Below Average
#1905 of 2,228 schools in WA
Birchwood Elementary School
Elementary School · Bellingham School District · Bellingham, WA
A Bellingham School District elementary school where students score 10 points below what's typical for similar communities.
3200 Pinewood Ave, Bellingham, WA 98225
- Math 24% vs WA 46% (2024)
- Reading 32% vs WA 50% (2024)
- 13.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Birchwood Elementary School score 28% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 38%).
2024 SBA proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. WA average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency is down 34 points across the 16-year record (2009–2024) and has held near 28% recently.
Show all 10 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 35% (multi-year average, 2009-2024) · reading/ELA 42% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
Based on 28 test records from WA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
61.9%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
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 rateThe neighborhood
Where Birchwood Elementary School sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 37Car-Dependent
- Transit 32Some Transit
- Bike 68Bikeable
- City Safety: High4,115/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Bellingham), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$62,220
Median home value
$588,800
Median rent
$1,430/mo
College educated
48.3%
Homeownership
41%
Poverty rate
22.3%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 98225; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Franklin AcademyPrivate · tuition | 7.9private | K–8 | 0.7 mi | 263 | Compare → |
| St Paul's AcademyPrivate · tuition | 6.9private | PK–8 | 0.8 mi | 266 | Compare → |
| Alderwood Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 4.9 | PK–5 | 1.0 mi | 282 | Compare → |
| Columbia Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 6.5 | PK–5 | 1.0 mi | 210 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Bellingham School District
- Schools in district
- 25
- Rank in district
- #22 of 24
- District spending per student
- $17,886NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 7.5%Census SAIPE · 2024
Birchwood Elementary School is listed in Bellingham School District; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Birchwood Elementary School
Birchwood Elementary School is a public elementary school in Bellingham, WA, part of Bellingham School District, serving approximately 362 students in grades Pre-K-5th with a 13.9:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 4.5 out of 10 and ranks #1,905 of 2,228 schools in WA. State assessment records show 35% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 42% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Birchwood Elementary School
What grades does Birchwood Elementary School serve?
Birchwood Elementary School serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend Birchwood Elementary School?
Birchwood Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 362 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Birchwood Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Birchwood Elementary School is 13.9:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Birchwood Elementary School rank in WA?
Birchwood Elementary School ranks #1,905 of 2,228 schools in WA.
What is Birchwood Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?
Birchwood Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.5 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Birchwood Elementary School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Birchwood Elementary School has 35% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 42% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Is Birchwood Elementary School a charter school?
No, Birchwood Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Birchwood Elementary School a Title I school?
No, Birchwood Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Birchwood Elementary School?
61.9% of students at Birchwood Elementary School qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 5th
- Enrollment
- 362
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 13.9:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 26
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Small City
- County
- Whatcom County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 42.8%
- Phone
- (360) 676-6466
- Area population (ZIP 98225)
- 50,355
- Area average commute
- 19.5 min
- Area median age
- 32
Official sources & links
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2024 SBA · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2024 SBA · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 98225; this does not measure the attendance area.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2024; directory SY 2023–24
Related reading
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