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Alderwood Elementary School

Public Grades PK, KG-5

1074^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,160 Washington Elementary Schools

Better than 7% of Washington elementary schools

Summary

Alderwood Elementary School is a public Pre-K through 5th grade school serving 305 students in the Bellingham School District, facing significant academic challenges with proficiency rates well below district and state averages.

Academically, the school is struggling, with recent statewide rankings placing it near the bottom. Its proficiency rates in English, math, and science are roughly 20 to 30 percentage points lower than the district average. This performance is notably lower than nearby schools like Lowell Elementary School and Columbia Elementary School. Alderwood serves a student population with high economic need, with about two-thirds qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, a rate similar to neighboring Cordata Elementary School and Birchwood Elementary School, which also face academic challenges.

Despite having the highest per-student spending among the listed schools and a favorable student-teacher ratio, these resources have not translated into stronger academic outcomes. The school has seen a sharp decline in its statewide ranking over the past decade. There are some internal variations, with science scores being a relative strength and a significant performance gap between female and male students. The concentration of low-performing schools with similar demographic profiles in one area suggests broader neighborhood factors that extend beyond the school itself.

305

Students ?

14.1

Student/teacher ratio ?

$22,963

Per pupil spending ?

65.6%

Free/discounted lunch ?

3400 Hollywood Ave
Bellingham, WA 98225-1134

(360) 676-6404

District: Bellingham School District

Students who attend Alderwood Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Shuksan Middle School
High:	Squalicum High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

48.9%

Hispanic:

37.0%

Two or more races:

9.2%

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Compare Alderwood Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 50th percentile in 2013 → 7th in 2025

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Washington average (27% vs 48% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (7th percentile)

!Ranking has slipped — down 43 percentile points since 2013

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school27%

District avg53%

Washington avg48%

1,074^th of 1,160

Washington public elementary schools ?

Bottom 7%▼ down 41 pts since 2015

From bottom 49% (2015) to bottom 7% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Washington Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

14^th of 14Elementary Schools in the Bellingham School District

89^th of 247Bellingham School District among Washington districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	11.2	1074 of 1160	7.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	21.0	955 of 1168	18.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	25.1	914 of 1169	21.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	21.7	946 of 1169	19.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	16.6	944 of 1107	14.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	10.6	1055 of 1130	6.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	20.3	869 of 1054	17.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	48.8	550 of 1053	47.8%	★★☆☆☆
2015	49.1	546 of 1067	48.8%	★★☆☆☆
2013	53.1	555 of 1106	49.8%	★★★☆☆
2012	37.3	758 of 1097	30.9%	★★☆☆☆
2011	40.4	691 of 1092	36.7%	★★☆☆☆
2010	23.4	907 of 1088	16.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	25.4	864 of 1072	19.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	31.6	791 of 1067	25.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	42.1	654 of 1069	38.8%	★★☆☆☆
2006	28.4	821 of 1051	21.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2005	41.7	652 of 1031	36.8%	★★☆☆☆
2004	39.5	645 of 1026	37.1%	★★☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2018	31.1	261 of 333	21.6%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	15.7	970 of 1092	11.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	24.1	853 of 1093	22.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	34.2	717 of 1094	34.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	34.5	728 of 1100	33.8%	★★☆☆☆
2021	17.4	883 of 1008	12.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	22.3	878 of 1068	17.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	35.2	672 of 1004	33.1%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2022	23.2	593 of 694	14.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	31.8	509 of 697	27.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	17.4	497 of 540	8.0%	☆☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	14.2	943 of 1013	6.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	26.1	822 of 1024	19.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	36.2	684 of 1013	32.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	29.3	791 of 1019	22.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	24.2	696 of 854	18.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	13.6	929 of 979	5.1%	☆☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	10.6	1032 of 1098	6.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	19.7	936 of 1099	14.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	18.8	941 of 1099	14.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	18.6	951 of 1113	14.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	14.6	920 of 1025	10.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	6.3	1051 of 1075	2.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	12.0	928 of 999	7.1%	☆☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	10.5	957 of 1007	5.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	27.1	780 of 1009	22.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	37.8	647 of 1011	36.0%	★★☆☆☆
2022	20.9	880 of 1031	14.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	23.1	764 of 943	19.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	10.8	972 of 1027	5.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	16.5	745 of 833	10.6%	★☆☆☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

English Language Learner (2018)22nd percentile+4 vs school

Hispanic (2022)15th percentile-5 vs school

Female (2025)11th percentile+4 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)7th percentile~ school

Male (2025)6th percentile~ school

White (2025)5th percentile~ school

By subject vs Washington (2024-2025) ?

