- Enrollment
- 1,273
- Students per teacher
- 19.9:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Bellingham, WA
Lowell Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Lowell Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 44/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 530042000108
👥 S:T ratio 32
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 74
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Lowell Elementary School earns 44/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Washington median.
- #14 of 17
- schools in Bellingham · Resource Index
- 44
- Resource Index · Typical
- 16.9:1
- students per teacher
- 28.4%
- free-lunch eligible
Lowell Elementary School has class sizes near the Washington median. Computed live against every Washington school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Lowell Elementary School ranks #14 of 17 schools in Bellingham, WA.
School address
District: Bellingham School District · Washington
NCES ID 530042000108 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+5 students YoY
Lowell Elementary School held near 308 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+5 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 20.3 → 19.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+5 students YoY 530042000108 · Bellingham, WA Other · SMALL · TRAD
338 enr · 16.9:1 · 28.4% lunch · RII 44
Nearest enrollment peer: Squalicum High School (1,273 students)
Lowell Elementary School held near 308 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+5 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 20.3 → 19.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Washington schools → · Find another →
Lowell 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 338
Lowell Elementary School
338 students
What this shows Lowell Elementary School reports 338 students on the CCD universe file.
How Lowell Elementary School compares
Lowell 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 | 16.9:1 | ▼ 4% | 17.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 28.4% | ▼ 37% | 45.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 338 | top 58% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
16.9:1
Leaner classes than 31% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
338
Bigger than 38% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
28.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 37% 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
16.9:1
students per teacher
- 4% below state mean
Top 55% in Washington - lower ratio than 45% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
10.4%
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
Counselors0.5 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 3 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.9 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 70.9%
Hispanic or Latino 12.8%
Two or More 10.4%
Asian 3.3%
African American 1.5%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1.2%
Largest group: White at 70.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 46.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 46.9, Lowell 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 Lowell 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 | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Shuksan Middle School | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Lowell 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 (~338 students)
Frequently asked questions about Lowell Elementary School
How many students attend Lowell Elementary School?
Lowell Elementary School has 338 students enrolled. It is a public school in Bellingham, WA. CCD year-over-year: 303 (2022-23) → 308 (2023-24), nearly flat (+5).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Lowell Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Lowell Elementary School is 16.9:1, which is 4% lower than the Washington average of 17.6:1 and 8% higher 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 Lowell Elementary School?
28.4% of students at Lowell Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Washington average of 45.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Lowell Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Lowell Elementary School is White at 70.9% of enrollment, in Bellingham, WA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Lowell Elementary School?
Lowell Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 44/100 (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 Lowell Elementary School rank among schools in Bellingham?
By Resource Investment Index, Lowell Elementary School ranks #14 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 Lowell 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.