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Bellingham, Washington - 25 schools
An equity score of 44/100 ranks Bellingham School District #141 of 238 districts in Washington (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.
At $16,802 per pupil, Bellingham School District ranks #178 of 309 Washington districts by per-pupil spending (Washington districts). NCES F-33 finance data.
11,614
Total Enrollment
25
Schools
$16,802
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined, High
School Types
District-Level NCES Analysis
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 combined, 5 high, 4 middle schools, giving families a clear picture of grade-band coverage before they move, rent, or enrol. These enrollment and school figures come from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 release, and the district is based in Whatcom County.
Per-pupil expenditure runs $16,802 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the lower half of 309 Washington districts by per-pupil spending. See how Washington compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 30.7% local, 59.5% state, and 9.9% federal, a state-revenue-heavy mix that insulates the district somewhat from local property-tax volatility, though it ties funding to state budget cycles. The district's equity score is 44/100, ranked #141 of 238 in Washington against a state average of 50, in line with the typical spread seen across the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.
Academic infrastructure includes 3 of 25 schools offering Advanced Placement (66 AP courses district-wide), a 336.8:1 student-counselor ratio, well above the ASCA benchmark though still under the roughly 408:1 national average, 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. Its most demographically mixed campus is Cordata Elementary School, with a diversity index of 71.9/100.
Its largest campus is Squalicum High School, enrolling 1,273 students (11% of the district's total enrollment). Its smallest is Visions (Seamar Youth Center), at 11 students, a 116x enrollment spread across the district's campuses.
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 an extreme outlier spread — among the widest gaps observed anywhere in this dataset. 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 combined. Total enrollment is 11,614 students.
How much does Bellingham School District spend per student?
Bellingham School District spends $16,802 per student. The district has an equity score of 44/100, ranking #141 in Washington.
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 44/100, ranking #141 out of 238 districts in Washington.