Best Schools in Whatcom County, WA
Whatcom County, WA has 98 public schools (22 high, 12 middle, 49 elementary) serving 33,760 students. On average they score 47% on state proficiency tests against a projected 41%, so schools in Whatcom County meet expectations. Rankings below compare each school’s actual results with the projection for its socioeconomic context.
Best High Schools in Whatcom County, WA
The top high schools in Whatcom County, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.
1. Sehome High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Bellingham School District • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1163 Students
2. Bellingham High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Bellingham School District • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1218 Students
3. Ferndale High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Ferndale School District • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1323 Students
4. Meridian High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Meridian School District • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 487 Students
5. Squalicum High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Bellingham School District • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1280 Students
6. Blaine High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Blaine School District • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 609 Students
7. Nooksack Valley High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Nooksack Valley School District • Public • Grades 7 - 12 • 507 Students
8. Sedro Woolley Senior High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Sedro-woolley School District • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1276 Students
9. Lynden High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Lynden School District • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 962 Students
10. Mount Baker Senior High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Mount Baker School District • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 517 Students
Best Middle Schools in Whatcom County, WA
The top middle schools in Whatcom County, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.
1. Fairhaven Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Bellingham School District • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 597 Students
2. Kulshan Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Bellingham School District • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 623 Students
3. Whatcom Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Bellingham School District • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 600 Students
4. Meridian Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Meridian School District • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 382 Students
5. Lynden Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Lynden School District • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 643 Students
6. Vista Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Ferndale School District • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 572 Students
7. Nooksack Valley Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Nooksack Valley School District • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 419 Students
8. Blaine Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Blaine School District • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 459 Students
9. Horizon Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Ferndale School District • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 449 Students
10. Shuksan Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Bellingham School District • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 579 Students
Best Elementary Schools in Whatcom County, WA
The top elementary schools in Whatcom County, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.
1. Silver Beach Elementary School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Bellingham School District • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 349 Students
2. Lowell Elementary School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Bellingham School District • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 303 Students
3. Geneva Elementary School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Bellingham School District • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 432 Students
4. Lyman Elementary School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Sedro-woolley School District • Public • Grades KG - 6 • 164 Students
5. Wade King Elementary School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Bellingham School District • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 346 Students
6. Sunnyland Elementary School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Bellingham School District • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 316 Students
7. Parkview Elementary School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Bellingham School District • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 399 Students
8. Vossbeck Elementary School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Lynden School District • Public • Grades KG - 5 • 488 Students
9. Meridian Parent Partnership Program
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Meridian School District • Public • Grades KG - 8 • 217 Students
10. Isom Elementary School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Lynden School District • Public • Grades KG - 5 • 424 Students
Education & Community Snapshot in Whatcom County, WA
County-level factors that shape the learning environment around local schools.
Community Factors
Whatcom County, WA has a total population of 226,847 with 25% of that population attending schools. The adult high school graduation rate is 94%, and 37% of adults have a bachelor’s degree or higher.
Students in Whatcom County, WA
K-12 Students
High School Graduates
Adults 25+ with HS diplomas
College Graduates
Adults 25+ with a Bachelor’s degree or higher
Demographics statistics provided by Best Neighborhood Whatcom County, WA.
Safety
Crime Grades summarize reported incidents per 1,000 residents. Use them as neighborhood context, not a school rating.
Overall Crime Grade
36.38 per 1,000 Residents
Violent Crime Grade
4.03 per 1,000 Residents
Property Crime Grade
32.34 per 1,000 Residents
Crime statistics provided by CrimeGrade in Whatcom County, WA.
Connectivity
Connectivity influences learning at home. We summarize internet infrastructure, typical download speed, and a digital connectivity index for Whatcom County, WA.
ISP Report Card
Internet Infrastructure Grade
Average Download Speed
Speed Most Residents Can Get
Digital Connectivity Index
ISP Connectivity Demand Report
To read more about these statistics, please visit Whatcom County, WA Internet Health Assessment.
Questions About Schools in Whatcom County, WA
How many schools are in Whatcom County, WA?
Whatcom County, WA has 98 public schools: 22 high schools, 12 middle schools and 49 elementary schools, serving 33,760 students in total.
How do schools in Whatcom County perform on state tests?
On average, 98 schools in Whatcom County score 47% proficient on state assessments. Given the socioeconomic context of their students we project 41%, so on average schools in Whatcom County meet expectations.
How does SchoolGrade rank the best schools in Whatcom County?
Every public school gets a SchoolGrade from A+ to F based on the share of students at or above the state proficiency bar. The Impact Grade compares that result with what we would expect given the school’s student and community context, so schools that outperform their circumstances stand out. Schools cannot pay to change a grade. Read the full methodology.
Best Schools in Cities Near Whatcom County, WA
Explore nearby cities to widen your school search.
- Actual: 42%
- Projected: 37%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 57%
- Projected: 44%
- Impact Grade: Greatly Exceeds Expectations
- Actual: 49%
- Projected: 43%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 44%
- Projected: 39%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 52%
- Projected: 45%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 47%
- Projected: 39%
- Impact Grade: Exceeds Expectations
- Actual: 37%
- Projected: 32%
- Impact Grade: Exceeds Expectations
- Actual: 38%
- Projected: 36%
- Impact Grade: Doesn't Meet Expectations
- Actual: 42%
- Projected: 39%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 42%
- Projected: 39%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
Cities, towns and school districts in Whatcom County
12 places in Whatcom County with graded public schools. Each link opens that place's ranked schools.
Cities and towns (12)
- Bellingham (31)
- Ferndale (8)
- Lynden (8)
- Everson (6)
- Blaine (5)
- Deming (4)
- Acme (1)
- Custer (1)
- Lummi Island (1)
- Maple Falls (1)
- Point Roberts (1)
- Sumas (1)
School districts (6)
- Bellingham School District (25 schools)
- Ferndale School District (11 schools)
- Blaine School District (7 schools)
- Mount Baker School District (7 schools)
- Meridian School District (6 schools)
- Nooksack Valley School District (6 schools)