Whatcom County

Washington · Public K-12

77 public schools serving approximately 27,790 students, in a county of 230,503 residents.

Schools

11 districts

Enrollment

27,790

NCES CCD

Median income

$81,784

Above Washington avg

Free/reduced lunch

47.3%

Below Washington avg

Elementary

schools

Middle

schools

High

schools

Combined / other

schools

LARGEST DISTRICT

Bellingham School District

11,614 students · 11 districts in Whatcom County

County vs. school enrollment demographics

Left bar is the racial makeup of Whatcom County residents (Census ACS 5-year). Right bar is the enrollment-weighted makeup of public schools in the county (NCES CCD). NCES systematically under-reports Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment for many schools; where the resident share is meaningful but the reported school share is zero, we mark the school bar "not reported".

County residents

White

78%

Hispanic

11%

Black

Asian

Two or more

10%

Native American

Pacific Islander

School enrollment

White

61%

Hispanic

n/r

Black

Asian

Two or more

Native American

Pacific Islander

Bachelor's+

39.3%

adults 25+

Poverty rate

7.2%

ACS 5-year

Unemployment

4.8%

civilian labor

Median age

18.5% under 18

All schools (77)

Largest A-Z Top rated

Name	City	Level	Grades	Enrollment	Rating
Ferndale High School	Ferndale	High	09-12	1,323	·
Squalicum High School	Bellingham	High	09-12	1,280	·
Bellingham High School	Bellingham	High	09-12	1,218	·
Sehome High School	Bellingham	High	09-12	1,163	·
Lynden High School	Lynden	High	09-12	962	·
Irene Reither Elementary School	Everson	Elementary	PK-05	707	·
Lynden Middle School	Lynden	Middle	06-08	643	·
Kulshan Middle School	Bellingham	Middle	06-08	623	·
Blaine High School	Blaine	High	09-12	609	·
Whatcom Middle School	Bellingham	Middle	06-08	600	·
Fairhaven Middle School	Bellingham	Middle	06-08	597	·
Shuksan Middle School	Bellingham	Middle	06-08	579	·
Vista Middle School	Ferndale	Middle	06-08	572	·
Fisher Elementary School	Lynden	Elementary	KG-05	527	·
Mount Baker Senior High	Deming	High	09-12	517	·
Nooksack Valley High School	Everson	High	07-12	507	·
Vossbeck Elementary School	Lynden	Elementary	KG-05	488	·
Meridian High School	Bellingham	High	09-12	487	·
Blaine Elementary School	Blaine	Elementary	03-05	463	·
Blaine Primary School	Blaine	Elementary	PK-02	463	·
Blaine Middle School	Blaine	Middle	06-08	459	·
Happy Valley Elementary School	Bellingham	Elementary	PK-05	456	·
Skyline Elementary School	Ferndale	Elementary	KG-05	454	·
Eagleridge Elementary	Ferndale	Elementary	KG-05	452	·
Horizon Middle School	Ferndale	Middle	06-08	449	·
Geneva Elementary School	Bellingham	Elementary	PK-05	432	·
Cascadia Elementary	Ferndale	Elementary	KG-05	429	·
Isom Elementary School	Lynden	Elementary	KG-05	424	·
Nooksack Valley Middle School	Everson	Middle	06-08	419	·
Northern Heights Elementary Schl	Bellingham	Elementary	PK-05	410	·
Lynden Academy	Lynden	Other	KG-12	407	·
Parkview Elementary School	Bellingham	Elementary	PK-05	399	·
Cordata Elementary School	Bellingham	Elementary	PK-05	393	·
Meridian Middle School	Lynden	Middle	06-08	382	·
Roosevelt Elementary School	Bellingham	Elementary	PK-05	374	·
Birchwood Elementary School	Bellingham	Elementary	PK-05	369	·
Nooksack Elementary	Everson	Elementary	PK-05	354	·
Silver Beach Elementary School	Bellingham	Elementary	PK-05	349	·
Wade King Elementary School	Bellingham	Elementary	PK-05	346	·
Custer Elem	Custer	Elementary	KG-05	329	·
Kendall Elementary	Maple Falls	Elementary	KG-06	327	·
Carl Cozier Elementary School	Bellingham	Elementary	PK-05	321	·
Sunnyland Elementary School	Bellingham	Elementary	PK-05	316	·
Central Elementary	Ferndale	Elementary	PK-05	311	·
Harmony Elementary	Bellingham	Elementary	KG-06	309	·
Lowell Elementary School	Bellingham	Elementary	PK-05	303	·
Alderwood Elementary School	Bellingham	Elementary	PK-05	291	·
Sumas Elementary	Sumas	Elementary	PK-05	283	·
Mount Baker Junior High	Deming	Middle	07-08	278	·
LUMMI ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Bellingham	Elementary	KG-08	277	·
Everson Elementary	Everson	Elementary	PK-05	271	·
Bellingham Family Partnership Program	Bellingham	Other	KG-12	266	·
Columbia Elementary School	Bellingham	Elementary	PK-05	231	·
Meridian Parent Partnership Program	Bellingham	Elementary	KG-08	217	·
Acme Elementary	Acme	Elementary	KG-06	203	·
Options High School	Bellingham	High	09-12	188	·
LUMMI HIGH SCHOOL	Bellingham	High	09-12	131	·
North Bell Learning Center	Bellingham	Elementary	PK-KG	127	·
Bellingham Re-Engagement Program	Bellingham	High	09-12	97	·
Ferndale Virtual Academy	Ferndale	Other	KG-12	97	·
Lynden Student Services	Lynden	Prekindergarten	PK-PK	87	·
Nooksack Valley Special Services	Everson	Prekindergarten	PK-PK	72	·
Intergenerational High School	Bellingham	High	09-12	69	·
Blaine Home Connections	Blaine	Other	KG-11	64	·
Beach Elem	Lummi Island	Elementary	KG-05	43	·
FERNDALE RE-ENGAGEMENT	Ferndale	High	09-12	43	·
Mount Baker Academy	Deming	Other	KG-12	35	·
Educational Resource Center	Deming	Prekindergarten	PK-PK	23	·
Ferndale Special Services	Ferndale	Prekindergarten	PK-PK	22	·
Meridian Special Programs	Bellingham	Prekindergarten	PK-PK	14	·
Blaine Re-Engagement	Bellingham	High	10-12	13	·
Visions (Seamar Youth Center)	Bellingham	High	06-12	13	·
Point Roberts Primary	Point Roberts	Elementary	KG-03	10	·
Meridian Impact Re-Engagement	Bellingham	High	09-12	9	·
Nooksack Reengagement	Everson	High	11-12	6	·
Whatcom Co Detention Center	Bellingham	High	08-12	5	·
IMPACT Reengagement Program	Lynden	High	09-12	4	·

