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Average

#162 of 381 private schools in WA

Top 42% of private schools

Whatcom Hills Waldorf School

Elementary School

941 AUSTIN ST, Bellingham, WA 98229

Private Estimated Score

Estimated academic score. This school does not have standardized test data. Based on 25 schools in Bellingham. Learn more

Enrollment

163

Student-Teacher

9.4:1

Score

6.6

Grades

Pre-K – 8th

Updated 2021-22

How this school compares

In Bellingham

#6 of 9

public schools

Washington elementary schools

#91 of 231

About Whatcom Hills Waldorf School

Whatcom Hills Waldorf School serves 163 students from prekindergarten through eighth grade in Bellingham, Washington. This regular public school operates with a notably small student-teacher ratio of 9.4:1, supported by 17 full-time equivalent teachers, creating an intimate learning environment where students receive individualized attention. The school has earned a MySchoolScout rating of 7.7 out of 10 and ranks 195th among 381 elementary schools statewide, placing it in the 49th percentile.

This solid performance reflects the school's commitment to providing quality education within its unique Waldorf educational approach. Located at 941 Austin Street, the school serves families in the 98229 ZIP code area, where the median household income is $87,946 and half of adults hold bachelor's degrees or higher. The community shows strong economic stability with a low poverty rate of 9.0% and median home values of $505,500, indicating an engaged, education-focused neighborhood.

The smaller enrollment allows for close-knit relationships between students, families, and faculty, fostering a collaborative school community. Whatcom Hills Waldorf School sits in Bellingham's mid-size suburban setting, offering families access to both educational opportunities and the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest.

What Parents Should Know

With an enrollment of 163 students, Whatcom Hills Waldorf School is a smaller school where families often find a close-knit community atmosphere. Smaller settings can mean more individual attention from teachers and staff, though they may offer fewer extracurricular options than larger schools.

With a student-teacher ratio of 9.4:1, Whatcom Hills Waldorf School offers a notably low ratio compared to the national average. This typically means smaller class sizes and more opportunities for one-on-one interaction between students and teachers.

As a private school, Whatcom Hills Waldorf School operates independently from the local public school district. Families considering this school should inquire about tuition costs, financial aid availability, and the admissions process. Private schools are not required to follow the same curriculum standards as public schools, which can be either an advantage or a consideration depending on your priorities.

Compare to Public Schools

Beta

How Whatcom Hills Waldorf School compares to 25 public schools serving similar grades in Bellingham, WA

Student-Teacher Ratio
9.4:1
This School
vs
16.6:1
Public Avg
Avg School Size
163
This School
vs
337
Public Avg
Avg School Scout Rating
6.6
This School
vs
6.8
Public Avg

Student Demographics

White 89.6% vs 0%
Hispanic 4.9% vs 0%
Black 2.5% vs 0%
Asian 1.8% vs 0%
Whatcom Hills Waldorf School Bellingham Public Avg

Nearby Elementary Schools

School Rating
Whatcom Hills Waldorf School (this school) 6.6
Geneva Elementary School 7.8
Kulshan Middle School 8.1
Silver Beach Elementary School 8.2
Wade King Elementary School 7.6
Roosevelt Elementary School 6.3
Carl Cozier Elementary School 7.8
Visions (Seamar Youth Center)
Northern Heights Elementary Schl 8.1
Sunnyland Elementary School 6.5
Whatcom Co Detention Center
Whatcom Middle School 5.6
Happy Valley Elementary School 7.3
Parkview Elementary School 8.2
Columbia Elementary School 6.5
Bellingham Family Partnership Program 3.1
Lowell Elementary School 6.0
Fairhaven Middle School 7.5
Shuksan Middle School 6.1
Birchwood Elementary School 7.1
Cordata Elementary School 5.0

Showing 20 of 25 schools. View all schools in Bellingham

Demographics sourced from NCES Private School Survey (PSS) and Common Core of Data (CCD). Comparisons are based on enrollment-weighted averages.

Score Breakdown

What This Rating Measures

This rating reflects classroom size, instructional time, student diversity, community resources, and school characteristics. Private schools are ranked against other private schools in WA.

Classroom Attention
? Student-teacher ratio calibrated against other private schools. Lower ratios mean more individual attention. (30% of overall score)
B+ 7.4 / 10
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio 9.4:1
Instructional Commitment
? Total annual instructional hours based on school day length and days per year. (15% of overall score)
A- 8.2 / 10
View breakdown
School Day Length 7.5 hours
Annual Instructional Hours 1,252.5
Diversity & Inclusion
? Racial and ethnic diversity of the student body using Simpson's diversity index. (20% of overall score)
C 3.0 / 10
View breakdown
Diversity Index 18%
Community Context

Data Unavailable

School Profile
? Enrollment size and grade span breadth — indicators of program depth and peer community. (15% of overall score)
A- 8.3 / 10
View breakdown
Enrollment 163
View data sources

Score basis: Private school model

Data coverage: 80% of scoring components had data

Components scored: 4 of 5

Ranking pool: Private schools in WA

Test Scores

Test score data not yet available for this school.

