Vista Middle School

Summary:

Vista Middle School is a public middle school located in Ferndale, Washington, serving 572 students in grades 6-8. As part of the Ferndale School District, which is ranked 150 out of 247 districts in the state, Vista Middle School stands out with its diverse student population and strong academic performance.

Vista Middle School has a more diverse student body compared to nearby schools, with a higher percentage of Hispanic (24.13%) and Native American (8.04%) students. The school consistently ranks in the top half of Washington middle schools, earning a 3-star rating from SchoolDigger, which is higher than the district's overall 2-star rating. Vista Middle School's performance is particularly noteworthy for certain student subgroups, such as Native American students, who have ranked in the top 3-9 schools in the state for the past few years. The school's proficiency rates in English Language Arts and Math are generally higher than the Ferndale School District average and sometimes exceed the state average, especially in 7th and 8th grade. Additionally, Vista Middle School has a relatively high per-student spending, ranging from $14,316 to $17,812 over the past few years, which is higher than the state average.

While Vista Middle School outperforms the Ferndale School District average, it lags behind some of the higher-performing nearby schools, such as Fairhaven Middle School and Kulshan Middle School in the Bellingham School District. However, Vista Middle School's consistent 3-star rating and strong performance for specific student subgroups suggest that the school is providing a relatively strong educational experience for its diverse student population, with opportunities for continued improvement, particularly in Math.


Detail:

Public 6-8

 6051 Vista Drive
       Ferndale, WA  98248-1328


(360) 383-9370

District: Ferndale School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
216th of 535 Washington Middle Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $17,812 Help


Students who attend Vista Middle School usually attend:

High:    Ferndale High School

Feeder schools for Vista Middle School:

Elementary:    Beach Elementary
    Cascadia Elementary
    Central Elementary
    Skyline Elementary School

Student/teacher ratio:  16.2 Help
Number of students:  572

Racial breakdown:

White:
52.1%
Hispanic:
24.1%
Two or more races:
8.6%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  60.3% Help


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Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Vista Middle School ranks better than 59.6% of middle schools in Washington. (See more...)
Help
Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 55.24. (See more...)
Student Body
Help
Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (52.1%), Hispanic (24.1%), two or more races (8.6%). (See more...)
Help
Compare Details 60.3% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
Help
Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Vista Middle School is 16.2. (See more...)
Help
Compare Vista Middle School employs 35.1 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at Vista Middle School is $17,812.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Vista Middle School:

SchoolDigger ranks Vista Middle School 216th of 535 Washington public middle schools. (See Vista Middle School in the ranking list.)

Middle School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


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


Ferndale School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Ferndale School District 150th of 247 Washington school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for Vista Middle School

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Compare

Rank History for all students at Vista Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools WA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2004 78.31 72nd 421 82.9%
2005 74.87 95th 425 77.6%
2006 79.46 69th 449 84.6%
2007 70.85 104th 463 77.5%
2008 61.55 161st 466 65.5%
2009 60.66 166th 476 65.1%
2010 68.57 126th 483 73.9%
2011 62.44 161st 492 67.3%
2012 64.82 155th 497 68.8%
2013 54.49 228th 498 54.2%
2015 28.57 320th 445 28.1%
2016 49.15 216th 443 51.2%
2017 44.78 239th 435 45.1%
2018 42.71 245th 437 43.9%
2019 41.33 306th 512 40.2%
2021 51.48 235th 529 55.6%
2022 56.79 197th 541 63.6%
2023 56.38 201st 539 62.7%
2024 55.24 216th 535 59.6%
See the entire list of Washington Middle School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Vista Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools WA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 49.20 83rd 166 50.0%
2019 36.89 163rd 246 33.7%
2021 34.15 166th 250 33.6%
2022 50.62 121st 257 52.9%
2023 69.91 62nd 244 74.6%
2024 33.70 163rd 243 32.9%
See the entire list of Best Washington Middle Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Vista Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools WA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 47.34 51st 135 62.2%
See the entire list of Best Washington Middle Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Vista Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools WA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 31.62 191st 268 28.7%
2019 25.70 190th 231 17.7%
2021 22.83 180th 210 14.3%
2022 40.11 96th 199 51.8%
2023 30.97 112th 167 32.9%
See the entire list of Best Washington Middle Schools for Special Education Students!

