Bellingham School District operates 25 public schools serving 11,614 students, placing it in the mid-size range in Washington. The school portfolio breaks down into 16 other, 5 high, 4 middle schools, giving families a clear picture of grade-band coverage before they move, rent, or enrol. Aggregated across those campuses, enrollment totals 11,337 pupils using the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2022-23 release, and the district is geographically located in Whatcom County County.
Per-pupil expenditure runs $23,302 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, which aggregates every revenue and spending line reported under federal accounting standards. The funding mix is 30.7% local, 59.5% state, and 9.9% federal — a breakdown that matters because districts leaning heavily on local revenue are more exposed to property-tax swings, while higher federal shares typically track Title I concentration. Average teacher compensation clocks in at $105,637 per NCES F-33, a signal of the district's ability to recruit and retain staff against neighbouring districts. The district's equity score — 57/100, ranked #85 of 240 in Washington against a state average of 50 — measures how evenly funding reaches schools within its boundaries.
Academic infrastructure includes 3 of 25 schools offering Advanced Placement (66 AP courses district-wide), a 336.8:1 student-counselor ratio, above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 18.1% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 63.5% White, 21.9% Hispanic or Latino, 3.9% Asian across the district's schools.
Bellingham School District school enrollment varies 116× across entities
Bellingham School District school enrollment ranges from 11 students (lowest) to 1,273 students (highest), a spread of 1,262 students. That ratio is among the widest observed and reflects extreme enrollment heterogeneity — the district operates both small specialty programs and large comprehensive campuses inside a single budgeting unit. Per-school staffing ratios, programme availability, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same district based on enrollment shape.
Bellingham School District student-counselor ratio is 337:1 — near the typical range (US average ~408) — within the typical range for U.S. public districts
student-counselor ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE counselors against total enrollment — districts that contract intervention or social-emotional staff outside the counselor classification may be under-counted Variation between sub-units within Bellingham School District is typically wider than the Bellingham School District-aggregate figure suggests.
Bellingham School District chronic absenteeism rate is 18.1% — near the typical range (US average ~28) — aligned with the national post-pandemic baseline of roughly 28% chronic absenteeism
chronic absenteeism rate is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: a student is chronically absent if they miss ≥10% of enrolled days for any reason — illness, family obligations, or disengagement Variation between sub-units within Bellingham School District is typically wider than the Bellingham School District-aggregate figure suggests.
How many schools are in Bellingham School District?
Bellingham School District has 25 schools, including 5 high, 4 middle, 16 other. Total enrollment is 11,614 students.
How much does Bellingham School District spend per student?
Bellingham School District spends $23,302 per student. The district has an equity score of 57/100, ranking #85 in Washington.
What is the average teacher salary in Bellingham School District?
The average teacher salary in Bellingham School District is $105,637 per year, according to the NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.
What is the average rent near Bellingham School District?
The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Whatcom County County is $N/A/month (2026). This affects housing affordability for families in the district.
What is the demographic composition of Bellingham School District?
Bellingham School District students are 63.5% White, 21.9% Hispanic or Latino, 3.9% Asian, 1.4% African American, averaged across 25 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.
What is the equity score for Bellingham School District?
Bellingham School District has an equity score of 57/100, ranking #85 out of 240 districts in Washington. This score measures resource distribution fairness across schools in the district.