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Columbia Elementary School

Q: Is Columbia Elementary School a good school?

Columbia Elementary School ranks 345 th of 1160 Washington elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

345^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,160 Washington Elementary Schools

Better than 70% of Washington elementary schools

Summary

Columbia Elementary School is a well-regarded Pre-K through 5th-grade public school serving 187 students in the Bellingham School District, consistently earning 4-star ratings and performing above both district and state averages in core subjects.

Academically, Columbia stands out for its exceptional science program, where 80% of students are proficient, significantly outperforming nearby schools like Silver Beach Elementary (63%) and Lowell Elementary (74%). The school is particularly effective in supporting economically disadvantaged students, ranking in the 85th percentile for this group. While its overall performance is strong, a notable finding is a significant performance gap, with the school ranking much higher for female students than for male students, indicating an area for potential focus.

Compared to other schools in the district, Columbia maintains strong outcomes with a moderate-low rate of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch. It performs much better than schools with higher economic need, such as Cordata Elementary and Alderwood Elementary. While its statewide ranking has declined from historical peaks in the mid-2010s, it has stabilized as a consistently high-performing school within the Bellingham School District, demonstrating effective use of resources and strong instructional practices.

187

Students ?

16.9

Student/teacher ratio ?

$22,437

Per pupil spending ?

24.6%

Free/discounted lunch ?

2508 Utter St
Bellingham, WA 98225-2708

(360) 676-6413

District: Bellingham School District

Students who attend Columbia Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Shuksan Middle School
High:	Bellingham High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

77.5%

Hispanic:

12.3%

Two or more races:

4.3%

See top rated Washington elementary schools

Compare Columbia Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 94th percentile in 2015 → 70th in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Washington average (63% vs 48% meeting standards)

✓Among the top-ranked schools in Bellingham School District

✓Above the Washington median (70th percentile)

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 24 percentile points since 2015

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school63%

District avg53%

Washington avg48%

345^th of 1,160

Washington public elementary schools ?

Top 30%▼ down 24 pts since 2015

From top 6% (2015) to top 30% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Washington Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

3^rd 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	67.6	345 of 1160	70.3%	★★★★☆
2024	72.7	290 of 1168	75.2%	★★★★☆
2023	68.3	341 of 1169	70.8%	★★★★☆
2022	70.0	327 of 1169	72.0%	★★★★☆
2021	67.4	328 of 1107	70.4%	★★★★☆
2019	85.3	141 of 1130	87.5%	★★★★☆
2018	82.3	176 of 1054	83.3%	★★★★☆
2017	90.6	80 of 1056	92.4%	★★★★★
2016	90.0	81 of 1053	92.3%	★★★★★
2015	91.7	61 of 1067	94.3%	★★★★★
2013	85.6	100 of 1106	91.0%	★★★★★
2012	86.1	90 of 1097	91.8%	★★★★★
2011	89.0	72 of 1092	93.4%	★★★★★
2010	83.4	120 of 1088	89.0%	★★★★☆
2009	86.2	89 of 1072	91.7%	★★★★★
2008	86.5	84 of 1067	92.1%	★★★★★
2007	94.0	28 of 1069	97.4%	★★★★★
2006	85.8	92 of 1051	91.2%	★★★★★
2005	76.0	204 of 1031	80.2%	★★★★☆
2004	37.3	676 of 1026	34.1%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	73.5	257 of 1092	76.5%	★★★★☆
2024	66.8	326 of 1093	70.2%	★★★★☆
2023	65.7	349 of 1094	68.1%	★★★☆☆
2022	69.8	309 of 1100	71.9%	★★★★☆
2021	57.9	389 of 1008	61.4%	★★★☆☆
2019	78.0	220 of 1068	79.4%	★★★★☆
2018	82.5	144 of 1004	85.7%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	76.4	157 of 1013	84.5%	★★★★☆
2024	73.6	189 of 1024	81.5%	★★★★☆
2023	67.7	263 of 1013	74.0%	★★★★☆
2022	76.1	133 of 1019	86.9%	★★★★☆
2019	67.4	247 of 979	74.8%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	47.4	557 of 1098	49.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	64.8	365 of 1099	66.8%	★★★☆☆
2023	69.3	309 of 1099	71.9%	★★★★☆
2022	69.9	312 of 1113	72.0%	★★★★☆
2021	71.3	272 of 1025	73.5%	★★★★☆
2019	85.2	140 of 1075	87.0%	★★★★☆
2018	82.5	157 of 999	84.3%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	54.1	463 of 1007	54.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	62.2	375 of 1009	62.8%	★★★☆☆
2023	63.0	366 of 1011	63.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	55.7	438 of 1031	57.5%	★★★☆☆
2021	50.4	453 of 943	52.0%	★★★☆☆
2019	75.1	241 of 1027	76.5%	★★★★☆

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)

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)85th percentile+14 vs school

Female (2025)76th percentile+6 vs school

White (2025)54th percentile-16 vs school

Male (2025)49th percentile-21 vs school

By subject vs Washington (2024-2025) ?

Science80%+31 vs state

English Language Arts59%+6 vs state

Math50%+8 vs state

★

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Schools Near Columbia 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 Columbia Elementary School

What is the racial makeup of Columbia Elementary School?

Students at Columbia Elementary School are 78% White, 12% Hispanic, 4% Two or more races, 4% Asian, 1% African American.

How many students attend Columbia Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 187 students attended Columbia Elementary School.

Is Columbia Elementary School a good school?

Columbia Elementary School ranks 345^th of 1160 Washington elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What district is Columbia Elementary School in?

Bellingham School District

What schools do graduates of Columbia Elementary School attend?

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

Middle : Shuksan Middle School
High : Bellingham 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.