Is Whatcom Middle School a good school?

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

How many students attend Whatcom Middle School?

In the 2023-24 school year, 639 students attended Whatcom Middle School.

What is the racial makeup of Whatcom Middle School?

Students at Whatcom Middle School are 59% White, 21% Hispanic, 9% Two or more races, 7% Asian, 2% African American, 1% Not Specified.

What high school do graduates of Whatcom Middle School attend?

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

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:
165^th of 535 Washington Middle Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $18,110

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: 17.7

Number of students: 639

Racial breakdown:

White:

59.0%

Hispanic:

21.1%

Two or more races:

9.2%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 46.3%

See top rated Washington middle schools

Compare Whatcom Middle School to nearby middle schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Whatcom Middle School ranks better than 69.2% of middle schools in Washington. It also ranks 3^rd among 4 ranked middle schools in the Bellingham School District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 65.75. (See more...)

Student Body

Compare Details Whatcom Middle School has the largest middle school student body size in the Bellingham School District. Racial makeup is: White (59%), Hispanic (21.1%), two or more races (9.2%). (See more...)

Compare Details 46.3% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Compare Details (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Whatcom Middle School is 17.7, which is the 2^nd best among 4 middle schools in the Bellingham School District. (See more...)

Compare Whatcom Middle School employs 36 full-time teachers.

Finance

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 165^th 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 86^th of 247 Washington school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Whatcom Middle School

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Rank History for all students at Whatcom Middle School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	WA State Percentile
2004	81.11	58^th	421	86.2%
2005	75.00	94^th	425	77.9%
2006	72.20	111^th	449	75.3%
2007	72.09	100^th	463	78.4%
2008	78.55	74^th	466	84.1%
2009	83.59	53^rd	476	88.9%
2010	78.26	78^th	483	83.9%
2012	83.56	52^nd	497	89.5%
2013	84.06	50^th	498	90.0%
2015	86.92	42^nd	445	90.6%
2016	85.49	50^th	443	88.7%
2017	84.08	53^rd	435	87.8%
2018	84.45	62^nd	437	85.8%
2019	77.76	99^th	512	80.7%
2021	65.04	157^th	529	70.3%
2022	63.42	164^th	541	69.7%
2023	73.04	127^th	539	76.4%
2024	65.75	165^th	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
2018	76.48	39^th	166	76.5%
2019	60.82	95^th	246	61.4%
2021	66.22	62^nd	250	75.2%
2022	69.12	66^th	257	74.3%
2023	60.57	83^rd	244	66.0%
2024	50.19	107^th	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
2018	79.57	29^th	268	89.2%
2019	50.46	77^th	231	66.7%
2021	53.54	69^th	210	67.1%
2022	26.86	152^nd	199	23.6%
2023	37.58	99^th	167	40.7%
2024	36.87	103^rd	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
2018	65.73	80^th	349	77.1%
2019	69.31	88^th	448	80.4%
2021	35.14	307^th	458	33.0%
2022	33.04	333^rd	475	29.9%
2023	64.80	122^nd	463	73.7%
2024	60.52	150^th	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
2018	81.74	67^th	376	82.2%
2019	72.23	108^th	452	76.1%
2021	63.11	144^th	469	69.3%
2022	59.66	164^th	479	65.8%
2023	76.14	94^th	464	79.7%
2024	68.05	132^nd	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
2018	84.97	55^th	371	85.2%
2019	81.24	74^th	453	83.7%
2021	66.52	131^st	476	72.5%
2022	64.79	141^st	480	70.6%
2023	68.49	125^th	470	73.4%
2024	61.52	152^nd	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
2021	19.49	122^nd	149	18.1%
2022	22.57	124^th	161	23.0%
2023	38.25	90^th	145	37.9%
2024	35.34	94^th	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
2018	70.07	62^nd	259	76.1%
2019	43.04	192^nd	344	44.2%
2021	50.90	145^th	353	58.9%
2022	44.76	174^th	360	51.7%
2023	50.51	136^th	336	59.5%
2024	45.42	171^st	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
2018	81.18	55^th	325	83.1%
2019	76.57	92^nd	470	80.4%
2021	66.69	133^rd	480	72.3%
2022	66.20	133^rd	488	72.7%
2023	76.79	96^th	488	80.3%
2024	73.59	103^rd	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.

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
2024	377	12	45	135	4	0	59	7	639

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
2024	639	36.0	17.7	46.3

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
2024	639	36.0	17.7	46.3

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.

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