Student Demographics NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

White 89.6%
Hispanic 4.9%
Black 2.5%
Asian 1.8%
Native American 0.6%
Pacific Islander 0.6%

Source: NCES Private School Survey (PSS)

Location

941 AUSTIN ST, Bellingham, WA 98229

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Whatcom Hills Waldorf School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. ASSUMPTION CATHOLIC SCHOOL (rated 8.4/10, 3.6 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Silver Beach Elementary School (rated 8.2/10, 2.0 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Parkview Elementary School (rated 8.2/10, 4.1 miles away), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Bellingham, see our Bellingham schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 4.1 mi
School Distance Rating
Geneva Elementary School Bellingham 0.5 mi 7.8
Silver Beach Elementary School Bellingham 2.0 mi 8.2
Kulshan Middle School Bellingham 1.5 mi 8.1
Squalicum High School Bellingham 3.1 mi 7.2
Northern Heights Elementary Schl Bellingham 3.2 mi 8.1
Wade King Elementary School Bellingham 2.6 mi 7.6
Roosevelt Elementary School Bellingham 2.7 mi 6.3
Visions (Seamar Youth Center) Bellingham 3.0 mi
BELLINGHAM CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Bellingham 3.3 mi 6.0
Carl Cozier Elementary School Bellingham 2.9 mi 7.8
Sunnyland Elementary School Bellingham 3.4 mi 6.5
Options High School Bellingham 3.4 mi 5.7
MONTESSORI AT SAMISH WOODS Bellingham 3.5 mi 5.8
EXPLORATIONS ACADEMY Bellingham 3.4 mi 7.9
Bellingham High School Bellingham 3.6 mi 6.2
ASSUMPTION CATHOLIC SCHOOL Bellingham 3.6 mi 8.4
Whatcom Co Detention Center Bellingham 3.8 mi
Sehome High School Bellingham 3.8 mi 5.5
Whatcom Middle School Bellingham 3.9 mi 5.6
Parkview Elementary School Bellingham 4.1 mi 8.2

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 98229 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$90,068

Median Home Value

$564,700

Median Rent

$1,533/mo

Population

33,919

College Educated

50.8%

Homeownership

70%

Avg Commute

21.5 min

Poverty Rate

9.1%

Median Age

38.2

Community Profile

The community surrounding Whatcom Hills Waldorf School has a median household income of $90,068. It is a well-educated community where 51% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $564,700, with a median rent of $1,533/month. The local poverty rate of 9.1% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 22 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Pacific Beach Elementary School Pacific Beach, WA 6.6
ST CATHERINE SCHOOL Seattle, WA 6.6
ST MARY CATHOLIC SCHOOL Spokane Valley, WA 6.6
ST VINCENT DE PAUL SCHOOL Federal Way, WA 6.6
THE COR DEO SCHOOL Tacoma, WA 6.6
Central Elementary School Hoquiam, WA 6.5

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Whatcom Hills Waldorf School

What grades does Whatcom Hills Waldorf School serve?

Whatcom Hills Waldorf School serves students in grades Pre-K through 8th.

How many students attend Whatcom Hills Waldorf School?

Whatcom Hills Waldorf School has an enrollment of approximately 163 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Whatcom Hills Waldorf School?

The student-teacher ratio at Whatcom Hills Waldorf School is 9.4:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 11:1 for private schools.

How does Whatcom Hills Waldorf School rank in WA?

Whatcom Hills Waldorf School is ranked #162 out of 381 private schools in WA.

What is Whatcom Hills Waldorf School's MySchoolScout rating?

Whatcom Hills Waldorf School has a composite rating of 6.6 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

Is Whatcom Hills Waldorf School a private school?

Yes, Whatcom Hills Waldorf School is a private coeducational school with a Nonsectarian affiliation. Private schools are not required to participate in state standardized testing, so academic performance data may be limited compared to public schools.

Is Whatcom Hills Waldorf School a religious school?

No, Whatcom Hills Waldorf School is a nonsectarian (non-religious) private school.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

City Safety
High (4,115/100K)

FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Bellingham). Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

Grades
Pre-K – 8th
Enrollment
163
Gender Split
55% M / 45% F
Student-Teacher Ratio
9.4:1
Teachers (FTE)
17
Type
private
Coed Status
coed
Affiliation
Nonsectarian
School Day
7.5 hours
Days Per Year
167 days
Setting
Midsize Suburb
County
WHATCOM
Data Year
2022–2023

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

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