Bellingham High School (Ranked Top 30% for 2026)

2020 Cornwall Ave
Bellingham, WA 98225

Top 30%

Bellingham High School is a public high school in the Bellingham School District located in Bellingham, Washington. The school serves students primarily from Whatcom, Kulshan, and Shuksan Middle Schools.

Serving 1,188 students in grades 9-12, Bellingham High School ranks in the top 30% of all schools in Washington for overall test scores (math proficiency is top 50%, and reading proficiency is top 50%).

The percentage of students achieving is 44% (which is higher than the Washington state average of 41%). The percentage of students achieving is 79% (which is higher than the Washington state average of 53%).

The student-teacher ratio of 22:1 is higher than the Washington state level of 16:1.

Minority enrollment is 33% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is lower than the Washington state average of 52% (majority Hispanic).

Quick Facts (2026)

Grades: 9-12
Enrollment: 1,188 students
Student-Teacher Ratio: 22:1
Minority Enrollment: 33%
: 84% (Top 50% in WA)
: Top 30%
: 44% (Top 50%)
: 79% (Top 10%)
: 60-64% (Top 30%)
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), WA Dept. of Education

<�鶹��ý class="so-dt-title" id="top-rankings">Top Rankings

Bellingham High School ranks among the top 20% of public schools in Washington for:

Category

Attribute

Reading/Language Arts Proficiency

Highest reading/language arts proficiency (Top 10%)

<�鶹��ý class='so-dt-title' id="overview">School Overview

Bellingham High School's student population of 1,188 students has stayed relatively flat over five school years.

The teacher population of 55 teachers has stayed relatively flat over five school years.

Grades Offered

Grades 9-12
(Supplemental Virtual)

View Data

Distribution of Students By Grade Trends
Grade	Bellingham High School
9	289
10	299
11	252
12	348

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Total Students

1,188 students

View Data

Total Students Trends Over Years (1991-2023)
Year	Bellingham High School
2023	1,218
2022	1,172
2021	1,194
2020	1,127
2019	1,127
2018	1,060
2017	1,060
2016	1,047
2015	1,070
2014	1,119
2013	1,118
2012	1,111
2011	1,109
2010	1,105
2009	1,103
2008	1,228
2007	1,218
2006	1,156
2005	1,140
2004	1,091
2003	1,052
2002	986
2001	737
1998	1,579
1997	1,477
1996	1,436
1995	1,374
1994	1,378
1993	1,388
1992	1,329
1991	1,290

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Gender %

Total Classroom Teachers

55 teachers

View Data

Total Classroom Teachers Trends Over Years (1990-2023)
Year	Bellingham High School
2023	58
2022	61
2021	56
2020	57
2019	57
2018	46
2017	46
2016	46
2015	44
2013	49
2012	47
2011	48
2010	48
2009	54
2008	54
2007	52
2006	50
2005	48
2004	48
2003	47
2002	43
2001	35
1998	66
1997	64
1996	63
1995	62
1994	61
1993	62
1992	62
1991	64
1990	63

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Year Founded

1938

<�鶹��ý class='so-dt-title' id="school-rankings">School Rankings

Bellingham High School ranks within the top 30% of all 2,088 schools in Washington (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data).

The of Bellingham High School is 0.52, which is less than the diversity score at state average of 0.69. The school's diversity has stayed relatively flat over five school years.

This School

State Level (WA)

#447 out of 2088 schools
(Top 30%)

View Data

Overall School Rank Trends Over Years (2012-2023)
Year	Bellingham High School
2023	#447
2022	#317
2021	#388
2019	#388
2018	#281
2017	#125
2016	#244
2015	#1175
2014	#130
2013	#69
2012	#135

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44%

41%

View Data

Math Proficiency Comparison Over Years (2011-2023)
Year	Bellingham High School	Washington	Bellingham School District
2023	44%	41%	45%
2022	50%	40%	43%
2019	52%	50%	47%
2018	58%	51%	53%
2017	67%	51%	55%
2016	57%	51%	58%
2015	27%	49%	59%
2014	84%	65%	69%
2013	89%	64%	70%
2012	83%	63%	69%
2011	77%	60%	67%