Frequently asked

How many K-12 schools serve Whatcom County?

There are 77 public K-12 schools in Whatcom County, Washington, with a combined enrollment of about 27,790.

What is the mix of elementary, middle, and high schools in Whatcom County?

The county's public school system includes 36 elementary, 11 middle, 20 high, 5 combined-grade schools.

What is the largest school district in Whatcom County?

Bellingham School District is the largest school district in Whatcom County, serving approximately 11,614 students. The county contains 11 school districts overall.

How many people live in Whatcom County?

Whatcom County has roughly 230,503 residents according to the latest Census ACS 5-year estimate.

What is the median household income in Whatcom County?

Median household income in Whatcom County is $81,784, above the Washington average of $79,106. About 7.2% of residents live below the federal poverty line.

How educated are residents of Whatcom County?

Approximately 39.3% of adults 25 and older in Whatcom County hold a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.

What share of students in Whatcom County qualify for free or reduced lunch?

Roughly 47.3% of students in Whatcom County public schools qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a common proxy for low-income enrollment. This is lower than the Washington county average of 56.2%.

What is the student-teacher ratio in Whatcom County schools?

Across Whatcom County public schools, the enrollment-weighted student-teacher ratio is approximately 17.1 to 1.

What is the racial makeup of Whatcom County?

Whatcom County residents are approximately 78% White, 11% Hispanic, 1% Black, 4% Asian, 10% two or more races according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.

What share of housing in Whatcom County is owner-occupied?

Whatcom County has about 103,520 housing units, of which roughly 63.7% are owner-occupied.

DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data