- Enrollment
- 1,273
- Students per teacher
- 19.9:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Bellingham, WA
Northern Heights Elementary Schl
Federal NCES profile for Northern Heights Elementary Schl, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 49/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 530042002939
👥 S:T ratio 39
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 21
📋 Attendance 65
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Northern Heights Elementary Schl earns 49/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Washington median.
- #10 of 17
- schools in Bellingham · Resource Index
- 49
- Resource Index · Higher
- 15.2:1
- students per teacher
- 26.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Northern Heights Elementary Schl has class sizes near the Washington median. Computed live against every Washington school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Northern Heights Elementary Schl ranks #10 of 17 schools in Bellingham, WA.
School address
District: Bellingham School District · Washington
NCES ID 530042002939 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+10 students YoY
Northern Heights Elementary Schl held near 420 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+10 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 26.4 → 25.6 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+10 students YoY 530042002939 · Bellingham, WA Other · SMALL · TRAD
396 enr · 15.2:1 · 26.8% lunch · RII 49
Nearest enrollment peer: Squalicum High School (1,273 students)
Northern Heights Elementary Schl held near 420 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+10 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 26.4 → 25.6 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Washington schools → · Find another →
Northern Heights Elementary Schl 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 396
Northern Heights Elementary Schl
396 students
What this shows Northern Heights Elementary Schl reports 396 students on the CCD universe file.
How Northern Heights Elementary Schl compares
Northern Heights Elementary Schl 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 | 15.2:1 | ▼ 14% | 17.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 26.8% | ▼ 40% | 45.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 396 | top 48% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.2:1
Leaner classes than 45% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
396
Bigger than 47% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
26.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 40% 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
15.2:1
students per teacher
- 14% below state mean
Top 36% in Washington - lower ratio than 64% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
14.1%
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 396 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 1 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 64.5%
Hispanic or Latino 15.0%
Two or More 14.0%
Asian 5.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.8%
African American 0.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Largest group: White at 64.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 53.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 53.9, Northern Heights Elementary Schl is about as mixed as 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 Northern Heights Elementary Schl 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 Northern Heights Elementary Schl'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
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
Roosevelt Elementary School
Standard public school
348 students 12.9:1 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 (~396 students)
Frequently asked questions about Northern Heights Elementary Schl
How many students attend Northern Heights Elementary Schl?
Northern Heights Elementary Schl has 396 students enrolled. It is a public school in Bellingham, WA. CCD year-over-year: 410 (2022-23) → 420 (2023-24), nearly flat (+10).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Northern Heights Elementary Schl?
The student-teacher ratio at Northern Heights Elementary Schl is 15.2:1, which is 14% lower than the Washington average of 17.6:1 and 3% 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 Northern Heights Elementary Schl?
26.8% of students at Northern Heights Elementary Schl are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Washington average of 45.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Northern Heights Elementary Schl?
The largest demographic group at Northern Heights Elementary Schl is White at 64.5% of enrollment, in Bellingham, WA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 53.9/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Northern Heights Elementary Schl?
Northern Heights Elementary Schl has a Resource Investment Index of 49/100 (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 Northern Heights Elementary Schl rank among schools in Bellingham?
By Resource Investment Index, Northern Heights Elementary Schl ranks #10 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 Northern Heights Elementary Schl, 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.