Bellingham School District
School District · Bellingham, Washington
Avg Rating
6.3
out of 10
Schools
25
14 elem, 4 mid, 6 high
Enrollment
11,487
Student-Teacher Ratio
17.1:1
Avg Rating
6.3
out of 10
Schools
25
14 elem, 4 mid, 6 high
Enrollment
11,487
Student-Teacher Ratio
17.1:1
How this district compares
Washington rank
#108 of 233
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
-0.0
below Washington avg
Per-pupil spending
$17,886
+$162 vs Washington median
District size
11,487 students
Much larger than Washington median
The short answer
Bellingham School District ranks #108 of 233 Washington districts by overall school rating. Bellingham School District's schools with real test data average 6.3/10 across 24 schools. Its top-rated schools are Sunnyland Elementary School (9.0/10), Columbia Elementary School (8.8/10), and Wade King Elementary School (8.5/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Rates 9.0/10 despite 51% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.8 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 School District schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +14.9 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Bellingham School District schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Bellingham School District
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (24 of 25). "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 | Whatcom Middle School | 7.5 / 10 |
| 5 | Lowell Elementary School | 7.5 / 10 |
| 6 | Squalicum High School | 7.4 / 10 |
| 7 | Shuksan Middle School | 6.9 / 10 |
| 8 | Bellingham High School | 6.8 / 10 |
| 9 | Happy Valley Elementary School | 6.7 / 10 |
| 10 | Bellingham Re-Engagement Program | 6.6 / 10 |
See all 25 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About Bellingham School District
Bellingham School District is a Bellingham, Washington school district serving 25 schools.The district educates 11,487 students with a student-teacher ratio of 17.1:1. District-level spending was $17,886 per student in fiscal year 2023 (NCES F-33).
With an average rating of 6.3/10, Bellingham School District demonstrates solid academic performance.
The highest-rated school in the district is Sunnyland Elementary School, which has a composite score of 9.0/10.
In standardized testing, Bellingham School District students show an average math proficiency of 49.8% and ELA proficiency of 60.8%.
The district includes 14 elementary schools, 4 middle schools, and 6 high schools.
District Map
Schools in Bellingham School District, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in Bellingham School District with test data.
Schools in Bellingham School District
25 schoolsElementary Schools14
Middle Schools4
High Schools6
Other Schools1
District Details
- State
- Washington
- City
- Bellingham
- Total Enrollment
- 11,487
- Teachers (FTE)
- 671
- District spending per student
- $17,886NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- Child poverty rate
- 7.5%Census SAIPE · 2024
- District directory year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Bellingham School District?
Bellingham School District has 25 schools in total — 14 elementary, 4 middle, and 6 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for Bellingham School District?
The average composite rating for Bellingham School District is 6.3/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.
What is the district spending per student in Bellingham School District?
Bellingham School District's district-level spending was $17,886 per student in fiscal year 2023, according to NCES F-33. This is district context, not an individual-school expense.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Bellingham School District?
The average student-teacher ratio in Bellingham School District is 17.1:1.
What is the top-rated school in Bellingham School District?
Sunnyland Elementary School is the highest-rated school in Bellingham School District with a composite score of 9.0/10.
What are the test scores in Bellingham School District?
Across schools in Bellingham School District with test data, the average math proficiency is 49.8% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 60.8%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does Bellingham School District compare to other districts in Washington?
Bellingham School District has an average school rating of 6.3/10 across 25 schools. Families can compare this to other districts in Washington by visiting individual district pages. Factors like school size, available programs, and community demographics also play a role in choosing the right fit.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools?
MySchoolScout ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic performance, and learning environment — plus college readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context without being factored into the score. Learn more about our rating system on our methodology page.
District Averages
- Overall Rating
- 6.3/10
- Math Proficiency
- 49.8%
- ELA Proficiency
- 60.8%
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 rateOther School Districts in WA
Compare Bellingham School District with neighboring districts in the state.
- Seattle School District No. 1 (109)
- Spokane School District (69)
- Tacoma School District (69)
- Lake Washington School District (57)
- Federal Way School District (46)
- Kent School District (46)
- Vancouver School District (45)
- Highline School District (43)
- Northshore School District (40)
- Bethel School District (39)
- Evergreen School District (clark) (39)
- Edmonds School District (38)
- Puyallup School District (37)
- Clover Park School District (33)
- Everett School District (33)
- Kennewick School District (33)
- Central Valley School District (32)
- Renton School District (31)
- Bellevue School District (30)
- Issaquah School District (30)
- Pasco School District (29)
- Yakima School District (29)
- Auburn School District (26)
- Marysville School District (24)
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.
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