Fairhaven Middle School

Summary:

Fairhaven Middle School is a public middle school in Bellingham, Washington, serving 597 students in grades 6-8. This school stands out as a high-performing institution, consistently outpacing the Bellingham School District and the state of Washington in academic assessments.

Fairhaven Middle School's academic excellence is evident in its strong performance across various metrics. In the 2023-2024 school year, the school had 66.97% of students proficient or better in English Language Arts, compared to 56.23% for the district and 52.63% for the state. In math, Fairhaven had 57.71% proficiency, outpacing the district's 44.64% and the state's 41.68%. The school's statewide ranking places it in the top 15% of Washington middle schools, earning a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger. Fairhaven's exceptional performance extends to diverse student subgroups, including White students, multi-racial students, and students from low socioeconomic backgrounds.

While Fairhaven Middle School stands out, the Bellingham area is home to other high-performing middle schools, such as Kulshan Middle School and Whatcom Middle School, which also demonstrate strong academic outcomes and statewide recognition. This suggests a commitment to quality education across the region, providing families with multiple excellent options for their children's middle school experience.


Detail:

Public 6-8

 110 Park Ridge Rd
       Bellingham, WA  98225-7907


(360) 676-6450

District: Bellingham School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
65th of 535 Washington Middle Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $18,164 Help


Students who attend Fairhaven Middle School usually attend:

High:    Sehome High School

Feeder schools for Fairhaven Middle School:

Elementary:    Happy Valley Elementary School
    Lowell Elementary School
    Wade King Elementary School

Student/teacher ratio:  16.9 Help
Number of students:  597

Racial breakdown:

White:
68.2%
Hispanic:
14.7%
Two or more races:
7.7%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  37% Help


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Performance Trends
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Compare Details Fairhaven Middle School ranks better than 87.9% of middle schools in Washington. It also ranks 2nd among 4 ranked middle schools in the Bellingham School District. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 86.53. (See more...)
Student Body
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Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (68.2%), Hispanic (14.7%), two or more races (7.7%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 37% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Fairhaven Middle School is 16.9, which is the highest among 4 middle schools in the Bellingham School District! (See more...)
Help
Compare Fairhaven Middle School employs 35.3 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Fairhaven Middle School is $18,164. 2 middle schools in the Bellingham School District spend more per student.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Fairhaven Middle School:

SchoolDigger ranks Fairhaven Middle School 65th of 535 Washington public middle schools. (See Fairhaven Middle School in the ranking list.)

Middle School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Multi-racial students:
Special Education students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Male students:
Asian students:
Hispanic students:
White students:


Bellingham School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Bellingham School District 86th of 247 Washington school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Your rating for Fairhaven Middle School?

