The top reported proficiency rate is 44% in Science. The lowest is 16% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Cordata Elementary School
Cordata Elementary School serves students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade as a regular public school in the Bellingham School District, located on the northern side of the city in the Cordata neighborhood. Bellingham itself is a mid-sized city that blends a residential university-town character with commercial and industrial elements, and it is home to Western Washington University. The city has experienced steady population growth and a dramatic rise in home values, reflecting significant housing cost pressure that families considering the area should weigh. The Cordata neighborhood is one of several distinct residential areas within Bellingham, situated near commercial corridors and within a short distance of the interstate that bisects the city.
The school serves a student body that is notably diverse and economically varied. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a rate that places the school in a high-need category. Racially and ethnically, the student population includes a significant proportion of Hispanic students and White students, with a sizable Asian student presence and smaller shares of students who identify as two or more races, Black, or American Indian or Alaska Native.
Academically, the state assessment results for the most-recent school year present a clear picture of a school where most students are not yet meeting the state's proficiency benchmarks. In math, the share of students scoring proficient or above was markedly low across tested grades. In English language arts, proficiency rates were also low in the tested grades, though there was a noticeable uptick by the fifth grade. The school's strongest showing on state tests came in fifth-grade science, where nearly half of students met the proficiency standard. The fourth-grade English language arts result was suppressed from public reporting, which often happens when the number of students tested is too small to report without risking individual student identification. When compared to other school districts across Whatcom County using a composite proficiency index, Cordata Elementary's overall performance sits in the bottom quartile. A parent should consider this academic profile carefully and may want to discuss with the school what specific supports are in place for students who are below grade level.
The Bellingham School District has made significant infrastructure and pedagogical investments that affect Cordata Elementary. Voters approved a capital bond and a technology levy in 2022 that fund facility improvements, safety upgrades, and student technology through 2026. This means Cordata likely benefits from ongoing investment in its physical plant and learning tools. The district has also been expanding its International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program across elementary schools, with several schools now participating. It is not clear from available information whether Cordata Elementary itself has adopted the IB PYP framework, so a parent who values that approach should confirm directly with the school.
The school's environment and access data, including information about discipline, course access, staffing, and attendance, were not available in the provided materials. Similarly, information about special populations such as students with individualized education programs or English learners was missing. These are common gaps in public data that a parent would want to fill by contacting the school directly. Cordata Elementary does not have a graduation rate because it serves only elementary grades, so that metric simply does not apply.
This is a school that serves a high-poverty, diverse student population in a growing and expensive housing market. Its state test results are well below district and county averages, and a family considering this school would want to understand what academic intervention and enrichment programs are in place. The district's recent bond funding and pedagogical shifts suggest resources are flowing into the system, but the school's own proficiency outcomes call for a close look at how those resources translate into student learning in Cordata's classrooms.
See more original research from School Decision →