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

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools WA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 41.56 211th 349 39.5%
2019 44.17 254th 448 43.3%
2021 45.22 234th 458 48.9%
2022 47.59 224th 475 52.8%
2023 49.00 221st 463 52.3%
2024 56.09 177th 455 61.1%
See the entire list of Best Washington Middle Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Vista Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools WA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 33.87 256th 376 31.9%
2019 43.28 266th 452 41.2%
2021 51.38 205th 469 56.3%
2022 57.69 172nd 479 64.1%
2023 54.01 197th 464 57.5%
2024 52.57 203rd 464 56.3%
See the entire list of Best Washington Middle Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Vista Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools WA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 46.73 187th 371 49.6%
2019 37.92 277th 453 38.9%
2021 51.82 200th 476 58.0%
2022 53.48 187th 480 61.0%
2023 57.00 177th 470 62.3%
2024 56.81 180th 466 61.4%
See the entire list of Best Washington Middle Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Asian students at Vista Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools WA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2022 19.42 137th 161 14.9%
2023 59.56 57th 145 60.7%
See the entire list of Best Washington Middle Schools for Asian Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Vista Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools WA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 37.36 167th 259 35.5%
2019 44.63 184th 344 46.5%
2021 49.73 151st 353 57.2%
2022 51.47 147th 360 59.2%
2023 46.26 162nd 336 51.8%
2024 45.13 172nd 344 50.0%
See the entire list of Best Washington Middle Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for Native American students at Vista Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools WA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 25.82 10th 12 16.7%
2019 81.05 2nd 15 86.7%
2021 44.38 6th 11 45.5%
2022 67.46 3rd 9 66.7%
See the entire list of Best Washington Middle Schools for Native American Students!

Rank History for White students at Vista Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools WA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 38.27 205th 325 36.9%
2019 37.03 321st 470 31.7%
2021 61.88 159th 480 66.9%
2022 63.88 150th 488 69.3%
2023 62.30 156th 488 68.0%
2024 65.34 149th 486 69.3%
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.

Vista 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 Vista Middle School

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 410 1 10 15 71 n/a n/a 0 507
1989 450 1 7 14 55 n/a n/a 0 527
1990 475 2 7 20 69 n/a n/a 0 573
1991 532 4 13 21 71 n/a n/a 0 641
1992 532 3 6 27 64 n/a n/a 0 632
1993 536 3 4 25 73 n/a n/a 0 641
1994 542 4 10 44 91 n/a n/a 0 691
1995 554 4 13 39 81 n/a n/a 0 691
1996 554 4 13 39 81 n/a n/a 0 691
1997 568 4 8 47 91 n/a n/a 0 718
1998 605 4 11 40 113 n/a n/a 0 773
1999 612 2 12 38 112 n/a n/a 0 776
2000 609 4 11 42 110 n/a n/a 0 776
2001 337 3 5 26 54 n/a n/a 0 425
2002 349 11 16 30 42 n/a n/a 0 448
2003 349 11 16 30 42 n/a n/a 0 448
2004 367 9 12 27 44 n/a n/a 0 459
2005 368 6 5 30 29 n/a n/a 0 438
2006 351 5 10 27 43 n/a n/a 0 436
2007 301 9 17 27 41 n/a n/a 1 396
2008 284 12 12 36 26 n/a n/a 2 372
2009 276 6 15 37 33 n/a n/a 1 368
2010 288 7 13 39 30 n/a n/a 0 377
2011 297 8 10 59 38 0 6 0 418
2012 275 4 12 59 28 0 12 0 390
2013 285 6 16 63 26 0 18 0 414
2014 376 7 23 90 41 0 31 0 568
2015 358 5 26 99 48 1 34 0 571
2016 384 9 28 113 52 4 32 0 622
2017 370 10 28 127 43 4 37 0 619
2018 360 6 25 131 33 3 46 0 604
2019 346 5 28 122 34 2 49 1 587
2020 330 5 32 126 41 2 44 1 581
2021 290 4 27 133 44 1 48 0 547
2022 288 6 29 114 42 2 56 0 537
2023 298 10 29 138 46 2 49 0 572

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 Vista Middle School

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Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 507 24.0 21.1 0
1989 527 26.0 20.2 n/a
1990 573 26.3 21.7 0
1991 641 30.1 21.2 n/a
1992 632 30.6 20.6 n/a
1993 641 31.3 20.5 n/a
1994 691 32.0 21.6 n/a
1995 691 34.1 20.3 n/a
1996 691 34.1 20.3 n/a
1997 718 33.7 21.3 n/a
1998 773 35.2 22.0 n/a
1999 776 37.8 20.5 n/a
2000 776 39.2 19.8 n/a
2001 425 41.8 10.2 n/a
2002 448 28.3 15.8 39.7
2003 448 28.3 15.8 39.7
2004 459 28.0 16.4 43.4
2005 438 27.6 15.9 40.2
2006 436 27.5 15.9 41.3
2007 396 26.4 15.0 39.2
2008 372 26.1 14.3 40.5
2009 368 26.1 14.1 42.8
2010 377 24.6 15.3 43.2
2011 418 20.2 20.6 43.1
2012 390 21.9 17.8 44.1
2013 414 20.1 20.5 44.9
2014 568 n/a n/a 51.1
2015 571 29.0 19.6 50.4
2016 622 32.0 19.4 46.5
2017 619 31.9 19.3 46.7
2018 604 32.7 18.4 47.7
2019 587 32.8 17.8 53.5
2020 581 33.2 17.4 44.8
2021 547 31.7 17.2 45.9
2022 537 34.3 15.6 48
2023 572 35.1 16.2 60.3

