Ferndale School District
School District · Ferndale, Washington
Avg Rating
5.7
out of 10
Schools
12
6 elem, 2 mid, 2 high
Enrollment
4,643
Student-Teacher Ratio
15.4:1
Avg Rating
5.7
out of 10
Schools
12
6 elem, 2 mid, 2 high
Enrollment
4,643
Student-Teacher Ratio
15.4:1
How this district compares
Washington rank
#177 of 233
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
-0.7
below Washington avg
Per-pupil spending
$18,722
+$998 vs Washington median
District size
4,643 students
Much larger than Washington median
The short answer
Ferndale School District ranks #177 of 233 Washington districts by overall school rating. Ferndale School District's schools with real test data average 5.7/10 across 10 schools. Its top-rated schools are Central Elementary (8.8/10), Ferndale High School (6.7/10), and Skyline Elementary School (6.4/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Rates 8.8/10 despite 66% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 3.0 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Ferndale School District schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +30.0 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Ferndale School District schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Ferndale School District
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (10 of 12). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Central Elementary | 8.8 / 10 |
| 2 | Ferndale High School | 6.7 / 10 |
| 3 | Skyline Elementary School | 6.4 / 10 |
| 4 | Ferndale Virtual Academy | 6.0 / 10 |
| 5 | Horizon Middle School | 5.6 / 10 |
| 6 | Cascadia Elementary | 5.4 / 10 |
| 7 | Vista Middle School | 5.1 / 10 |
| 8 | Custer Elem | 4.7 / 10 |
| 9 | Eagleridge Elementary | 4.1 / 10 |
| 10 | Beach Elem | 3.9 / 10 |
See all 12 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About Ferndale School District
Ferndale School District is a Ferndale, Washington school district serving 12 schools.The district educates 4,643 students with a student-teacher ratio of 15.4:1. District-level spending was $18,722 per student in fiscal year 2023 (NCES F-33).
With an average rating of 5.7/10, Ferndale School District demonstrates solid academic performance.
The highest-rated school in the district is Central Elementary, which has a composite score of 8.8/10.
In standardized testing, Ferndale School District students show an average math proficiency of 44.2% and ELA proficiency of 52.0%.
The district includes 6 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 2 high schools.
District Map
Schools in Ferndale School District, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in Ferndale School District with test data.
Schools in Ferndale School District
12 schoolsElementary Schools6
Middle Schools2
High Schools2
Other Schools2
District Details
- State
- Washington
- City
- Ferndale
- Total Enrollment
- 4,643
- Teachers (FTE)
- 301
- District spending per student
- $18,722NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- Child poverty rate
- 8.9%Census SAIPE · 2024
- District directory year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Ferndale School District?
Ferndale School District has 12 schools in total — 6 elementary, 2 middle, and 2 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for Ferndale School District?
The average composite rating for Ferndale School District is 5.7/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.
What is the district spending per student in Ferndale School District?
Ferndale School District's district-level spending was $18,722 per student in fiscal year 2023, according to NCES F-33. This is district context, not an individual-school expense.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Ferndale School District?
The average student-teacher ratio in Ferndale School District is 15.4:1.
What is the top-rated school in Ferndale School District?
Central Elementary is the highest-rated school in Ferndale School District with a composite score of 8.8/10.
What are the test scores in Ferndale School District?
Across schools in Ferndale School District with test data, the average math proficiency is 44.2% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 52.0%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does Ferndale School District compare to other districts in Washington?
Ferndale School District has an average school rating of 5.7/10 across 12 schools. Families can compare this to other districts in Washington by visiting individual district pages. Factors like school size, available programs, and community demographics also play a role in choosing the right fit.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools?
MySchoolScout ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic performance, and learning environment — plus college readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context without being factored into the score. Learn more about our rating system on our methodology page.
District Averages
- Overall Rating
- 5.7/10
- Math Proficiency
- 44.2%
- ELA Proficiency
- 52.0%
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateOther School Districts in WA
Compare Ferndale School District with neighboring districts in the state.
- Seattle School District No. 1 (109)
- Spokane School District (69)
- Tacoma School District (69)
- Lake Washington School District (57)
- Federal Way School District (46)
- Kent School District (46)
- Vancouver School District (45)
- Highline School District (43)
- Northshore School District (40)
- Bethel School District (39)
- Evergreen School District (clark) (39)
- Edmonds School District (38)
- Puyallup School District (37)
- Clover Park School District (33)
- Everett School District (33)
- Kennewick School District (33)
- Central Valley School District (32)
- Renton School District (31)
- Bellevue School District (30)
- Issaquah School District (30)
- Pasco School District (29)
- Yakima School District (29)
- Auburn School District (26)
- Bellingham School District (25)
Data from NCES Common Core of Data, Washington Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.
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