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Alderwood Elementary School

Summary:

Alderwood Elementary School is a public elementary school serving grades PK-5 in the Bellingham School District in Bellingham, Washington, with a student population of 291 as of the 2022-2023 school year.

Despite its location in Bellingham, Alderwood Elementary consistently underperforms compared to the district and state averages on standardized tests, with only 33.9% of students proficient in English Language Arts and 27.35% proficient in math. The school has been ranked in the bottom quarter of Washington elementary schools for several years, receiving a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger. Alderwood's underperformance is particularly pronounced for certain student subgroups, such as Hispanic and White students. Additionally, the school has a very high percentage of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, reaching 73.88% in the 2022-2023 school year.

In comparison, nearby schools like Columbia Elementary and Lowell Elementary consistently rank in the top 30% of Washington elementary schools and have much higher proficiency rates in English Language Arts and Math. Alderwood's challenges may be related to the socioeconomic factors of its student population, and the school could potentially benefit from targeted interventions and support to improve student learning outcomes.


Detail:

Public PK, KG-5

 3400 Hollywood Ave
       Bellingham, WA  98225-1134

(360) 676-6404

District: Bellingham School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
955th of 1,168 Washington Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $23,746 Help


Students who attend Alderwood Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:    Shuksan Middle School
High:    Squalicum High School

Student/teacher ratio:  12.2 Help
Number of students:  291

Racial breakdown:

White:
51.2%
Hispanic:
32.3%
Two or more races:
10.3%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  73.9% Help


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 Compare Alderwood Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Alderwood Elementary School ranks worse than 81.8% of elementary schools in Washington. It also ranks 12th among 14 ranked elementary schools in the Bellingham School District. (See more...)
Help
Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 21.01. (See more...)
Student Body
Help
Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (51.2%), Hispanic (32.3%), two or more races (10.3%). (See more...)
Help
Compare Details 73.9% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
Help
Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Alderwood Elementary School is 12.2, which is the 2nd best among 14 elementary schools in the Bellingham School District. (See more...)
Help
Compare Alderwood Elementary School employs 23.7 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at Alderwood Elementary School is $23,746, which is the highest among 14 elementary schools in the Bellingham School District!
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Alderwood Elementary School:

SchoolDigger ranks Alderwood Elementary School 955th of 1168 Washington public elementary schools. (See Alderwood Elementary School in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Male students:
White students:


Bellingham School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Bellingham School District 86th of 247 Washington school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for Alderwood Elementary School

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Rank History for all students at Alderwood Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools WA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2004 39.47 645th 1026 37.1%
2005 41.65 652nd 1031 36.8%
2006 28.37 821st 1051 21.9%
2007 42.14 654th 1069 38.8%
2008 31.58 791st 1067 25.9%
2009 25.40 864th 1072 19.4%
2010 23.44 907th 1088 16.6%
2011 40.44 691st 1092 36.7%
2012 37.32 758th 1097 30.9%
2013 53.05 555th 1106 49.8%
2015 49.10 546th 1067 48.8%
2016 48.83 550th 1053 47.8%
2018 20.34 869th 1054 17.6%
2019 10.64 1055th 1130 6.6%
2021 16.64 944th 1107 14.7%
2022 21.66 946th 1169 19.1%
2023 25.06 914th 1169 21.8%
2024 21.01 955th 1168 18.2%
See the entire list of Washington Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Alderwood Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools WA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 31.05 261st 333 21.6%
See the entire list of Best Washington Elementary Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Alderwood Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools WA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 13.58 929th 979 5.1%
2021 24.20 696th 854 18.5%
2022 29.34 791st 1019 22.4%
2023 36.20 684th 1013 32.5%
2024 26.06 822nd 1024 19.7%
See the entire list of Best Washington Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Alderwood Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools WA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 35.19 672nd 1004 33.1%
2019 22.28 878th 1068 17.8%
2021 17.39 883rd 1008 12.4%
2022 34.48 728th 1100 33.8%
2023 34.19 717th 1094 34.5%
2024 24.15 853rd 1093 22.0%
See the entire list of Best Washington Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Alderwood Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools WA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 12.02 928th 999 7.1%
2019 6.29 1051st 1075 2.2%
2021 14.60 920th 1025 10.2%
2022 18.57 951st 1113 14.6%
2023 18.79 941st 1099 14.4%
2024 19.70 936th 1099 14.8%
See the entire list of Best Washington Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Alderwood Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools WA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 17.44 497th 540 8.0%
2019 31.77 509th 697 27.0%
2022 23.23 593rd 694 14.6%
See the entire list of Best Washington Elementary Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Alderwood Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools WA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 16.47 745th 833 10.6%
2019 10.75 972nd 1027 5.4%
2021 23.10 764th 943 19.0%
2022 20.91 880th 1031 14.6%
2023 37.84 647th 1011 36.0%
2024 27.06 780th 1009 22.7%
See the entire list of Best Washington Elementary Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Washington Office of Superindentent of Public Instruction, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Alderwood Elementary School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 
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Data source: Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction

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Enrollment information for Alderwood Elementary School