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79%

53%

View Data

Reading and Language Arts Proficiency Comparison Over Years (2010-2022)
Year	Bellingham High School	Washington	Bellingham School District
2022	79%	53%	57%
2019	89%	61%	63%
2018	87%	61%	53%
2017	92%	61%	65%
2016	93%	62%	70%
2015	62%	56%	65%
2014	91%	74%	79%
2013	92%	73%	80%
2012	90%	72%	78%
2011	93%	70%	76%
2010	91%	70%	76%

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60-64%

49%

Student-Teacher Ratio

22:1

16:1

View Data

Student-Teacher Ratio Comparison Over Years (1990-2023)
Year	Bellingham High School	Washington	Bellingham School District
2023	21:1	16:1	17:1
2022	19:1	16:1	17:1
2021	21:1	16:1	17:1
2020	20:1	17:1	18:1
2019	20:1	17:1	18:1
2018	23:1	19:1	19:1
2017	23:1	18:1	19:1
2016	23:1	19:1	19:1
2015	24:1	18:1	19:1
2013	23:1	19:1	21:1
2012	24:1	20:1	21:1
2011	23:1	19:1	21:1
2010	23:1	19:1	22:1
2009	21:1	19:1	20:1
2008	23:1	19:1	21:1
2007	23:1	19:1	21:1
2006	23:1	19:1	20:1
2005	24:1	19:1	21:1
2004	23:1	19:1	20:1
2003	22:1	19:1	20:1
2002	23:1	19:1	21:1
2001	21:1	20:1	21:1
1998	24:1	20:1	22:1
1997	23:1	20:1	21:1
1996	23:1	21:1	21:1
1995	22:1	20:1	21:1
1994	23:1	20:1	20:1
1993	22:1	21:1	21:1
1992	21:1	21:1	21:1
1991	20:1	21:1	20:1
1990	21:1	21:1	20:1

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American Indian

View Data

American Indian Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1991-2023)
Year	Bellingham High School	Washington	Bellingham School District
2023	1%	1%	1%
2022	1%	1%	1%
2021	1%	1%	2%
2020	1%	1%	1%
2019	1%	1%	1%
2018	1%	1%	1%
2017	1%	1%	1%
2016	1%	2%	1%
2015	1%	1%	2%
2014	1%	1%	2%
2013	1%	1%	1%
2012	1%	2%	2%
2011	1%	2%	1%
2010	2%	4%	3%
2009	3%	4%	4%
2008	3%	4%	4%
2007	2%	4%	3%
2006	3%	3%	3%
2005	3%	3%	3%
2004	3%	3%	3%
2003	2%	3%	3%
2002	3%	3%	3%
2001	3%	4%	2%
1998	2%	3%	3%
1997	2%	3%	3%
1996	3%	3%	3%
1995	3%	3%	3%
1994	2%	3%	2%
1993	3%	3%	4%
1992	4%	3%	3%
1991	4%	2%	3%

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Asian

View Data

Asian Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1991-2023)
Year	Bellingham High School	Washington	Bellingham School District
2023	4%	9%	5%
2022	3%	9%	5%
2021	4%	8%	5%
2020	4%	8%	5%
2019	4%	8%	5%
2018	3%	8%	6%
2017	3%	8%	6%
2016	2%	8%	6%
2015	2%	8%	5%
2014	2%	7%	5%
2013	3%	8%	6%
2012	4%	7%	6%
2011	3%	7%	6%
2010	3%	10%	7%
2009	4%	10%	7%
2008	3%	9%	7%
2007	4%	8%	7%
2006	3%	8%	7%
2005	3%	8%	6%
2004	3%	8%	6%
2003	4%	8%	6%
2002	4%	8%	6%
2001	4%	7%	6%
1998	7%	7%	6%
1997	7%	7%	5%
1996	6%	7%	5%
1995	5%	6%	5%
1994	6%	6%	5%
1993	5%	6%	4%
1992	5%	6%	4%
1991	4%	6%	4%

