Can I use Whatcom County's school score to choose a house?

No. Use the Whatcom County school score as a first-pass county screen, then verify the exact district, attendance boundary, transfer rules, and grade pathway for any address you are considering.

Does SchoolsByCounty confirm school attendance boundaries in Whatcom County?

No. SchoolsByCounty publishes NCES and Census-backed public-school records. Attendance zones, magnet eligibility, charter lotteries, transportation, and transfer rules must be confirmed with local districts.

How should parents compare public schools in Whatcom County?

Start with the 75 listed public schools and 8 district entries, then compare similar grade bands and confirm the address-level rules locally.

Whatcom County Schools & Education

Name: Whatcom County, Washington Education Data
Creator: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

Whatcom County, Washington

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

School Score

46/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Midrange Signal

Graduation Rate

79.9%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

79.9%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 81.4%

Per-Pupil Spending

$9,431

National avg $13,239

State avg $9,250

School Score

46/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 51/100

State Score Position

#28

of 39 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Whatcom County

Measured School Summary

Whatcom County has midrange measured school signals (score: 46/100) with a graduation rate of 79.9%, which warrants review in official state and district records.

Funding Context

Whatcom County spends $9,431 per student, which is on the lower end of adequate and may require careful resource allocation to maintain quality.

Neighbor Context

Its school score is 9% below the Washington average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 1.5 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 2% higher than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Whatcom County before comparing districts

County-level education data is best used as a screening layer. It summarizes the local school environment, then points you toward the district and school records that matter for local review.

Local context that changes the interpretation

75 public schools and 8 districts are represented below. Use those school and district records to confirm whether the county-level context fits the neighborhoods you are actually considering.

Overall screen

46/100

Mixed county signal. Ranks #28 of 39 Washington counties with school score data.

Completion

79.9%

1.5 pts below the state average

Funding context

$9,431

$181 above the state average

School coverage

8 districts represented in the county school list.

Start with measured county context

This county needs a closer look at district mix, school level, and local context. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.

Check the local school mix

Whatcom County has 75 public schools across 8 districts, so school-level fit can vary inside the county.

Verify local rules

Use this page as county-level context, then confirm attendance zones, transportation, special programs, and current school boundaries with local districts.

View Public Schools Compare Counties

Parent decision brief

What Whatcom County school data means before you move

County averages are useful for screening, but parents choose addresses, grade pathways, and district rules. This brief turns the public data into the checks that matter before you sign a lease or mortgage.

Large multi-district county

Whatcom County has many school records across many districts. County averages are only the opening screen; neighborhood-level assignment and grade-band fit matter more here.

State position

#28

of 39 Washington counties with school score data. The county score is 5 points below the state average.

Data confidence

Usable

3 of 5 county signals are present, and 100% of listed schools report enrollment. Compare schools, then verify missing fields locally.

K-12 continuity check

These are the largest visible district slices in the county data. They show whether elementary, middle, and high school records appear together or whether a family needs to investigate transition points.

Bellingham School District

Elementary to high school visible

11,614 students

Elementary 14Middle 4High 6Other 1

25 listed schools in this county slice.

Ferndale School District

Elementary to high school visible

4,651 students

Elementary 7Middle 2High 2Other 2

13 listed schools in this county slice.

Lynden School District

Elementary to high school visible

3,542 students

Elementary 3Middle 1High 2Other 2

8 listed schools in this county slice.

Blaine School District

Elementary to high school visible

2,081 students

Elementary 3Middle 1High 2Other 1

7 listed schools in this county slice.

District reality check

Bellingham School District is the largest listed district slice, with 25 schools. County pages do not prove address assignment, so verify boundaries with local district tools.

What the data cannot tell you

NCES records do not confirm current attendance zones, private-school options, transfer approvals, program capacity, transportation, or whether a listed school is available to a specific address.

Questions to ask before choosing an address

Which district actually serves the addresses we are considering in Whatcom County?

Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Whatcom County district systems?

What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?

Which charter, magnet, or virtual options require a lottery, application window, separate transportation plan, or address eligibility check?

Are the largest listed schools the ones our address can actually attend, or are they only county-level context?

Education Overview

About Schools in Whatcom County, Washington

This context is screened for neutral school-data wording and should be read alongside the current metrics on this page. It is not school advice.

