Enrollment
127
Washington · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Bellingham, WA
North Bell Learning Center
Federal NCES profile for North Bell Learning Center, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 33/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 530285003775
👥 S:T ratio 15
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 53
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
North Bell Learning Center earns 33/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 84% of Washington schools.
- #15 of 17
- schools in Bellingham · Resource Index
- 33
- Resource Index · Typical
- 21.2:1
- large classes for Washington
- 52.8%
- free-lunch eligible
North Bell Learning Center has class sizes larger than 84% of Washington schools. Computed live against every Washington school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, North Bell Learning Center ranks #15 of 17 schools in Bellingham, WA.
School address
District: Ferndale School District · Washington
NCES ID 530285003775 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
6.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
21.2:1
vs 17.6:1 Washington avg
+20% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
52.8%
vs 45.0% Washington avg
+17% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How North Bell Learning Center compares with Washington and U.S. medians
What stands out at North Bell Learning Center
North Bell Learning Center is a higher-need, mid-sized combined-grade school in Bellingham, Washington, enrolling 127 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 21.2:1 puts it in the larger third of Washington schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 52.8% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 127 puts it in the smaller third of Washington schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 2,394 scored Washington schools.
Among 104 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Washington schools statewide, it ranks #77, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Attendance runs somewhat below the norm, with 18.9% of students chronically absent per the 2021-22 civil-rights collection.
Among Bellingham's public schools, it stands alongside Happy Valley Elementary School (455 students): North Bell Learning Center is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (21.2:1 vs 17.5:1).
Ferndale School District also operates Ferndale High School (1,325 students) and Vista Middle School (550 students) alongside North Bell Learning Center.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How North Bell Learning Center compares
North Bell Learning Center on the metrics families compare, against Washington and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Washington | Washington avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 21.2:1 | ▲ 20% | 17.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 52.8% | ▲ 17% | 45.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 127 | top 79% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
21.2:1
Leaner classes than 12% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
127
Bigger than 12% of US schools by enrollment, a small campus.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
52.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 17% 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
21.2:1
students per teacher
- 20% above state mean
Top 84% in Washington - lower ratio than 16% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
18.9%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$17,981
per pupil, district-wide
- below Washington avg of $19,487
Somewhat above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Ferndale School District, which includes North Bell Learning Center.
$17,981
Per student
-8%
vs Washington
Avg $19,487
+8%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 22.3%
State 63.5%
Federal 14.2%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How North Bell Learning Center Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ferndale High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Vista Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Skyline Elementary School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Eagleridge Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Cascadia Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to North Bell Learning Center's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,325
- Students per teacher
- 18.9:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 550
- Students per teacher
- 15.7:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 496
- Students per teacher
- 17.1:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 457
- Students per teacher
- 14.3:1
- Resource Index
- 50/100
- Enrollment
- 440
- Students per teacher
- 14.2:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
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
Similar other schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Washington, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~127 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~21.2:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on North Bell Learning Center's federal record.
- Compare North Bell Learning Center against another school. Compare schools
- Ferndale School District's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about North Bell Learning Center
How many students attend North Bell Learning Center?
North Bell Learning Center has 127 students enrolled. It is a public school in Bellingham, WA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at North Bell Learning Center?
The student-teacher ratio at North Bell Learning Center is 21.2:1, which is 20% higher than the Washington average of 17.6:1 and 35% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at North Bell Learning Center?
52.8% of students at North Bell Learning Center are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Washington average of 45.0%.
What is the Resource Investment Index for North Bell Learning Center?
North Bell Learning Center has a Resource Investment Index of 33/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does North Bell Learning Center rank among schools in Bellingham?
By Resource Investment Index, North Bell Learning Center ranks #15 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.
Is North Bell Learning Center a good school?
North Bell Learning Center earns 33/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 84% of Washington schools. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Ferndale School District?
Besides North Bell Learning Center, Ferndale School District also operates Ferndale High School (1,325 students), Vista Middle School (550 students), and Skyline Elementary School (496 students). See the Ferndale School District district page for the complete list.
Related tools
Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.