Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives

Bellingham School District

Washington · Public School District
25
Schools
11,614
Students
$23,302
Per-Pupil Spend
+62% nat'l
40.1%
Free Lunch Rate
-12pp vs nat'l
87.7%
Graduation Rate
≈ nat'l avg
District Overview

Bellingham School District is a public school district in Washington serving 11,614 students across 25 schools. It includes 14 elementary, 4 middle, 6 high schools. Its graduation rate of 87.7% is near the national average of 86.5%. Per-pupil spending of $23,302 is above average for a US public school district. 40% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. Opportunity scores across its schools are moderate, with a district median of 49/100.

⇄ Compare with another district
All Schools (25)
Middle Schools4 schools
SchoolGradesStudents
Fairhaven Middle School06–08597
Kulshan Middle School06–08623
Shuksan Middle School06–08579
Whatcom Middle School06–08600
High Schools6 schools
SchoolGradesStudents
Bellingham High School09–121,218
Bellingham Re-Engagement Program09–1297
Options High School09–12188
Sehome High School09–121,163
Squalicum High School09–121,280
Visions (Seamar Youth Center)06–1213
Other School1 school
SchoolGradesStudents
Bellingham Family Partnership ProgramKG–12266
District Finances
Per-Pupil Expenditure$23,302+62% nat'l avg
National avg $14,347
Revenue Sources
59%
31%
State
59.5%
Local (property tax)
30.6%
Federal
9.9%

State funding accounts for 59% of the budget — this district relies more on state aid than local tax revenue.

Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey. District-level data.
District Snapshot
25
Schools
11,614
Students
40%
Free Lunch
$23K
Per-Pupil
Graduation Rate87.7%
Opportunity Score49/100
StateWashington →
School Rankings
Strengths & Considerations
High per-student investment
Spends $23,302 per pupil — 62% above the national average of $14,347.
Range of school options
With 25 schools, families have meaningful choice across programs and grade levels.
Location
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Bellingham School District?
Bellingham School District has 25 public schools, serving a total of 11,614 students.
What is the graduation rate for Bellingham School District?
The graduation rate is 87.7%, which is above the national average of 86.5%.
How much does Bellingham School District spend per student?
Bellingham School District spends $23,302 per pupil — 62% above the national average of $14,347.
What percentage of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch in Bellingham School District?
40% of students in Bellingham School District qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, compared to the national rate of 52.2%.
Are there charter schools in Bellingham School District?
No, Bellingham School District does not currently include any charter schools.
What grade levels does Bellingham School District serve?
Bellingham School District serves grades PK through 12, covering elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the opportunity score for Bellingham School District?
The median opportunity score across schools in Bellingham School District is 49/100. The national median is 50/100. Opportunity scores reflect long-term economic mobility prospects for children who grow up in these communities.
About This Data

All figures on this page come directly from US federal open datasets — NCES Common Core of Data, EDFacts, and the Opportunity Atlas — and we work hard to keep them accurate and up to date. That said, federal data is published on an annual cycle, so some figures may not yet reflect the very latest school-year changes or local updates. We recommend using this page as a helpful starting point and cross-checking with the school or district directly, or visiting the NCES Common Core of Data and ed.gov for the most authoritative figures before making any important decisions.