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Average

#1073 of 2,228 schools in WA

Top 48% in state

Squalicum High School

High School · Bellingham School District · Bellingham, WA

A Bellingham School District high school serving grades 9th – 12th.

3773 E McLeod Rd, Bellingham, WA 98226

  • Math 30% vs WA 36% (2024)
  • Reading 64% vs WA 56% (2024)
  • 5/5 advanced STEM subjects

Academics

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress4.3Below Average25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data13
Annual Change-2.13 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2024
TrendDeclining
Academics7.0Very Good25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency30.1% (2024 SBA)
Reading/ELA Proficiency63.7% (2024 SBA)
Math vs. State Avg-1.4 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+2.5 pts
Overall Proficiency47% (2024 SBA, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)46% (model expectation from 2024 SBA)
vs. Expected+1.1 pts
Adjusted Percentile57th
College Readiness9.6Excellent30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
AP Participation35.2%
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment3.7Needs Improvement20%
Student-teacher ratio, district spending per student, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio20:1
District spending per student$17,886
Chronic Absenteeism43.4%

Students at Squalicum High School score 47% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 46%).

How we calculate scores →

2024 SBA proficiency

Most recent published year. School vs. WA average.

Math Proficiency30%(2024 SBA)
School
State
36%(2024 SBA)
ELA Proficiency64%(2024 SBA)
School
State
56%(2024 SBA)

Trend

↓ Declining

Proficiency has fallen 9 points since 2018, to 47% in 2024, across a 16-year record (2009–2024).

Show all 13 years
2009
Math
48%
ELA
81%
2010
Math
74%
ELA
85%
2011
Math
85%
ELA
88%
2012
Math
83%
ELA
85%
2013
Math
80%
ELA
86%
2014
Math
27%
ELA
42%
2015
Math
52%
ELA
86%
2016
Math
57%
ELA
84%
2017
Math
43%
ELA
70%
2018
Math
36%
ELA
75%
2019
Math
36%
ELA
75%
2022
ELA
78%
2024
Math
30%
ELA
64%

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 52% (multi-year average, 2009-2024) · reading/ELA 76% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)

Based on 29 test records from WA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).

Equity & diversity

Shown separately, not included in the overall score

Free/reduced lunch

49.2%

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 rate

The neighborhood

Where Squalicum High School 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 13Car-Dependent
  • Transit 22Minimal Transit
  • Bike 18Somewhat Bikeable
  • City Safety: High4,115/100K

Powered byWalk Score

FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Bellingham), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details

Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.

Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)

Median income

$79,684

Median home value

$568,400

Median rent

$1,557/mo

College educated

39.5%

Homeownership

62.2%

Poverty rate

11.5%

ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 98226; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.

Programs & students

Programs & Offerings

AP/IB Programs4AP courses offered
35.2% participation·State avg: 2.8 AP courses·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Athletics20sports offered
9 boys'·11 girls'·20 teams (incl. JV)·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Advanced STEM Courses5of 5 advanced subjects offered
Algebra II, Advanced Math, Calculus, Chemistry, Physics·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Gifted & Talented ProgramAvailable
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students.·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22

Compare nearby

Nearby same-level schools

4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available

SchoolScoreGradesDistanceEnrollmentCompare
Visions (seamar Youth Center)Enrollment path unverifiedNot rated6–121.7 mi10Compare →
Options High SchoolEnrollment path unverified4.69–122.9 mi206Compare →
Bellingham High SchoolEnrollment path unverified6.69–123.0 mi1,188Compare →
Explorations AcademyPrivate · tuition7.9private6–123.1 mi40Compare →

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.

Bellingham School District

Schools in district
25
Rank in district
#10 of 24
District spending per student
$17,886NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
District child poverty rate
7.5%Census SAIPE · 2024

Squalicum High School is listed in Bellingham School District; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.

About Squalicum High School

Squalicum High School is a public high school in Bellingham, WA, part of Bellingham School District, serving approximately 1,241 students in grades 9th-12th with a 20:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 6.4 out of 10 and ranks #1,073 of 2,228 schools in WA. State assessment records show 52% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 76% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about Squalicum High School

What grades does Squalicum High School serve?

Squalicum High School serves students in grades 9th through 12th.

How many students attend Squalicum High School?

Squalicum High School has an enrollment of approximately 1,241 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Squalicum High School?

The student-teacher ratio at Squalicum High School is 20:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Squalicum High School rank in WA?

Squalicum High School ranks #1,073 of 2,228 schools in WA.

What is Squalicum High School's MySchoolScout rating?

Squalicum High School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.4 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 Squalicum High School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Squalicum High School has 52% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 76% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

Is Squalicum High School a charter school?

No, Squalicum High School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Squalicum High School a Title I school?

No, Squalicum High School is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Squalicum High School?

49.2% of students at Squalicum High School 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
9th – 12th
Enrollment
1,241
Student-Teacher Ratio
20:1
Teachers (FTE)
62
Type
regular
Setting
Small City
County
Whatcom County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
43.4%
Area population (ZIP 98226)
45,739
Area average commute
19.4 min
Area median age
40.9
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 98226; 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

About our data · How we calculate scores

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