- Enrollment
- 1,273
- Students per teacher
- 19.9:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Bellingham, WA
Fairhaven Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Fairhaven Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 46/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 530042000104
👥 S:T ratio 33
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 41
📋 Attendance 41
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Fairhaven Middle School earns 46/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Washington median.
- #4 of 4
- middle schools in Bellingham · Resource Index
- 46
- Resource Index · Typical
- 16.8:1
- students per teacher
- 32.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Fairhaven Middle School has class sizes near the Washington median. Computed live against every Washington school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Fairhaven Middle School ranks #4 of 4 middle schools in Bellingham, WA.
School address
District: Bellingham School District · Washington
NCES ID 530042000104 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-16 students YoY
Fairhaven Middle School held near 581 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-16 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 35.3 → 32.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-16 students YoY 530042000104 · Bellingham, WA Middle · MID · TRAD
588 enr · 16.8:1 · 32.8% lunch · RII 46
Nearest enrollment peer: Squalicum High School (1,273 students)
Fairhaven Middle School held near 581 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-16 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 35.3 → 32.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Washington schools → · Find another →
Fairhaven Middle School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Squalicum High
Squalicum High School
1,273 students
- Bellingham Hig
Bellingham High School
1,165 students
- Sehome High Sc
Sehome High School
1,116 students
- Whatcom Middle
Whatcom Middle School
637 students
- Shuksan Middle
Shuksan Middle School
606 students
- This school
Fairhaven Middle School
588 students
What this shows Fairhaven Middle School reports 588 students on the CCD universe file.
How Fairhaven Middle School compares
Fairhaven Middle School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Washington and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Washington | Washington avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 16.8:1 | ▼ 5% | 17.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 32.8% | ▼ 27% | 45.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 588 | top 22% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
16.8:1
Leaner classes than 32% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
588
Bigger than 72% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
32.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 27% below the Washington average of 45.0%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
16.8:1
students per teacher
- 5% below state mean
Top 54% in Washington - lower ratio than 46% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
23.8%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$17,886
per pupil, district-wide
- below Washington avg of $20,912
Close to the U.S. public-school average per-pupil spend.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 294 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
15
in-school suspensions + 24 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 2.6 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 6.6 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 67.0%
Hispanic or Latino 15.5%
Two or More 9.4%
Asian 5.6%
African American 1.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.9%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.3%
Largest group: White at 67.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 51.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 51.5, Fairhaven Middle School is about as mixed as the Washington school average of 53.3.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Bellingham School District reports $17,886 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Fairhaven Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Squalicum High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Bellingham High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Sehome High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Whatcom Middle School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Shuksan Middle School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Fairhaven Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,165
- Students per teacher
- 20.1:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
- Enrollment
- 1,116
- Students per teacher
- 20.7:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
- Enrollment
- 637
- Students per teacher
- 17.7:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
- Enrollment
- 606
- Students per teacher
- 16.8:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
Similar middle schools in Bellingham
3 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Nationwide middle schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~588 students)
Frequently asked questions about Fairhaven Middle School
How many students attend Fairhaven Middle School?
Fairhaven Middle School has 588 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Bellingham, WA. CCD year-over-year: 597 (2022-23) → 581 (2023-24), nearly flat (-16).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Fairhaven Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Fairhaven Middle School is 16.8:1, which is 5% lower than the Washington average of 17.6:1 and 7% higher than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Fairhaven Middle School?
32.8% of students at Fairhaven Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Washington average of 45.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Fairhaven Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Fairhaven Middle School is White at 67.0% of enrollment, in Bellingham, WA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 51.5/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Fairhaven Middle School?
Fairhaven Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 46/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Fairhaven Middle School rank among middle schools in Bellingham?
By Resource Investment Index, Fairhaven Middle School ranks #4 of 4 middle schools in Bellingham, WA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all middle schools in Bellingham on the city page.
What other schools are in Bellingham School District?
Besides Fairhaven Middle School, Bellingham School District also operates Squalicum High School (1,273 students), Bellingham High School (1,165 students), and Sehome High School (1,116 students). See the Bellingham School District district page for the complete list.