Best Schools in Bellingham, Washington
48 schools · 26 Elementary · 5 Middle · 12 High · 5 Other
Choosing a school in Bellingham?
Use this page to compare every school in Bellingham by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Sunnyland Elementary School
Elementary · Bellingham School District. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Columbia Elementary School
Elementary · Bellingham School District. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Wade King Elementary School
Elementary · Bellingham School District. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Bellingham for 2026 are Sunnyland Elementary School (9.0/10), Columbia Elementary School (8.8/10), and Wade King Elementary School (8.5/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 28 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Schools
48
34 public · 14 private
Avg Score
6.4
out of 10
Median Home
$537,450
home value · ACS
Districts
7
serving the city
Schools
48
34 public · 14 private
Avg Score
6.4
out of 10
Median Home
$537,450
home value · ACS
Districts
7
serving the city
Rates 9.0/10 despite 51% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.6 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Bellingham schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +14.9 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Bellingham schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Bellingham
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (Top 10 of 28 rated schools; 48 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunnyland Elementary School | 9.0 / 10 |
| 2 | Columbia Elementary School | 8.8 / 10 |
| 3 | Wade King Elementary School | 8.5 / 10 |
| 4 | Intergenerational High School | 8.2 / 10 |
| 5 | Harmony Elementary | 8.0 / 10 |
| 6 | Lowell Elementary School | 7.5 / 10 |
| 7 | Whatcom Middle School | 7.5 / 10 |
| 8 | Squalicum High School | 7.4 / 10 |
| 9 | Shuksan Middle School | 6.9 / 10 |
| 10 | Bellingham High School | 6.8 / 10 |
See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 6.4/10
- Median household income
- $78,517
- Median home value
- $537,450
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 40%
- Avg commute
- 23 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 61%
28% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Bellingham compares
Washington rank
#78 of 193
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
+0.1
above Washington avg (6.3)
Median household income
$79k
88% of Washington median
Schools in this city
39
Bellingham School District runs 74% of Bellingham's public schools
Bellingham touches 7 districts, but Bellingham School District is the one most addresses actually attend.
Bellingham School District accounts for 25 of 34 public schools (74%). The other 6 districts hold the remaining 9.
Among 28 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 3.8 to 9.0 — the spread is inside Bellingham, not a citywide average.
- Bellingham School District25 public · 74%
- Meridian School District4 public · 12%
- Intergenerational High School1 public · 3%
- Lummi High School1 public · 3%
- Lummi Nation Tribal School1 public · 3%
About Schools in Bellingham, Washington
Bellingham's public school system covers 27 ranked schools with an average score of 6.6 out of 10. That average sits comfortably above the midpoint, and the spread matters: 13 of those 27 schools — 48 percent — score 7 or higher, meaning nearly half the district's options clear a meaningful performance threshold. Parents have real choices here, not just one or two standout exceptions carrying the city's reputation.
The strongest performers cluster at the elementary level. Parkview Elementary and Silver Beach Elementary both score 8.2 out of 10, the highest marks in the city. Northern Heights Elementary follows at 8.1, and Alderwood Elementary rounds out the top elementary tier at 7.9. The middle school picture is equally encouraging: Kulshan Middle School scores 8.1, making it one of the top-performing schools in Bellingham regardless of grade level. Families with children spanning elementary and middle school years have a connected pathway of high-scoring options.
The 6.6 city average reflects a realistic mix. While 13 schools exceed the 7-point threshold, the remaining 14 fall below it — some likely by a small margin, others more significantly. Parents researching specific neighborhoods should check individual school scores rather than assuming proximity to a high performer guarantees a similar-quality assignment. Boundary lines matter here, and the gap between Bellingham's top schools and its lower-scoring ones is wide enough to influence decisions about where to live.
Practically speaking, Bellingham is a competitive but navigable market for school-focused families. The density of 7-plus-rated schools — nearly half the city's total — means strong options exist across multiple parts of the city, not concentrated in a single zone. Elementary-age families have the deepest pool to choose from. For middle school, Kulshan's 8.1 score stands out as a reliable anchor. Parents should use individual school pages to cross-reference scores, enrollment size, and program offerings before drawing conclusions from neighborhood reputation alone.
