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Sunnyland Elementary School

Summary:

Sunnyland Elementary School is a public elementary school in Bellingham, Washington, serving 316 students in grades PK-5. The school is part of the Bellingham School District, which is ranked 86 out of 247 districts in the state and has a 3-star rating.

Sunnyland Elementary stands out for its diverse student population, with 58.86% White, 24.05% Hispanic, 6.33% Asian, and 9.18% two or more races. This diversity is higher than nearby schools like Silver Beach Elementary (75.64% White) and Columbia Elementary (82.25% White). Academically, Sunnyland's performance is generally on par with or slightly below the district and state averages, with 47.58% of students proficient in ELA and 40.32% in math. The school also has a relatively high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 36.26% to 43.04% in recent years.

An interesting finding is the variability in the performance of different student subgroups at Sunnyland Elementary. For instance, in 2023-2024, female students ranked 505 out of 1,093 Washington elementary schools, while male students ranked 732 out of 1,099. Understanding the factors contributing to these differences could help the school develop targeted strategies to support all students. Overall, Sunnyland Elementary's diversity and unique challenges present both opportunities and areas for improvement as the school and district work to provide a high-quality education for all students.


Detail:

Public PK, KG-5

 2800 James St
       Bellingham, WA  98225-2639

(360) 676-6446

District: Bellingham School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
637th of 1,168 Washington Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $22,717 Help


Students who attend Sunnyland Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:    Whatcom Middle School

Student/teacher ratio:  14.2 Help
Number of students:  328

Racial breakdown:

White:
63.4%
Hispanic:
20.1%
Two or more races:
9.5%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  50.6% Help


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 Compare Sunnyland Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Sunnyland Elementary School ranks worse than 54.5% of elementary schools in Washington. It also ranks 9th among 14 ranked elementary schools in the Bellingham School District. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 43.79. (See more...)
Student Body
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Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (63.4%), Hispanic (20.1%), two or more races (9.5%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 50.6% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Sunnyland Elementary School is 14.2, which is the 5th best among 14 elementary schools in the Bellingham School District. (See more...)
Help
Compare Sunnyland Elementary School employs 22.9 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Sunnyland Elementary School is $22,717, which is the 3rd highest among 14 elementary schools in the Bellingham School District.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Sunnyland Elementary School:

SchoolDigger ranks Sunnyland Elementary School 637th of 1168 Washington public elementary schools. (See Sunnyland Elementary School in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Special Education students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Male students:
White students:


Bellingham School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Bellingham School District 86th of 247 Washington school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for Sunnyland Elementary School

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Rank History for all students at Sunnyland Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools WA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2004 34.88 703rd 1026 31.5%
2005 23.92 840th 1031 18.5%
2006 48.13 574th 1051 45.4%
2007 55.10 487th 1069 54.4%
2008 45.19 622nd 1067 41.7%
2009 33.09 778th 1072 27.4%
2010 47.12 601st 1088 44.8%
2011 60.15 427th 1092 60.9%
2012 72.18 269th 1097 75.5%
2013 62.24 436th 1106 60.6%
2015 58.63 423rd 1067 60.4%
2016 52.20 504th 1053 52.1%
2017 48.44 554th 1056 47.5%
2018 49.69 533rd 1054 49.4%
2019 46.85 616th 1130 45.5%
2021 59.72 418th 1107 62.2%
2022 49.72 569th 1169 51.3%
2023 51.13 527th 1169 54.9%
2024 43.79 637th 1168 45.5%
See the entire list of Washington Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Special Education students at Sunnyland Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools WA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 41.27 299th 566 47.2%
2022 61.09 126th 478 73.6%
2024 36.87 226th 339 33.3%
See the entire list of Best Washington Elementary Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Sunnyland Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools WA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 42.18 506th 835 39.4%
2019 45.81 560th 979 42.8%
2021 42.20 471st 854 44.8%
2022 42.08 595th 1019 41.6%
2023 55.55 413th 1013 59.2%
2024 46.53 557th 1024 45.6%
See the entire list of Best Washington Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Sunnyland Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools WA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 35.55 663rd 1004 34.0%
2019 36.59 723rd 1068 32.3%
2021 65.39 312th 1008 69.0%
2022 64.91 350th 1100 68.2%
2023 55.84 450th 1094 58.9%
2024 51.35 505th 1093 53.8%
See the entire list of Best Washington Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Sunnyland Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools WA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 60.06 394th 999 60.6%
2019 57.33 454th 1075 57.8%
2021 51.97 435th 1025 57.6%
2022 37.95 666th 1113 40.2%
2023 44.69 578th 1099 47.4%
2024 34.24 732nd 1099 33.4%
See the entire list of Best Washington Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Sunnyland Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools WA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2022 37.74 422nd 694 39.2%
2023 38.78 399th 633 37.0%
See the entire list of Best Washington Elementary Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Sunnyland Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools WA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 51.67 420th 833 49.6%
2019 33.79 747th 1027 27.3%
2021 65.67 309th 943 67.2%
2022 47.24 537th 1031 47.9%
2023 58.36 408th 1011 59.6%
2024 33.99 697th 1009 30.9%
See the entire list of Best Washington Elementary Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Washington Office of Superindentent of Public Instruction, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Sunnyland Elementary School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 
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Data source: Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction

