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 2025 school year, there are 25 public schools serving 11,487 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 45% (versus the Washington public school average of 41%), and reading proficiency score of 57% (versus the 53% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 36% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Washington public school average of 52% (majority Hispanic).

Overview

This School District
This State (WA)
# Schools
25 Schools
2,565 Schools
# Students
11,487 Students
1,102,128 Students
# Teachers
665 Teachers
62,276 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
17:1
17:1

Student By Grade

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 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 79% has decreased from 85% over five school years.
This School District
State Average (WA)
#68 out of 307 school districts
(Top 30%)
45%
41%
57%
53%
57%
49%
79%
84%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.55
0.69
% American Indian
1%
1%
% Asian
5%
9%
% Hispanic
19%
26%
% Black
2%
5%
% White
64%
48%
% Hawaiian
n/a
2%
% Two or more races
9%
9%
All Ethnic Groups

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.
This School District
This State (WA)
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 Schools (2025)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Silver Beach Elementary School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 73%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
4101 Academy St
Bellingham, WA 98226
(360) 676-6443
Gr: PK-5 | 342 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 23%
Rank: #22.
Kulshan Middle School
(Math: 57% | Reading: 62%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
1250 Kenoyer Dr
Bellingham, WA 98229
(360) 676-4886
Gr: 6-8 | 599 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 25%
Rank: #33.
Bellingham High School
(Math: 44% | Reading: 79%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
2020 Cornwall Ave
Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 676-6575
Gr: 9-12 | 1,188 student Student-teacher ratio: 22:1 Minority enrollment: 33%
Rank: #44.
Sehome High School
(Math: 40% | Reading: 89%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
2700 Bill Mcdonald Pkwy
Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 676-6481
Gr: 9-12 | 1,175 student Student-teacher ratio: 23:1 Minority enrollment: 29%
Rank: #55.
Lowell Elementary School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
914 15th St
Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 676-6430
Gr: PK-5 | 308 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 28%
Rank: #66.
Parkview Elementary School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
3030 Cornwall Ave
Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 676-6433
Gr: PK-5 | 387 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 29%
Rank: #77.
Fairhaven Middle School
(Math: 52% | Reading: 60%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
110 Park Ridge Rd
Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 676-6450
Gr: 6-8 | 581 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 35%
Rank: #8 - 98. - 9.
Columbia Elementary School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
2508 Utter St
Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 676-6413
Gr: PK-5 | 210 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 21%
Rank: #8 - 98. - 9.
Wade King Elementary School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
2155 Yew Street Rd
Bellingham, WA 98229
(360) 676-6840
Gr: PK-5 | 315 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 23%
Rank: #1010.
Squalicum High School
(Math: 34% | Reading: 78%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
3773 E Mcleod Rd
Bellingham, WA 98226
(360) 676-6471
Gr: 9-12 | 1,241 student Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 46%
Rank: #1111.
Northern Heights Elementary School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
4000 Magrath Rd
Bellingham, WA 98226
(360) 647-6820
Gr: PK-5 | 420 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 40%
Rank: #1212.
Whatcom Middle School
(Math: 51% | Reading: 54%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
810 Halleck St
Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 676-6460
Gr: 6-8 | 639 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 41%
Rank: #1313.
Bellingham Family Partnership Program
Alternative School
(Math: ≥50% | Reading: ≥50% )
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
1409 18th St
Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 676-6424
Gr: K-12 | 254 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 20%
Rank: #1414.
Geneva Elementary School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 52%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
1401 Geneva St
Bellingham, WA 98229
(360) 676-6416
Gr: PK-5 | 424 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 25%
Rank: #1515.
Happy Valley Elementary School
(Math: 47% | Reading: 51%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
1041 24th St
Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 676-6420
Gr: PK-5 | 468 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 32%
Rank: #1616.
Sunnyland Elementary School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
2800 James St
Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 676-6446
Gr: PK-5 | 328 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 36%
Rank: #1717.
Carl Cozier Elementary School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
1330 Lincoln St
Bellingham, WA 98229
(360) 676-6410
Gr: PK-5 | 342 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 40%
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
Gr: PK-5 | 373 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 40%
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
Gr: 6-12 | 10 students Minority enrollment: 60%
Rank: #2020.
Shuksan Middle School
(Math: 28% | Reading: 41%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
2717 Alderwood Ave
Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 676-6454
Gr: 6-8 | 578 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 48%
Rank: #2121.
Alderwood Elementary School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
3400 Hollywood Ave
Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 676-6404
Gr: PK-5 | 282 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 46%
Rank: #2222.
Options High School
Alternative School
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: 40-59%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
2015 Franklin St
Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 647-6871
Gr: 9-12 | 206 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 27%
Rank: #2323.
Birchwood Elementary School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
3200 Pinewood Ave
Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 676-6466
Gr: PK-5 | 362 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 58%
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
Gr: PK-5 | 353 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 69%
Rank: n/an/a
Bellingham Re-engagement Program
Alternative School
1306 Dupont St
Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 676-6400
Gr: 9-12 | 102 students Minority enrollment: 35%

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools belong to Bellingham School District?
Bellingham School District manages 25 public schools serving 11,487 students.
What is the rank of Bellingham School District?
Bellingham School District is ranked #70 out of 306 school districts in Washington (top 30%) based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data for the 2022-2023 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?
64% of Bellingham School District students are White, 19% 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 lower than the Washington state average of 18:1.
What is Bellingham School District's spending/student ratio?
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.

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Quick Facts (2025)

  • District size: 25 schools
  • Grades: 01-12
  • Enrollment: 11,487 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 17:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 36%
  • : 79% (Top 50% in WA)
  • : Top 30%
  • : 45% (Top 30%)
  • : 57% (Top 30%)
  • : 57% (Top 20%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), WA Dept. of Education

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