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About Bellingham Schools

District Profile

Bellingham Public Schools has approximately 12,000 students and 1,300 staff members. Our district worked in partnership with our community to develop The Bellingham Promise our strategic plan.

About Bellingham

Located in northwest Washington, Bellingham is between two major metropolitan areas, Seattle and Vancouver, British Columbia. Strategic investments in parks, trails and preserved open spaces offer numerous recreation opportunities. Several public/private partnerships support the arts and cultural district downtown. Bellingham’s active waterfront hosts a range of marine activities. Bellingham is also home to three institutions of higher education: Western Washington University, Whatcom Community College and Bellingham Technical College.

Bellingham was recently named 16th best place for teachers to work in the United States.

For information about Bellingham and the surrounding area please visit the City of Bellingham.

District Report Card

Student achievement data, demographics, absence and graduation rate, and teacher information for our district and individual schools can be viewed on the State Report Card. Click here and use the drop down menu to select an individual school.

This Report Card also contains our district and schools’ Annual Measurable Objective Summary Data. Use the drop down menu for more detail. It also contains NAEB data.

District Recognition

Bellingham Public Schools was one of only two districts in Washington state awarded with the State Auditor’s Stewardship Award at the 74th annual Washington Association of School Business Officials (WASBO) conference in June 2018. This award recognizes the Department of Finance and Operations for being an outstanding example of commitment to safeguarding public resources through transparency and accountability.

School Day Information

Visit our school day information webpage to learn more about school meals, school supplies, transportation, emergency and safety, weather procedures and more.

 

Bellingham was recently named 16th best places for teachers to work in the United States

for information about the Bellingham area please visit the City of Bellingham

icon ruler 14 Elementary Schools »
icon backpack 4 Middle Schools »
icon atom 4 High Schools »

School Schedules and Calendar

Elementary School: 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

All of our elementary schools offer full-time kindergarten.

Middle School: 9:15 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.

High School: 8:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.

View the school year calendar »

Registration Information

To register your child for school you can download and complete the registration forms on this page, but you must take them in person to your local school.

In-person registration is required to verify identification and age. For students who have not previously enrolled in Bellingham Public Schools you will need:

  • Your child’s birth certificate or other official verification of age such as a passport, visa or DSHS Medicaid Voucher,
  • Proof of residency (your address), acceptable proof includes government issued documents, lease or rental agreement, utility bills,
  • Immunization Records

View registration information »

Transportation

Bellingham Public Schools safely transports more than 3,500 students to and from school buildings throughout the district, also transporting students on more than 2,000 sports, field and activity trips. Our buses travel more than 700,000 miles annually.

Our professional staff are dedicated to the safety and well-being of all students in the Bellingham Public Schools.

To find out where your bus stop is, type your address into our bus route locator.

Bellingham Public Schools take steps to assure that national origin persons who lack English language skills can participate in all education programs, services and activities. For information regarding translation services or transitional bilingual education programs, contact the Department of Teaching and Learning, (360) 676-6502. Bellingham Public Schools does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, honorably discharged veteran or military status, sexual orientation including gender expression or identity, the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability in its programs and activities.  The following employees have been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination:  Title IX Coordinator, Deputy Superintendent, (360) 676-6512; Section 504/ADA Coordinator, Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operations, (360) 676-6500; and Compliance Coordinator for 28A.640 and 28A.642 RCW, Director of Human Resources, (360) 676-2783 at Bellingham Public Schools, 1306 Dupont St., Bellingham, WA  98225.