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Columbia Elementary School

Summary:

Columbia Elementary School is a public elementary school located in Bellingham, Washington, serving grades PK-5 with a student population of 231. The school is part of the Bellingham School District, which is ranked 86 out of 247 districts in Washington and has a 3-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Columbia Elementary School consistently outperforms the Bellingham School District and the state of Washington in academic assessments. In the 2023-2024 school year, the school had 69.9% of students proficient or better in SBAC/English Language Arts, compared to 56.23% for the district and 52.63% for the state. In SBAC/Math, the school had 48.54% proficiency, compared to 44.64% for the district and 41.68% for the state. The school also excelled in WCAS/Science, with 83.72% of students proficient or better, significantly higher than the district (56.72%) and state (49.73%). Columbia Elementary School has maintained a strong academic performance over the years, consistently ranking in the top 30% of Washington elementary schools and receiving a 4 or 5-star rating from SchoolDigger for most of the past decade.

When compared to other nearby schools in the Bellingham School District, Columbia Elementary School stands out as a high-performing school. For example, Cordata Elementary School, which is 2.67 miles away, had significantly lower academic performance, with only 19.26% of students proficient or better in SBAC/English Language Arts and 14.18% in SBAC/Math. Similarly, Alderwood Elementary School, 1.9 miles away, had 33.9% proficiency in SBAC/English Language Arts and 27.35% in SBAC/Math. Columbia Elementary School's performance is particularly strong among its low socioeconomic status (SES) students, who ranked 189 out of 1,024 Washington elementary schools in the 2023-2024 school year, with a 4-star rating.


Detail:

Public PK, KG-5

 2508 Utter St
       Bellingham, WA  98225-2708

(360) 676-6413

District: Bellingham School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
290th of 1,168 Washington Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $21,605 Help


Students who attend Columbia Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:    Shuksan Middle School
High:    Bellingham High School

Student/teacher ratio:  14.2 Help
Number of students:  231

Racial breakdown:

White:
82.3%
Hispanic:
10.0%
Two or more races:
4.8%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  25.5% Help


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Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Columbia Elementary School ranks better than 75.2% of elementary schools in Washington. It also ranks 2nd among 14 ranked elementary schools in the Bellingham School District. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 72.72. (See more...)
Student Body
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Compare Details Columbia Elementary School has the smallest elementary school student body size in the Bellingham School District. Racial makeup is: White (82.3%), Hispanic (10%), two or more races (4.8%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 25.5% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Columbia Elementary School is 14.2. 7 elementary schools in the Bellingham School District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)
Help
Compare Columbia Elementary School employs 16.2 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Columbia Elementary School is $21,605, which is the 6th highest among 14 elementary schools in the Bellingham School District.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Columbia Elementary School:

SchoolDigger ranks Columbia Elementary School 290th of 1168 Washington public elementary schools. (See Columbia 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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Your rating for Columbia Elementary School?

Rank History for Columbia Elementary School

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Rank History for all students at Columbia Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools WA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2004 37.33 676th 1026 34.1%
2005 76.04 204th 1031 80.2%
2006 85.79 92nd 1051 91.2%
2007 93.99 28th 1069 97.4%
2008 86.48 84th 1067 92.1%
2009 86.24 89th 1072 91.7%
2010 83.35 120th 1088 89.0%
2011 88.98 72nd 1092 93.4%
2012 86.12 90th 1097 91.8%
2013 85.58 100th 1106 91.0%
2015 91.71 61st 1067 94.3%
2016 90.03 81st 1053 92.3%
2017 90.58 80th 1056 92.4%
2018 82.34 176th 1054 83.3%
2019 85.30 141st 1130 87.5%
2021 67.38 328th 1107 70.4%
2022 69.98 327th 1169 72.0%
2023 68.35 341st 1169 70.8%
2024 72.72 290th 1168 75.2%
See the entire list of Washington Elementary School Rankings!

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

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools WA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 67.38 247th 979 74.8%
2022 76.11 133rd 1019 86.9%
2023 67.71 263rd 1013 74.0%
2024 73.59 189th 1024 81.5%
See the entire list of Best Washington Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Columbia Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools WA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 82.46 144th 1004 85.7%
2019 77.95 220th 1068 79.4%
2021 57.89 389th 1008 61.4%
2022 69.77 309th 1100 71.9%
2023 65.72 349th 1094 68.1%
2024 66.77 326th 1093 70.2%
See the entire list of Best Washington Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Columbia Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools WA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 82.51 157th 999 84.3%
2019 85.18 140th 1075 87.0%
2021 71.31 272nd 1025 73.5%
2022 69.85 312th 1113 72.0%
2023 69.27 309th 1099 71.9%
2024 64.78 365th 1099 66.8%
See the entire list of Best Washington Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for White students at Columbia Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools WA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 75.14 241st 1027 76.5%
2021 50.39 453rd 943 52.0%
2022 55.68 438th 1031 57.5%
2023 62.95 366th 1011 63.8%
2024 62.16 375th 1009 62.8%
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.