Science30%-19 vs state

English Language Arts28%-25 vs state

Math22%-21 vs state

★

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Schools Near Alderwood Elementary School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Immunizations Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				WCAS Science (2025)		SBAC English Language Arts (2025)				SBAC Math (2025)				% Completely Immunized (2024)	% Polio (2024)	% Measles (2024)	% Mumps (2024)	% Rubella (2024)	% Diphtheria (2024)	% Hepatitis B (2024)	% Varicella (2024)	% Pertussis (2024)	% Tetanus (2024)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	WCAS Science 5th Grade	WCAS Science All Grades	SBAC English Language Arts 3rd Grade	SBAC English Language Arts 4th Grade	SBAC English Language Arts 5th Grade	SBAC English Language Arts All Grades	SBAC Math 3rd Grade	SBAC Math 4th Grade	SBAC Math 5th Grade	SBAC Math All Grades	% Completely Immunized KG	% Polio KG	% Measles KG	% Mumps KG	% Rubella KG	% Diphtheria KG	% Hepatitis B KG	% Varicella KG	% Pertussis KG	% Tetanus KG	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Alderwood Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	3400 Hollywood Ave	Bellingham	98225	Whatcom County	Bellingham School District	No	No	No	Yes	(360) 676-6404	305	22	14.1	65.6%	149 (48.9%)	4 (1.3%)	113 (37.0%)	4 (1.3%)	5 (1.6%)	1 (0.3%)	28 (9.2%)	11.2	1074^th of 1160 public elementary schools	7.4%		21	955^th of 1168 public elementary schools	18.2%	119	30.2	30.2	23.1	30.2	33.3	28.5	22.0	31.0	11.9	21.6	74.2	75.8	82.3	82.3	82.3	77.4	85.5	75.8	77.4	77.4	$22,963	$2,161	$20,802
Birchwood Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	3200 Pinewood Ave	Bellingham	98225	Whatcom County	Bellingham School District	No	No	No	Yes	(360) 676-6466	335	24	13.9	58.5%	134 (40.0%)	4 (1.2%)	152 (45.4%)	6 (1.8%)	3 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	35 (10.4%)	20.2	964^th of 1160 public elementary schools	16.9%		17.9	997^th of 1168 public elementary schools	14.6%	33	48.8	48.8	32.7	35.0	35.0	34.2	27.3	30.0	22.0	26.9	81.3	84.4	84.4	84.4	84.4	84.4	90.6	81.3	84.4	84.4	$20,255	$1,908	$18,347
Cordata Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	4420 Aldrich Rd	Bellingham	98226	Whatcom County	Bellingham School District	No	No	No	Yes	(360) 676-6461	357	29	12.4	68.3%	115 (32.2%)	13 (3.6%)	134 (37.5%)	59 (16.5%)	4 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	32 (9.0%)	12.9	1052^nd of 1160 public elementary schools	9.3%		6.4	1131^st of 1168 public elementary schools	3.2%	79	44.2	44.2	14.5		38.6	18.9	17.7	9.5	21.4	16.4	80.7	83.1	84.3	84.3	84.3	83.1	95.2	84.3	83.1	83.1	$23,284	$2,731	$20,552
Columbia Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2508 Utter St	Bellingham	98225	Whatcom County	Bellingham School District	No	No	No	No	(360) 676-6413	187	11	16.9	24.6%	145 (77.5%)	2 (1.1%)	23 (12.3%)	7 (3.7%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (4.3%)	67.6	345^th of 1160 public elementary schools	70.3%		72.7	290^th of 1168 public elementary schools	75.2%	55	80.0	80.0	51.3	70.4	60.0	59.4	51.3	63.0	40.0	50.5	78.6	89.3	96.4	96.4	96.4	89.3	92.9	85.7	89.3	89.3	$22,437	$311	$22,126
Parkview Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	3030 Cornwall Ave	Bellingham	98225	Whatcom County	Bellingham School District	No	No	No	No	(360) 676-6433	422	25	16.7	44.3%	269 (63.7%)	6 (1.4%)	88 (20.9%)	26 (6.2%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (6.6%)	58.8	450^th of 1160 public elementary schools	61.2%		65.7	375^th of 1168 public elementary schools	67.9%	75	71.7	71.7	48.5	57.8	59.3	54.8	46.4	46.9	47.2	46.8	84.3	88.6	88.6	88.6	88.6	88.6	92.9	88.6	88.6	88.6	$19,517	$363	$19,154