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Enrollment information for Sunnyland Elementary School

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 298 7 11 17 13 n/a n/a 0 346
1989 305 8 10 17 12 n/a n/a 0 352
1990 309 5 8 11 6 n/a n/a 0 339
1991 294 6 8 19 3 n/a n/a 0 330
1992 324 5 9 15 8 n/a n/a 0 361
1993 314 6 11 8 7 n/a n/a 0 346
1994 284 3 10 12 8 n/a n/a 0 317
1995 261 7 14 9 19 n/a n/a 0 310
1996 261 7 14 9 19 n/a n/a 0 310
1997 254 8 10 21 10 n/a n/a 0 303
1998 249 10 11 27 21 n/a n/a 0 318
1999 260 11 14 22 9 n/a n/a 0 316
2000 222 10 16 38 6 n/a n/a 0 292
2001 226 11 20 40 10 n/a n/a 0 307
2002 218 21 32 47 13 n/a n/a 0 331
2003 218 21 32 47 13 n/a n/a 0 331
2004 226 15 37 48 7 n/a n/a 0 333
2005 203 7 32 65 13 n/a n/a 0 320
2006 196 8 40 58 13 n/a n/a 5 320
2007 232 6 46 66 15 n/a n/a 19 384
2008 227 5 59 75 12 n/a n/a 29 407
2009 249 5 64 70 16 n/a n/a 37 441
2010 253 7 63 76 10 n/a n/a 0 409
2011 243 13 71 91 9 2 0 0 429
2012 200 10 56 65 6 1 0 0 338
2013 198 3 52 57 6 0 23 0 339
2014 221 3 53 60 7 0 24 0 368
2015 199 3 22 51 5 1 22 0 303
2016 206 3 20 55 6 2 29 0 321
2017 198 1 21 58 3 2 22 0 305
2018 201 1 23 49 2 1 23 0 300
2019 213 1 21 59 2 1 27 0 324
2020 206 1 17 61 0 0 24 1 310
2021 175 3 16 52 0 0 19 0 265
2022 176 1 15 54 0 0 26 1 273
2023 186 2 20 76 3 0 29 0 316
2024 208 3 14 66 4 0 31 2 328

