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Northern Heights Elementary School

Q: Is Northern Heights Elementary School a good school?

Northern Heights Elementary School ranks 575 th of 1138 Washington elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

575^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,138 Washington Elementary Schools

Better than 49% of Washington elementary schools

Summary

Northern Heights Elementary School is a public PK–5 school in the Bellingham School District, serving 396 students at 4000 Magrath Road in the Bellingham area. Its 2025–26 statewide standing is near the middle: 575th of 1,138 Washington elementary schools, at the 49th percentile and rated two stars. The school has a 15.6-to-1 student-teacher ratio and serves a moderately mixed-income community, with 35.86% of students participating in free or reduced-price lunch.

Science is Northern Heights’ clearest academic strength. In 2025–26, 56.96% of students were proficient in science, above the Washington average of 50.95% and just below the district’s 58.34%. English language arts proficiency was 50.72%, close to the state average but below the district, while math was weaker at 39.42%—below both the state and district rates of 43.11% and 45.88%. Locally, Northern Heights generally outperformed Birchwood Elementary School, Cordata Elementary School, Carl Cozier Elementary School, and Roosevelt Elementary School, but trailed stronger nearby schools such as Silver Beach Elementary School, Geneva Elementary School, Sunnyland Elementary School, and Parkview Elementary School. Columbia Elementary School was notably stronger in ELA and math, though its science result was suppressed.

The most important concern is math, particularly fifth grade: only 26.58% of fifth graders were proficient, compared with roughly 47% in third and fourth grade. Overall math proficiency also fell sharply from 50.50% in 2024–25, contributing to the school’s decline from the 60th to the 49th percentile statewide. ELA has remained fairly steady, and science has exceeded the state average for four consecutive reported years. Another encouraging sign is special education effectiveness, which rose to the 55th percentile in 2025–26 from the 24th percentile two years earlier. Parents may therefore see a school with solid science and improving support for students receiving special education services, but one that needs focused attention on upper-grade math.

396

Students ?

15.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

$18,262

Per pupil spending ?

35.9%

Free/discounted lunch ?

4000 Magrath Rd
Bellingham, WA 98226-1729

(360) 647-6820

District: Bellingham School District

Students who attend Northern Heights Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Shuksan Middle School
High:	Squalicum High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

64.1%

Hispanic:

14.9%

Two or more races:

13.9%

See top rated Washington elementary schools

Compare Northern Heights Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 51st percentile in 2016 → 49th in 2026

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school47%

District avg52%

Washington avg48%

575^th of 1,138

Washington public elementary schools ?

Bottom 49%▼ down 2 pts since 2016

See the entire ranking list of Washington Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

