Columbia
Elementary School
K-12 Registration
Registering your child for school
Welcome! We are so excited to welcome all children to our schools!
To register your child for school:
- If your family is brand new to our district, please complete our online registration process to create an account for your family in Skyward Family Access and begin to register your child(ren).
- If your family already has at least one child in our school district, login to Skyward Family Access and click “New Student Online Enrollment” in the left sidebar.
- Need help? Call your school, call the District Office at (360) 676-6400 or fill out our contact form.
- We can provide the registration forms on paper upon request. Printable packets of forms are also available for download on the forms page under School Registration.
- For assistance in languages other than English please call the Family Resource Center at (360) 676-6456.
For students who have not previously enrolled in Bellingham Public Schools you will need:
- Your child’s birth certificate or other official verification of age such as a passport, visa or DSHS Medicaid Voucher.
- Proof of residency (your address); acceptable proof includes government issued documents, lease or rental agreement, and/or utility bills.
- Medically-verified immunization records. Please note: most children vaccinated in Washington state already have their vaccination information in the Washington State Immunization Information System (IIS), which our school district can access to track and manage student- and school-level immunization information. You can also access your child’s records by using MyIRMobile. Learn more about immunization requirements at our immunization webpage.
Need help? Visit How to Register Online, fill out our contact form or call (360) 676-6400 for assistance.
Kindergarten Information
There are 14 elementary schools in Bellingham, all with full-day kindergarten programs. Kindergarten registration begins in March every year. To register your child for school, please complete our online registration process. We can also provide the registration forms on paper upon request; please call the District Office at 360-676-6400.
Children must be 5 before Sept. 1 to attend kindergarten. Please see our Early Childhood webpage for more information about kindergarten and early entrance to school for children younger than 5 or school entrance for children who are older than 5. Kindergarten tours and open houses begin in May. Locate your neighborhood school.
Kindergarten Immunizations
Before a student can attend school, parents must provide proof of full immunization, proof that a schedule of immunization has been started or a certificate of exemption. Immunization must be provided against diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), tetanus, polio, mumps, measles, rubella, hepatitis B and varicella.
Immunizations protect the health of your child, and the health of others. State law requires that children entering Kindergarten must have certain immunizations. For Kindergarten entry:
- 2 doses of Varicella (Chickenpox) given on or after 1st birthday and received at least 28 days apart OR Blood test (titer) showing immunity to Varicella OR health care provider diagnosis is acceptable. Parent reported history of disease is NO longer acceptable
- 5 doses of DTP (Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis)
5th dose must be given on or after 4th birthday or 4 doses are acceptable, if 4th dose was given on or after the 4th birthday.
- 4 doses of Polio – 4th dose must be given on or after 4th birthday or 3 doses are acceptable, if 3rd dose was given on or after the 4th birthday.
- 2 doses of MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) given on or after 1st birthday and received at least 28 days apart OR Blood test (titer) showing immunity to Measles, Mumps, or Rubella is acceptable
- 3 doses of Hepatitis B; dose 3 must be given on or after 24 weeks of age.