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 Vista Middle School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 507 24.0 21.1 0
1989 527 26.0 20.2 n/a
1990 573 26.3 21.7 0
1991 641 30.1 21.2 n/a
1992 632 30.6 20.6 n/a
1993 641 31.3 20.5 n/a
1994 691 32.0 21.6 n/a
1995 691 34.1 20.3 n/a
1996 691 34.1 20.3 n/a
1997 718 33.7 21.3 n/a
1998 773 35.2 22.0 n/a
1999 776 37.8 20.5 n/a
2000 776 39.2 19.8 n/a
2001 425 41.8 10.2 n/a
2002 448 28.3 15.8 39.7
2003 448 28.3 15.8 39.7
2004 459 28.0 16.4 43.4
2005 438 27.6 15.9 40.2
2006 436 27.5 15.9 41.3
2007 396 26.4 15.0 39.2
2008 372 26.1 14.3 40.5
2009 368 26.1 14.1 42.8
2010 377 24.6 15.3 43.2
2011 418 20.2 20.6 43.1
2012 390 21.9 17.8 44.1
2013 414 20.1 20.5 44.9
2014 568 n/a n/a 51.1
2015 571 29.0 19.6 50.4
2016 622 32.0 19.4 46.5
2017 619 31.9 19.3 46.7
2018 604 32.7 18.4 47.7
2019 587 32.8 17.8 53.5
2020 581 33.2 17.4 44.8
2021 547 31.7 17.2 45.9
2022 537 34.3 15.6 48
2023 572 35.1 16.2 60.3

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

Vista Middle School

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Compare
YearCompletely ImmunizedReligious ExemptionMedical ExemptionConditionalPersonal ExemptionPolioDiphtheriaHepatitis BVaricellaMMRPertussis
201980.6%0.5%1.0%0.5%6.1%94.4%83.2%94.9%94.9%95.4%84.2%

Data source: Washington State Department of Health

Immunization Rates (Entire school)

Vista Middle School

Help
Compare
YearCompletely ImmunizedReligious ExemptionMedical ExemptionPersonal ExemptionPolioDiphtheriaHepatitis BVaricellaMMRPertussis
201987.5%0.3%0.8%6.8%95.3%95.3%95.3%94.1%95.6%95.6%

Data source: Washington State Department of Health
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Vista Middle School

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $753 (4.9%) $14,582 (95.1%) $15,335
2020 $691 (6.5%) $9,997 (93.5%) $10,688
2021 $1,008 (7.0%) $13,308 (93.0%) $14,316
2022 $2,310 (13.0%) $15,501 (87.0%) $17,812

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

Impact of COVID-19 on Vista 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 306th of 512 Middle schoolsRanks 201st of 539 Middle schools
 22.5%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
6th Grade English Language Arts (Vista Middle School)48.342.4
 5.9%
   6th Grade English Language Arts (Ferndale School District)53.440.2
 13.1%
   6th Grade English Language Arts (Washington)57.847.9
 9.9%
6th Grade Math (Vista Middle School)35.335.8
 0.5%
   6th Grade Math (Ferndale School District)40.931
 9.9%
   6th Grade Math (Washington)47.738.1
 9.6%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Vista Middle School)66.364.5
 1.8%
   7th Grade English Language Arts (Ferndale School District)59.656.2
 3.4%
   7th Grade English Language Arts (Washington)6252.1
 9.9%
7th Grade Math (Vista Middle School)45.146.4
 1.3%
   7th Grade Math (Ferndale School District)41.938.4
 3.6%
   7th Grade Math (Washington)49.938.6
 11.2%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Vista Middle School)60.158.3
 1.8%
   8th Grade English Language Arts (Ferndale School District)58.251.2
 7.1%
   8th Grade English Language Arts (Washington)59.651.3
 8.3%
8th Grade Math (Vista Middle School)36.233.2
 3.1%
   8th Grade Math (Ferndale School District)37.129.3
 7.8%
   8th Grade Math (Washington)47.234.4
 12.8%
8th Grade Science (Vista Middle School)49.846.1
 3.7%
   8th Grade Science (Ferndale School District)46.942.4
 4.5%
   8th Grade Science (Washington)53.143.9
 9.3%
All Grades English Language Arts (Vista Middle School)5855
 3%
   All Grades English Language Arts (Ferndale School District)5846.7
 11.3%
   All Grades English Language Arts (Washington)6152.9
 8.1%
All Grades Math (Vista Middle School)38.738.2
 0.5%
   All Grades Math (Ferndale School District)4334.8
 8.2%
   All Grades Math (Washington)50.141
 9%
All Grades Science (Vista Middle School)49.846.1
 3.7%
   All Grades Science (Ferndale School District)51.946.5
 5.5%
   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 Students587572
 2.6%
African American510
 100%
American Indian3446
 35.3%
Asian2829
 3.6%
Hispanic122138
 13.1%
Pacific Islander22
White346298
 13.9%
Two or More Races4949
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients53.5%60.3%
 6.8%


Schools Near Vista Middle School









Frequently Asked Questions about Vista Middle School

Vista Middle School ranks 216th of 535 Washington middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Students at Vista Middle School are 52% White, 24% Hispanic, 9% Two or more races, 8% American Indian, 5% Asian, 2% African American.

In the 2022-23 school year, 572 students attended Vista Middle School.

Students who attend Vista Middle School usually go on to attend Ferndale 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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