Ferndale School District
School District · Ferndale, Washington
Avg Rating
5.8
out of 10
Schools
12
6 elem, 2 mid, 2 high
Per-Pupil Spending
$18,722
Student-Teacher Ratio
15.4:1
Avg Rating
5.8
out of 10
Schools
12
6 elem, 2 mid, 2 high
Per-Pupil Spending
$18,722
Student-Teacher Ratio
15.4:1
Evaluating Ferndale School District?
A district shares budget, policy, and attendance zones across its schools — use this page to judge Ferndale School District as a whole, then compare how its individual schools differ.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Custer Elem
Custer · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Central Elementary
Ferndale · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Beach Elem
Lummi Island · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
How this district compares
Washington rank
#150 of 233
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
-0.6
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 #150 of 233 Washington districts by overall school rating. Ferndale School District's schools with real test data average 5.8/10 across 10 schools. Its top-rated schools are Custer Elem (7.7/10), Central Elementary (7.7/10), and Beach Elem (7.0/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Rates 7.7/10 despite 58% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.2 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 | Custer Elem | 7.7 / 10 |
| 2 | Central Elementary | 7.7 / 10 |
| 3 | Beach Elem | 7.0 / 10 |
| 4 | Vista Middle School | 6.6 / 10 |
| 5 | Skyline Elementary School | 5.8 / 10 |
| 6 | Horizon Middle School | 5.0 / 10 |
| 7 | Eagleridge Elementary | 4.9 / 10 |
| 8 | Cascadia Elementary | 4.7 / 10 |
| 9 | Ferndale High School | 4.3 / 10 |
| 10 | Ferndale Virtual Academy | 4.2 / 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. The district invests $18,722 per student annually.
With an average rating of 5.8/10, Ferndale School District demonstrates solid academic performance.
The highest-rated school in the district is Central Elementary, which has a composite score of 7.7/10.
In standardized testing, Ferndale School District students show an average math proficiency of 47.8% and ELA proficiency of 56.3%.
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 schools Elementary Schools 6
Middle Schools 2
High Schools 2
Other Schools 2
District Details
- State
- Washington
- City
- Ferndale
- Total Enrollment
- 4,643
- Teachers (FTE)
- 301
- Child Poverty Rate
- 0.1%
- Data 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 5.8/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.
What is the per-pupil spending in Ferndale School District?
Ferndale School District spends $18,722 per student per year.
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 7.7/10.
What are the test scores in Ferndale School District?
Across schools in Ferndale School District with test data, the average math proficiency is 47.8% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 56.3%. 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 5.8/10 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
- 5.8/10
- Math Proficiency
- 47.8%
- ELA Proficiency
- 56.3%
Resources
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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