2717 Alderwood Ave	Bellingham	98225	Whatcom County	Bellingham School District	No	No	No	No	(360) 676-6454	606	36	16.7	52.1%	318 (52.5%)	12 (2.0%)	186 (30.7%)	25 (4.1%)	3 (0.5%)	1 (0.2%)	57 (9.4%)	42.6	281^st of 514 public middle schools	45.3%		38	320^th of 534 public middle schools	40.1%	39	43.2	43.2	42.1	57.2	45.5	48.3	27.0	39.6	25.0	30.5	$19,715	$1,712	$18,003
Kulshan Middle School	Public	6-8	1250 Kenoyer Dr	Bellingham	98229	Whatcom County	Bellingham School District	No	No	No	No	(360) 676-4886	575	33	17.6	28.7%	422 (73.4%)	4 (0.7%)	73 (12.7%)	13 (2.3%)	4 (0.7%)	3 (0.5%)	54 (9.4%)	83.8	77^th of 514 public middle schools	85.0%		81.5	90^th of 534 public middle schools	83.1%	13	64.0	64.0	65.8	67.7	54.7	63.0	64.5	61.6	50.0	59.0	$18,256	$607	$17,649
Fairhaven Middle School	Public	6-8	110 Park Ridge Rd	Bellingham	98225	Whatcom County	Bellingham School District	No	No	No	No	(360) 676-6450	588	32	18.1	40.8%	393 (66.8%)	8 (1.4%)	91 (15.5%)	33 (5.6%)	5 (0.9%)	2 (0.3%)	55 (9.4%)	80.8	91^st of 514 public middle schools	82.3%		80.2	93^rd of 534 public middle schools	82.6%	2	68.7	68.7	56.7	64.7	60.6	60.6	46.5	60.6	53.1	53.3	$17,779	$314	$17,465
Meridian Middle School	Public	6-8	861 Ten Mile Road	Lynden	98264	Whatcom County	Meridian School District	No	No	No	No	(360) 398-2291	350	22	16.2	53.1%	208 (59.4%)	2 (0.6%)	88 (25.1%)	25 (7.1%)	3 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (6.6%)	54.2	212^th of 514 public middle schools	58.8%		58.8	199^th of 534 public middle schools	62.7%	13	44.4	44.4	52.5	53.7	51.4	52.5	32.8	47.7	33.6	37.8	$18,417	$364	$18,052
Vista Middle School	Public	6-8	6051 Vista Drive	Ferndale	98248	Whatcom County	Ferndale School District	No	No	No	Yes	(360) 383-9370	550	32	17.1	55.6%	277 (50.4%)	12 (2.2%)	136 (24.7%)	32 (5.8%)	34 (6.2%)	8 (1.5%)	51 (9.3%)	45.8	261^st of 514 public middle schools	49.2%		45.4	274^th of 534 public middle schools	48.7%	13	46.8	46.8	40.2	52.6	43.7	45.3	27.9	40.0	39.3	35.3	$19,184	$1,383	$17,801
Horizon Middle School	Public	6-8	2671 Thornton Road	Ferndale	98248	Whatcom County	Ferndale School District	No	No	No	Yes	(360) 383-9850	433	25	17.1	55.4%	233 (53.8%)	6 (1.4%)	101 (23.3%)	13 (3.0%)	43 (9.9%)	0 (0.0%)	37 (8.5%)	27.2	372^nd of 514 public middle schools	27.6%		38	318^th of 534 public middle schools	40.4%	54	24.2	24.2	30.9	45.6	36.2	38.0	32.4	38.0	16.4	29.7	$20,342	$1,599	$18,743
Mount Baker Junior High	Public	7-8	4936 Deming Rd	Deming	98244	Whatcom County	Mount Baker School District	No	No	No	No	(360) 383-2015	244	14	17.6	60.2%	166 (68.0%)	5 (2.0%)	41 (16.8%)	3 (1.2%)	7 (2.9%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (9.0%)	23.7	396^th of 514 public middle schools	23.0%		16.1	463^rd of 534 public middle schools	13.3%	67	29.3	29.3		35.0	43.0	38.6		22.7	26.2	24.3	$19,924	$865	$19,059
Nooksack Valley Middle School	Public	6-8	404 W. Columbia St.	Everson	98247	Whatcom County	Nooksack Valley School District	No	No	No	No	(360) 966-7561	469	25	18.7	58.4%	248 (52.9%)	1 (0.2%)	175 (37.3%)	4 (0.9%)	18 (3.8%)	1 (0.2%)	22 (4.7%)	52.2	221^st of 514 public middle schools	57.0%		44.2	280^th of 534 public middle schools	47.6%	59	39.7	39.7	51.9	52.8	37.0	47.2	41.4	45.1	41.7	42.6	$16,808	$696	$16,112
Lynden Middle School	Public	6-8	8750 Line Rd	Lynden	98264	Whatcom County	Lynden School District	No	No	No	Yes	(206) 354-2952	705	37	18.9	47.5%	419 (59.4%)	6 (0.9%)	210 (29.8%)	41 (5.8%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (3.8%)	51.8	223^rd of 514 public middle schools	56.6%		45	276^th of 534 public middle schools	48.3%	53	43.6	43.6	55.6	53.9	44.0	50.8	42.4	35.0	33.9	37.0	$15,117	$657	$14,461

Frequently Asked Questions about Whatcom Middle School

What high school do graduates of Whatcom Middle School attend?

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

What district is Whatcom Middle School in?

Bellingham School District

Is Whatcom Middle School a good school?

Whatcom Middle School ranks 109^th of 514 Washington middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Whatcom Middle School?

Students at Whatcom Middle School are 59% White, 21% Hispanic, 10% Two or more races, 8% Asian, 1% Not Specified.

How many students attend Whatcom Middle School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 637 students attended Whatcom Middle School.

Rate Whatcom Middle School!

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Latest Washington data All new data »

2025–26 SBAC & WCAS test scoresSep 10, 2026

2024–25 dropout rates & graduation ratesJan 8, 2026

2022–23 through 2023–24 school spending dataJan 6, 2026

2024–25 SBAC & WCAS test scoresSep 10, 2025

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.