Expansive Education in the Northwest

Whatcom County maintains 75 public schools for 27,382 students across 8 school districts. This includes a healthy variety of 35 elementary schools and 19 high schools to serve its growing population.

Bellingham and Ferndale Lead the Region

The Bellingham School District is the largest, educating 11,614 students across 25 schools. The county also hosts one charter school, representing about 1.3% of the total school directory.

Diverse Locales from City to Coast

The school mix is perfectly split with 26 schools in cities and 26 in rural areas, averaging 365 students per campus. Ferndale High School is the county's largest single school, with an enrollment of 1,323 students.

School Overview

Total Schools

in Whatcom County

Reported Enrollment

27,382

75 schools reporting

School Districts

districts

Charter Schools

1% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary35

Middle11

High19

Other10

8 School Districts in Whatcom County

Bellingham School District

Ferndale School District

Lynden School District

Blaine School District

7 schools

2,081 students

Nooksack Valley School District

7 schools

1,912 students

Meridian School District

6 schools

1,816 students

Mount Baker School District

7 schools

1,692 students

Intergenerational High School

1 school

69 students

75 Public Schools in Whatcom County

Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 5 high-enrollment schools; every NCES public school remains listed here.

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

Search schools

Level

Sort

Showing 20 of 75 matching schools

Public schools in Whatcom County, including district, location, profile availability, grades, type, and enrollment.
School Name	Profile	District	Location	Grades	Type / Flags	Reported Enrollment
Ferndale High School	Profile	Ferndale School District	Ferndale, 98248Suburb: Midsize	9–12	High	1,323
Squalicum High School	Profile	Bellingham School District	Bellingham, 98226City: Small	9–12	High	1,280
Bellingham High School	Profile	Bellingham School District	Bellingham, 98225City: Small	9–12	High	1,218
Sehome High School	Profile	Bellingham School District	Bellingham, 98225City: Small	9–12	High	1,163
Lynden High School	Profile	Lynden School District	LYNDEN, 98264Rural: Fringe	9–12	High	962
Irene Reither Elementary School	Record	Meridian School District	Everson, 98226Rural: Fringe	PK–5	Primary	707
Lynden Middle School	Record	Lynden School District	LYNDEN, 98264Rural: Fringe	6–8	Middle	643
Kulshan Middle School	Record	Bellingham School District	Bellingham, 98229City: Small	6–8	Middle	623
Blaine High School	Record	Blaine School District	BLAINE, 98230Town: Fringe	9–12	High	609
Whatcom Middle School	Record	Bellingham School District	Bellingham, 98225City: Small	6–8	Middle	600
Fairhaven Middle School	Record	Bellingham School District	Bellingham, 98225City: Small	6–8	Middle	597
Shuksan Middle School	Record	Bellingham School District	Bellingham, 98225City: Small	6–8	Middle	579
Vista Middle School	Record	Ferndale School District	Ferndale, 98248Suburb: Midsize	6–8	Middle	572
Fisher Elementary School	Record	Lynden School District	LYNDEN, 98264Town: Fringe	KG–5	Primary	527
Mount Baker Senior High	Record	Mount Baker School District	DEMING, 98244Rural: Distant	9–12	High	517
Nooksack Valley High School	Record	Nooksack Valley School District	Everson, 98247Rural: Fringe	7–12	High	507
Vossbeck Elementary School	Record	Lynden School District	LYNDEN, 98264Town: Fringe	KG–5	Primary	488
Meridian High School	Record	Meridian School District	BELLINGHAM, 98226Rural: Fringe	9–12	High	487
Blaine Elementary School	Record	Blaine School District	BLAINE, 98230Town: Fringe	3–5	Primary	463
Blaine Primary School	Record	Blaine School District	BLAINE, 98230Town: Fringe	PK–2	Primary	463

