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Birchwood Elementary School

Public Grades PK, KG-5

964^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,160 Washington Elementary Schools

Better than 17% of Washington elementary schools

Summary

Birchwood Elementary School is a public Pre-K through 5th grade school serving 335 students in the Bellingham School District, characterized by smaller class sizes and a high level of economic need among its student population.

Academically, the school faces significant challenges, with its proficiency rates in English Language Arts (34.19%) and math (26.92%) well below both district and state averages; this performance places it consistently in the bottom quartile of schools statewide and is notably lower than many nearby schools like Lowell Elementary School and Columbia Elementary School. Despite having a lower student-teacher ratio and higher per-student spending than some higher-performing peers, these resources have not yet translated into stronger academic outcomes, indicating other complex factors are at play in student achievement.

Interesting comparisons within the district show that Birchwood's relative strength is in science, where its scores are close to the state average, and it shares demographic similarities with the geographically close Cordata Elementary School. The wide range of performance across schools in the same district suggests that local strategies and supports are crucial, and for Birchwood, targeted interventions and learning from the practices of higher-performing schools could be key pathways to improvement.

335

Students ?

13.9

Student/teacher ratio ?

$20,255

Per pupil spending ?

58.5%

Free/discounted lunch ?

3200 Pinewood Ave
Bellingham, WA 98225-1436

(360) 676-6466

District: Bellingham School District

Students who attend Birchwood Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Shuksan Middle School
High:	Bellingham High School

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

45.4%

White:

40.0%

Two or more races:

10.4%

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Compare Birchwood Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 39th percentile in 2015 → 17th in 2025

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Washington average (37% vs 48% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (17th percentile)

!Ranking has slipped — down 22 percentile points since 2015

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school37%

District avg53%

Washington avg48%

964^th of 1,160

Washington public elementary schools ?

Bottom 17%▼ down 22 pts since 2015

From bottom 39% (2015) to bottom 17% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Washington Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

12^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	20.2	964 of 1160	16.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	17.9	997 of 1168	14.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	15.2	1041 of 1169	10.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	21.4	948 of 1169	18.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	18.9	902 of 1107	18.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	12.7	1026 of 1130	9.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	23.3	845 of 1054	19.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	34.5	718 of 1056	32.0%	★★☆☆☆
2016	33.5	727 of 1053	31.0%	★★☆☆☆
2015	40.6	654 of 1067	38.7%	★★☆☆☆
2011	46.9	609 of 1092	44.2%	★★☆☆☆
2010	50.9	545 of 1088	49.9%	★★★☆☆
2009	42.3	674 of 1072	37.1%	★★☆☆☆
2008	28.8	824 of 1067	22.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	37.7	726 of 1069	32.1%	★★☆☆☆
2006	44.8	617 of 1051	41.3%	★★☆☆☆
2005	59.5	420 of 1031	59.3%	★★★☆☆
2004	61.2	368 of 1026	64.1%	★★★☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2018	41.5	179 of 333	46.2%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	24.0	863 of 1092	21.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	9.8	1039 of 1093	4.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	10.3	1033 of 1094	5.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	20.1	922 of 1100	16.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	25.5	762 of 1008	24.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	10.9	997 of 1068	6.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	22.6	811 of 1004	19.2%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	19.5	578 of 659	12.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	25.3	516 of 651	20.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	16.6	651 of 694	6.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	14.3	659 of 697	5.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	8.5	529 of 540	2.0%	☆☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	18.8	898 of 1013	11.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	11.9	968 of 1024	5.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	11.1	975 of 1013	3.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	15.8	951 of 1019	6.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	13.6	819 of 854	4.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	11.1	949 of 979	3.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	20.5	742 of 835	11.1%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	18.5	938 of 1098	14.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	31.5	760 of 1099	30.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	23.0	878 of 1099	20.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	22.9	878 of 1113	21.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	13.2	933 of 1025	9.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	16.8	932 of 1075	13.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	25.8	774 of 999	22.5%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	47.1	530 of 1007	47.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	27.9	769 of 1009	23.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	30.6	747 of 1011	26.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	40.6	629 of 1031	39.0%	★★☆☆☆
2021	32.9	652 of 943	30.9%	★★☆☆☆
2019	33.1	756 of 1027	26.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	36.5	565 of 833	32.2%	★★☆☆☆

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)

White (2025)47th percentile+30 vs school

English Language Learner (2018)46th percentile+26 vs school

Female (2025)21st percentile+4 vs school

Male (2025)15th percentile~ school

Hispanic (2025)12th percentile-5 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)11th percentile-6 vs school

By subject vs Washington (2024-2025) ?

Science49%~ state avg

English Language Arts34%-19 vs state

Math27%-16 vs state

★

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Schools Near Birchwood 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Happy Valley Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1041 24th St	Bellingham	98225	Whatcom County	Bellingham School District	No	No	No	No	(360) 676-6420	455	26	17.6	45.5%	304 (66.8%)	6 (1.3%)	75 (16.5%)	16 (3.5%)	3 (0.7%)	2 (0.4%)	48 (10.5%)	53	516^th of 1160 public elementary schools	55.5%		52.3	530^th of 1168 public elementary schools	54.6%	14	61.5	61.5	37.0	59.4	54.7	50.0	43.2	53.6	46.2	47.6	78.7	79.8	80.9	80.9	80.9	83.2	88.8	80.9	82.0	83.2	$16,848	$351	$16,497

Frequently Asked Questions about Birchwood Elementary School

What schools do graduates of Birchwood Elementary School attend?

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

Middle : Shuksan Middle School
High : Bellingham High School

What is the racial makeup of Birchwood Elementary School?

Students at Birchwood Elementary School are 45% Hispanic, 40% White, 10% Two or more races, 2% Asian, 1% African American.

Is Birchwood Elementary School a good school?

Birchwood Elementary School ranks in the bottom 16.9% of Washington elementary schools.

How many students attend Birchwood Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 335 students attended Birchwood Elementary School.

What district is Birchwood Elementary School in?

Bellingham School District

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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.