8^th of 13Elementary Schools in the Bellingham School District

83^rd of 238Bellingham 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
2026	47.9	575 of 1138	49.5%	★★☆☆☆
2025	57.1	468 of 1160	59.7%	★★★☆☆
2024	53.7	511 of 1168	56.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	62.3	404 of 1169	65.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	50.2	557 of 1169	52.4%	★★★☆☆
2021	41.2	610 of 1107	44.9%	★★☆☆☆
2019	30.2	831 of 1130	26.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	40.2	635 of 1054	39.8%	★★☆☆☆
2017	42.5	620 of 1056	41.3%	★★☆☆☆
2016	51.6	515 of 1053	51.1%	★★★☆☆
2015	60.9	392 of 1067	63.3%	★★★☆☆
2013	54.9	529 of 1106	52.2%	★★★☆☆
2012	52.1	563 of 1097	48.7%	★★☆☆☆
2011	40.2	694 of 1092	36.4%	★★☆☆☆
2010	41.9	673 of 1088	38.1%	★★☆☆☆
2009	40.5	690 of 1072	35.6%	★★☆☆☆
2008	65.6	356 of 1067	66.6%	★★★☆☆
2007	62.1	403 of 1069	62.3%	★★★☆☆
2006	46.8	589 of 1051	44.0%	★★☆☆☆
2005	46.6	576 of 1031	44.1%	★★☆☆☆
2004	52.4	496 of 1026	51.7%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2026	51.7	490 of 1020	52.0%	★★★☆☆
2025	58.5	433 of 1092	60.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	46.0	568 of 1093	48.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	55.5	454 of 1094	58.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	55.8	457 of 1100	58.5%	★★★☆☆
2021	32.8	654 of 1008	35.1%	★★☆☆☆
2019	34.4	748 of 1068	30.0%	★★☆☆☆
2018	44.0	590 of 1004	41.2%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2022	42.5	376 of 694	45.8%	★★☆☆☆
2019	12.8	668 of 697	4.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	46.8	274 of 540	49.3%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2026	42.0	612 of 1008	39.3%	★★☆☆☆
2025	52.9	454 of 1013	55.2%	★★★☆☆
2024	41.9	620 of 1024	39.5%	★★☆☆☆
2023	54.8	423 of 1013	58.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	65.1	274 of 1019	73.1%	★★★★☆
2021	57.1	289 of 854	66.2%	★★★☆☆
2019	18.9	884 of 979	9.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	40.0	532 of 835	36.3%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2026	52.1	511 of 1059	51.7%	★★★☆☆
2025	53.8	475 of 1098	56.7%	★★★☆☆
2024	59.2	425 of 1099	61.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	63.5	368 of 1099	66.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	45.4	570 of 1113	48.8%	★★☆☆☆
2021	43.7	543 of 1025	47.0%	★★☆☆☆
2019	30.7	775 of 1075	27.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	37.9	638 of 999	36.1%	★★☆☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2026	37.1	77 of 119	35.3%	★★☆☆☆
2025	43.9	120 of 197	39.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	25.3	158 of 188	16.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	68.3	57 of 194	70.6%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2026	51.4	193 of 432	55.3%	★★★☆☆
2025	35.0	254 of 363	30.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	29.2	259 of 339	23.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	50.7	138 of 308	55.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	71.1	85 of 478	82.2%	★★★★☆
2019	20.1	511 of 566	9.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	64.1	157 of 637	75.4%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2026	51.2	447 of 901	50.4%	★★★☆☆
2025	55.0	449 of 1007	55.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	57.4	418 of 1009	58.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	63.7	355 of 1011	64.9%	★★★☆☆
2022	49.1	520 of 1031	49.6%	★★☆☆☆
2021	42.5	540 of 943	42.7%	★★☆☆☆
2019	25.5	835 of 1027	18.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	41.1	515 of 833	38.2%	★★☆☆☆

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)

Special Education (2026)55th percentile+6 vs school

Female (2026)52nd percentile~ school

Male (2026)52nd percentile~ school

White (2026)50th percentile~ school

Hispanic (2022)46th percentile-7 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)39th percentile-10 vs school

Multi-racial (2026)35th percentile-14 vs school

By subject vs Washington (2025-2026) ?

Science57%+6 vs state

English Language Arts51%~ state avg

Math39%-4 vs state

5.0

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What people are saying

by a parent
Wednesday, January 30, 2019

I cannot understand why NH gets such poor reviews. We have been so impressed with them so far. Close Quote

