Kulshan Middle School, Bellingham WA

Original Research by School Decision on Kulshan Middle School

Kulshan Middle School serves grades six through eight in Bellingham, Washington, as a regular public school within the Bellingham School District. It is a mid-sized middle school for its grade band, drawing from the south side of the city. The student body is predominantly white, with the largest minority groups being Hispanic and students of two or more races; the share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch is substantial, reflecting a moderate degree of economic diversity.

On state assessments administered in the 2024-25 school year, Kulshan posted results that place it among the higher-performing middle schools in Whatcom County relative to other district-level proficiency indices. In English language arts, proficiency across all three grades was solid, with the strongest performance at seventh grade and a dip in eighth grade. Math proficiency showed a wider grade-level spread: sixth graders met the bar at a notably lower rate than seventh and eighth graders, while seventh graders hit a markedly higher mark. Science, tested only in eighth grade, came in at a level comparable to the school’s stronger ELA results. Overall, the school’s composite proficiency index lands in the top quartile of schools in the county. That said, the math results—especially for sixth graders—are a soft spot a parent may want to discuss with the school to understand what supports are in place for students transitioning into middle school math.

The school’s academic context sits within a university town that blends college-town energy with a working waterfront. Bellingham is home to Western Washington University and Whatcom Community College, giving the community a relatively high share of adults with bachelor’s degrees. The housing market is under notable pressure: home values have risen sharply over the past decade, and rents are high relative to local incomes. The city’s location on Bellingham Bay, near Mount Baker and the Lummi Indian Reservation, offers a strong sense of place. Interstate 5 bisects the city, and the historic Fairhaven district and downtown provide walkable cores. Families moving to the area should expect a competitive housing environment, especially in neighborhoods near the school.

The Bellingham School District has been investing in facilities and technology through a voter-approved capital bond and technology levy passed in 2022, funding improvements that affect Kulshan and other schools. The district has also been expanding its International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program in elementary schools, though Kulshan itself is not listed as an IB school. No program offerings were available in the data for Kulshan, so families interested in specific electives, music, or STEM pathways should inquire directly.

The surrounding city has experienced steady population growth, and the district’s enrollment has likely followed that trend, though exact recent figures are not provided. The school’s disciplinary climate, chronic absenteeism, and staffing ratios were not reported, so a parent seeking a full picture on school climate may want to request that information from the school or district.

Kulshan Middle School presents a solid academic pathway for a family looking for a school that performs well relative to its county peers, particularly in English and science, while being part of a district that is actively investing in its infrastructure. The math gap in sixth grade is a point to explore further. The peer environment is moderately diverse economically, with a predominantly white racial composition. For a family moving to south Bellingham, this school fits the profile of a reliable, above-average public middle school in a growing university city.

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Academic performance

How students perform on state tests, by grade, set against the district.

Math

Grade 643%

School 43% · District 42% · ▲ 1 pts above district

▲ 6 pts above state median · ▲ 7 pts above county median

Grade 766%

School 66% · District 53% · ▲ 13 pts above district

▲ 28 pts above state median · ▲ 33 pts above county median

Grade 853%

School 53% · District 50% · ▲ 4 pts above district

▲ 19 pts above state median · ▲ 15 pts above county median

English language arts

Grade 662%

School 62% · District 54% · ▲ 8 pts above district

▲ 15 pts above state median · ▲ 16 pts above county median

Grade 776%

School 76% · District 61% · ▲ 14 pts above district

▲ 25 pts above state median · ▲ 28 pts above county median

Grade 865%

School 65% · District 60% · ▲ 5 pts above district

▲ 16 pts above state median · ▲ 14 pts above county median

Science

Grade 866%

School 66% · District 59% · ▲ 7 pts above district

▲ 24 pts above state median · ▲ 21 pts above county median

This schoolBellingham School District, same grade

Graduation rate (ACGR) reflects the federally published Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate for the most recent year available. We refresh this data annually at the close of each academic year in June. The federal source publishes a banded rate (for example, "90-94%") instead of an exact number for cohorts small enough to risk identifying individual students. The state distribution chart, where shown, plots every school in the state with a published rate or band; schools whose rate is federally suppressed are excluded. Where the federal source publishes a band rather than an exact rate, the school is placed within its band using a stable, ID-derived offset, so its position is consistent across visits.

Proficiency by household income

English language arts

Grade 5Lower-income40%Higher-income64%24 pp gap

Grade 6Lower-income46%Higher-income69%22 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income62%Higher-income82%20 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income49%Higher-income71%22 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 5Lower-income12%Higher-income39%27 pp gap

Grade 6Lower-income26%Higher-income50%24 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income54%Higher-income72%18 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income38%Higher-income59%21 pp gap