Original Research by School Decision on Intergenerational High School
Intergenerational High School in Bellingham is a small public charter high school with a distinctive model not found in other area high schools. It opened in 2021 and serves grades nine through twelve, operating as its own independent charter district. The school's approach combines phenomenon-based learning, intergenerational learning that pairs students with elders, and culturally integrated education. This is a young school with a clear pedagogical identity, and families considering it will want to weigh that specific design against what their student needs from a high school experience.
Bellingham is a mid-sized city with a residential university-town feel, home to Western Washington University and distinct neighborhoods from the historic Fairhaven district to developing waterfront areas. The city has seen steady population growth and notable housing cost pressure. Median home values locally and in the broader Whatcom County area are high relative to national benchmarks, and the national 30-year mortgage rate has been running in the mid-six percent range, all of which families should factor into their household planning.
The school's enrollment is small, as would be expected for a new charter high school with a niche program. The student body reflects a predominantly white composition, with a substantial share of students who identify as Hispanic. A large majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, which suggests the school serves a population with significant economic need. Information on special populations such as students with Individualized Education Programs and English learners was not available, something a parent may want to follow up on with the school directly.
State testing results are limited. For the recent school year, proficiency data in math was suppressed, and there was no reported participation rate or tested count, which means readers see no clear picture of math performance. The multi-year trend data shows a single year of results for English language arts and science. In that single year, a modest portion of students were proficient in English language arts, and all tested students were proficient in science, though this rests on a very small tested population. With only one year of trend data available, no trajectory can be inferred. The school did not have a reported four-year graduation rate in the comparison data, which is common for a school that has only been open for a few years and may not yet have a full graduating cohort under standard accountability timelines.
Relative to other districts in Whatcom County, the comparison data was not applicable because the entity-level metrics for proficiency, graduation rate, and chronic absenteeism were missing. This means the school sits outside the standard comparison set for the county, and families cannot use county-level district rankings to position it. The school is too new and its data is too sparse for that kind of benchmarking.
The district brief confirms the school opened in 2021 as a tuition-free public charter choice, which gave families in Whatcom County an additional public high school option. Its intergenerational and phenomenon-based learning approach is its lasting differentiator. For a family drawn to that specific philosophy, Intergenerational High School offers an intentional alternative. For families who want a strong track record of standardized test data, a known graduation rate, or conventional course offerings measured against peer schools, this school will not provide that information at this point. A parent considering the school should visit, ask about current math and reading instruction, special education services, and the school’s plans for its first graduating class. The housing market remains expensive here for renters and buyers alike, which is the broader Bellingham context any family will be navigating.
See more original research from School Decision →