Best Public Schools in Zip Code 98248

This analysis covers 10 public schools in the Ferndale School District, serving grades PK-12 in the Ferndale, WA area (zip code 98248), which together enroll over 4,300 students in a district that ranks in the lower third statewide.

Parents will find a mix of performance across these schools. Ferndale High School stands out as the district's top performer, with the highest graduation rate and test scores in English and science that exceed state averages. In contrast, Ferndale Virtual Academy shows significantly lower academic proficiency and a higher dropout rate. Among middle schools, Vista Middle School has shown notable improvement and leads in English and math scores, while Cascadia Elementary receives the highest per-student funding but has some of the lowest test scores.

Overall, the Ferndale School District trails behind Washington state averages in all core subjects, with the largest gap in English. Economic need is widespread, with free and reduced lunch rates ranging from 45% to over 75% across schools. A key finding is that high school performance here is stronger than in the feeder middle and elementary schools, and higher spending at certain elementary schools does not necessarily translate to higher test scores, suggesting families should look beyond simple metrics when evaluating schools.