Schools Near Northern Heights Elementary School

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				WCAS Science (2026)		SBAC English Language Arts (2026)				SBAC Math (2026)				% 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 (2025)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	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
Northern Heights Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	4000 Magrath Rd	Bellingham	98226	Whatcom County	Bellingham School District	No	No	No	No	(360) 647-6820	396	25	15.6	35.9%	254 (64.1%)	1 (0.3%)	59 (14.9%)	21 (5.3%)	1 (0.3%)	3 (0.8%)	55 (13.9%)	47.9	575^th of 1138 public elementary schools	49.5%		57.1	468^th of 1160 public elementary schools	59.7%	107	57.0	57.0	50.8	58.5	44.3	50.7	46.9	47.7	26.6	39.4	88.5	88.5	93.6	93.6	93.6	91.0	92.3	89.7	91.0	91.0	$18,262	$325	$17,937
Silver Beach Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	4101 Academy St	Bellingham	98226	Whatcom County	Bellingham School District	No	No	No	No	(360) 676-6443	357	18	20.3	23.8%	269 (75.4%)	2 (0.6%)	44 (12.3%)	6 (1.7%)	4 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	32 (9.0%)	81.1	214^th of 1138 public elementary schools	81.2%		80.2	208^th of 1160 public elementary schools	82.1%	6	79.7	79.7	46.3	61.2	80.7	65.1	61.0	67.4	57.8	61.7	93.2	93.2	94.9	94.9	94.9	93.2	94.9	94.9	93.2	93.2	$17,184	$605	$16,579
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%)	38.1	705^th of 1138 public elementary schools	38.0%		28.1	850^th of 1160 public elementary schools	26.7%	145	60.0	60.0	51.0	30.5	44.1	41.4	54.0	30.5	26.3	36.1	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
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%)	61.9	404^th of 1138 public elementary schools	64.5%		55.7	490^th of 1160 public elementary schools	57.8%	86	48.7	48.7	68.5	65.2	35.1	58.4	62.3	60.9	27.0	52.2	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
Geneva Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1401 Geneva St	Bellingham	98229	Whatcom County	Bellingham School District	No	No	No	No	(360) 676-6416	412	23	18.1	32.0%	300 (72.8%)	6 (1.5%)	50 (12.1%)	8 (1.9%)	4 (1.0%)	3 (0.7%)	41 (10.0%)	68.4	328^th of 1138 public elementary schools	71.2%		63.1	398^th of 1160 public elementary schools	65.7%	70	68.1	68.1	69.2	57.6	68.1	64.7	56.4	42.4	44.4	47.2	87.2	88.4	90.7	90.7	90.7	88.4	96.5	89.5	88.4	88.4	$16,989	$313	$16,675
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	442^nd of 1138 public elementary schools	61.2%		58.8	450^th of 1160 public elementary schools	61.2%	8	69.0	69.0	51.5	47.1	63.8	53.6	47.0	42.3	53.5	47.2	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
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%)	40	678^th of 1138 public elementary schools	40.4%		34.5	759^th of 1160 public elementary schools	34.6%	81	65.1	65.1	20.0	40.7	60.5	40.1	34.1	31.0	51.2	37.9	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
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%)								(n/a)			75.9	70.0	82.1	75.3	69.0	52.5	57.1	58.8	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
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%)	14.7	966^th of 1138 public elementary schools	15.1%		20.2	964^th of 1160 public elementary schools	16.9%	2	38.1	38.1	28.6	30.9	32.8	30.9	28.6	27.3	15.9	23.6	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%)	7.1	1069^th of 1138 public elementary schools	6.1%		12.9	1052^nd of 1160 public elementary schools	9.3%	17	18.6	18.6	19.6	32.3	18.6	24.5	17.4	21.0	7.0	15.9	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

Frequently Asked Questions about Northern Heights Elementary School

What schools do graduates of Northern Heights Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Northern Heights Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Shuksan Middle School
High : Squalicum High School

What is the racial makeup of Northern Heights Elementary School?

Students at Northern Heights Elementary School are 64% White, 15% Hispanic, 14% Two or more races, 5% Asian.

Is Northern Heights Elementary School a good school?

Northern Heights Elementary School ranks 575^th of 1138 Washington elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What district is Northern Heights Elementary School in?

Bellingham School District

How many students attend Northern Heights Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 396 students attended Northern Heights Elementary School.

Rate Northern Heights Elementary School!

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Latest Washington data All new data »

2025–26 SBAC & WCAS test scoresSep 10, 2026

2024–25 dropout rates & graduation ratesJan 8, 2026

2022–23 through 2023–24 school spending dataJan 6, 2026

2024–25 SBAC & WCAS test scoresSep 10, 2025

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.