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GreatSchools Rating

Silver Beach Elementary School

Public | PK-5 | 428 students

Last modified
Community Rating

3 stars

Community Rating by Year
2013:
No new ratings
2012:
No new ratings
2011:
Based on 1 rating
2010:
No new ratings

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7 reviews of this school


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Posted March 17, 2011

We moved from CA specifically so our children could attend this school. Our oldest attended all 6 years and we have a 4th grader now. I love the sense of community the school offers, the personal support systems and the AMAZING teachers! Both of my children read far above grade level and have been greatly encouraged by staff and a wonderful librarian. I would highly recommend this elementary above all others in Whatcom County.
—Submitted by a parent


Posted February 3, 2010

Great teachers, however it is a well known fact the Principal lacks leadership and decision making skills. The school is great because of the teaching staff and parents. With better direction, it could be sooooo much better!
—Submitted by a parent


Posted October 12, 2009

Lots of internal problems that affect school atmosphere - new leadership needed.
—Submitted by a parent


Posted February 14, 2009

I am a parent of a special needs child. The schools staff and principal have bent over backwards to do everything they can to help my child. Since coming to Silver Beach this year my son has flourished. The parents are extremely active. There is always a volunteer in class. The children are giving and accepting. I cannot express how happy I am with Silver Beach. I hope to have all of my children go to this school.
—Submitted by a parent


Posted September 18, 2008

The principal likes to look as though he is doing all he can for the school but in reality he has a large ego and he has a reputation among parents as unfriendly and unhelpful. The teachers my children had at Silver Beach were nice and caring. I have heard of some other teachers there that are not as great. The environment is not that stimulating.
—Submitted by a parent


Posted April 13, 2006

As with all schools, there are some outstanding teachers and some that are just doing their time until retirement at Silver Beach. Some teachers motivate students and some teachers use the same curriculum for 15+ years- those are the ones that love to mark with red pen as much as possible on student work. There are extracurricular activites but, music is non-existant for k-2, sports for k-2? if you call that running on the playground then yes. There is a wonderful art program and Spaish program. There is high parent involvement. Siver Beach is like any other Bellingham school. A Principal with leadership and good teachers make all the difference in any school. This pricipal is hard to deal with, not friendly, unapproachable. The school property is well maintained, the staff is friendly, children seem to be happy at Sliver Beach.
—Submitted by a parent


Posted July 15, 2005

Silver Beach school was a good school that encouraged reading skills and manipulative math skills.Our daughter attended as a first grader and enjoyed most of her days writing creative stories which the teacher would then print out as her very own published book.She also benefited from a program called reading buddies where an upper elementary student would meet and assist reading and sharing stories in a fun and informal environment.Our daughter is a strong reader today and is looking forward to helping a younger child learn to read.We feel that the experience facilitated compassion as well as confidence and were very pleased.Parent involvement was always welcome and it seemed there was always a fundraising effort to contribute to.That was somewhat of a turnoff. Overall,though,its a good school and we have positive thoughts and have built friendships from our time there.
—Submitted by a parent


Community ratings and reviews do not represent the views of GreatSchools nor does GreatSchools check their accuracy or verify the reviewers' identities. Use your discretion when evaluating these reviews.

About these ratings

The Community Rating is the school’s average rating from its community members (e.g., parents, students, and school staff). The highest possible rating is five stars; the lowest is one star.

The test results by subgroup show how the designated group of students is performing in comparison to the general population.
Math

The state average for Math was 65% in 2012.

75 students were tested at this school in 2012.

2012

 
 
75%

2011

 
 
52%

2010

 
 
77%
Reading

The state average for Reading was 69% in 2012.

75 students were tested at this school in 2012.

2012

 
 
83%

2011

 
 
78%

2010

 
 
78%
Scale: % basic, level 3, or level 4

About the tests


In 2011-2012 Washington used the Measurements of Student Progress (MSP) to test students in reading and math in grades 3 through 8, in writing in grades 4 and 7, and in science in grades 5 and 8. The MSP is a standards-based test, which means it measures how well students are mastering specific skills defined for each grade by the state of Washington. The goal is for all students to score at or above the state standard.

See Washington's state standards

Source: Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction

Math

The state average for Math was 59% in 2012.

63 students were tested at this school in 2012.

2012

 
 
60%

2011

 
 
80%

2010

 
 
62%
Reading

The state average for Reading was 71% in 2012.

63 students were tested at this school in 2012.

2012

 
 
78%

2011

 
 
89%

2010

 
 
70%
Writing

The state average for Writing was 61% in 2012.

63 students were tested at this school in 2012.

2012

 
 
46%

2011

 
 
72%

2010

 
 
58%
Scale: % basic, level 3, or level 4

About the tests


In 2011-2012 Washington used the Measurements of Student Progress (MSP) to test students in reading and math in grades 3 through 8, in writing in grades 4 and 7, and in science in grades 5 and 8. The MSP is a standards-based test, which means it measures how well students are mastering specific skills defined for each grade by the state of Washington. The goal is for all students to score at or above the state standard.

See Washington's state standards

Source: Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction

Math

The state average for Math was 64% in 2012.

61 students were tested at this school in 2012.

2012

 
 
85%

2011

 
 
75%

2010

 
 
78%
Reading

The state average for Reading was 71% in 2012.

61 students were tested at this school in 2012.

2012

 
 
84%

2011

 
 
80%

2010

 
 
88%
Science

The state average for Science was 66% in 2012.

61 students were tested at this school in 2012.