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Hispanic

18%

26%

View Data

Hispanic Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1991-2023)
Year	Bellingham High School	Washington	Bellingham School District
2023	18%	26%	19%
2022	17%	25%	17%
2021	16%	25%	17%
2020	17%	24%	17%
2019	17%	24%	17%
2018	16%	23%	16%
2017	16%	23%	16%
2016	15%	22%	16%
2015	13%	22%	15%
2014	12%	21%	15%
2013	12%	20%	15%
2012	11%	20%	14%
2011	10%	18%	14%
2010	7%	16%	11%
2009	6%	16%	11%
2008	7%	15%	10%
2007	5%	14%	10%
2006	4%	14%	9%
2005	5%	13%	9%
2004	5%	12%	8%
2003	5%	12%	7%
2002	4%	11%	6%
2001	4%	10%	6%
1998	5%	9%	5%
1997	5%	8%	5%
1996	4%	8%	4%
1995	3%	7%	4%
1994	4%	7%	4%
1993	4%	6%	3%
1992	3%	6%	3%
1991	2%	6%	3%

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Black

View Data

Black Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1991-2023)
Year	Bellingham High School	Washington	Bellingham School District
2023	2%	5%	2%
2022	2%	5%	2%
2021	1%	5%	1%
2020	1%	5%	2%
2019	1%	5%	2%
2018	1%	4%	1%
2017	1%	4%	1%
2016	1%	4%	1%
2015	1%	4%	1%
2014	1%	5%	1%
2013	2%	5%	1%
2012	3%	5%	3%
2011	3%	5%	3%
2010	3%	6%	3%
2009	3%	5%	3%
2008	3%	6%	3%
2007	3%	6%	3%
2006	2%	6%	3%
2005	2%	6%	2%
2004	2%	6%	2%
2003	2%	6%	2%
2002	1%	5%	2%
2001	2%	5%	2%
1998	2%	5%	2%
1997	2%	5%	2%
1996	1%	4%	1%
1995	1%	5%	1%
1994	1%	4%	1%
1993	2%	4%	1%
1992	2%	4%	1%
1991	1%	4%	1%

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White

67%

48%

View Data

White Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1991-2023)
Year	Bellingham High School	Washington	Bellingham School District
2023	67%	49%	65%
2022	69%	50%	66%
2021	71%	51%	66%
2020	71%	53%	67%
2019	71%	53%	67%
2018	73%	55%	69%
2017	73%	55%	69%
2016	73%	56%	69%
2015	75%	57%	70%
2014	77%	58%	70%
2013	77%	59%	70%
2012	81%	60%	75%
2011	83%	63%	76%
2010	85%	64%	76%
2009	84%	65%	75%
2008	84%	66%	76%
2007	86%	68%	77%
2006	88%	69%	78%
2005	87%	70%	80%
2004	87%	71%	81%
2003	87%	71%	82%
2002	88%	73%	83%
2001	87%	74%	84%
1998	84%	76%	84%
1997	84%	77%	85%
1996	86%	78%	87%
1995	88%	79%	87%
1994	87%	80%	88%
1993	86%	81%	88%
1992	86%	81%	89%
1991	89%	82%	89%

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Hawaiian

Two or more races

View Data

Two or More Races Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2013-2023)
Year	Bellingham High School	Washington	Bellingham School District
2023	8%	9%	8%
2022	8%	9%	9%
2021	7%	9%	9%
2020	6%	8%	8%
2019	6%	8%	8%
2018	6%	8%	7%
2017	6%	8%	7%
2016	8%	7%	7%
2015	8%	7%	7%
2014	7%	7%	7%
2013	5%	6%	7%

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All Ethnic Groups

0.52

0.69

View Data

Diversity Score Comparison Over Years (1991-2023)
Year	Bellingham High School	Washington	Bellingham School District
2023	0.52	0.68	0.54
2022	0.49	0.68	0.53
2021	0.47	0.67	0.53
2020	0.47	0.65	0.52
2019	0.47	0.65	0.52
2018	0.44	0.64	0.50
2017	0.44	0.64	0.50
2016	0.44	0.63	0.50
2015	0.42	0.62	0.48
2014	0.39	0.61	0.48
2013	0.40	0.61	0.48
2012	0.33	0.60	0.42
2011	0.30	0.58	0.41
2010	0.27	0.56	0.41
2009	0.29	0.55	0.42
2008	0.29	0.54	0.41
2007	0.26	0.51	0.39
2006	0.22	0.49	0.37
2005	0.23	0.49	0.35
2004	0.24	0.48	0.33
2003	0.24	0.47	0.32
2002	0.22	0.45	0.30
2001	0.24	0.44	0.30
1998	0.29	0.40	0.27
1997	0.29	0.39	0.26
1996	0.26	0.39	0.24
1995	0.22	0.36	0.23
1994	0.24	0.35	0.22
1993	0.26	0.34	0.22
1992	0.25	0.33	0.20
1991	0.21	0.32	0.20