Sunnyland Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2800 James St	Bellingham	98225	Whatcom County	Bellingham School District	No	No	No	No	(360) 676-6446	288	20	14.5	44.1%	170 (59.0%)	5 (1.7%)	65 (22.6%)	12 (4.2%)	2 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	33 (11.5%)	55.7	490^th of 1160 public elementary schools	57.8%		43.8	637^th of 1168 public elementary schools	45.5%	147	74.3	74.3	58.0	29.7	64.7	51.2	60.0	37.8	41.2	47.9	89.4	90.9	92.4	92.4	92.4	92.4	97.0	90.9	92.4	92.4	$20,783	$539	$20,244
Carl Cozier Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1330 Lincoln St	Bellingham	98229	Whatcom County	Bellingham School District	No	No	No	Yes	(360) 676-6410	325	23	14.3	53.2%	192 (59.1%)	2 (0.6%)	81 (24.9%)	8 (2.5%)	2 (0.6%)	2 (0.6%)	38 (11.7%)	34.5	759^th of 1160 public elementary schools	34.6%		43.3	643^rd of 1168 public elementary schools	44.9%	116	51.9	51.9	15.1	45.2	53.6	37.8	11.1	45.2	43.4	32.2	81.3	84.4	87.5	87.5	87.5	81.3	92.2	84.4	81.3	81.3	$19,532	$624	$18,907
North Bell Learning Center	Public	PK-K	5275 Northwest Drive	Bellingham	98226	Whatcom County	Ferndale School District	No	No	No	No	(360) 383-9289	0	0			0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Roosevelt Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2900 Yew St	Bellingham	98226	Whatcom County	Bellingham School District	No	No	No	Yes	(360) 676-6440	348	24	14.3	49.4%	222 (63.8%)	11 (3.2%)	81 (23.3%)	6 (1.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (8.0%)	28.1	850^th of 1160 public elementary schools	26.7%		31.6	799^th of 1168 public elementary schools	31.6%	51	43.9	43.9	40.7	44.1	40.7	41.9	35.2	40.7	21.4	32.5	87.1	90.0	90.0	90.0	90.0	90.0	94.3	87.1	90.0	90.0	$20,422	$1,435	$18,987
Lowell Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	914 15th St	Bellingham	98225	Whatcom County	Bellingham School District	No	No	No	No	(360) 676-6430	338	20	17.3	34.3%	239 (70.7%)	5 (1.5%)	43 (12.7%)	11 (3.3%)	4 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	35 (10.4%)	70.5	306^th of 1160 public elementary schools	73.6%		72.7	291^st of 1168 public elementary schools	75.1%	15	74.1	74.1	55.4	61.5	59.3	58.6	61.8	56.0	51.0	56.4	81.0	84.1	88.9	88.9	88.9	85.7	87.3	87.3	85.7	85.7	$18,643	$1,164	$17,479

Frequently Asked Questions about Alderwood Elementary School

Is Alderwood Elementary School a good school?

Alderwood Elementary School ranks in the bottom 7.4% of Washington elementary schools.

How many students attend Alderwood Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 305 students attended Alderwood Elementary School.

What district is Alderwood Elementary School in?

Bellingham School District

What is the racial makeup of Alderwood Elementary School?

Students at Alderwood Elementary School are 49% White, 37% Hispanic, 9% Two or more races, 2% American Indian, 1% African American, 1% Asian.

What schools do graduates of Alderwood Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Alderwood Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Shuksan Middle School
High : Squalicum High School

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau, the Washington State Department of Health and the Washington Office of Superindentent of Public Instruction.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.