Bellingham High School (Washington)

This article is about Bellingham High School (Washington). For Bellingham High School (Massachusetts), see Bellingham High School (Massachusetts).
Bellingham High School
Historic facade of Bellingham High School
Location
2020 Cornwall Avenue, Bellingham, Washington, United States
Coordinates 48°45′25″N 122°28′27″W
Information
Type Public
Established 1938
School district Bellingham School District
School number (360) 676-6575
Principal Marty Atkins
Teaching staff 60.55 (FTE)
Grades 9-12
Enrollment 1,172 (2021-22)
Student to teacher ratio 19.36
Color(s) Red, Black & White
     
Mascot Bayhawks, circa 2022 (formerly Red Raiders, 1938-2021)
Yearbook Shuksan
Website Bellingham H.S.

Bellingham High School is a public high school in the Bellingham School District located in Bellingham, Washington. The school serves students primarily from Whatcom, Kulshan, and Shuksan Middle Schools.

History

Bellingham High School was dedicated on February 25, 1938. It cost $912,028.63 and took 417,026 man hours to build.

The school was closed for two years starting in June 1998 for a massive renovation which involved gutting the entire building and even demolishing some portions. Special care was taken to preserve the art deco facade on the west side of the building.

From its inception the school mascot was the "Red Raider", a Native American chief with a massive war bonnet. In the years leading up to the school's renovation there were several occasions where questions were raised about the cultural appropriateness of such a mascot. When the school re-opened In 2000 after a two-year closure the mascot was changed to a bird of prey, but the mascot and team name "Red Raider" remained. Beginning in 2022, the school mascot was changed to the Bayhawks.

Academics

Bellingham High School offers a curriculum including Advanced Placement courses and other classes to prepare students for college, as well as offering the Running Start program which allows students to complete their high school diploma and earn college credit by attending Bellingham Technical College and/or Whatcom Community College.

Athletics

Bellingham, competing in the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association's Northwest Conference, participates in thirteen varsity sports: baseball, basketball, cross country, fastpitch, football, golf, gymnastics, soccer, swimming, tennis, track, volleyball, and wrestling. In 2022, the school adopted a new mascot, the Bayhawks.

Activities

Bellingham offers students a wide variety of activities and clubs including Animanga Club (anime/ manga), Band, BAM, Cheerleading, Chess Club, Choir, Color Guard, Dance Team, Debate, DECA, Drama Club, Engineering Club, Environmental Club, FBLA, German Club, Gay/Straight Alliance, Honor Society, Newspaper Club, IAM, Key Club, Literary Arts Magazine, Math Team, Orchestra, Stage Crew and production, Teen Court, and Yearbook.

Notable alumni