- Enrollment
- 1,273
- Students per teacher
- 19.9:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Bellingham, WA
Kulshan Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Kulshan Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 49/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 530042001739
👥 S:T ratio 38
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 50
📋 Attendance 38
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Kulshan Middle School earns 49/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Washington median.
- #1 of 4
- middle schools in Bellingham · Resource Index
- 49
- Resource Index · Higher
- 15.5:1
- students per teacher
- 23.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Kulshan Middle School has class sizes near the Washington median. Computed live against every Washington school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Kulshan Middle School ranks #1 of 4 middle schools in Bellingham, WA.
School address
District: Bellingham School District · Washington
NCES ID 530042001739 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-24 students YoY
Kulshan Middle School held near 599 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-24 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 37.3 → 32.7 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-24 students YoY 530042001739 · Bellingham, WA Middle · MID · TRAD
575 enr · 15.5:1 · 23.9% lunch · RII 49
Nearest enrollment peer: Squalicum High School (1,273 students)
Kulshan Middle School held near 599 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-24 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 37.3 → 32.7 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Washington schools → · Find another →
Kulshan 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
Kulshan Middle School
575 students
What this shows Kulshan Middle School reports 575 students on the CCD universe file.
How Kulshan Middle School compares
Kulshan 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 | 15.5:1 | ▼ 12% | 17.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 23.9% | ▼ 47% | 45.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 575 | top 23% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.5:1
Leaner classes than 42% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
575
Bigger than 70% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
23.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 47% 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
15.5:1
students per teacher
- 12% below state mean
Top 40% in Washington - lower ratio than 60% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
25.0%
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
Counselors2.3 FTE
Per 249 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
6
in-school suspensions + 7 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 2.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 73.6%
Hispanic or Latino 12.7%
Two or More 9.4%
Asian 2.3%
African American 0.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.7%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.5%
Largest group: White at 73.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 43.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 43.3, Kulshan Middle School is less mixed than 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 Kulshan Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Squalicum High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Bellingham High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Sehome High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Whatcom Middle School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Shuksan Middle School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Kulshan 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 (~575 students)
Frequently asked questions about Kulshan Middle School
How many students attend Kulshan Middle School?
Kulshan Middle School has 575 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Bellingham, WA. CCD year-over-year: 623 (2022-23) → 599 (2023-24), nearly flat (-24).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Kulshan Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Kulshan Middle School is 15.5:1, which is 12% lower than the Washington average of 17.6:1 and 1% lower 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 Kulshan Middle School?
23.9% of students at Kulshan Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Washington average of 45.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Kulshan Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Kulshan Middle School is White at 73.6% of enrollment, in Bellingham, WA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Kulshan Middle School?
Kulshan Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 49/100 (higher 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 Kulshan Middle School rank among middle schools in Bellingham?
By Resource Investment Index, Kulshan Middle School ranks #1 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 Kulshan 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.