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 189 2 2 3 13 n/a n/a 0 209
1989 205 1 7 5 16 n/a n/a 0 234
1990 224 1 13 10 17 n/a n/a 0 265
1991 186 2 11 15 25 n/a n/a 0 239
1992 212 5 12 15 24 n/a n/a 0 268
1993 214 6 14 7 21 n/a n/a 0 262
1994 237 5 19 11 29 n/a n/a 0 301
1995 175 6 20 25 27 n/a n/a 0 253
1996 175 6 20 25 27 n/a n/a 0 253
1997 190 5 16 20 25 n/a n/a 0 256
1998 196 3 23 13 19 n/a n/a 0 254
1999 189 2 31 23 15 n/a n/a 0 260
2000 168 6 31 30 9 n/a n/a 0 244
2001 170 10 36 40 11 n/a n/a 0 267
2002 164 7 35 71 11 n/a n/a 0 288
2003 164 7 35 71 11 n/a n/a 0 288
2004 157 9 36 73 12 n/a n/a 0 287
2005 173 4 35 96 7 n/a n/a 0 315
2006 161 9 34 103 10 n/a n/a 4 321
2007 158 13 22 118 15 n/a n/a 8 334
2008 161 15 31 107 17 n/a n/a 11 342
2009 180 13 35 130 17 n/a n/a 16 391
2010 169 13 34 134 14 n/a n/a 0 364
2011 173 13 34 143 8 0 0 0 371
2012 147 19 24 123 7 1 0 0 321
2013 127 9 21 125 3 1 18 0 304
2014 122 13 26 124 5 1 15 0 306
2015 102 5 18 103 5 1 10 0 244
2016 100 4 16 109 4 0 8 0 241
2017 102 3 19 101 2 0 9 0 236
2018 203 8 20 111 4 0 19 0 365
2019 107 6 20 98 1 0 25 0 257
2020 131 4 18 92 5 0 25 1 276
2021 119 3 13 86 3 0 28 0 252
2022 122 2 11 80 10 0 35 0 260
2023 149 2 7 94 8 0 30 1 291

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Alderwood Elementary School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 209 13.0 16.0 0
1989 234 11.0 21.2 n/a
1990 265 12.0 22.0 0
1991 239 12.0 19.9 n/a
1992 268 14.5 18.4 n/a
1993 262 13.5 19.4 n/a
1994 301 15.7 19.2 n/a
1995 253 17.0 14.9 n/a
1996 253 17.0 14.9 n/a
1997 256 17.1 15.0 n/a
1998 254 15.5 16.4 n/a
1999 260 15.3 17.0 n/a
2000 244 16.2 15.1 n/a
2001 267 15.7 17.0 n/a
2002 288 18.5 15.6 59
2003 288 18.5 15.6 59
2004 287 18.0 15.9 59.2
2005 315 18.0 17.5 64.4
2006 321 19.0 16.9 61.2
2007 334 20.0 16.7 64.4
2008 342 20.0 17.1 67.1
2009 391 20.0 19.6 73.3
2010 364 20.1 18.1 78.3
2011 371 21.2 17.4 56.3
2012 321 22.6 14.1 82.2
2013 304 19.8 15.3 80.3
2014 306 n/a n/a 79.4
2015 244 19.0 12.8 80.7
2016 241 18.0 13.3 83.8
2017 236 19.1 12.3 84.3
2018 365 21.1 17.2 55.1
2019 257 22.3 11.5 68.9
2020 276 21.9 12.5 59.1
2021 252 22.0 11.4 54
2022 260 25.1 10.3 60
2023 291 23.7 12.2 73.9

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Alderwood Elementary School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 209 13.0 16.0 0
1989 234 11.0 21.2 n/a
1990 265 12.0 22.0 0
1991 239 12.0 19.9 n/a
1992 268 14.5 18.4 n/a
1993 262 13.5 19.4 n/a
1994 301 15.7 19.2 n/a
1995 253 17.0 14.9 n/a
1996 253 17.0 14.9 n/a
1997 256 17.1 15.0 n/a
1998 254 15.5 16.4 n/a
1999 260 15.3 17.0 n/a
2000 244 16.2 15.1 n/a
2001 267 15.7 17.0 n/a
2002 288 18.5 15.6 59
2003 288 18.5 15.6 59
2004 287 18.0 15.9 59.2
2005 315 18.0 17.5 64.4
2006 321 19.0 16.9 61.2
2007 334 20.0 16.7 64.4
2008 342 20.0 17.1 67.1
2009 391 20.0 19.6 73.3
2010 364 20.1 18.1 78.3
2011 371 21.2 17.4 56.3
2012 321 22.6 14.1 82.2
2013 304 19.8 15.3 80.3
2014 306 n/a n/a 79.4
2015 244 19.0 12.8 80.7
2016 241 18.0 13.3 83.8
2017 236 19.1 12.3 84.3
2018 365 21.1 17.2 55.1
2019 257 22.3 11.5 68.9
2020 276 21.9 12.5 59.1
2021 252 22.0 11.4 54
2022 260 25.1 10.3 60
2023 291 23.7 12.2 73.9

