- Enrollment
- 1,273
- Students per teacher
- 19.9:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Bellingham, WA
Options High School
Federal NCES profile for Options High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 50/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 530042001738
👥 S:T ratio 65
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 65
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Options High School earns 50/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 96% of Washington schools.
- #2 of 8
- high schools in Bellingham · Resource Index
- 50
- Resource Index · Higher
- 8.8:1
- small classes for Washington
- 52.7%
- free-lunch eligible
Options High School has class sizes smaller than 96% of Washington schools. Computed live against every Washington school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Options High School ranks #2 of 8 high schools in Bellingham, WA.
School address
District: Bellingham School District · Washington
NCES ID 530042001738 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+18 students YoY
Options High School grew from 188 students in 2022-23 to 206 in 2023-24 (+9.6%).
Teacher FTE lost 20.5 → 20.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+18 students YoY 530042001738 · Bellingham, WA High · SMALL · TRAD
176 enr · 8.8:1 · 52.7% lunch · RII 50
Nearest enrollment peer: Squalicum High School (1,273 students)
Options High School grew from 188 students in 2022-23 to 206 in 2023-24 (+9.6%). Teacher FTE lost 20.5 → 20.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Washington schools → · Find another →
Options High 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 176
Options High School
176 students
What this shows Options High School reports 176 students on the CCD universe file.
How Options High School compares
Options High School is a growing 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 | 8.8:1 | ▼ 50% | 17.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 52.7% | ▲ 17% | 45.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 176 | top 75% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
8.8:1
Leaner classes than 93% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
176
Bigger than 17% of US schools by enrollment, a small campus.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
52.7%
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
8.8:1
students per teacher
- 50% below state mean
Top 4% in Washington - lower ratio than 96% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
64.2%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
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 176 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
1
in-school suspensions + 26 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.6 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 15.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 76.1%
Hispanic or Latino 16.6%
Two or More 3.1%
American Indian / Alaska Native 2.5%
African American 1.2%
Asian 0.6%
Largest group: White at 76.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 39.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 39.2, Options High School is less mixed than the Washington school average of 53.3.
Programs
AP program Not offered
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 Options High 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 Options High 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 high schools in Bellingham
6 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Squalicum High School
Standard public school
1,273 students 19.9:1 students per teacher
Bellingham High School
Standard public school
1,165 students 20.1:1 students per teacher
Sehome High School
Standard public school
1,116 students 20.7:1 students per teacher
Bellingham Re-Engagement Program
Alternative education program
110 students
Intergenerational High School
Standard public school
107 students 13.4:1 students per teacher
Meridian Impact Re-Engagement
Alternative education program
21 students
Nationwide high 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 (~176 students)
Frequently asked questions about Options High School
How many students attend Options High School?
Options High School has 176 students enrolled. It is a high school in Bellingham, WA. CCD year-over-year: 188 (2022-23) → 206 (2023-24), up 18.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Options High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Options High School is 8.8:1, which is 50% lower than the Washington average of 17.6:1 and 44% 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 Options High School?
52.7% of students at Options High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Washington average of 45.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Options High School?
The largest demographic group at Options High School is White at 76.1% of enrollment, in Bellingham, WA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Options High School?
Options High School has a Resource Investment Index of 50/100 (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 Options High School rank among high schools in Bellingham?
By Resource Investment Index, Options High School ranks #2 of 8 high 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 high schools in Bellingham on the city page.
What other schools are in Bellingham School District?
Besides Options High 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.