The Bellingham School District offers special programs for disabled students, those with learning disabilities, and exceptionally capable students. The schools have computers and related technology in every classroom. An early childhood preschool program and Head Start classes are offered. In 2000 the Bellingham School District was one of only 10 districts in the state to be recognized as a "model of achievement" and receive a five-year, $4.49 million Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Grant.
The following is a summary of data regarding the Bellingham School District as of the 2003–2004 school year.
Total enrollment: 10,440
Number of facilities
elementary schools: 13
junior high/middle schools: 4
senior high schools: 3
comprehensive; 1 alternative
Student/teacher ratio: 16:1
Teacher salaries
minimum: $30,023
maximum: $56,557
Funding per pupil: $7,365
Bellingham has one Montessori preschool, seven religious and private schools for pre-kindergarten through eighth grade, one religious school for first through twelfth grade, and one religious high school.
Public Schools Information: Bellingham Public Schools, 1306 Dupont St., Bellingham, WA 98225; telephone (360)676-6400; fax (360)676-2793; email trowe@bham.wednet.edu
Western Washington University, with nearly 12,500 students, overlooks the city on Sehome Hill. Founded in 1893, the school became a regional university in 1977. College programs include business and economics, fine and performing arts, humanities and social sciences, science and technology, the Huxley College of Environmental Studies, the Woodring College of Education, and Fairhaven College, an interdisciplinary liberal arts college. Western Washington University's graduate school offers master's degrees in art, business administration, education, music, science, and teaching.
More than 7,000 students are enrolled in Whatcom Community College, which offers a variety of two-year programs in such areas as accounting, computer information sciences, education, English, graphic design, library and information science, massage, paralegal studies, and visual and performing arts; a program in nursing was added in the fall of 2005. Northwest Indian College, one of the fastest-growing Native American colleges in the country, offers its 942 students associate degrees in Native American Studies, Oksale Native Education, Chemical Dependency Studies, and Life Sciences, as well as a certificate program in Native American Studies; additional programs in a variety of areas of professional development and vocational training are offered through the Training Institute. Degree and certificate programs in more than 50 fields, from culinary arts to radiologic technology, are offered at Bellingham Technical College. Washington State University, based in Pullman, has a Whatcom County Extension that offers non-credit education and degree programs in the fields of gardening and agriculture, family living, and environment and natural resources.
The Bellingham Public Library's main building was built in 1949, and was remodeled and expanded in 1985. Its Fairhaven branch, which celebrated its centennial in December 2004, occupies an original 1912 Carnegie building on the south side of the city. The library system has a collection of more than 400,000 items that range from original manuscripts to the latest CDs, videos, and books on tape. The library offers free Internet access to patrons, quality programs for children, reference service for adults, and an online local newspaper index and catalogue, as well as a complete database of community resources. The library has a special collection on local history and is a U.S. and state documents depository.
Bellingham's colleges and universities maintain a number of libraries, many of which are open to the public. Western Washington University has a number of research institutes and libraries, including those focusing on such areas as Canadian-American studies, Pacific Northwest studies, demographics, watershed studies, economic education and research, environmental toxicology, and vehicle research. Its special collections include the Ford Fly Fishing Collection, Northwest Collection, Rare Books Collection, and the Western Collection. The Whatcom County Law Library houses more than 15,000 books and CDs covering Washington laws and practice guides, federal laws, U.S. Supreme Court reports, case law from 49 states, and legal reference materials. Bellingham Technical College maintains an Information Technology Resource Center.
Public Library Information: Bellingham Public Library, 210 Central Ave., Bellingham, WA 98225; telephone (360)676-6860