Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal
records, no number is typed in by an editor. District totals are aggregated directly from the schools reporting under this district in the source records. See our
editorial standards & corrections policy, the
methodology behind these numbers, or
report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.
Bellingham, Washington - 6 schools
An equity score of 24/100 ranks Meridian School District #217 of 238 districts in Washington (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.
At $15,650 per pupil, Meridian School District ranks #239 of 309 Washington districts by per-pupil spending (Washington districts). NCES F-33 finance data.
1,816
Total Enrollment
6
Schools
$15,650
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined, High
School Types
District-Level NCES Analysis
Meridian School District operates 6 public schools serving 1,816 students, placing it among the smallest districts in Washington. The school portfolio breaks down into 2 combined, 2 high, 1 middle, 1 elementary schools, a small enough portfolio that most families will interact with nearly every campus in the district at some point. These enrollment and school figures come from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 release, and the district is based in Whatcom County.
Per-pupil expenditure runs $15,650 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the lower half of 309 Washington districts by per-pupil spending. See how Washington compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 22.5% local, 64.1% state, and 13.5% federal, a state-revenue-heavy mix that insulates the district somewhat from local property-tax volatility, though it ties funding to state budget cycles. The district's equity score is 24/100, ranked #217 of 238 in Washington against a state average of 50, notably less even than the typical district in the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.
Academic infrastructure includes 1 of 6 schools offering Advanced Placement (5 AP courses district-wide), a 317:1 student-counselor ratio, somewhat above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 17.6% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 62.4% White, 23.6% Hispanic or Latino, 4.6% Asian across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Meridian Impact Re-Engagement, with a diversity index of 66.2/100.
Irene Reither Elementary School accounts for 40.2% of all Meridian School District student enrollment
That dominant concentration means Meridian School District-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. Grade band: combined. A single dominant campus often anchors a district's program offerings and staffing patterns; the share helps explain why district-wide averages may not reflect the typical neighbourhood-school experience. When one entity dominates a region's footprint, its programmatic and budget decisions effectively set policy for a majority of the affected population.
Meridian School District school enrollment varies 36× across entities
Meridian School District school enrollment ranges from 21 students (lowest) to 765 students (highest), a spread of 744 students. That ratio is among the widest observed and reflects extreme enrollment heterogeneity, the district operates both small specialty programs and large comprehensive campuses inside a single budgeting unit. Per-school staffing ratios, programme availability, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same district based on enrollment shape.
Meridian School District student-counselor ratio is 317:1 — near the typical range (US average ~408) — within the typical range for U.S. public districts
student-counselor ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE counselors against total enrollment, districts that contract intervention or social-emotional staff outside the counselor classification may be under-counted Variation between sub-units within Meridian School District is typically wider than the Meridian School District-aggregate figure suggests.
Meridian School District chronic absenteeism rate is 17.6% — near the typical range (US average ~28) — aligned with the national post-pandemic baseline of roughly 28% chronic absenteeism
chronic absenteeism rate is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: a student is chronically absent if they miss ≥10% of enrolled days for any reason, illness, family obligations, or disengagement Variation between sub-units within Meridian School District is typically wider than the Meridian School District-aggregate figure suggests.
Meridian School District has 6 schools, including 2 combined, 2 high, 1 middle, 1 elementary. Total enrollment is 1,816 students.
How much does Meridian School District spend per student?
Meridian School District spends $15,650 per student. The district has an equity score of 24/100, ranking #217 in Washington.
What is the demographic composition of Meridian School District?
Meridian School District students are 62.4% White, 23.6% Hispanic or Latino, 4.6% Asian, 1.3% African American, averaged across 6 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.
What is the equity score for Meridian School District?
Meridian School District has an equity score of 24/100, ranking #217 out of 238 districts in Washington.