Track Every Dollar · Washington

Bellingham School District 501

Every dollar this school system reported for the 2023-24 school year: where it came from and where it went.

Where the money comes from

Select federal, state or local to see every line.

Federal $14.2 million5.4%
  • All other federal money$4.1 million28.8%
  • School meals$3.4 million23.6%
  • Title I: schools with many low-income families$3.2 million22.5%
  • Special education (IDEA)$2.7 million19.2%
  • Teacher and principal training (Title II)$399,0002.8%
  • English learners (Title III)$159,0001.1%
  • Career and technical education$151,0001.1%
  • Student support and enrichment (Title IV-A)$126,0000.9%

Inside the federal total: $418,000 of pandemic relief (ESSER and related funds), which ended in 2024.

State $155 million58.4%
  • General formula aid$107 million69.1%
  • Special education$24.7 million16.0%
  • Transportation$6.4 million4.1%
  • Buildings and debt payments$5.9 million3.8%
  • Compensatory and basic skills programs$5.9 million3.8%
  • All other state money$2.4 million1.5%
  • Bilingual education$1.7 million1.1%
  • School meals$634,0000.4%
  • Gifted and talented$347,0000.2%
Local $96.0 million36.2%
  • Property taxes$83.8 million87.3%
  • Interest, rents, donations and other$10.1 million10.6%
  • Tuition, fees, meals and other charges$2.0 million2.1%
  • From cities and counties$22,000under 0.1%
  • From other school districts$12,000under 0.1%

Where it goes

  • Teaching (instruction)$125 million46.6%
  • Support services Details$76.7 million28.6%
    • Running and maintaining buildings$20.0 million26.1%
    • Student support: attendance, guidance, health and psychological services$18.0 million23.4%
    • Teacher support: curriculum, training, libraries$12.4 million16.1%
    • School administration: principals' offices$11.4 million14.8%
    • Business office and central services$7.4 million9.6%
    • Student transportation$6.5 million8.4%
    • District administration: the board and superintendent's office$1.2 million1.5%
  • Buildings and equipment Details$40.9 million15.2%

    Of this, construction: $27.6 million.

  • Food service and other$6.5 million2.4%
  • Interest on debt$15.4 million5.7%
  • Community services and adult education$583,0000.2%
  • Payments to state and local governments$3.1 million1.2%

Inside these totals: $134 million in salaries and wages, $46.1 million in employee benefits. Long-term debt at year end: $352 million.

The record

Day-to-day spending per student is current spending (teaching, support and food service) divided by fall enrollment (11,487). Amounts are reported by the school system to the U.S. Census Bureau. Census ID 194417, NCES ID 5300420.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances, Public Elementary-Secondary Education Finances: Fiscal Year 2024. School year 2023-24. census.gov the data file

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