Columbia 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 Columbia Elementary School

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Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 256 4 3 7 16 n/a n/a 0 286
1989 268 2 3 9 17 n/a n/a 0 299
1990 260 4 3 12 9 n/a n/a 0 288
1991 272 2 3 6 14 n/a n/a 0 297
1992 253 3 7 6 14 n/a n/a 0 283
1993 220 0 8 13 14 n/a n/a 0 255
1994 206 1 7 8 14 n/a n/a 0 236
1995 199 1 7 5 4 n/a n/a 0 216
1996 199 1 7 5 4 n/a n/a 0 216
1997 196 0 7 10 5 n/a n/a 0 218
1998 200 3 4 12 4 n/a n/a 0 223
1999 199 2 8 9 2 n/a n/a 0 220
2000 211 2 6 10 3 n/a n/a 0 232
2001 198 3 9 7 1 n/a n/a 0 218
2002 188 2 9 10 5 n/a n/a 0 214
2003 188 2 9 10 5 n/a n/a 0 214
2004 186 2 6 7 7 n/a n/a 0 208
2005 193 2 5 6 5 n/a n/a 0 211
2006 177 2 7 3 5 n/a n/a 6 200
2007 186 2 4 4 8 n/a n/a 12 216
2008 208 2 3 7 5 n/a n/a 11 236
2009 195 3 3 5 4 n/a n/a 11 221
2010 203 4 2 15 1 n/a n/a 0 225
2011 220 5 3 19 1 0 0 0 248
2012 242 5 3 21 2 0 0 0 273
2013 245 2 2 18 2 0 11 0 280
2014 239 3 5 22 1 0 12 0 282
2015 235 2 4 22 0 0 13 0 276
2016 239 5 5 22 0 0 15 0 286
2017 232 5 10 18 2 0 20 0 287
2018 248 1 10 20 2 0 13 0 294
2019 251 4 10 28 2 0 17 0 312
2020 237 4 6 31 3 0 19 0 300
2021 213 3 6 24 2 0 13 0 261
2022 208 2 7 20 2 0 12 0 251
2023 190 2 4 23 1 0 11 0 231

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 Columbia Elementary School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 286 15.0 19.0 0
1989 299 16.0 18.6 n/a
1990 288 15.5 18.5 0
1991 297 16.5 18.0 n/a
1992 283 15.5 18.2 n/a
1993 255 14.0 18.2 n/a
1994 236 12.9 18.3 n/a
1995 216 9.9 21.8 n/a
1996 216 9.9 21.8 n/a
1997 218 9.9 22.0 n/a
1998 223 9.0 24.8 n/a
1999 220 9.0 24.4 n/a
2000 232 10.0 23.2 n/a
2001 218 11.0 19.8 n/a
2002 214 12.0 17.8 29.9
2003 214 12.0 17.8 29.9
2004 208 11.0 18.9 30.8
2005 211 11.0 19.2 28
2006 200 11.4 17.5 25.8
2007 216 11.0 19.6 21.6
2008 236 10.0 23.6 22.7
2009 221 10.0 22.1 27.1
2010 225 9.8 22.8 22.2
2011 248 10.1 24.5 16.1
2012 273 11.7 23.3 24.9
2013 280 13.0 21.4 21.4
2014 282 n/a n/a 19.1
2015 276 17.0 16.2 21.7
2016 286 15.0 19.0 19.9
2017 287 14.7 19.5 19.5
2018 294 16.8 17.4 19
2019 312 18.7 16.6 21.5
2020 300 20.0 14.9 19.3
2021 261 18.8 13.8 22.2
2022 251 17.1 14.6 17.5
2023 231 16.2 14.2 25.5