Rank History for Fairhaven Middle School

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Compare

Rank History for all students at Fairhaven Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools WA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2004 90.69 30th 421 92.9%
2005 91.18 26th 425 93.9%
2006 91.31 20th 449 95.5%
2007 85.98 41st 463 91.1%
2008 86.17 38th 466 91.8%
2009 89.15 26th 476 94.5%
2010 85.18 42nd 483 91.3%
2011 85.43 44th 492 91.1%
2012 87.87 31st 497 93.8%
2013 85.04 45th 498 91.0%
2015 92.20 22nd 445 95.1%
2016 93.70 17th 443 96.2%
2017 89.72 33rd 435 92.4%
2018 88.13 49th 437 88.8%
2019 77.79 98th 512 80.9%
2021 71.22 132nd 529 75.0%
2022 75.06 118th 541 78.2%
2023 81.64 84th 539 84.4%
2024 86.53 65th 535 87.9%
See the entire list of Washington Middle School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Fairhaven Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools WA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 68.06 55th 166 66.9%
2019 72.66 60th 246 75.6%
2021 50.22 118th 250 52.8%
2022 54.89 101st 257 60.7%
2023 82.96 28th 244 88.5%
2024 81.88 38th 243 84.4%
See the entire list of Best Washington Middle Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Fairhaven Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools WA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 50.62 95th 268 64.6%
2019 50.11 78th 231 66.2%
2021 37.67 122nd 210 41.9%
2022 51.57 67th 199 66.3%
2023 45.77 82nd 167 50.9%
2024 71.71 33rd 179 81.6%
See the entire list of Best Washington Middle Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Fairhaven Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools WA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 41.19 273rd 448 39.1%
2021 40.54 267th 458 41.7%
2022 55.20 162nd 475 65.9%
2023 72.50 83rd 463 82.1%
2024 89.57 19th 455 95.8%
See the entire list of Best Washington Middle Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Fairhaven Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools WA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 87.59 40th 376 89.4%
2019 75.42 91st 452 79.9%
2021 72.01 111th 469 76.3%
2022 74.30 104th 479 78.3%
2023 80.59 71st 464 84.7%
2024 85.33 60th 464 87.1%
See the entire list of Best Washington Middle Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Fairhaven Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools WA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 90.75 33rd 371 91.1%
2019 78.88 82nd 453 81.9%
2021 70.47 117th 476 75.4%
2022 73.83 112th 480 76.7%
2023 80.47 79th 470 83.2%
2024 86.07 59th 466 87.3%
See the entire list of Best Washington Middle Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Asian students at Fairhaven Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools WA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 62.58 45th 123 63.4%
2019 39.17 93rd 152 38.8%
2024 57.78 58th 148 60.8%
See the entire list of Best Washington Middle Schools for Asian Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Fairhaven Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools WA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 76.04 48th 259 81.5%
2019 73.70 62nd 344 82.0%
2021 30.65 235th 353 33.4%
2022 27.45 266th 360 26.1%
2023 58.42 109th 336 67.6%
2024 66.19 85th 344 75.3%
See the entire list of Best Washington Middle Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Fairhaven Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools WA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 85.50 43rd 325 86.8%
2019 74.27 102nd 470 78.3%
2021 72.43 106th 480 77.9%
2022 77.02 91st 488 81.4%
2023 81.10 71st 488 85.5%
2024 89.02 41st 486 91.6%
See the entire list of Best Washington Middle Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Washington Office of Superindentent of Public Instruction, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Fairhaven Middle School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 






Data source: Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction

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Enrollment information for Fairhaven Middle School

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Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 486 4 18 4 7 n/a n/a 0 519
1989 593 3 16 7 14 n/a n/a 0 633
1990 611 4 12 7 6 n/a n/a 0 640
1991 621 5 20 10 6 n/a n/a 0 662
1992 642 8 22 16 15 n/a n/a 0 703
1993 660 7 26 20 18 n/a n/a 0 731
1994 645 12 31 19 13 n/a n/a 0 720
1995 543 12 28 14 4 n/a n/a 0 601
1996 543 12 28 14 4 n/a n/a 0 601
1997 521 9 38 14 9 n/a n/a 0 591
1998 528 8 32 13 4 n/a n/a 0 585
1999 511 9 33 14 8 n/a n/a 0 575
2000 514 7 28 17 9 n/a n/a 0 575
2001 528 10 30 24 12 n/a n/a 0 604
2002 506 12 25 19 14 n/a n/a 0 576
2003 506 12 25 19 14 n/a n/a 0 576
2004 494 9 29 28 12 n/a n/a 0 572
2005 504 9 31 29 21 n/a n/a 0 594
2006 441 13 33 34 8 n/a n/a 2 531
2007 434 13 38 26 5 n/a n/a 1 517
2008 416 16 38 29 8 n/a n/a 4 511
2009 432 11 33 26 10 n/a n/a 5 517
2010 457 13 39 29 12 n/a n/a 0 550
2011 600 21 32 55 6 0 0 0 714
2012 450 11 24 38 4 1 0 0 528
2013 473 5 29 42 6 1 34 0 590
2014 468 7 35 45 6 1 40 0 602
2015 486 8 32 44 6 2 45 0 623
2016 452 4 38 45 5 2 44 0 590
2017 482 5 40 57 5 0 42 0 631
2018 469 8 40 60 6 0 44 0 627
2019 457 9 28 70 5 1 53 0 623
2020 451 9 28 54 5 2 46 0 595
2021 415 10 25 51 4 1 53 0 559
2022 426 13 32 72 3 4 60 8 618
2023 407 12 32 88 4 3 46 5 597