Ferndale High School

Ferndale School District

Ferndale, 98248 / Suburb: Midsize

Profile9–12High1,323 students

Squalicum High School

Bellingham School District

Bellingham, 98226 / City: Small

Profile9–12High1,280 students

Bellingham High School

Bellingham School District

Bellingham, 98225 / City: Small

Profile9–12High1,218 students

Sehome High School

Bellingham School District

Bellingham, 98225 / City: Small

Profile9–12High1,163 students

Lynden High School

Lynden School District

LYNDEN, 98264 / Rural: Fringe

Profile9–12High962 students

Irene Reither Elementary School

Meridian School District

Everson, 98226 / Rural: Fringe

RecordPK–5Primary707 students

Lynden Middle School

Lynden School District

LYNDEN, 98264 / Rural: Fringe

Record6–8Middle643 students

Kulshan Middle School

Bellingham School District

Bellingham, 98229 / City: Small

Record6–8Middle623 students

Blaine High School

Blaine School District

BLAINE, 98230 / Town: Fringe

Record9–12High609 students

Whatcom Middle School

Bellingham School District

Bellingham, 98225 / City: Small

Record6–8Middle600 students

Fairhaven Middle School

Bellingham School District

Bellingham, 98225 / City: Small

Record6–8Middle597 students

Shuksan Middle School

Bellingham School District

Bellingham, 98225 / City: Small

Record6–8Middle579 students

Vista Middle School

Ferndale School District

Ferndale, 98248 / Suburb: Midsize

Record6–8Middle572 students

Fisher Elementary School

Lynden School District

LYNDEN, 98264 / Town: Fringe

RecordKG–5Primary527 students

Mount Baker Senior High

Mount Baker School District

DEMING, 98244 / Rural: Distant

Record9–12High517 students

Nooksack Valley High School

Nooksack Valley School District

Everson, 98247 / Rural: Fringe

Record7–12High507 students

Vossbeck Elementary School

Lynden School District

LYNDEN, 98264 / Town: Fringe

RecordKG–5Primary488 students

Meridian High School

Meridian School District

BELLINGHAM, 98226 / Rural: Fringe

Record9–12High487 students

Blaine Elementary School

Blaine School District

BLAINE, 98230 / Town: Fringe

Record3–5Primary463 students

Blaine Primary School

Blaine School District

BLAINE, 98230 / Town: Fringe

RecordPK–2Primary463 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$9,431

State avg $9,250

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Whatcom County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.

Open Compare

Browse Public Schools

See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.

View Schools

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Washington counties have the highest graduation rates?

Wahkiakum County (95.0%), Lincoln County (91.7%), and Garfield County (90.0%) currently lead Washington among counties with available NCES four-year adjusted cohort graduation-rate data. This answer is generated from the same dataset used in the county table and can change when federal data refreshes.

What is per-pupil spending like in Washington?

Across Washington counties with available NCES district-finance data, average per-pupil spending is $9,250. The highest current county values are Skamania County ($10,545), Ferry County ($10,380), and Pend Oreille County ($10,253). Compare counties in the table before treating the statewide average as representative of a local district.

How should I read the school score in Whatcom County?

Whatcom County has a school score of 46/100, which is a midrange measured signal in this county-level index. This score is calculated from available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance data, with school-level records shown separately below.

What is the graduation rate in Whatcom County?

The high school graduation rate in Whatcom County is 79.9%, which is below the national average of 87.5%. This figure is based on NCES district-level data for public high schools in the county.

How much does Whatcom County spend per student?

Whatcom County spends $9,431 per pupil annually on public education, based on NCES district finance data. Current operating spending per fall enrollment, including instruction, support services, administration, transportation, and operations. It excludes capital outlays and debt service in the SchoolsByCounty methodology.

Frequently Asked Questions

Schools in Whatcom County, Washington — FAQ

What does the school system look like in Whatcom County, Washington?

Whatcom County maintains 75 public schools for 27,382 students across 8 school districts. This includes a healthy variety of 35 elementary schools and 19 high schools to serve its growing population.

What are the major school districts in Whatcom County, Washington?

The Bellingham School District is the largest, educating 11,614 students across 25 schools. The county also hosts one charter school, representing about 1.3% of the total school directory.

What is the school experience like in Whatcom County?

Counties with Similar School Profile

Walla Walla County

Washington

0 pts

46/100

School score

Pierce County

Washington

-0 pts

46/100

School score

Cowlitz County

Washington

+0 pts

47/100

School score

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated May 13, 2026Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

Data Sources

Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance signals.

Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.

Explore more data for Whatcom County

Property Tax Cost of Living Crime Rate Income Health Disaster Risk Water Quality Weather County Score