Enrollment
534
Washington · 2024-25 NCES data
High school (grades 9-12) · Bellingham, WA
Meridian High School
Federal NCES profile for Meridian High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 46/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 530501000768
👥 S:T ratio 18
📚 AP courses 25
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 50
📋 Attendance 65
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Meridian High School earns 46/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 81% of Washington schools.
- #1 of 4
- public schools in Bellingham · Resource Index
- 46
- Resource Index · Typical
- 20.5:1
- large classes for Washington
- 25.7%
- free-lunch eligible
Meridian High School has class sizes larger than 81% of Washington schools. Computed live against every Washington school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Meridian High School ranks #1 of 4 public schools in Bellingham, WA.
School address
District: Meridian School District · Washington
NCES ID 530501000768 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
26.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
20.5:1
vs 17.6:1 Washington avg
+16% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
25.7%
vs 45.0% Washington avg
-43% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Meridian High School compares with Washington and U.S. medians
What stands out at Meridian High School
Meridian High School is a mid-sized high school in Bellingham, Washington, enrolling 534 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 20.5:1 puts it in the larger third of Washington schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 25.7% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 534 puts it in the larger third of Washington schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 2,394 scored Washington schools.
Against 498 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #103.
Its student body is led by White (61%) and Hispanic or Latino (22%) (diversity index 57/100).
On the academic-pipeline side it reports 5 Advanced Placement courses.
Counselor coverage is strong, about 248 students per counselor, inside the American School Counselor Association's recommended 250:1.
14.2% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
The surrounding Meridian School District spends $15,650 per pupil, 20% below the Washington average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Among Bellingham's high schools, it stands alongside Squalicum High School (1,273 students): Meridian High School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (20.5:1 vs 19.9:1).
Meridian School District also operates Irene Reither Elementary School (765 students) and Meridian Middle School (350 students) alongside Meridian High School.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Meridian High School compares
Meridian High School on the metrics families compare, against Washington and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Washington | Washington avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 20.5:1 | ▲ 16% | 17.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 25.7% | ▼ 43% | 45.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 534 | top 27% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
20.5:1
Leaner classes than 14% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
534
Bigger than 66% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
25.7%
free-lunch eligible
- 43% 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
20.5:1
students per teacher
- 16% above state mean
Top 81% in Washington - lower ratio than 19% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
14.2%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 10-15% range, above the pre-pandemic national baseline but within the broader post-pandemic picture.
Funding equity
$15,650
per pupil, district-wide
- below Washington avg of $19,487
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors2.2 FTE
Per 248 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
9
in-school suspensions + 12 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.7 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 3.9 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
White 61.0%
Hispanic or Latino 21.5%
Asian 8.4%
Two or More 7.1%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.7%
African American 0.6%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.6%
Largest group: White at 61.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 56.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 56.9, Meridian High School is more mixed than the Washington school average of 53.3.
Programs
AP courses offered 5
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Meridian School District, which includes Meridian High School.
$15,650
Per student
-20%
vs Washington
Avg $19,487
-6%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 22.5%
State 64.1%
Federal 13.5%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Meridian High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Irene Reither Elementary School | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Meridian Middle School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Meridian Parent Partnership Program | Smaller | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Meridian Special Programs | Smaller | No free-lunch data | No ratio data |
| Meridian Impact Re-Engagement | Smaller | Similar economic need | No ratio data |
Comparisons are relative to Meridian High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 765
- Students per teacher
- 16.6:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
- Enrollment
- 350
- Students per teacher
- 15.9:1
- Resource Index
- 51/100
- Enrollment
- 208
- Students per teacher
- 29.7:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 26
- Students per teacher
- -
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 21
- Students per teacher
- -
- Resource Index
- 30/100
Similar high schools in Bellingham
6 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Squalicum High School
Standard public school
1,273 students 19.9:1 students per teacher
Bellingham High School
Standard public school
1,165 students 20.1:1 students per teacher
Sehome High School
Standard public school
1,116 students 20.7:1 students per teacher
Options High School
Alternative education program
176 students 8.8:1 students per teacher
Bellingham Re-Engagement Program
Alternative education program
110 students
Intergenerational High School
Standard public school
107 students 13.4:1 students per teacher
Similar high schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Washington, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~534 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~20.5:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Meridian High School's federal record.
- Compare Meridian High School against another school. Compare schools
- Meridian School District's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Meridian High School
How many students attend Meridian High School?
Meridian High School has 534 students enrolled. It is a high school in Bellingham, WA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Meridian High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Meridian High School is 20.5:1, which is 16% higher than the Washington average of 17.6:1 and 31% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Meridian High School?
25.7% of students at Meridian High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Washington average of 45.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Meridian High School?
The largest demographic group at Meridian High School is White at 61.0% of enrollment, in Bellingham, WA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 56.9/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Meridian High School?
Meridian High School has a Resource Investment Index of 46/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 5 factors: student-teacher ratio, AP course offerings, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Meridian High School rank among public schools in Bellingham?
By Resource Investment Index, Meridian High School ranks #1 of 4 public 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 public schools in Bellingham on the city page.
Is Meridian High School a good school?
Meridian High School earns 46/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 81% of Washington schools. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Meridian School District?
Besides Meridian High School, Meridian School District also operates Irene Reither Elementary School (765 students), Meridian Middle School (350 students), and Meridian Parent Partnership Program (208 students). See the Meridian School District district page for the complete list.
Related tools
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. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.