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Kindergarten Immunization Rates

Alderwood Elementary School

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Compare
YearCompletely ImmunizedReligious ExemptionMedical ExemptionConditionalPersonal ExemptionPolioDiphtheriaHepatitis BVaricellaMMRPertussisMeaslesMumpsRubellaTetanus
201656.4%0.0%0.0%0.0%64.1%66.7%71.8%66.7%71.8%66.7%
201765.7%0.0%2.9%0.0%2.9%77.1%74.3%91.4%77.1%77.1%74.3%
201977.3%0.0%0.0%0.0%4.6%86.4%86.4%93.2%77.3%90.9%86.4%
202080.5%7.3%0.0%0.0%7.3%82.9%80.5%87.8%85.4%80.5%85.4%85.4%85.4%80.5%
202172.7%3.6%0.0%0.0%3.6%74.6%72.7%85.5%72.7%72.7%76.4%76.4%76.4%72.7%
202266.7%6.3%0.0%0.0%4.2%75.0%75.0%81.3%72.9%75.0%77.1%77.1%77.1%75.0%
202371.7%1.7%1.7%0.0%1.7%73.3%73.3%88.3%71.7%73.3%71.7%71.7%71.7%73.3%
202474.2%8.1%0.0%0.0%1.6%75.8%77.4%85.5%75.8%77.4%82.3%82.3%82.3%77.4%

Data source: Washington State Department of Health

Immunization Rates (Entire school)

Alderwood Elementary School

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Compare
YearCompletely ImmunizedReligious ExemptionMedical ExemptionPersonal ExemptionPolioDiphtheriaHepatitis BVaricellaMMRPertussis
201985.6%0.0%0.8%7.4%93.8%94.2%93.0%93.4%93.8%94.2%

Data source: Washington State Department of Health
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Alderwood Elementary School

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $1,877 (9.7%) $17,426 (90.3%) $19,303
2020 $2,160 (15.8%) $11,532 (84.2%) $13,692
2021 $2,138 (9.2%) $21,138 (90.8%) $23,276
2022 $3,291 (13.9%) $20,454 (86.1%) $23,746

Data source: Washington Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Alderwood Elementary School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)		 Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)		 Change (%)
Ranks 1055th of 1130 Elementary schoolsRanks 914th of 1169 Elementary schools
 15.2%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)		 % proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)		 Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Alderwood Elementary School)36.225.6
 10.6%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (Bellingham School District)54.147.8
 6.3%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (Washington)56.348.9
 7.4%
3rd Grade Math (Alderwood Elementary School)40.934.9
 6%
   3rd Grade Math (Bellingham School District)5147.9
 3.1%
   3rd Grade Math (Washington)5951.6
 7.4%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Alderwood Elementary School)24.250
 25.8%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Bellingham School District)5251.4
 0.6%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Washington)57.750.1
 7.6%
4th Grade Math (Alderwood Elementary School)9.140.5
 31.5%
   4th Grade Math (Bellingham School District)45.348.6
 3.3%
   4th Grade Math (Washington)54.949.4
 5.5%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Alderwood Elementary School)43.532.3
 11.2%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Bellingham School District)63.452.3
 11.2%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Washington)61.353.8
 7.6%
5th Grade Math (Alderwood Elementary School)2019.4
 0.6%
   5th Grade Math (Bellingham School District)43.238.8
 4.4%
   5th Grade Math (Washington)49.142
 7.1%
5th Grade Science (Alderwood Elementary School)35.640.6
 5.1%
   5th Grade Science (Bellingham School District)59.258.3
 0.9%
   5th Grade Science (Washington)54.152.3
 1.8%
All Grades English Language Arts (Alderwood Elementary School)35.735.7
   All Grades English Language Arts (Bellingham School District)63.755.8
 7.9%
   All Grades English Language Arts (Washington)6152.9
 8.1%
All Grades Math (Alderwood Elementary School)2132.4
 11.4%
   All Grades Math (Bellingham School District)46.945
 1.9%
   All Grades Math (Washington)50.141
 9%
All Grades Science (Alderwood Elementary School)35.640.6
 5.1%
   All Grades Science (Bellingham School District)60.459.2
 1.2%
   All Grades Science (Washington)52.748.8
 4%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)		 Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)		 Change (%)
Total Students257291
 13.2%
African American62
 66.7%
American Indian18
 700%
Asian207
 65%
Hispanic9894
 4.1%
Pacific Islander00
White107149
 39.3%
Two or More Races2530
 20%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients68.9%73.9%
 5%

Schools Near Alderwood Elementary School








Frequently Asked Questions about Alderwood Elementary School

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

Middle : Shuksan Middle School
High : Squalicum High School

Alderwood Elementary School ranks in the bottom 18.2% of Washington elementary schools.

In the 2022-23 school year, 291 students attended Alderwood Elementary School.

Students at Alderwood Elementary School are 51% White, 32% Hispanic, 10% Two or more races, 3% American Indian, 2% Asian.


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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.




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