2012

 
 
90%

2011

 
 
73%

2010

 
 
62%
Scale: % basic, level 3, or level 4

About the tests


In 2011-2012 Washington used the Measurements of Student Progress (MSP) to test students in reading and math in grades 3 through 8, in writing in grades 4 and 7, and in science in grades 5 and 8. The MSP is a standards-based test, which means it measures how well students are mastering specific skills defined for each grade by the state of Washington. The goal is for all students to score at or above the state standard.

See Washington's state standards

Source: Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction

Math

All Students75%
Female73%
Male76%
Blackn/a
Asiann/a
Asian/Pacific Islandern/a
Hispanicn/a
Native Americann/a
Pacific Islandern/a
White74%
Low income60%
Not low income80%
Special education33%
Not special education83%
Limited Englishn/a
Migrantn/a

Reading

All Students83%
Female85%
Male81%
Blackn/a
Asiann/a
Asian/Pacific Islandern/a
Hispanicn/a
Native Americann/a
Pacific Islandern/a
White84%
Low income65%
Not low income89%
Special education42%
Not special education91%
Limited Englishn/a
Migrantn/a
Scale: % basic, level 3, or level 4

About the tests


In 2011-2012 Washington used the Measurements of Student Progress (MSP) to test students in reading and math in grades 3 through 8, in writing in grades 4 and 7, and in science in grades 5 and 8. The MSP is a standards-based test, which means it measures how well students are mastering specific skills defined for each grade by the state of Washington. The goal is for all students to score at or above the state standard.

The different student groups are identified by the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. If there are fewer than 10 students in a particular group in a school, the state doesn't report data for that group.

See Washington's state standards

Source: Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction

Math

All Students60%
Female59%
Male62%
Blackn/a
Asiann/a
Asian/Pacific Islandern/a
Hispanicn/a
Native Americann/a
Pacific Islandern/a
White61%
Low income33%
Not low income71%
Special education31%
Not special education68%
Limited Englishn/a
Migrantn/a

Reading

All Students78%
Female82%
Male72%
Blackn/a
Asiann/a
Asian/Pacific Islandern/a
Hispanicn/a
Native Americann/a
Pacific Islandern/a
White81%
Low income67%
Not low income82%
Special education31%
Not special education90%
Limited Englishn/a
Migrantn/a

Writing

All Students46%
Female53%
Male38%
Blackn/a
Asiann/a
Asian/Pacific Islandern/a
Hispanicn/a
Native Americann/a
Pacific Islandern/a
White50%
Low income45%
Not low income47%
Special education8%
Not special education56%
Limited Englishn/a
Migrantn/a
Scale: % basic, level 3, or level 4

About the tests


In 2011-2012 Washington used the Measurements of Student Progress (MSP) to test students in reading and math in grades 3 through 8, in writing in grades 4 and 7, and in science in grades 5 and 8. The MSP is a standards-based test, which means it measures how well students are mastering specific skills defined for each grade by the state of Washington. The goal is for all students to score at or above the state standard.

The different student groups are identified by the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. If there are fewer than 10 students in a particular group in a school, the state doesn't report data for that group.

See Washington's state standards

Source: Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction

Math

All Students85%
Female84%
Male86%
Blackn/a
Asiann/a
Asian/Pacific Islandern/a
Hispanicn/a
Native Americann/a
Pacific Islandern/a
White85%
Low income76%
Not low income90%
Special educationn/a
Not special education91%
Limited Englishn/a
Migrantn/a

Reading

All Students84%
Female81%
Male86%
Blackn/a
Asiann/a
Asian/Pacific Islandern/a
Hispanicn/a
Native Americann/a
Pacific Islandern/a
White83%
Low income72%
Not low income90%
Special educationn/a
Not special education87%
Limited Englishn/a
Migrantn/a

Science

All Students90%
Female91%
Male90%
Blackn/a
Asiann/a
Asian/Pacific Islandern/a
Hispanicn/a
Native Americann/a
Pacific Islandern/a
White93%
Low income90%
Not low income90%
Special educationn/a
Not special education93%
Limited Englishn/a
Migrantn/a
Scale: % basic, level 3, or level 4

About the tests


In 2011-2012 Washington used the Measurements of Student Progress (MSP) to test students in reading and math in grades 3 through 8, in writing in grades 4 and 7, and in science in grades 5 and 8. The MSP is a standards-based test, which means it measures how well students are mastering specific skills defined for each grade by the state of Washington. The goal is for all students to score at or above the state standard.

The different student groups are identified by the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. If there are fewer than 10 students in a particular group in a school, the state doesn't report data for that group.

See Washington's state standards

Source: Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction

Breaking down the GreatSchools Rating

GreatSchools Ratings are based on the most recent standardized test results for schools. Use the breakdown ratings below to compare types of students at this school. Learn more »


Student ethnicity

Ethnicity This school State average
White 88% 64%
Hispanic 5% 16%
Asian/Pacific Islander 3% 9%
Black 2% 6%
Native American 2% 3%
Source: WA OSPI, 2009-2010

Student subgroups

  This school District averageState average
Students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch program 28%N/A42%
Special education 19%N/A13%
Transitional bilingual 3%N/A8%
Source: WA OSPI, 2009-2010

Student-teacher ratio

  This school District averageState average
Students per classroom teacher 20N/A17
Source: WA OSPI, 2009-2010

Teacher experience

  This school District averageState average
Average years educational experience 14N/A12
Source: WA OSPI, 2009-2010

Teacher education levels

  This school District averageState average
Master's degree or higher 45%N/A66%
Source: WA OSPI, 2009-2010
Notice an inaccuracy? Let us know!

4101 Academy St
Bellingham, WA 98226
Website: Click here
Phone: (360) 676-6443

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