Best High Schools in North Dakota (2025-26)

Ranked high schools

145

Listed, not ranked

Every ranked high school in North Dakota, ordered by SchoolGrade. A grade rewards actual test performance against the projection for each school's student context, so a B in a high-poverty school can outrank an A- elsewhere on impact. Click a column heading to sort, or filter by school, city or district.

North Dakota rankings: High Schools · Middle Schools · Elementary Schools

North Dakota high schools ranked

Rank	Grade	School	City	District	Actual	Projected	Impact	Students
#1	A	Bowbells High School	Bowbells	Bowbells 14	75%	60%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	41
#2	A	Griggs County Central High School	Cooperstown	Griggs County Central 18	75%	60%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	68
#3	A	Rolette High School	Rolette	Rolette 29	75%	26%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	61
#4	A-	Carrington High School	Carrington	Carrington 49	67%	47%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	255
#5	A-	Central Valley High School	Buxton	Central Valley 3	65%	56%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	85
#6	A-	Kindred High School	Kindred	Kindred 2	65%	53%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	396
#7	A-	Wyndmere High School	Wyndmere	Wyndmere 42	65%	44%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	113
#8	A-	Strasburg High School	Strasburg	Strasburg 15	63%	52%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	67
#9	A-	Ellendale High School	Ellendale	Ellendale 40	60%	43%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	91
#10	B+	Finley Sharon High School	Finley	Finley-Sharon 19	58%	39%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	45
#11	B+	North Sargent High School	Gwinner	North Sargent 3	58%	36%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	55
#12	B+	Century High School	Bismarck	Bismarck 1	56%	55%	Meets Expectations	1,427
#13	B+	North High School	Fargo	Fargo 1	56%	46%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	1,083
#14	B+	Medina High School	Medina	Medina 3	53%	46%	Exceeds Expectations	101
#15	B+	North Star High School	Cando	North Star 10	53%	46%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	76
#16	B+	Northern Cass High School	Hunter	Northern Cass 97	53%	50%	Exceeds Expectations	189
#17	B+	Cavalier High School	Cavalier	Cavalier 6	52%	46%	Exceeds Expectations	192
#18	B+	Hillsboro High School	Hillsboro	Hillsboro 9	52%	40%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	241
#19	B+	Litchville Marion High School	Marion	Litchville-Marion 46	52%	40%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	58
#20	B+	Mls Mohall High School	Mohall	Mohall-Lansford-Sherwood 1	52%	49%	Exceeds Expectations	144
#21	B+	Oakes High School	Oakes	Oakes 41	52%	37%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	234
#22	B+	Thompson High School	Thompson	Thompson 61	52%	50%	Meets Expectations	261
#23	B	Des Lacs Burlington High School	Des Lacs	United 7	50%	45%	Exceeds Expectations	316
#24	B	Hazen High School	Hazen	Hazen 3	50%	46%	Exceeds Expectations	163
#25	B	North Shore Plaza High School	Plaza	Lewis And Clark 161	50%	41%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	72
#26	B	Valley City High School	Valley City	Valley City 2	50%	48%	Meets Expectations	366
#27	B	New Rockford Sheyenne High School	New Rockford	New Rockford-Sheyenne 2	48%	46%	Exceeds Expectations	127
#28	B	Northwood High School	Northwood	Northwood 129	48%	41%	Exceeds Expectations	144
#29	B	Velva High School	Velva	Velva 1	48%	45%	Exceeds Expectations	216
#30	B	Ashley High School	Ashley	Ashley 9	47%	43%	Exceeds Expectations	57
#31	B	Berthold High School	Berthold	Lewis And Clark 161	47%	45%	Exceeds Expectations	109
#32	B	Central High School	Grand Forks	Grand Forks 1	47%	41%	Exceeds Expectations	1,093
#33	B	Elgin New Leipzig High School	Elgin	Elgin-New Leipzig 49	47%	40%	Exceeds Expectations	66
#34	B	Fargo Davies High School	Fargo	Fargo 1	47%	47%	Meets Expectations	1,363
#35	B	Hazelton Moffit Braddock High School	Hazelton	Hazelton-Moffit-Braddock 6	47%	44%	Exceeds Expectations	59
#36	B	Jamestown High School	Jamestown	Jamestown 1	47%	46%	Meets Expectations	777
#37	B	Lakota High School	Lakota	Lakota 66	47%	37%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	67
#38	B	Lisbon High School	Lisbon	Lisbon 19	47%	43%	Exceeds Expectations	207
#39	B	Maple Valley High School	Tower City	Maple Valley 4	47%	43%	Exceeds Expectations	102
#40	B	Mt Pleasant High School	Rolla	Mt Pleasant 4	47%	36%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	113
#41	B	Powers Lake High School	Powers Lake	Powers Lake 27	47%	45%	Meets Expectations	73
