Top Rankings
Bellingham School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Washington for:
Category
Attribute
Science Proficiency
Highest science proficiency (Top 20%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2024-25 school year, there are 20 public elementary schools serving 7,668 students in Bellingham School District. This district's average elementary testing ranking is 7/10, which is in the top 50% of public elementary schools in Washington.
Public Elementary Schools in Bellingham School District have an average math proficiency score of 42% (versus the Washington public elementary school average of 41%), and reading proficiency score of 52% (versus the 51% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 36% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Washington public elementary school average of 51% (majority Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (WA)
# Schools
25 Schools
1,823 Schools
# Students
11,614 Students
735,399 Students
# Teachers
698 Teachers
44,937 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
16:1
16:1
District Rank
Bellingham School District, which is ranked within the top 30% of all 307 school districts in Washington (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2021-2022 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 80% has decreased from 82% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#68 out of 307 school districts
(Top 30%)
(Top 30%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
43%
40%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
57%
53%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
57%
49%
Graduation Rate
80%
84%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.55
0.68
# American Indian Students
111 Students
9,860 Students
% American Indian Students
1%
1%
# Asian Students
547 Students
63,982 Students
% Asian Students
5%
9%
# Hispanic Students
2,183 Students
184,067 Students
% Hispanic Students
19%
25%
# Black Students
160 Students
34,810 Students
% Black Students
2%
5%
# White Students
7,471 Students
357,157 Students
% White Students
64%
49%
# Hawaiian Students
37 Students
10,447 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
2%
# Two or more races Students
1,016 Students
67,117 Students
% of Two or more races Students
9%
9%
Students by Grade:
# Students in PK Grade:
84
12,644
# Students in K Grade:
981
76,513
# Students in 1st Grade:
827
80,828
# Students in 2nd Grade:
810
77,118
# Students in 3rd Grade:
787
80,230
# Students in 4th Grade:
851
81,002
# Students in 5th Grade:
828
80,530
# Students in 6th Grade:
812
81,104
# Students in 7th Grade:
839
70,889
# Students in 8th Grade:
836
72,041
# Students in 9th Grade:
971
5,420
# Students in 10th Grade:
894
5,465
# Students in 11th Grade:
954
5,256
# Students in 12th Grade:
1,140
6,359
# Ungraded Students:
-
-
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $18,616 in this school district is less than the state median of $18,857. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $21,989 is higher than the state median of $19,309. The school district spending/student has grown by 22% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$216 MM
$20,715 MM
Spending
$255 MM
$21,212 MM
Revenue / Student
$18,616
$18,857
Spending / Student
$21,989
$19,309
Best Bellingham School District Public Elementary Schools (2024-25)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Silver Beach Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 68% | Reading: 73%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
4101 Academy St
Bellingham, WA 98226
(360) 676-6443
Bellingham, WA 98226
(360) 676-6443
Grades: PK-5
| 349 students
Rank: #22.
Lowell Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
935 14th St
Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 676-6430
Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 676-6430
Grades: PK-5
| 303 students
Rank: #33.
Parkview Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
3030 Cornwall Ave
Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 676-6433
Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 676-6433
Grades: PK-5
| 399 students
Rank: #44.
Columbia Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
2508 Utter St
Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 676-6413
Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 676-6413
Grades: PK-5
| 231 students
Rank: #55.
Kulshan Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 47% | Reading: 62%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
1250 Kenoyer Dr
Bellingham, WA 98229
(360) 676-4886
Bellingham, WA 98229
(360) 676-4886
Grades: 6-8
| 623 students
Rank: #66.
Fairhaven Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 46% | Reading: 60%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
110 Park Ridge Rd
Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 676-6450
Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 676-6450
Grades: 6-8
| 597 students
Rank: #77.
Wade King Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
2155 Yew Street Rd
Bellingham, WA 98229
(360) 676-6840
Bellingham, WA 98229
(360) 676-6840
Grades: PK-5
| 346 students
Rank: #88.
Bellingham Family Partnership Program
Alternative School
Magnet School
Magnet School
(Math: ≥50% | Reading: ≥50%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
1409 18th St
Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 676-6424
Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 676-6424
Grades: K-12
| 266 students
Rank: #99.
Northern Heights Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
4000 Magrath Rd
Bellingham, WA 98226
(360) 647-6820
Bellingham, WA 98226
(360) 647-6820
Grades: PK-5
| 410 students
Rank: #1010.
Whatcom Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 43% | Reading: 54%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
810 Halleck St
Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 676-6460
Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 676-6460
Grades: 6-8
| 600 students
Rank: #1111.
Sunnyland Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
2800 James St
Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 676-6446
Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 676-6446
Grades: PK-5
| 316 students
Rank: #1212.
Happy Valley Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 46% | Reading: 51%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
1041 24th St
Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 676-6420
Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 676-6420
Grades: PK-5
| 456 students
Rank: #1313.
Carl Cozier Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
1330 Lincoln St
Bellingham, WA 98229
(360) 676-6410
Bellingham, WA 98229
(360) 676-6410
Grades: PK-5
| 321 students
Rank: #1414.
Geneva Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 38% | Reading: 52%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
1401 Geneva St
Bellingham, WA 98229
(360) 676-6416
Bellingham, WA 98229
(360) 676-6416
Grades: PK-5
| 432 students
Rank: #1515.
Roosevelt Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
2900 Yew St
Bellingham, WA 98226
(360) 676-6440
Bellingham, WA 98226
(360) 676-6440
Grades: PK-5
| 374 students
Rank: #1616.
Visions (Seamar Youth Center)
Alternative School
Magnet School
Magnet School
(Math: <50% | Reading: ≥50% )
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
1603 E Illinois St
Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 647-6871
Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 647-6871
Grades: 6-12
| 13 students
Rank: #1717.
Shuksan Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 25% | Reading: 41%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
2717 Alderwood Ave
Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 676-6454
Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 676-6454
Grades: 6-8
| 579 students
Rank: #18 - 1918. - 19.
Alderwood Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
3400 Hollywood Ave
Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 676-6404
Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 676-6404
Grades: PK-5
| 291 students
Rank: #18 - 1918. - 19.
Birchwood Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
3200 Pinewood Ave
Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 676-6466
Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 676-6466
Grades: PK-5
| 369 students
Rank: #2020.
Cordata Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 10-14% | Reading: 10-14%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
4420 Aldrich Rd
Bellingham, WA 98226
(360) 676-6461
Bellingham, WA 98226
(360) 676-6461
Grades: PK-5
| 393 students
Recent Articles
College Application Requirement for High School Graduation? DC Weighs Possibility
The article discusses a proposal in Washington D.C. to make college applications a requirement for high school graduation. It examines the potential benefits and drawbacks of such a policy, including its impact on graduation rates and college attendance. The piece also considers similar initiatives in other states and the debate surrounding this approach
Bribing Students to Get Good Grades: The Debate
This piece explores the controversial practice of offering monetary rewards to students for good grades. It examines studies conducted in various cities, discussing the effectiveness of such programs and the ethical concerns they raise. The article presents arguments from both supporters and critics of this approach to student motivation.
September 27, 2024
Understanding RubricsThis article explores the fundamental principles of rubrics in education, focusing on their role as assessment tools. It breaks down the key components of rubrics, including criteria, performance levels, and descriptors. The piece also delves into the two main types of rubrics - holistic and analytic - providing authoritative definitions and explaining their unique applications in educational settings.
