The top reported proficiency rate is 28% in Science. The lowest is 19% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Mount Baker Middle School
Mount Baker Middle School, located in Mount Vernon, serves grades six through eight as a regular public school in the Mount Vernon School District. The school is one of the district’s middle-level campuses, and its academic results, as measured by the state’s standardized assessments, are notably below what is typical across Skagit County.
On state assessments in math, English language arts, and science, the school’s overall proficiency index places it in the bottom quartile relative to other districts in Skagit County. At the sixth-grade level, the share of students meeting proficiency in math is low, with slightly higher rates in seventh and eighth grade. ELA scores follow a similar upward trend across the grades but remain modest. In science, which is tested in eighth grade, the proficiency rate is moderate. The data covers a single school year, so there is no trend information to suggest whether the school is improving or declining. A parent looking at these numbers should be aware that they represent a snapshot and may want to discuss with the school how it is addressing these results.
The student body is diverse and economically disadvantaged. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals. By race and ethnicity, a majority of students are Hispanic, with a sizeable white population and smaller shares of students who are two or more races, Asian, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, American Indian or Alaska Native, and Black. Enrollment is moderate, with a balanced distribution across sixth, seventh, and eighth grades. Information on the share of students receiving special education services or English learner support is not available in the data provided.
Mount Vernon itself is the county seat and the most populous city in Skagit County. It sits along the I-5 corridor, roughly halfway between Seattle and the Canadian border. The broader area is known for agriculture, including the annual Skagit Valley Tulip Festival. The city has a historic downtown core anchored by the Lincoln Theatre, a seasonal farmers market, and the multimodal Skagit Station transit hub. In September 2024, the city opened the Mount Vernon Library Commons, a new multi-use community center downtown. A permanent flood wall protecting the riverfront was completed in recent years, and plans call for a riverfront promenade with mixed-use development. The city has grown between the previous two census counts, and its population continues to increase. Housing values in the area are above the national median, and rents are substantial, which may matter for families considering relocating to the district.
The Mount Vernon School District has several recent developments that may affect the school. In November 2024, voters approved a four-year replacement educational programs and operations levy, which maintains funding for special education, transportation, athletics, music, and extracurriculars. In 2022, a capital projects levy was approved for roof replacements, HVAC upgrades, security enhancements, and technology infrastructure. The district adopted EL Education as its elementary literacy curriculum beginning in the 2023–24 school year, including a Books for All initiative providing diverse classroom libraries. A Multi-Tiered System of Supports framework was implemented starting in 2023–24, aimed at providing targeted academic and behavioral support based on individual student needs; the district’s 2024–25 improvement plan centers on this framework as a key strategy. The school board also adopted a revised gender inclusion policy in 2023.
For a family evaluating this school, the central academic picture is that proficiency rates on state tests are low relative to other schools in the county. The school serves a student population with high economic need. The district is actively investing in facility upgrades and has adopted new instructional frameworks and literacy curricula, but there is not yet evidence of what those changes mean for student outcomes at the middle school level. A parent may want to ask the school directly about its approach to raising academic performance and how the district’s MTSS framework and literacy initiative are being implemented in grades six through eight.
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