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 2025 school year, there are 14 public preschools serving 4,914 students in Bellingham School District. This district's average pre testing ranking is 6/10, which is in the top 50% of public pre schools in Washington.
Public Preschools in Bellingham School District have an average math proficiency score of 43% (versus the Washington public pre school average of 43%), and reading proficiency score of 50% (versus the 49% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 37% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Washington public preschool average of 54% (majority Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (WA)
# Schools
25 Schools
801 Schools
# Students
11,487 Students
280,418 Students
# Teachers
665 Teachers
17,799 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
17:1
17:1
District Rank
Bellingham School District, which is ranked within the top 30% of all 306 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
0.71
# American Indian Students
101 Students
2,844 Students
% American Indian Students
1%
1%
# Asian Students
542 Students
25,971 Students
% Asian Students
5%
9%
# Hispanic Students
2,226 Students
73,094 Students
% Hispanic Students
19%
26%
# Black Students
181 Students
16,473 Students
% Black Students
2%
6%
# White Students
7,316 Students
129,086 Students
% White Students
64%
46%
# Hawaiian Students
34 Students
5,103 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
2%
# Two or more races Students
989 Students
27,229 Students
% of Two or more races Students
9%
10%
Students by Grade:
# Students in PK Grade:
109
23,952
# Students in K Grade:
946
43,573
# Students in 1st Grade:
769
42,048
# Students in 2nd Grade:
826
43,955
# Students in 3rd Grade:
810
39,809
# Students in 4th Grade:
782
41,098
# Students in 5th Grade:
841
39,252
# Students in 6th Grade:
829
3,085
# Students in 7th Grade:
811
1,010
# Students in 8th Grade:
845
1,067
# Students in 9th Grade:
920
319
# Students in 10th Grade:
982
337
# Students in 11th Grade:
882
333
# Students in 12th Grade:
1,135
580
# Ungraded Students:
-
-
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $18,822 is higher than the state median of $18,796. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $22,233 is higher than the state median of $19,246. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Total Revenue
$216 MM
$20,715 MM
Spending
$255 MM
$21,212 MM
Revenue / Student
$18,822
$18,796
Spending / Student
$22,233
$19,246
Best Bellingham School District Public Preschools (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Silver Beach Elementary 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
| 342 students
Rank: #22.
Lowell Elementary School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
914 15th St
Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 676-6430
Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 676-6430
Grades: PK-5
| 308 students
Rank: #33.
Parkview Elementary 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
| 387 students
Rank: #44.
Columbia Elementary 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
| 210 students
Rank: #55.
Wade King Elementary 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
| 315 students
Rank: #66.
Northern Heights Elementary 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
| 420 students
Rank: #77.
Sunnyland Elementary 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
| 328 students
Rank: #88.
Happy Valley Elementary 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
| 468 students
Rank: #99.
Carl Cozier Elementary 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
| 342 students
Rank: #1010.
Geneva Elementary 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
| 424 students
Rank: #1111.
Roosevelt Elementary 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
| 373 students
Rank: #12 - 1312. - 13.
Alderwood Elementary 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
| 282 students
Rank: #12 - 1312. - 13.
Birchwood Elementary 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
| 362 students
Rank: #1414.
Cordata Elementary 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
| 353 students
Recent Articles
Navigating Special Needs Education: A Comprehensive Guide for Parents and Educators
We explore special needs in children, including learning disabilities, autism, and ADHD. We suggest some insights on diagnosis, support strategies, and educational approaches, empowering parents and educators to provide effective assistance to children with special needs.
Sexual Harassment at Age 6: The Tale of a First Grade Suspension
A six-year old in Aurora, Colorado, was suspended after singing an LMFAO song to a little girl in his class and reportedly “shaking his booty.” We look at the case and the sexual harassment problem in public schools today.
February 05, 2025
Understanding the U.S. Department of Education: Structure, Impact, and EvolutionWe explore how the Department of Education shapes American education, from its cabinet-level leadership to its impact on millions of students, written for general audiences seeking clarity on this vital institution.