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 Columbia Elementary School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 286 15.0 19.0 0
1989 299 16.0 18.6 n/a
1990 288 15.5 18.5 0
1991 297 16.5 18.0 n/a
1992 283 15.5 18.2 n/a
1993 255 14.0 18.2 n/a
1994 236 12.9 18.3 n/a
1995 216 9.9 21.8 n/a
1996 216 9.9 21.8 n/a
1997 218 9.9 22.0 n/a
1998 223 9.0 24.8 n/a
1999 220 9.0 24.4 n/a
2000 232 10.0 23.2 n/a
2001 218 11.0 19.8 n/a
2002 214 12.0 17.8 29.9
2003 214 12.0 17.8 29.9
2004 208 11.0 18.9 30.8
2005 211 11.0 19.2 28
2006 200 11.4 17.5 25.8
2007 216 11.0 19.6 21.6
2008 236 10.0 23.6 22.7
2009 221 10.0 22.1 27.1
2010 225 9.8 22.8 22.2
2011 248 10.1 24.5 16.1
2012 273 11.7 23.3 24.9
2013 280 13.0 21.4 21.4
2014 282 n/a n/a 19.1
2015 276 17.0 16.2 21.7
2016 286 15.0 19.0 19.9
2017 287 14.7 19.5 19.5
2018 294 16.8 17.4 19
2019 312 18.7 16.6 21.5
2020 300 20.0 14.9 19.3
2021 261 18.8 13.8 22.2
2022 251 17.1 14.6 17.5
2023 231 16.2 14.2 25.5

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

Columbia Elementary School

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Compare
YearCompletely ImmunizedReligious ExemptionMedical ExemptionConditionalPersonal ExemptionPolioDiphtheriaHepatitis BVaricellaMMRPertussisMeaslesMumpsRubellaTetanus
201640.0%0.0%0.0%4.4%53.3%62.2%68.9%64.4%68.9%62.2%
201777.6%0.0%4.1%4.1%10.2%89.8%89.8%81.6%89.8%91.8%89.8%
201979.2%0.0%0.0%0.0%2.1%87.5%87.5%87.5%85.4%85.4%87.5%
202078.3%2.2%0.0%2.2%2.2%84.8%84.8%87.0%80.4%84.8%91.3%91.3%91.3%84.8%
202186.4%0.0%0.0%0.0%9.1%86.4%90.9%90.9%86.4%90.9%100.0%100.0%100.0%90.9%
202271.8%0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%76.9%79.5%87.2%79.5%79.5%79.5%79.5%79.5%79.5%
202392.9%3.6%0.0%0.0%0.0%96.4%96.4%96.4%96.4%96.4%92.9%92.9%92.9%96.4%
202478.6%3.6%0.0%7.1%7.1%89.3%89.3%92.9%85.7%89.3%96.4%96.4%96.4%89.3%

Data source: Washington State Department of Health

Immunization Rates (Entire school)

Columbia Elementary School

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Compare
YearCompletely ImmunizedReligious ExemptionMedical ExemptionPersonal ExemptionPolioDiphtheriaHepatitis BVaricellaMMRPertussis
201979.8%0.0%1.3%11.2%93.6%95.8%90.4%92.0%95.2%95.5%

Data source: Washington State Department of Health
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Columbia Elementary School

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $495 (3.2%) $14,990 (96.8%) $15,485
2020 $128 (1.1%) $11,257 (98.9%) $11,385
2021 $581 (2.8%) $20,213 (97.2%) $20,794
2022 $1,274 (5.9%) $20,331 (94.1%) $21,605

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

Impact of COVID-19 on Columbia 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 141st of 1130 Elementary schoolsRanks 341st of 1169 Elementary schools
 16.7%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)		 % proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)		 Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Columbia Elementary School)75.655.3
 20.3%
   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 (Columbia Elementary School)73.360.5
 12.8%
   3rd Grade Math (Bellingham School District)5147.9
 3.1%
   3rd Grade Math (Washington)5951.6
 7.4%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Columbia Elementary School)72.375.6
 3.3%
   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 (Columbia Elementary School)61.756.1
 5.6%
   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 (Columbia Elementary School)92.955.6
 37.3%
   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 (Columbia Elementary School)68.340
 28.3%
   5th Grade Math (Bellingham School District)43.238.8
 4.4%
   5th Grade Math (Washington)49.142
 7.1%
5th Grade Science (Columbia Elementary School)92.768.9
 23.8%
   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 (Columbia Elementary School)79.962.1
 17.8%
   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 (Columbia Elementary School)67.751.6
 16.1%
   All Grades Math (Bellingham School District)46.945
 1.9%
   All Grades Math (Washington)50.141
 9%
All Grades Science (Columbia Elementary School)92.768.9
 23.8%
   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 Students312231
 26%
African American42
 50%
American Indian21
 50%
Asian104
 60%
Hispanic2823
 17.9%
Pacific Islander00
White251190
 24.3%
Two or More Races1711
 35.3%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients21.5%25.5%
 4.1%

Schools Near Columbia Elementary School








Frequently Asked Questions about Columbia Elementary School

Students at Columbia Elementary School are 82% White, 10% Hispanic, 5% Two or more races, 2% Asian.

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

Middle : Shuksan Middle School
High : Bellingham High School

In the 2022-23 school year, 231 students attended Columbia Elementary School.

Columbia Elementary School ranks 290th of 1168 Washington elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.


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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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