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Very Good

#589 of 2,228 schools in WA

Top 26% in state

Silver Beach Elementary School

Elementary School · Bellingham School District

4101 Academy St, Bellingham, WA 98226

Enrollment

342

Student-Teacher

20.1:1

Score

7.5

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Washington schools

#589 of 2,228

In Bellingham

#2 of 29

public schools

In district

#2 of 24

Bellingham School District

Equity

8.8 / 10

Excellent

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Silver Beach Elementary School

7.5/10

Elementary School in Bellingham · grades Pre-K – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Squalicum High School

6.4/10

1.1 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Northern Heights Elementary Schl

6.9/10

1.3 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Silver Beach Elementary School

Silver Beach Elementary School is a public elementary school in Bellingham, WA, part of Bellingham School District. Silver Beach Elementary School serves approximately 342 students, and covers grades Pre-K-5th, and has a 20.1:1 student-teacher ratio. Silver Beach Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.5 out of 10 and ranks #589 of 2,228 schools in WA.

Structured state assessment records for Silver Beach Elementary School show 67% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 74% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

How it compares1.8 pts above district
  • This school 7.5 · Very Good
  • District avg 5.7
  • WA avg 6.8

What Parents Should Know

Silver Beach Elementary School runs 20.1:1 students to teachers, above the national average. That often means bigger classes. Ask how the school supports kids who need extra help, and whether there are teaching assistants or small-group time.

33% of students at Silver Beach Elementary School were chronically absent in the 2022-23 school year, above the national average. Chronic absenteeism means missing 15 or more school days, and at high rates it drags on classroom pacing for everyone. Ask what the school does to help families get kids to class consistently.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress8.0Excellent50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data13
Annual Change-0.98 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2024
TrendStable
Academics8.5Excellent30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency62.1% (2024 SBA)
Reading/ELA Proficiency72.3% (2024 SBA)
Math vs. State Avg+10.3 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+23.9 pts
Overall Proficiency67% (2024 SBA, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)64% (model expectation from 2024 SBA)
vs. Expected+3.3 pts
Adjusted Percentile77th
Resources & Environment4.6Below Average20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio20.1:1
Per-Pupil Spending$17,886
Chronic Absenteeism32.7%

Silver Beach Elementary School — Students at Silver Beach Elementary School score 67% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 64%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

19.6%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores WA SBA (2023-24)

Math Proficiency 66.6% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
School
State
45.8% (2024 SBA)
ELA Proficiency 74.4% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
School
State
50.2% (2024 SBA)

Based on 34 test records from WA state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

→ Stable

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2009
Math
72%
ELA
79%
2010
Math
69%
ELA
82%
2011
Math
72%
ELA
82%
2012
Math
75%
ELA
87%
2013
Math
73%
ELA
83%
2014
Math
73%
ELA
71%
2015
Math
74%
ELA
75%
2016
Math
71%
ELA
71%
2017
Math
56%
ELA
67%
2018
Math
58%
ELA
68%
2019
Math
58%
ELA
68%
2022
Math
66.8%
ELA
73%
2024
Math
61.9%
ELA
71.3%

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 8.0/10.

How Silver Beach Elementary School Compares

See how Silver Beach Elementary School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
7.5/10
74th percentile in WA
Academic
8.5/10
Excellent
Growth
8.0/10
Excellent
Environment
4.6/10
Below Average
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
20%
Teaching Staff
20:1 student-teacher ratio
17 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
32.7%

Programs & Offerings

Gifted & Talented Program Available
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students. · CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

Location

4101 Academy St, Bellingham, WA 98226

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Silver Beach Elementary School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. ASSUMPTION CATHOLIC SCHOOL (rated 8.4/10, 2.7 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Another option is Parkview Elementary School (rated 7.2/10, 2.8 miles away), with a very similar rating. Additionally, Northern Heights Elementary Schl (rated 6.9/10, 1.3 miles away), with a comparable rating. For more schools in Bellingham, see our Bellingham schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 4.0 mi
School Distance Rating
Squalicum High School Bellingham 1.1 mi 6.4
Northern Heights Elementary Schl Bellingham 1.3 mi 6.9
Geneva Elementary School Bellingham 1.5 mi 5.7
Roosevelt Elementary School Bellingham 1.2 mi 6.0
Kulshan Middle School Bellingham 1.7 mi 6.7
WHATCOM HILLS WALDORF SCHOOL Bellingham 2.0 mi 6.6
Visions (Seamar Youth Center) Bellingham 1.6 mi
BELLINGHAM CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Bellingham 1.7 mi 6.0
Sunnyland Elementary School Bellingham 2.2 mi 6.2
Carl Cozier Elementary School Bellingham 2.6 mi 6.4
Options High School Bellingham 2.6 mi 4.6
Wade King Elementary School Bellingham 3.7 mi 4.8
EXPLORATIONS ACADEMY Bellingham 2.8 mi 7.9
Bellingham High School Bellingham 2.7 mi 6.6
ASSUMPTION CATHOLIC SCHOOL Bellingham 2.7 mi 8.4
Parkview Elementary School Bellingham 2.8 mi 7.2
Whatcom Middle School Bellingham 3.0 mi 5.6
Whatcom Co Detention Center Bellingham 3.0 mi
CEDAR TREE MONTESSORI Bellingham 3.1 mi 6.7
MONTESSORI AT SAMISH WOODS Bellingham 4.0 mi 5.8

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 98226 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$79,684

Median Home Value

$568,400

Median Rent

$1,557/mo

Population

45,739

College Educated

39.5%

Homeownership

62.2%

Avg Commute

19.4 min

Poverty Rate

11.5%

Median Age

40.9

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Browne Elementary Spokane, WA 7.5
Camas Elementary Wapato, WA 7.5
Carnation Elementary School Carnation, WA 7.5
Cascade Elementary Marysville, WA 7.5
Chester Elementary School Spokane Valley, WA 7.5
Columbia Valley Garden Elem Schl Longview, WA 7.5

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Silver Beach Elementary School

What grades does Silver Beach Elementary School serve?

Silver Beach Elementary School serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.

How many students attend Silver Beach Elementary School?

Silver Beach Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 342 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Silver Beach Elementary School?

The student-teacher ratio at Silver Beach Elementary School is 20.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Silver Beach Elementary School rank in WA?

Silver Beach Elementary School ranks #589 of 2,228 schools in WA.

What is Silver Beach Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?

Silver Beach Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.5 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 Silver Beach Elementary School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Silver Beach Elementary School has 67% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 74% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

Is Silver Beach Elementary School a charter school?

No, Silver Beach Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Silver Beach Elementary School a Title I school?

No, Silver Beach Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Silver Beach Elementary School?

19.6% of students at Silver Beach 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.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
18 Car-Dependent
Transit Score
23 Minimal Transit
Bike Score
25 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
342
Student-Teacher Ratio
20.1:1
Teachers (FTE)
17
Free/Reduced Lunch
19.6%
Type
regular
Setting
Small City
County
Whatcom County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
32.7%

District

Bellingham School District
District Enrollment
11,487
Schools in District
25
Per-Pupil Spending
$17,886
District Rank
#2 of 24

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