Other / mixed grade configuration · Bellingham, WA

Columbia Elementary School

Federal NCES profile for Columbia Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 63/100.

2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 530042000103
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Compiled from official source data by .
0/100100/10063/100
👥 S:T ratio
53
🌟 Gifted program
70
🎓 Counselors
63
📋 Attendance
67
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →

The verdict

Columbia Elementary School earns 63/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 91% of Washington schools.

#1 of 17
schools in Bellingham · Resource Index
63
Resource Index · Higher
11.7:1
small classes for Washington
18.6%
free-lunch eligible

Columbia Elementary School has class sizes smaller than 91% of Washington schools. Computed live against every Washington school reporting to NCES.

By Resource Investment Index, Columbia Elementary School ranks #1 of 17 schools in Bellingham, WA.

School address

Bellingham, WA 98225
District: Bellingham School District · Washington

NCES ID 530042000103 Verify on NCES CCD record →

CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24

-21 students YoY

Columbia Elementary School shrank from 231 students in 2022-23 to 210 in 2023-24 (-9.1%).

Teacher FTE lost 16.2 → 14.3 across the same CCD years.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).

Shrinking CCD campus

-21 students YoY 530042000103 · Bellingham, WA Other · SMALL · TRAD

187 enr · 11.7:1 · 18.6% lunch · RII 63

Nearest enrollment peer: Squalicum High School (1,273 students)

Columbia Elementary School shrank from 231 students in 2022-23 to 210 in 2023-24 (-9.1%). Teacher FTE lost 16.2 → 14.3 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Washington schools → · Find another →

Columbia Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood

Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers

students

What this shows Columbia Elementary School reports 187 students on the CCD universe file.

Source U.S. Department of Education, NCES Common Core of Data (Public School Universe) As of 2024-25

How Columbia Elementary School compares

Columbia Elementary School is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Washington and U.S. means.

Metric This school vs Washington Washington avg U.S. avg
Students per teacher 11.7:1 ▼ 34% 17.6:1 15.7:1
Free-lunch eligible 18.6% ▼ 59% 45.0% 51.7%
Enrollment 187 top 74% - -

Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25

11.7:1
Leaner classes than 78% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
187
Bigger than 18% of US schools by enrollment, a small campus.

Equity indicators methodology

Economic need
18.6%
free-lunch eligible - 59% below the Washington average of 45.0%
Below the 40% Title I threshold, among the lower-need profiles in the state; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
11.7:1
students per teacher - 34% below state mean
Top 9% in Washington - lower ratio than 91% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
13.4%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 10-15% range, above the pre-pandemic national baseline but within the broader post-pandemic picture.
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 187 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
1
in-school suspensions + 2 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.5 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.6 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.

Student demographics

White 78.0%
Hispanic or Latino 12.4%
Two or More 4.3%
Asian 3.8%
African American 1.1%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.5%

Largest group: White at 78.0% of enrollment.

Student-body diversity index 37.3/100

Simpson diversity index - at 37.3, Columbia Elementary School is less 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 Columbia Elementary School Compares to District-Mates

School Enrollment Economic Profile Student-Teacher Ratio
Squalicum High School Larger Higher economic need Higher S:T ratio
Bellingham High School Larger Similar economic need Higher S:T ratio
Sehome High School Larger Similar economic need Higher S:T ratio
Whatcom Middle School Larger Higher economic need Higher S:T ratio
Shuksan Middle School Larger Higher economic need Higher S:T ratio

Comparisons are relative to Columbia Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.

Other Schools in This District

Bellingham School District · 5 sibling schools

View district profile

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 (~187 students)

Similar student-teacher ratio (~11.7:1)

Frequently asked questions about Columbia Elementary School

How many students attend Columbia Elementary School?

Columbia Elementary School has 187 students enrolled. It is a public school in Bellingham, WA. CCD year-over-year: 231 (2022-23) → 210 (2023-24), down 21.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Columbia Elementary School?

The student-teacher ratio at Columbia Elementary School is 11.7:1, which is 34% lower than the Washington average of 17.6:1 and 25% 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 Columbia Elementary School?

18.6% of students at Columbia Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Washington average of 45.0%.

What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Columbia Elementary School?

The largest demographic group at Columbia Elementary School is White at 78.0% of enrollment, in Bellingham, WA.

What is the Resource Investment Index for Columbia Elementary School?

Columbia Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 63/100 (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 Columbia Elementary School rank among schools in Bellingham?

By Resource Investment Index, Columbia Elementary School ranks #1 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 Columbia 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.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) CCD + Public School Universe (2024-25), CRDC (2021-22), F-33 District Finance Survey (FY 2022-23) · 2024-25 Data as of the 2024-25 school year. Coverage from U.S. Department of Education NCES Common Core of Data. Varies by entity type; administrative districts and certain charter networks may report only a subset of fields.

All federal data sources used on this page

Full source list and how we compute each figure: methodology page.

Compiled from official source data by .