- Enrollment
- 1,273
- Students per teacher
- 19.9:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Bellingham, WA
Birchwood Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Birchwood Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 53/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 530042000100
👥 S:T ratio 48
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 33
📋 Attendance 59
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Birchwood Elementary School earns 53/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 85% of Washington schools.
- #7 of 17
- schools in Bellingham · Resource Index
- 53
- Resource Index · Higher
- 12.9:1
- small classes for Washington
- 54.5%
- free-lunch eligible
Birchwood Elementary School has class sizes smaller than 85% of Washington schools. Computed live against every Washington school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Birchwood Elementary School ranks #7 of 17 schools in Bellingham, WA.
School address
District: Bellingham School District · Washington
NCES ID 530042000100 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-7 students YoY
Birchwood Elementary School held near 362 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-7 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 26.6 → 26.9 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-7 students YoY 530042000100 · Bellingham, WA Other · SMALL · TRAD
335 enr · 12.9:1 · 54.5% lunch · RII 53
Nearest enrollment peer: Squalicum High School (1,273 students)
Birchwood Elementary School held near 362 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-7 headcount). Teacher FTE added 26.6 → 26.9 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Washington schools → · Find another →
Birchwood Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Squalicum High
Squalicum High School
1,273 students
- Bellingham Hig
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
- This school 335
Birchwood Elementary School
335 students
What this shows Birchwood Elementary School reports 335 students on the CCD universe file.
How Birchwood Elementary School compares
Birchwood Elementary 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 | 12.9:1 | ▼ 27% | 17.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 54.5% | ▲ 21% | 45.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 335 | top 58% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12.9:1
Leaner classes than 68% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
335
Bigger than 37% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
54.5%
free-lunch eligible
- 21% above the Washington average of 45.0%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
12.9:1
students per teacher
- 27% below state mean
Top 15% in Washington - lower ratio than 85% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
16.4%
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
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 335 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
3
in-school suspensions + 8 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.9 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 3.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 45.5%
White 40.1%
Two or More 10.5%
Asian 1.8%
African American 1.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.9%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 45.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 62.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 62.1, Birchwood Elementary School is more mixed than the Washington school average of 53.3.
Programs
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 Birchwood Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Squalicum High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Bellingham High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Sehome High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Whatcom Middle School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Shuksan Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Birchwood Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,165
- Students per teacher
- 20.1:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
- 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
Similar other schools in Bellingham
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Happy Valley Elementary School
Standard public school
455 students 17.5:1 students per teacher
Parkview Elementary School
Standard public school
422 students 17.6:1 students per teacher
Geneva Elementary School
Standard public school
412 students 15.8:1 students per teacher
Northern Heights Elementary Schl
Standard public school
396 students 15.2:1 students per teacher
Silver Beach Elementary School
Standard public school
357 students 18.8:1 students per teacher
Cordata Elementary School
Standard public school
357 students 11.2:1 students per teacher
Nationwide other 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 (~335 students)
Frequently asked questions about Birchwood Elementary School
How many students attend Birchwood Elementary School?
Birchwood Elementary School has 335 students enrolled. It is a public school in Bellingham, WA. CCD year-over-year: 369 (2022-23) → 362 (2023-24), nearly flat (-7).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Birchwood Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Birchwood Elementary School is 12.9:1, which is 27% lower than the Washington average of 17.6:1 and 18% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Birchwood Elementary School?
54.5% of students at Birchwood Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Washington average of 45.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Birchwood Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Birchwood Elementary School is Hispanic or Latino at 45.5% of enrollment, in Bellingham, WA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 62.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Birchwood Elementary School?
Birchwood Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 53/100 (higher 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 Birchwood Elementary School rank among schools in Bellingham?
By Resource Investment Index, Birchwood Elementary School ranks #7 of 17 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 schools in Bellingham on the city page.
What other schools are in Bellingham School District?
Besides Birchwood Elementary School, Bellingham School District also operates Squalicum High School (1,273 students), Bellingham High School (1,165 students), and Sehome High School (1,116 students). See the Bellingham School District district page for the complete list.