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84%

View Data

Graduation Rate Comparison Over Years (2011-2023)
Year	Bellingham High School	Washington	Bellingham School District
2023	84%	84%	79%
2022	84%	84%	80%
2019	89%	84%	87%
2018	97%	88%	95%
2017	94%	82%	85%
2016	90%	81%	82%
2015	94%	81%	82%
2014	90%	80%	79%
2013	88%	78%	78%
2012	85%	78%	75%
2011	84%	77%	75%

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Eligible for

37%

49%

View Data

Free Lunch Eligibility Comparison Over Years (2002-2023)
Year	Bellingham High School	Washington	Bellingham School District
2023	28%	41%	34%
2022	23%	36%	26%
2021	24%	35%	27%
2020	26%	35%	28%
2019	26%	35%	28%
2018	23%	37%	31%
2017	23%	37%	31%
2016	27%	38%	32%
2015	25%	39%	32%
2014	25%	39%	32%
2013	26%	38%	34%
2012	25%	37%	34%
2011	18%	33%	24%
2010	20%	33%	30%
2009	18%	29%	28%
2008	16%	28%	24%
2007	15%	28%	24%
2003	14%	26%	21%
2002	13%	23%	20%

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Eligible for

View Data

Reduced-Price Lunch Eligibility Comparison Over Years (2003-2023)
Year	Bellingham High School	Washington	Bellingham School District
2023	6%	8%	6%
2022	4%	7%	5%
2021	5%	7%	5%
2020	6%	8%	6%
2019	6%	8%	6%
2018	6%	7%	5%
2017	6%	7%	5%
2016	5%	7%	5%
2015	4%	7%	5%
2014	5%	7%	6%
2013	7%	7%	6%
2012	8%	7%	6%
2011	6%	7%	5%
2010	6%	8%	6%
2009	8%	9%	7%
2008	8%	9%	7%
2007	6%	9%	7%
2005	6%	9%	7%
2003	8%	9%	8%

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School Statewide Testing

School District Name

Bellingham School District

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), WA Dept. of Education

<�鶹��ý class='so-dt-title' id="school-notes">School Notes

School Mascot: Bayhawks, Circa 2022 (formerly Red Raiders, 1938-2021)

Profile last updated: 02/09/2025

REQUEST FREE INFORMATION

<�鶹��ý class='so-dt-title' id='faq'>Frequently Asked Questions

What is Bellingham High School's ranking?

Bellingham High School is ranked #447 out of 2,088 schools, which ranks it among the top 30% of public schools in Washington.

What schools are Bellingham High School often compared to?

Bellingham High Schoolis often viewed alongside schools like Sehome High School, Squalicum High School by visitors of our site.

What percent of students have achieved state testing proficiency in math and reading?

44% of students have achieved math proficiency (compared to the 41% WA state average), while 79% of students have achieved reading proficiency (compared to the 53% WA state average).

What is the graduation rate of Bellingham High School?

The graduation rate of Bellingham High School is 84%, which is equal to the Washington state average of 84%.

How many students attend Bellingham High School?

1,188 students attend Bellingham High School.

What is the racial composition of the student body?

67% of Bellingham High School students are White, 18% of students are Hispanic, 7% of students are Two or more races, 4% of students are Asian, 2% of students are Black, 1% of students are American Indian, and 1% of students are Hawaiian.

What is the student-teacher ratio of Bellingham High School?

Bellingham High School has a student ration of 22:1, which is higher than the Washington state average of 16:1.

What grades does Bellingham High School offer ?

Bellingham High School offers enrollment in grades 9-12 (Supplemental Virtual).

What school district is Bellingham High School part of?

Bellingham High School is part of Bellingham School District.

In what neighborhood is Bellingham High School located?

Bellingham High School is located in the Sunnyland neighborhood of Bellingham, WA. There are 2 other public schools located in Sunnyland.

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