- Enrollment
- 1,273
- Students per teacher
- 19.9:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Bellingham, WA
Bellingham High School
Federal NCES profile for Bellingham High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 47/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 530042000099
👥 S:T ratio 20
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 48
📋 Attendance 52
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Bellingham High School earns 47/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 79% of Washington schools.
- #4 of 8
- high schools in Bellingham · Resource Index
- 47
- Resource Index · Typical
- 20.1:1
- large classes for Washington
- 27.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Bellingham High School has class sizes larger than 79% of Washington schools. Computed live against every Washington school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Bellingham High School ranks #4 of 8 high schools in Bellingham, WA.
School address
District: Bellingham School District · Washington
NCES ID 530042000099 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-30 students YoY
Bellingham High School held near 1,188 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-30 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 58.3 → 54.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-30 students YoY 530042000099 · Bellingham, WA High · MID · TRAD
1,165 enr · 20.1:1 · 27.9% lunch · RII 47
Nearest enrollment peer: Squalicum High School (1,273 students)
Bellingham High School held near 1,188 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-30 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 58.3 → 54.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Washington schools → · Find another →
Bellingham High School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Squalicum High
Squalicum High School
1,273 students
- This school
Bellingham High School
1,165 students
- Sehome High Sc
Sehome High School
1,116 students
- Whatcom Middle
Whatcom Middle School
637 students
- Shuksan Middle
Shuksan Middle School
606 students
- Fairhaven Midd
Fairhaven Middle School
588 students
What this shows Bellingham High School reports 1,165 students on the CCD universe file.
How Bellingham High School compares
Bellingham High School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Washington and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Washington | Washington avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 20.1:1 | ▲ 14% | 17.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 27.9% | ▼ 38% | 45.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,165 | top 6% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
20.1:1
Leaner classes than 16% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
1,165
Bigger than 94% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
27.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 38% below the Washington average of 45.0%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
20.1:1
students per teacher
- 14% above state mean
Top 79% in Washington - lower ratio than 21% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
19.3%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$17,886
per pupil, district-wide
- below Washington avg of $20,912
Close to the U.S. public-school average per-pupil spend.
Support staff
Counselors4.5 FTE
Per 260 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
2
in-school suspensions + 20 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.9 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 68.5%
Hispanic or Latino 18.7%
Two or More 7.7%
Asian 2.3%
African American 1.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.9%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: White at 68.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 48.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 48.9, Bellingham High School is less mixed than the Washington school average of 53.3.
Programs
AP courses offered 19
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Bellingham School District reports $17,886 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Bellingham High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Squalicum High School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Sehome High School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Whatcom Middle School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Shuksan Middle School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Fairhaven Middle School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Bellingham High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,116
- Students per teacher
- 20.7:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
- Enrollment
- 637
- Students per teacher
- 17.7:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
- Enrollment
- 606
- Students per teacher
- 16.8:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
- Enrollment
- 588
- Students per teacher
- 16.8:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
Similar high schools in Bellingham
6 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Squalicum High School
Standard public school
1,273 students 19.9:1 students per teacher
Sehome High School
Standard public school
1,116 students 20.7:1 students per teacher
Options High School
Alternative education program
176 students 8.8:1 students per teacher
Bellingham Re-Engagement Program
Alternative education program
110 students
Intergenerational High School
Standard public school
107 students 13.4:1 students per teacher
Meridian Impact Re-Engagement
Alternative education program
21 students
Nationwide high schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~1,165 students)
Frequently asked questions about Bellingham High School
How many students attend Bellingham High School?
Bellingham High School has 1,165 students enrolled. It is a high school in Bellingham, WA. CCD year-over-year: 1,218 (2022-23) → 1,188 (2023-24), nearly flat (-30).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Bellingham High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Bellingham High School is 20.1:1, which is 14% higher than the Washington average of 17.6:1 and 28% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Bellingham High School?
27.9% of students at Bellingham High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Washington average of 45.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Bellingham High School?
The largest demographic group at Bellingham High School is White at 68.5% of enrollment, in Bellingham, WA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Bellingham High School?
Bellingham High School has a Resource Investment Index of 47/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Bellingham High School rank among high schools in Bellingham?
By Resource Investment Index, Bellingham High School ranks #4 of 8 high schools in Bellingham, WA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in Bellingham on the city page.
What other schools are in Bellingham School District?
Besides Bellingham High School, Bellingham School District also operates Squalicum High School (1,273 students), Sehome High School (1,116 students), and Whatcom Middle School (637 students). See the Bellingham School District district page for the complete list.