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Sunnyland Elementary School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 346 17.0 20.3 0
1989 352 17.0 20.7 n/a
1990 339 18.7 18.1 0
1991 330 18.2 18.1 n/a
1992 361 18.7 19.3 n/a
1993 346 18.7 18.5 n/a
1994 317 18.7 17.0 n/a
1995 310 16.7 18.6 n/a
1996 310 16.7 18.6 n/a
1997 303 17.7 17.1 n/a
1998 318 17.5 18.2 n/a
1999 316 18.0 17.6 n/a
2000 292 18.1 16.1 n/a
2001 307 19.0 16.2 n/a
2002 331 18.6 17.8 56.5
2003 331 18.6 17.8 56.5
2004 333 19.0 17.5 57.7
2005 320 19.3 16.6 57.5
2006 320 19.3 16.6 59
2007 384 19.9 19.3 58.4
2008 407 21.3 19.1 61.6
2009 441 21.3 20.7 61.6
2010 409 20.5 19.9 60.9
2011 429 21.0 20.4 43.8
2012 338 18.6 18.1 57.1
2013 339 18.9 17.8 57.2
2014 368 n/a n/a 55.4
2015 303 24.0 12.6 58.4
2016 321 21.0 15.2 51.7
2017 305 19.1 15.9 51.1
2018 300 20.9 14.3 45.3
2019 324 20.0 16.1 38.6
2020 310 21.0 14.7 38.7
2021 265 20.2 13.1 37.4
2022 273 21.1 12.9 36.3
2023 316 23.0 13.7 43
2024 328 22.9 14.2 50.6

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Sunnyland Elementary School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 346 17.0 20.3 0
1989 352 17.0 20.7 n/a
1990 339 18.7 18.1 0
1991 330 18.2 18.1 n/a
1992 361 18.7 19.3 n/a
1993 346 18.7 18.5 n/a
1994 317 18.7 17.0 n/a
1995 310 16.7 18.6 n/a
1996 310 16.7 18.6 n/a
1997 303 17.7 17.1 n/a
1998 318 17.5 18.2 n/a
1999 316 18.0 17.6 n/a
2000 292 18.1 16.1 n/a
2001 307 19.0 16.2 n/a
2002 331 18.6 17.8 56.5
2003 331 18.6 17.8 56.5
2004 333 19.0 17.5 57.7
2005 320 19.3 16.6 57.5
2006 320 19.3 16.6 59
2007 384 19.9 19.3 58.4
2008 407 21.3 19.1 61.6
2009 441 21.3 20.7 61.6
2010 409 20.5 19.9 60.9
2011 429 21.0 20.4 43.8
2012 338 18.6 18.1 57.1
2013 339 18.9 17.8 57.2
2014 368 n/a n/a 55.4
2015 303 24.0 12.6 58.4
2016 321 21.0 15.2 51.7
2017 305 19.1 15.9 51.1
2018 300 20.9 14.3 45.3
2019 324 20.0 16.1 38.6
2020 310 21.0 14.7 38.7
2021 265 20.2 13.1 37.4
2022 273 21.1 12.9 36.3
2023 316 23.0 13.7 43
2024 328 22.9 14.2 50.6

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Kindergarten Immunization Rates

Sunnyland Elementary School

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Compare
YearCompletely ImmunizedReligious ExemptionMedical ExemptionConditionalPersonal ExemptionPolioDiphtheriaHepatitis BVaricellaMMRPertussisMeaslesMumpsRubellaTetanus
201678.9%0.0%1.8%7.0%84.2%80.7%86.0%80.7%86.0%80.7%
201778.1%0.0%0.0%9.8%9.8%82.9%85.4%82.9%80.5%85.4%85.4%
201963.8%0.0%1.7%5.2%15.5%79.3%81.0%77.6%74.1%81.0%81.0%
202089.4%2.1%0.0%2.1%4.3%91.5%91.5%91.5%89.4%91.5%93.6%93.6%93.6%91.5%
202181.8%3.0%3.0%0.0%3.0%87.9%87.9%84.9%84.9%87.9%84.9%84.9%84.9%87.9%
202291.3%2.2%0.0%0.0%2.2%93.5%91.3%93.5%91.3%91.3%93.5%93.5%93.5%91.3%
202376.5%0.0%0.0%2.9%0.0%79.4%82.4%94.1%82.4%82.4%85.3%85.3%85.3%82.4%
202489.4%0.0%1.5%1.5%0.0%90.9%92.4%97.0%90.9%92.4%92.4%92.4%92.4%92.4%

