Very Good
#520 of 2,228 schools in WA
Top 23% in state
Custer Elem
Elementary School · Ferndale School District · Custer, WA
A Ferndale School District elementary school where students score 8 points above what's typical for similar communities.
7660 Custer School Road, Custer, WA 98240
- Math 48% vs WA 46% (2024)
- Reading 49% vs WA 50% (2024)
- 13.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Custer Elem score 49% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 41%).
2024 SBA proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. WA average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency is down 15 points across the 16-year record (2009–2024) and has held near 49% recently.
Show all 12 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 52% (multi-year average, 2009-2024) · reading/ELA 55% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
Based on 32 test records from WA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
57.5%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
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 rateThe neighborhood
Where Custer Elem sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 9Car-Dependent
- Bike 29Somewhat Bikeable
- County Safety: Average268/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · county context, not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. A newer release may be available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$106,256
Median home value
$566,400
College educated
23.9%
Homeownership
95.2%
Poverty rate
4.9%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 98240; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cascadia ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 4.7 | K–5 | 3.8 mi | 443 | Compare → |
| Eagleridge ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 4.9 | K–5 | 4.0 mi | 479 | Compare → |
| Skyline Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 5.8 | K–5 | 4.2 mi | 493 | Compare → |
| Providence Christian School NwPrivate · tuition | 3.5private | PK–12 | 4.9 mi | 75 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Ferndale School District
- Schools in district
- 14
- Rank in district
- #2 of 10
- District spending per student
- $18,722NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 8.9%Census SAIPE · 2024
Custer Elem is listed in Ferndale School District; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Custer Elem
Custer Elem is a public elementary school in Custer, WA, part of Ferndale School District, serving approximately 367 students in grades Kindergarten-5th with a 13.6:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 7.7 out of 10 and ranks #520 of 2,228 schools in WA. State assessment records show 52% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 55% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Custer Elem
What grades does Custer Elem serve?
Custer Elem serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.
How many students attend Custer Elem?
Custer Elem has an enrollment of approximately 367 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Custer Elem?
The student-teacher ratio at Custer Elem is 13.6:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Custer Elem rank in WA?
Custer Elem ranks #520 of 2,228 schools in WA.
What is Custer Elem's MySchoolScout rating?
Custer Elem has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.7 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Custer Elem?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Custer Elem has 52% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 55% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Is Custer Elem a charter school?
No, Custer Elem is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Custer Elem a Title I school?
No, Custer Elem is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Custer Elem?
57.5% of students at Custer Elem qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Kindergarten – 5th
- Enrollment
- 367
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 13.6:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 27
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Fringe Rural
- County
- Whatcom County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 42.5%
- Phone
- (360) 383-9500
- Area population (ZIP 98240)
- 3,208
- Area median age
- 37
Official sources & links
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2024 SBA · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2024 SBA · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 98240; this does not measure the attendance area.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2024; directory SY 2023–24
Related reading
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