Total enrollment
12,978
+267 (+2%) vs SY 2020-21
36 schools in Bellingham
Washington · Public K-12
Bellingham hosts 36 public K-12 schools inside Washington, collectively enrolling about 12,978 students (around 361 per school).
4-year change in Bellingham
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
35
+2 (+6%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Residents
93,438
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Students
12,978
public K-12 · NCES
Schools
36
public K-12
About Bellingham
Bellingham is a large Washington city in terms of public-school footprint, with 36 schools and 12,978 students total.
Looking at the level breakdown, the city comprises 19 elementary, 4 middle, 12 high, and 1 other.
Average school size in Bellingham is around 361 students, 19% noticeably below the Washington average of about 446.
Five-year track record. Across the same 4-year window, public-school enrollment held roughly steady: 12,711 students in SY 2020-21 versus 12,978 in SY 2024-25. Over that span, Bellingham added 2 schools, going from 33 to 35.
Within the allk12 community for this area, the community for Bellingham discusses sports rivalries, cross-district programs, and shared facilities. Posts come from current and former families, staff, and alumni.