Bellingham School District

1306 Dupont St
Bellingham, WA 98225-3118
(District boundaries shown in map)
8/
10
Top 30%

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 school year, there are 25 public schools serving 11,439 students in Bellingham School District. This district's average testing ranking is 8/10, which is in the top 30% of public schools in Washington.
Public Schools in Bellingham School District have an average math proficiency score of 43% (versus the Washington public school average of 40%), and reading proficiency score of 57% (versus the 53% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 34% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Washington public school average of 50% (majority Hispanic).

Overview

This School District
This State (WA)
# Schools
25 Schools
2,554 Schools
# Students
11,439 Students
1,088,009 Students
# Teachers
685 Teachers
63,412 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
17:1
17:1

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.
This School District
State Average (WA)
#68 out of 307 school districts
(Top 30%)
This chart displays the overall district rank of Bellingham   School District, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
43%
40%
This chart displays the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of Bellingham   School District and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of Washington by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
57%
53%
This chart displays the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Bellingham   School District and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Washington by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
57%
49%
80%
84%
This chart displays public school graduation rate of Bellingham   School District and public school graduation rate of Washington by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.

Students by Ethnicity:

0.53
0.68
# American Indian Students
100 Students
13,580 Students
% American Indian Students
1%
1%
# Asian Students
570 Students
92,006 Students
% Asian Students
5%
9%
# Hispanic Students
1,982 Students
273,264 Students
% Hispanic Students
17%
25%
# Black Students
166 Students
50,542 Students
% Black Students
2%
5%
# White Students
7,502 Students
538,956 Students
% White Students
66%
50%
# Hawaiian Students
33 Students
14,335 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
1%
# Two or more races Students
1,011 Students
95,975 Students
% of Two or more races Students
9%
9%

Students by Grade:

# Students in PK Grade:
119
19,124
# Students in K Grade:
776
78,326
# Students in 1st Grade:
812
75,004
# Students in 2nd Grade:
787
78,962
# Students in 3rd Grade:
856
79,663
# Students in 4th Grade:
833
79,281
# Students in 5th Grade:
819
80,458
# Students in 6th Grade:
847
80,701
# Students in 7th Grade:
856
83,790
# Students in 8th Grade:
870
85,819
# Students in 9th Grade:
895
87,806
# Students in 10th Grade:
961
85,051
# Students in 11th Grade:
987
82,925
# Students in 12th Grade:
1,021
91,099
# Ungraded Students:
-
-

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $18,901 in this school district is less than the state median of $19,040. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $22,326 is higher than the state median of $19,496. The school district spending/student has grown by 24% over four school years.
This School District
This State (WA)
Total Revenue
$216 MM
$20,715 MM
This chart displays total revenue of Bellingham   School District and median value from total revenues of all school districts in Washington by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Spending
$255 MM
$21,212 MM
This chart displays total spending of Bellingham   School District and median value from total spendings of all school districts in Washington by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Revenue / Student
$18,901
$19,040
This chart displays average revenue per public school student in Bellingham   School District and average revenue per public school student of all school districts in Washington by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Spending / Student
$22,326
$19,496
This chart displays average spending per public school student in Bellingham   School District and average spending per public school student of all school districts in Washington by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.

