This is the best high school in Whatcom County. Does your child go there?

Where your child attends school can have a big impact on their future academic success.

U.S. News & World Report recently ranked the best public high schools across the United States based on college readiness, graduation rates and more.

The publication also highlighted the top high schools in Washington state, including those in the Bellingham metropolitan area.

“Students and families need data to help them make one of the most important decisions of their academic journey,” LaMont Jones, U.S. News managing editor for education, said in a news release.

“Our best high schools rankings provide the insights to help them identify schools that will prepare students for college success,” Jones added. “Access to information isn’t just helpful — it’s essential for planning a student’s future.”

Here’s which Whatcom County schools scored the highest:

What is the No. 1 high school in Bellingham?

Sehome High School in Bellingham was the No. 1 high school in the Bellingham metro area for the 2025-26 school year, according to U.S. News & World Report.

It ranked No. 46 statewide.

Sehome High had a total of 1,175 students in ninth through 12th grade, with a student-teacher ratio of 23 to one.

The school has an 88% graduation rate and strong scores for reading and science proficiency, U.S. News said.

“Our mission is to support students in creating a vision for their future, realizing their potential and cultivating their growth as contributing citizens of our world,” Sehome High School officials said on the school’s website.

What are best local high schools for college prep?

Bellingham High School took second place on U.S. News’ list of the top 10 high schools in the Bellingham metro area.

With 1,188 students in ninth through 12th grade, Bellingham High has 22 students for every teacher.

The school has an 84% graduation rate.

Meridian High School in Bellingham was No. 3 on the list spot with an 88% graduation rate and a student-teacher ratio of 20 to one. The school had 527 students in ninth through 12th grade.

Where are the top 10 high schools in Whatcom County?

According to U.S. News, here’s how public high schools in Whatcom County ranked for the 2025-26 school year:

1. Sehome High School in Bellingham
2. Bellingham High School
3. Meridian High School in Bellingham
4. Lynden High School
5. Squalicum High School in Bellingham
6. Ferndale High School
7. Nooksack Valley High School in Everson
8. Mount Baker Senior High School in Deming
9. Ferndale Virtual Academy in Ferndale
10. Options High School in Bellingham

How did U.S. News & World Report rank schools?

U.S. News & World Report said it “looked at thousands of public schools to identify the top performers.”

Working with research firm RTI International, U.S. News ranked nearly 18,000 public high schools out of more than 24,000 reviewed. A total of 328 public high schools in Washington state made the rankings.

U.S. News said researchers took “six indicators of school quality” into consideration when ranking public high schools:

• College readiness
• State assessment proficiency
• State assessment performance
• Underserved student performance
• College curriculum breadth
• Graduation rate

Julia Hawkins

The Bellingham Herald

Julia Hawkins joined The Herald as a service journalism and general assignment reporter in December 2025. She earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism at Western Washington University in Bellingham.