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Fairhaven Middle School

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Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 519 27.0 19.2 0
1989 633 31.0 20.4 n/a
1990 640 32.5 19.6 0
1991 662 32.4 20.4 n/a
1992 703 32.4 21.6 n/a
1993 731 32.5 22.5 n/a
1994 720 34.0 21.2 n/a
1995 601 27.8 21.6 n/a
1996 601 27.8 21.6 n/a
1997 591 27.8 21.3 n/a
1998 585 26.8 21.8 n/a
1999 575 25.0 23.0 n/a
2000 575 26.2 21.9 n/a
2001 604 27.8 21.7 n/a
2002 576 29.5 19.5 21.5
2003 576 29.5 19.5 21.5
2004 572 29.0 19.7 23.3
2005 594 28.7 20.7 21.5
2006 531 29.0 18.3 21.4
2007 517 25.5 20.3 19
2008 511 25.5 20.0 22.5
2009 517 25.5 20.3 24.2
2010 550 24.2 22.7 27.6
2011 714 34.6 20.5 21.8
2012 528 25.2 20.9 24.4
2013 590 26.9 21.8 23.7
2014 602 n/a n/a 23.4
2015 623 30.0 20.7 21.8
2016 590 31.0 19.0 20.7
2017 631 32.1 19.6 19.7
2018 627 34.2 18.3 19
2019 623 33.9 18.3 22
2020 595 30.2 19.6 19.8
2021 559 31.4 17.7 20
2022 618 34.6 17.8 26.4
2023 597 35.3 16.9 37

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Fairhaven Middle School

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Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 519 27.0 19.2 0
1989 633 31.0 20.4 n/a
1990 640 32.5 19.6 0
1991 662 32.4 20.4 n/a
1992 703 32.4 21.6 n/a
1993 731 32.5 22.5 n/a
1994 720 34.0 21.2 n/a
1995 601 27.8 21.6 n/a
1996 601 27.8 21.6 n/a
1997 591 27.8 21.3 n/a
1998 585 26.8 21.8 n/a
1999 575 25.0 23.0 n/a
2000 575 26.2 21.9 n/a
2001 604 27.8 21.7 n/a
2002 576 29.5 19.5 21.5
2003 576 29.5 19.5 21.5
2004 572 29.0 19.7 23.3
2005 594 28.7 20.7 21.5
2006 531 29.0 18.3 21.4
2007 517 25.5 20.3 19
2008 511 25.5 20.0 22.5
2009 517 25.5 20.3 24.2
2010 550 24.2 22.7 27.6
2011 714 34.6 20.5 21.8
2012 528 25.2 20.9 24.4
2013 590 26.9 21.8 23.7
2014 602 n/a n/a 23.4
2015 623 30.0 20.7 21.8
2016 590 31.0 19.0 20.7
2017 631 32.1 19.6 19.7
2018 627 34.2 18.3 19
2019 623 33.9 18.3 22
2020 595 30.2 19.6 19.8
2021 559 31.4 17.7 20
2022 618 34.6 17.8 26.4
2023 597 35.3 16.9 37

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

6th Grade Immunization Rates

Fairhaven Middle School

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YearCompletely ImmunizedReligious ExemptionMedical ExemptionConditionalPersonal ExemptionPolioDiphtheriaHepatitis BVaricellaMMRPertussis
201884.3%0.0%3.4%2.9%10.3%93.6%94.1%88.2%89.2%93.6%96.1%
201984.3%0.0%2.5%1.0%3.0%97.5%86.9%96.5%96.5%97.5%87.9%