Best Bellingham School District Public Schools (2024)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Sehome High School
(Math: 57% | Reading: 89%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
2700 Bill Mcdonald Pkwy
Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 676-6481
Grades: 9-12
| 1,158 students
Rank: #22.
Silver Beach Elementary School
(Math: 68% | Reading: 73%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
4101 Academy St
Bellingham, WA 98226
(360) 676-6443
Grades: PK-5
| 398 students
Rank: #33.
Bellingham High School
(Math: 50% | Reading: 79%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
2020 Cornwall Ave
Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 676-6575
Grades: 8-12
| 1,172 students
Rank: #44.
Lowell Elementary School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
935 14th St
Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 676-6430
Grades: PK-5
| 275 students
Rank: #55.
Parkview Elementary School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
3030 Cornwall Ave
Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 676-6433
Grades: PK-5
| 350 students
Rank: #66.
Columbia Elementary School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
2508 Utter St
Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 676-6413
Grades: PK-5
| 251 students
Rank: #77.
Kulshan Middle School
(Math: 47% | Reading: 62%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
1250 Kenoyer Dr
Bellingham, WA 98229
(360) 676-4886
Grades: 6-8
| 645 students
Rank: #88.
Squalicum High School
(Math: 34% | Reading: 78%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
3773 E Mcleod Rd
Bellingham, WA 98226
(360) 676-6471
Grades: 9-12
| 1,267 students
Rank: #99.
Fairhaven Middle School
(Math: 46% | Reading: 60%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
110 Park Ridge Rd
Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 676-6450
Grades: 6-8
| 618 students
Rank: #1010.
Wade King Elementary School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
2155 Yew Street Rd
Bellingham, WA 98229
(360) 676-6840
Grades: PK-5
| 342 students
Rank: #1111.
Bellingham Family Partnership Program
Alternative School
(Math: ≥50% | Reading: ≥50%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
1409 18th St
Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 676-6424
Grades: K-12
| 418 students
Rank: #1212.
Northern Heights Elementary School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
4000 Magrath Rd
Bellingham, WA 98226
(360) 647-6820
Grades: PK-5
| 362 students
Rank: #1313.
Whatcom Middle School
(Math: 43% | Reading: 54%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
810 Halleck St
Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 676-6460
Grades: 6-8
| 662 students
Rank: #1414.
Sunnyland Elementary School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
2800 James St
Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 676-6446
Grades: PK-5
| 273 students
Rank: #1515.
Happy Valley Elementary School
(Math: 46% | Reading: 51%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
1041 24th St
Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 676-6420
Grades: PK-5
| 446 students
Rank: #1616.
Carl Cozier Elementary School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
1330 Lincoln St
Bellingham, WA 98229
(360) 676-6410
Grades: PK-5
| 292 students
Rank: #1717.
Geneva Elementary School
(Math: 38% | Reading: 52%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
1401 Geneva St
Bellingham, WA 98229
(360) 676-6416
Grades: PK-5
| 433 students
Rank: #1818.
Roosevelt Elementary School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
2900 Yew St
Bellingham, WA 98226
(360) 676-6440
Grades: PK-5
| 341 students
Rank: #1919.
Visions (Seamar Youth Center)
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: ≥50% )
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
1603 E Illinois St
Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 647-6871
Grades: 6-12
| 13 students
Rank: #2020.
Options High School
Alternative School
(Math: 21-39% | Reading: 40-59%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
2015 Franklin St
Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 647-6871
Grades: 9-12
| 183 students
Rank: #2121.
Shuksan Middle School
(Math: 25% | Reading: 41%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
2717 Alderwood Ave
Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 676-6454
Grades: 6-8
| 537 students
Rank: #22 - 2322. - 23.
Alderwood Elementary School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
3400 Hollywood Ave
Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 676-6404
Grades: PK-5
| 260 students
Rank: #22 - 2322. - 23.
Birchwood Elementary School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
3200 Pinewood Ave
Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 676-6446
Grades: PK-5
| 323 students
Rank: #2424.
Cordata Elementary School
(Math: 10-14% | Reading: 10-14%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
4420 Aldrich Rd
Bellingham, WA 98226
(360) 676-6461
Grades: PK-5
| 348 students
Rank: n/an/a
Bellingham Re-engagement Program
Alternative School
1306 Dupont St
Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 676-6400
Grades: 9-12
| 72 students

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools belong to Bellingham School District?
Bellingham School District manages 25 public schools serving 11,439 students.
What is the rank of Bellingham School District?
Bellingham School District is ranked #69 out of 307 school districts in Washington (top 30%) based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data for the 2021-2022 school year. This district ranks in the top 20% of Washington school districts for: Highest science proficiency (Top 20%) and Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
What is the racial composition of students in Bellingham School District?
66% of Bellingham School District students are White, 17% of students are Hispanic, 9% of students are Two or more races, 5% of students are Asian, 2% of students are Black, and 1% of students are American Indian.
What is the student/teacher ratio of Bellingham School District?
Bellingham School District has a student/teacher ratio of 17:1, which is equal to the Washington state average of 17:1.
What is Bellingham School District's spending/student ratio?
The school district's spending/student of $22,326 is higher than the state median of $19,496. The school district spending/student has grown by 24% over four school years.

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Quick Stats (2024)

  • District size: 25 schools
  • Grades: 01-12
  • Enrollment: 11,439 students
  • Student:Teacher Ratio: 17:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 34%
  • : 80% (Btm 50% in WA)
  • : Top 30%
  • : 43% (Top 30%)
  • : 57% (Top 30%)
  • : 57% (Top 20%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), WA Dept. of Education

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