Is Northern Heights Elementary School a good school?

Northern Heights Elementary School ranks 511 th of 1168 Washington elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Northern Heights Elementary School?

In the 2023-24 school year, 420 students attended Northern Heights Elementary School.

What is the racial makeup of Northern Heights Elementary School?

Students at Northern Heights Elementary School are 60% White, 16% Hispanic, 15% Two or more races, 6% Asian.

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

Northern Heights Elementary School

Summary:

Northern Heights Elementary School is a public elementary school in Bellingham, Washington, serving around 410 students in grades PK-5 and part of the Bellingham School District.

Northern Heights has a more diverse student population compared to many nearby schools, with 63.17% White students, 13.9% Hispanic students, 6.34% Asian students, and 15.12% students of two or more races. Academically, the school has shown mixed performance, with 49.51% of students proficient or better in SBAC/English Language Arts, lower than the district and state averages, but 46.12% proficient or better in SBAC/Math, higher than the averages. The school also has a relatively high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 27.35% to 30.98% over the past few years, suggesting a higher proportion of students from low-socioeconomic backgrounds.

Compared to nearby schools like Columbia Elementary, Birchwood Elementary, and Silver Beach Elementary, Northern Heights has seen its statewide ranking fluctuate over the years, indicating inconsistent performance. However, the school stands out in science performance, with 68.85% of students proficient or better in the WCAS/Science assessment, significantly higher than the district and state averages. By addressing the unique needs of its diverse student population and learning from the best practices of higher-performing schools, Northern Heights can work to provide a more equitable and high-quality education for all its students.

Detail:

Public PK, KG-5

4000 Magrath Rd
Bellingham, WA 98226-1729

(360) 647-6820

District: Bellingham School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
511^th of 1,168 Washington Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $19,796

Students who attend Northern Heights Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Shuksan Middle School
High:	Squalicum High School

Student/teacher ratio: 16.4

Number of students: 420

Racial breakdown:

White:

60.5%

Hispanic:

16.0%

Two or more races:

15.0%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 39.8%

See top rated Washington elementary schools

Compare Northern Heights Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Northern Heights Elementary School ranks better than 56.3% of elementary schools in Washington. It also ranks 7^th among 14 ranked elementary schools in the Bellingham School District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 53.68. (See more...)

Student Body

Compare Details Student population at Northern Heights Elementary School is diverse. Racial makeup is: White (60.5%), Hispanic (16%), two or more races (15%). (See more...)

Compare Details 39.8% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Compare Details (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Northern Heights Elementary School is 16.4. 10 elementary schools in the Bellingham School District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)

Compare Northern Heights Elementary School employs 25.6 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Northern Heights Elementary School is $19,796. 9 elementary schools in the Bellingham School District spend more per student.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Northern Heights Elementary School:

SchoolDigger ranks Northern Heights Elementary School 511^th of 1168 Washington public elementary schools. (See Northern Heights Elementary School in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Multi-racial students:

Special Education students:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Male students:

White students:

Bellingham School District:

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

Average Parent Rating:

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Rank History for Northern Heights Elementary School

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Rank History for all students at Northern Heights Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	WA State Percentile
2004	52.43	496^th	1026	51.7%
2005	46.61	576^th	1031	44.1%
2006	46.83	589^th	1051	44.0%
2007	62.14	403^rd	1069	62.3%
2008	65.56	356^th	1067	66.6%
2009	40.47	690^th	1072	35.6%
2010	41.89	673^rd	1088	38.1%
2011	40.19	694^th	1092	36.4%
2012	52.08	563^rd	1097	48.7%
2013	54.93	529^th	1106	52.2%
2015	60.93	392^nd	1067	63.3%
2016	51.62	515^th	1053	51.1%
2017	42.54	620^th	1056	41.3%
2018	40.15	635^th	1054	39.8%
2019	30.21	831^st	1130	26.5%
2021	41.22	610^th	1107	44.9%
2022	50.20	557^th	1169	52.4%
2023	62.31	404^th	1169	65.4%
2024	53.68	511^th	1168	56.3%

See the entire list of Washington Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Northern Heights Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	WA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	68.26	57^th	194	70.6%
2024	25.30	158^th	188	16.0%

See the entire list of Best Washington Elementary Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Northern Heights Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	WA State Percentile
2018	64.07	157^th	637	75.4%
2019	20.08	511^th	566	9.7%
2022	71.10	85^th	478	82.2%
2023	50.65	138^th	308	55.2%
2024	29.21	259^th	339	23.6%

See the entire list of Best Washington Elementary Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Northern Heights Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	WA State Percentile
2018	40.04	532^nd	835	36.3%
2019	18.90	884^th	979	9.7%
2021	57.13	289^th	854	66.2%
2022	65.11	274^th	1019	73.1%
2023	54.81	423^rd	1013	58.2%
2024	41.91	620^th	1024	39.5%

