- Enrollment
- 1,273
- Students per teacher
- 19.9:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Bellingham, WA
Whatcom Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Whatcom Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 47/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 530042000117
👥 S:T ratio 29
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 37
📋 Attendance 52
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Whatcom Middle School earns 47/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Washington median.
- #3 of 4
- middle schools in Bellingham · Resource Index
- 47
- Resource Index · Typical
- 17.7:1
- students per teacher
- 37.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Whatcom Middle School has class sizes near the Washington median. Computed live against every Washington school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Whatcom Middle School ranks #3 of 4 middle schools in Bellingham, WA.
School address
District: Bellingham School District · Washington
NCES ID 530042000117 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+39 students YoY
Whatcom Middle School grew from 600 students in 2022-23 to 639 in 2023-24 (+6.5%).
Teacher FTE lost 36.7 → 36.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+39 students YoY 530042000117 · Bellingham, WA Middle · MID · TRAD
637 enr · 17.7:1 · 37.2% lunch · RII 47
Nearest enrollment peer: Squalicum High School (1,273 students)
Whatcom Middle School grew from 600 students in 2022-23 to 639 in 2023-24 (+6.5%). Teacher FTE lost 36.7 → 36.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Washington schools → · Find another →
Whatcom 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
- This school
Whatcom Middle School
637 students
- Shuksan Middle
Shuksan Middle School
606 students
- Fairhaven Midd
Fairhaven Middle School
588 students
What this shows Whatcom Middle School reports 637 students on the CCD universe file.
How Whatcom Middle School compares
Whatcom Middle School is a growing campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Washington and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Washington | Washington avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 17.7:1 | ▲ 1% | 17.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 37.2% | ▼ 17% | 45.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 637 | top 18% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17.7:1
Leaner classes than 26% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
637
Bigger than 76% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
37.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 17% 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
17.7:1
students per teacher
- 1% above state mean
Top 62% in Washington - lower ratio than 38% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
19.2%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
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 314 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
43
in-school suspensions + 19 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 6.8 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 9.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 59.7%
Hispanic or Latino 21.2%
Two or More 9.7%
Asian 7.6%
African American 1.0%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.8%
Largest group: White at 59.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 58.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 58.3, Whatcom Middle School is more 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 Whatcom 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 |
| Shuksan Middle School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Fairhaven Middle School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Whatcom 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
- 606
- Students per teacher
- 16.8:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
- Enrollment
- 588
- Students per teacher
- 16.8:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
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 (~637 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~17.7:1)
Frequently asked questions about Whatcom Middle School
How many students attend Whatcom Middle School?
Whatcom Middle School has 637 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Bellingham, WA. CCD year-over-year: 600 (2022-23) → 639 (2023-24), up 39.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Whatcom Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Whatcom Middle School is 17.7:1, which is 1% higher than the Washington average of 17.6:1 and 13% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Whatcom Middle School?
37.2% of students at Whatcom Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Washington average of 45.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Whatcom Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Whatcom Middle School is White at 59.7% of enrollment, in Bellingham, WA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 58.3/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Whatcom Middle School?
Whatcom Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 47/100 (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 Whatcom Middle School rank among middle schools in Bellingham?
By Resource Investment Index, Whatcom Middle School ranks #3 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 Whatcom 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.