The top reported proficiency rate is 52% in Science. The lowest is 33% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Carl Cozier Elementary School
Carl Cozier Elementary School serves students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade in Bellingham, Washington, as part of the Bellingham School District. It is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet, and sits in a city that combines a university-town feel with an active industrial and commercial base. The school’s student body is diverse in background, with a majority of students identifying as white and a sizable Hispanic population, along with smaller groups of students who are Asian, Black, or of two or more races. More than half of the students come from households with lower incomes, as measured by eligibility for free or reduced-price meals, a factor that parents often consider when thinking about peer environment and available support.
State assessment results from the 2024-25 school year offer a mixed picture. In third grade, the share of students meeting proficiency in both math and English language arts was low, a pattern that may catch a parent’s attention and warrant a direct conversation with the school about early literacy and numeracy support. By fourth grade, proficiency rates in both subjects rose substantially. Fifth graders showed a similar improvement in math and reached a level in ELA where just over half of students met the standard. On the state science test, also taken in fifth grade, roughly half of students scored proficient. Across all tested subjects and grades, the school’s overall proficiency index placed it in the bottom quartile when compared with other districts in Whatcom County. It is worth noting that this is a single year of data, so whether these results represent a trend or a snapshot is not yet clear from the available information.
Because Carl Cozier is an elementary school, there is no graduation rate to consider, and data on chronic absenteeism and staffing are not provided. Parents who want a full picture of student engagement and teacher support would need to ask the school directly about attendance patterns, class sizes, and intervention programs.
The school sits within Bellingham, a mid-sized city that has seen steady population growth and a sharp rise in home values over recent years. Housing costs are high, with typical home prices and rents well above national benchmarks. The local economy is anchored by a regional health system, Western Washington University, and the Port of Bellingham, along with city and county government. The city’s neighborhoods vary from historic, walkable districts like Fairhaven and downtown to residential areas such as Happy Valley and South Hill. Interstate 5 runs through Bellingham, dividing eastern and western parts of the city.
The Bellingham School District recently passed a capital bond and technology levy, which has funded facility improvements, safety upgrades, and student technology. The district has also been expanding the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program across its elementary schools, though the available data does not indicate whether Carl Cozier is one of the schools implementing that program. A parent looking for an inquiry-based, internationally focused curriculum may want to confirm which elementary schools in the district are part of that expansion.
For a family considering Carl Cozier, the academic data suggests that early grade performance is an area to explore further with the school, while upper elementary results are stronger. The student body reflects the broader community, with a significant share of families facing economic challenges, which can shape the school’s resources and culture. The surrounding housing market is expensive, reflecting Bellingham’s desirability as a place to live, and the city itself offers a mix of urban amenities and access to outdoor recreation. The district’s recent investments and pedagogical changes point to a system actively working to improve, but how those efforts reach Carl Cozier specifically is something a prospective parent would want to investigate.
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