See the entire list of Best Washington Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Northern Heights Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	WA State Percentile
2018	44.05	590^th	1004	41.2%
2019	34.35	748^th	1068	30.0%
2021	32.84	654^th	1008	35.1%
2022	55.78	457^th	1100	58.5%
2023	55.48	454^th	1094	58.5%
2024	45.99	568^th	1093	48.0%

See the entire list of Best Washington Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Northern Heights Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	WA State Percentile
2018	37.92	638^th	999	36.1%
2019	30.69	775^th	1075	27.9%
2021	43.69	543^rd	1025	47.0%
2022	45.42	570^th	1113	48.8%
2023	63.46	368^th	1099	66.5%
2024	59.21	425^th	1099	61.3%

See the entire list of Best Washington Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Northern Heights Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	WA State Percentile
2018	46.81	274^th	540	49.3%
2019	12.78	668^th	697	4.2%
2022	42.54	376^th	694	45.8%

See the entire list of Best Washington Elementary Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Northern Heights Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	WA State Percentile
2018	41.07	515^th	833	38.2%
2019	25.49	835^th	1027	18.7%
2021	42.54	540^th	943	42.7%
2022	49.08	520^th	1031	49.6%
2023	63.74	355^th	1011	64.9%
2024	57.41	418^th	1009	58.6%

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.

Data source: Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 5)

100%

Reviews:

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

Enrollment information for Northern Heights Elementary School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
2002	311	8	36	26	11	n/a	n/a	0	392
2003	311	8	36	26	11	n/a	n/a	0	392
2004	305	5	39	24	7	n/a	n/a	0	380
2005	328	8	42	29	6	n/a	n/a	8	421
2006	321	12	44	41	8	n/a	n/a	27	453
2007	320	9	45	46	7	n/a	n/a	38	465
2008	281	5	54	46	5	n/a	n/a	38	429
2009	293	16	52	42	7	n/a	n/a	49	459
2010	283	22	64	63	11	n/a	n/a	0	443
2011	286	23	38	76	6	3	0	0	432
2012	297	28	46	60	7	0	0	0	438
2013	282	8	36	75	4	0	40	0	445
2014	304	5	36	76	6	1	43	0	471
2015	287	9	38	58	5	1	41	0	439
2016	252	12	33	51	4	2	45	0	399
2017	227	15	32	53	4	3	42	0	376
2018	251	16	28	73	5	3	49	0	425
2019	243	10	22	68	4	4	55	0	406
2020	230	6	21	60	7	4	61	1	390
2021	213	4	19	55	10	2	55	1	359
2022	209	3	23	56	6	1	63	1	362
2023	259	1	26	57	2	1	62	2	410
2024	254	4	26	67	2	3	63	1	420

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 Northern Heights Elementary School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2002	392	18.5	21.2	31.6
2003	392	18.5	21.2	31.6
2004	380	18.0	21.1	28.4
2005	421	18.5	22.8	26.9
2006	453	20.5	22.1	35.7
2007	465	21.5	21.6	36.3
2008	429	21.5	20.0	34.8
2009	459	21.5	21.3	42.2
2010	443	19.5	22.7	35.7
2011	432	19.9	21.7	26.9
2012	438	20.9	20.9	38.8
2013	445	21.8	20.3	38.2
2014	471	n/a	n/a	36.7
2015	439	26.0	16.8	34.9
2016	399	23.0	17.3	31.1
2017	376	23.7	15.8	32.2
2018	425	24.1	17.5	36.9
2019	406	24.3	16.7	33.5
2020	390	24.6	15.8	32.6
2021	359	23.7	15.1	29.2
2022	362	22.5	16.0	27.3
2023	410	26.3	15.5	31
2024	420	25.6	16.4	39.8

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 Northern Heights Elementary School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2002	392	18.5	21.2	31.6
2003	392	18.5	21.2	31.6
2004	380	18.0	21.1	28.4
2005	421	18.5	22.8	26.9
2006	453	20.5	22.1	35.7
2007	465	21.5	21.6	36.3
2008	429	21.5	20.0	34.8
2009	459	21.5	21.3	42.2
2010	443	19.5	22.7	35.7
2011	432	19.9	21.7	26.9
2012	438	20.9	20.9	38.8
2013	445	21.8	20.3	38.2
2014	471	n/a	n/a	36.7
2015	439	26.0	16.8	34.9
2016	399	23.0	17.3	31.1
2017	376	23.7	15.8	32.2
2018	425	24.1	17.5	36.9
2019	406	24.3	16.7	33.5
2020	390	24.6	15.8	32.6
2021	359	23.7	15.1	29.2
2022	362	22.5	16.0	27.3
2023	410	26.3	15.5	31
2024	420	25.6	16.4	39.8

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