Data source: Washington State Department of Health

Immunization Rates (Entire school)

Sunnyland Elementary School

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Compare
YearCompletely ImmunizedReligious ExemptionMedical ExemptionPersonal ExemptionPolioDiphtheriaHepatitis BVaricellaMMRPertussis
201982.7%0.3%1.6%11.2%90.4%91.7%89.1%89.1%92.6%91.7%

Data source: Washington State Department of Health
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Sunnyland Elementary School

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $823 (4.9%) $15,938 (95.1%) $16,761
2020 $308 (2.6%) $11,556 (97.4%) $11,864
2021 $253 (1.2%) $20,822 (98.8%) $21,075
2022 $1,642 (7.2%) $21,075 (92.8%) $22,717

Data source: Washington Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Sunnyland Elementary School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)		 Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)		 Change (%)
Ranks 616th of 1130 Elementary schoolsRanks 527th of 1169 Elementary schools
 9.4%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)		 % proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)		 Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Sunnyland Elementary School)61.857.9
 3.9%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (Bellingham School District)54.147.8
 6.3%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (Washington)56.348.9
 7.4%
3rd Grade Math (Sunnyland Elementary School)67.352.6
 14.6%
   3rd Grade Math (Bellingham School District)5147.9
 3.1%
   3rd Grade Math (Washington)5951.6
 7.4%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Sunnyland Elementary School)55.840.6
 15.2%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Bellingham School District)5251.4
 0.6%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Washington)57.750.1
 7.6%
4th Grade Math (Sunnyland Elementary School)55.840.6
 15.2%
   4th Grade Math (Bellingham School District)45.348.6
 3.3%
   4th Grade Math (Washington)54.949.4
 5.5%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Sunnyland Elementary School)5457.4
 3.4%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Bellingham School District)63.452.3
 11.2%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Washington)61.353.8
 7.6%
5th Grade Math (Sunnyland Elementary School)24.535.9
 11.4%
   5th Grade Math (Bellingham School District)43.238.8
 4.4%
   5th Grade Math (Washington)49.142
 7.1%
5th Grade Science (Sunnyland Elementary School)5259.3
 7.3%
   5th Grade Science (Bellingham School District)59.258.3
 0.9%
   5th Grade Science (Washington)54.152.3
 1.8%
All Grades English Language Arts (Sunnyland Elementary School)57.450.6
 6.8%
   All Grades English Language Arts (Bellingham School District)63.755.8
 7.9%
   All Grades English Language Arts (Washington)6152.9
 8.1%
All Grades Math (Sunnyland Elementary School)49.741.9
 7.7%
   All Grades Math (Bellingham School District)46.945
 1.9%
   All Grades Math (Washington)50.141
 9%
All Grades Science (Sunnyland Elementary School)5259.3
 7.3%
   All Grades Science (Bellingham School District)60.459.2
 1.2%
   All Grades Science (Washington)52.748.8
 4%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)		 Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)		 Change (%)
Total Students324316
 2.5%
African American12
 100%
American Indian23
 50%
Asian2120
 4.8%
Hispanic5976
 28.8%
Pacific Islander10
 100%
White213186
 12.7%
Two or More Races2729
 7.4%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients38.6%43%
 4.5%

Schools Near Sunnyland Elementary School








Frequently Asked Questions about Sunnyland Elementary School

Sunnyland Elementary School ranks 637th of 1168 Washington elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Students at Sunnyland Elementary School are 63% White, 20% Hispanic, 9% Two or more races, 4% Asian, 1% American Indian.

In the 2023-24 school year, 328 students attended Sunnyland Elementary School.

Students who attend Sunnyland Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Whatcom Middle School


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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau, the Washington State Department of Health and the Washington Office of Superindentent of Public Instruction.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.




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