Elementary Schools
26 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 328 students · Pre-K–5th | 9.0 |
| 2 | 210 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.8 |
| 3 | 315 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.5 |
| 4 | 292 students · Kindergarten–6th | 8.0 |
| 5 | 308 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.5 |
| 6 | 468 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.7 |
| 7 | 373 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.3 |
| 8 | 222 students · Kindergarten–8th | 6.3 |
| 9 | 294 students · Kindergarten–8th | 6.2 |
| 10 | 353 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.1 |
Show all 26 elementary schools in Bellingham
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
5 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 639 students · 6th–8th | 7.5 | ||
| 2 | 578 students · 6th–8th | 6.9 | ||
| 3 | 599 students · 6th–8th | 5.8 | ||
| 4 | 581 students · 6th–8th | 5.2 | ||
Private Schools1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | 36 students · 7th–8th | Not Rated | ||
High Schools
12 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 69 students · 9th–12th | 8.2 |
| 2 | 1,241 students · 9th–12th | 7.4 |
| 3 | 1,188 students · 9th–12th | 6.8 |
| 4 | 102 students · 9th–12th | 6.6 |
| 5 | 537 students · 9th–12th | 6.2 |
| 6 | 206 students · 9th–12th | 5.9 |
| 7 | 1,175 students · 9th–12th | 5.7 |
| 8 | 145 students · 9th–12th | 5.4 |
| 9 | 5 students · 7th–12th | — |
| 10 | 10 students · 6th–12th | — |
Show all 12 high schools in Bellingham
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Other Schools
5 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 254 students · Kindergarten–12th | 4.6 | ||
| 2 | 25 students · Pre-K–Pre-K | — | ||
Private Schools3 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Acton Academy of WhatcomPrivate 15 students · UG–UG | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | Alger Learning Center- Inc.Private 22 students · 3rd–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 3 | Independence High SchoolPrivate 22 students · 3rd–12th | Not Rated | ||
Schools in Bellingham
Bellingham, Washington · 48 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 4 ZIP codes
Median Income
$78,517
Median Home Value
$537,450
Median Rent
$1,499/mo
Population
156,983
College Educated
40%
Homeownership
61%
Avg Commute
23 min
Poverty Rate
13.6%
Community Profile
Bellingham has a median household income of $78,517. It is a well-educated community where 40% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $537,450, with a median rent of $1,499/month. The area has a poverty rate of 13.6%. The average commute for residents is 23 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Washington
- Elementary
- 26
- Middle
- 5
- High
- 12
- Other
- 5
Resources
School Districts (7)
Northwest Educational Service District 189
5 schools · 28 students
Intergenerational High School
1 school · 69 students
Bellingham School District
25 schools · 11,487 students
Meridian School District
6 schools · 1,903 students
Mount Baker School District
7 schools · 1,607 students
Lummi High School
1 school · 145 students
Lummi Nation Tribal School
1 school · 294 students
Other Major Cities in Washington
Top metros statewide by school count.
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Bellingham, Washington
How many schools are in Bellingham, Washington?
Bellingham has 48 schools, including 34 public and 14 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Bellingham, Washington?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Bellingham is 6.4 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
What is the top-ranked school in Bellingham, Washington?
The top-ranked school in Bellingham on MySchoolScout is Sunnyland Elementary School with a composite score of 9.0/10.
What is the best elementary school in Bellingham, Washington?
The top-ranked elementary school in Bellingham on MySchoolScout is Sunnyland Elementary School with a composite score of 9.0/10.
What is the best middle school in Bellingham, Washington?
The top-ranked middle school in Bellingham on MySchoolScout is Whatcom Middle School with a composite score of 7.5/10.
What is the best high school in Bellingham, Washington?
The top-ranked high school in Bellingham on MySchoolScout is Intergenerational High School with a composite score of 8.2/10.
How many school districts serve Bellingham, Washington?
Bellingham is served by 7 school districts: Northwest Educational Service District 189, Intergenerational High School, Bellingham School District, Meridian School District, Mount Baker School District, Lummi High School, Lummi Nation Tribal School.
What is the education level in Bellingham, Washington?
According to Census data, 40% of adults in Bellingham have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Bellingham, Washington?
The median household income in Bellingham is approximately $78,517 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Bellingham, Washington?
Yes, Bellingham has 14 private schools alongside 34 public schools. The top-rated private school is Explorations Academy with a score of 8.1/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Bellingham, Washington?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Bellingham is 14.8:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Bellingham, Washington?
MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.
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Data from NCES Common Core of Data, Washington Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.