Best Public Schools in Zip Code 98226

This analysis covers 14 schools in the Bellingham, WA area (zip code 98226), serving grades from Pre-K through 12th across multiple districts, with a total enrollment of about 4,600 students and a notable mix of traditional and alternative educational models.

The area features significant performance variation, with standout schools like Silver Beach Elementary School and Meridian High School achieving high rankings and strong test scores, while others, such as Cordata Elementary School, face considerable academic challenges. The Meridian School District schools generally perform well, whereas the Bellingham School District shows the widest range of outcomes from top to bottom. Alternative high schools like the Bellingham Re-Engagement Program serve at-risk populations but report very low graduation rates.

Key insights reveal that higher spending does not guarantee better results, and successful models like the Meridian Parent Partnership Program achieve solid outcomes with lower resources. The tribal schools, Lummi Nation Tribal School and Lummi High School, operate with very low student-teacher ratios and different assessment approaches. Parents should note the lack of traditional middle schools, as several elementary schools extend to 8th grade, and consider that math proficiency tends to decline in higher grades across most schools in the area.