Average
#1020 of 2,228 schools in WA
Top 46% in state
Columbia Elementary School
Elementary School · Bellingham School District · Bellingham, WA
A Bellingham School District elementary school serving grades Pre-K – 5th.
2508 Utter St, Bellingham, WA 98225
- Math 49% vs WA 46% (2024)
- Reading 70% vs WA 50% (2024)
- 15:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Columbia Elementary School score 59% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 60%).
2024 SBA proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. WA average.
Trend
↓ DecliningProficiency has fallen 13 points since 2018, to 59% in 2024, across a 16-year record (2009–2024).
Show all 13 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 68% (multi-year average, 2009-2024) · reading/ELA 79% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
Based on 34 test records from WA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
26.7%
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 Columbia 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 80Very Walkable
- Transit 39Some Transit
- Bike 92Biker’s Paradise
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gardenview MontessoriPrivate · tuition | Not rated | PK–K | 0.3 mi | 2 | Compare → |
| Cedar Tree MontessoriPrivate · tuition | 6.7 | PK–6 | 0.4 mi | 61 | Compare → |
| St Paul's AcademyPrivate · tuition | 6.9 | PK–8 | 0.5 mi | 266 | Compare → |
| The Franklin AcademyPrivate · tuition | 7.9 | K–8 | 0.5 mi | 263 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Bellingham School District
- Schools in district
- 25
- Rank in district
- #7 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
Columbia Elementary School is listed in Bellingham School District; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Columbia Elementary School
Columbia Elementary School is a public elementary school in Bellingham, WA, part of Bellingham School District, serving approximately 210 students in grades Pre-K-5th with a 15:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 6.5 out of 10 and ranks #1,020 of 2,228 schools in WA. State assessment records show 68% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 79% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Columbia Elementary School
What grades does Columbia Elementary School serve?
Columbia Elementary School serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend Columbia Elementary School?
Columbia Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 210 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Columbia Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Columbia Elementary School is 15:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Columbia Elementary School rank in WA?
Columbia Elementary School ranks #1,020 of 2,228 schools in WA.
What is Columbia Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?
Columbia Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.5 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 Columbia Elementary School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Columbia Elementary School has 68% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 79% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Is Columbia Elementary School a charter school?
No, Columbia Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Columbia Elementary School a Title I school?
No, Columbia Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Columbia Elementary School?
26.7% of students at Columbia 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
- 210
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 15:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 14
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Small City
- County
- Whatcom County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 37.1%
- Phone
- (360) 676-6413
- 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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