Data source: Washington State Department of Health

Immunization Rates (Entire school)

Fairhaven Middle School

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Compare
YearCompletely ImmunizedReligious ExemptionMedical ExemptionPersonal ExemptionPolioDiphtheriaHepatitis BVaricellaMMRPertussis
201985.2%0.0%2.3%8.4%95.2%95.3%92.8%92.7%95.5%96.4%

Data source: Washington State Department of Health
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Fairhaven Middle School

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $484 (3.6%) $12,989 (96.4%) $13,473
2020 $146 (1.6%) $8,707 (98.4%) $8,853
2021 $256 (1.4%) $17,614 (98.6%) $17,870
2022 $488 (2.7%) $17,675 (97.3%) $18,164

Data source: Washington Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Fairhaven Middle School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 98th of 512 Middle schoolsRanks 84th of 539 Middle schools
 3.6%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
6th Grade English Language Arts (Fairhaven Middle School)70.462.6
 7.9%
   6th Grade English Language Arts (Bellingham School District)56.454.7
 1.7%
   6th Grade English Language Arts (Washington)57.847.9
 9.9%
6th Grade Math (Fairhaven Middle School)4450
 6%
   6th Grade Math (Bellingham School District)43.848.9
 5.1%
   6th Grade Math (Washington)47.738.1
 9.6%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Fairhaven Middle School)77.567.9
 9.6%
   7th Grade English Language Arts (Bellingham School District)6756.9
 10.1%
   7th Grade English Language Arts (Washington)6252.1
 9.9%
7th Grade Math (Fairhaven Middle School)69.361.7
 7.6%
   7th Grade Math (Bellingham School District)54.651.4
 3.2%
   7th Grade Math (Washington)49.938.6
 11.2%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Fairhaven Middle School)78.365.4
 12.9%
   8th Grade English Language Arts (Bellingham School District)67.158.8
 8.3%
   8th Grade English Language Arts (Washington)59.651.3
 8.3%
8th Grade Math (Fairhaven Middle School)56.946.5
 10.3%
   8th Grade Math (Bellingham School District)47.743.3
 4.5%
   8th Grade Math (Washington)47.234.4
 12.8%
8th Grade Science (Fairhaven Middle School)68.465.7
 2.7%
   8th Grade Science (Bellingham School District)58.856.6
 2.1%
   8th Grade Science (Washington)53.143.9
 9.3%
All Grades English Language Arts (Fairhaven Middle School)75.665.1
 10.4%
   All Grades English Language Arts (Bellingham School District)63.755.8
 7.9%
   All Grades English Language Arts (Washington)6152.9
 8.1%
All Grades Math (Fairhaven Middle School)57.152.2
 4.9%
   All Grades Math (Bellingham School District)46.945
 1.9%
   All Grades Math (Washington)50.141
 9%
All Grades Science (Fairhaven Middle School)68.465.7
 2.7%
   All Grades Science (Bellingham School District)60.459.2
 1.2%
   All Grades Science (Washington)52.748.8
 4%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students623597
 4.2%
African American912
 33.3%
American Indian54
 20%
Asian2832
 14.3%
Hispanic7088
 25.7%
Pacific Islander13
 200%
White457407
 10.9%
Two or More Races5346
 13.2%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients22%37%
 15%


Schools Near Fairhaven Middle School









Frequently Asked Questions about Fairhaven Middle School

Fairhaven Middle School ranks 65th of 535 Washington middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

In the 2022-23 school year, 597 students attended Fairhaven Middle School.

Students at Fairhaven Middle School are 68% White, 15% Hispanic, 8% Two or more races, 5% Asian, 2% African American.

Students who attend Fairhaven Middle School usually go on to attend Sehome High School


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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau, the Washington State Department of Health and the Washington Office of Superindentent of Public Instruction.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





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