#42	B	Red River High School	Grand Forks	Grand Forks 1	47%	47%	Meets Expectations	1,137
#43	B-	Central Cass High School	Casselton	Central Cass 17	45%	43%	Exceeds Expectations	312
#44	B-	Mott Regent High School	Mott	Mott-Regent 1	45%	42%	Exceeds Expectations	108
#45	B-	Rugby High School	Rugby	Rugby 5	45%	38%	Exceeds Expectations	297
#46	B-	Washburn High School	Washburn	Washburn 4	45%	44%	Meets Expectations	136
#47	B-	Drake High School	Drake	Drake 57	43%	42%	Meets Expectations	73
#48	B-	Edgeley High School	Edgeley	Edgeley 3	43%	43%	Meets Expectations	105
#49	B-	Hatton Eielson High School	Hatton	Hatton Eielson 7	43%	37%	Exceeds Expectations	89
#50	B-	Hebron High School	Hebron	Hebron 13	43%	36%	Exceeds Expectations	73
#51	B-	Hettinger High School	Hettinger	Hettinger 13	43%	38%	Exceeds Expectations	124
#52	B-	Hope Page High School	Hope	Hope-Page 85	43%	42%	Meets Expectations	59
#53	B-	West Fargo High School	West Fargo	West Fargo 6	43%	37%	Exceeds Expectations	1,423
#54	B-	Harvey High School	Harvey	Harvey 38	42%	42%	Meets Expectations	169
#55	B-	North Border Pembina High School	Pembina	North Border 100	42%	48%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	37
#56	B-	Park River Area High School	Park River	Park River Area 8	42%	37%	Exceeds Expectations	196
#57	B-	Tgu Towner High School	Towner	Tgu 60	42%	40%	Exceeds Expectations	55
#58	B-	Valley Edinburg High School	Edinburg	Valley-Edinburg 118	42%	40%	Meets Expectations	82
#59	B-	Wahpeton High School	Wahpeton	Wahpeton 37	42%	44%	Meets Expectations	388
#60	B-	Ray High School	Ray	Nesson 2	40%	42%	Meets Expectations	121
#61	C+	Belfield High School	Belfield	Belfield 13	40%	40%	Meets Expectations	121
#62	C+	Bottineau Junior Senior High School	Bottineau	Bottineau 1	40%	38%	Exceeds Expectations	311
#63	C+	Enderlin Area High School	Enderlin	Enderlin Area 24	40%	39%	Meets Expectations	143
#64	C+	Hankinson High School	Hankinson	Hankinson 8	40%	43%	Meets Expectations	106
#65	C+	Killdeer High School	Killdeer	Killdeer 16	40%	40%	Meets Expectations	250
#66	C+	Langdon Area High School	Langdon	Langdon Area 23	40%	40%	Meets Expectations	176
#67	C+	Napoleon High School	Napoleon	Napoleon 2	40%	41%	Meets Expectations	108
#68	C+	Richardton Taylor High School	Richardton	Richardton-Taylor 34	40%	40%	Meets Expectations	132
#69	C+	Turtle Lake Mercer High School	Turtle Lake	Turtle Lake-Mercer 72	40%	36%	Exceeds Expectations	70
#70	C+	Bismarck High School	Bismarck	Bismarck 1	38%	47%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	1,333
#71	C+	Kidder County High School	Steele	Kidder County 1	38%	39%	Meets Expectations	152
#72	C+	Beach High School	Beach	Beach 3	37%	36%	Meets Expectations	129
#73	C+	Grenora High School	Grenora	Grenora 99	37%	37%	Meets Expectations	83
#74	C+	Max High School	Max	Max 50	37%	37%	Meets Expectations	73
#75	C+	New Salem Almont High School	New Salem	New Salem-Almont 49	37%	42%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	155
#76	C+	Richland Junior Senior High School	Colfax	Richland 44	37%	40%	Meets Expectations	113
#77	C+	South High School	Fargo	Fargo 1	37%	44%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	961
#78	C+	Underwood High School	Underwood	Underwood 8	37%	37%	Meets Expectations	98
#79	C+	Wilton High School	Wilton	Wilton 1	37%	37%	Meets Expectations	113
#80	C+	Divide County High School	Crosby	Divide County 1	35%	37%	Meets Expectations	161
#81	C+	Surrey High School	Surrey	Surrey 41	35%	42%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	192
#82	C	Lamoure High School	Lamoure	Lamoure 8	34%	36%	Meets Expectations	76
#83	C	May Port Cg High School	Mayville	May-Port Cg 14	34%	40%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	132
#84	C	Sargent Central High School	Forman	Sargent Central 6	34%	31%	Exceeds Expectations	71
#85	C	Scranton High School	Scranton	Scranton 33	34%	37%	Meets Expectations	57
#86	C	West Fargo Sheyenne High School	West Fargo	West Fargo 6	34%	38%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	1,473
#87	C	Westhope High School	Westhope	Westhope 17	34%	33%	Meets Expectations	66
#88	C	Bowman Co High School	Bowman	Bowman Co 1	33%	38%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	227
#89	C	Dakota Prairie High School	Petersburg	Dakota Prairie 1	33%	37%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	127
#90	C	Larimore High School	Larimore	Larimore 44	33%	38%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	193
#91	C	Legacy High School	Bismarck	Bismarck 1	33%	48%	Underperforms Expectations	1,418
#92	C	Pingree Buchanan High School	Pingree	Pingree-Buchanan 10	33%	37%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	70
#93	C	South Prairie High School	Minot	South Prairie 70	33%	38%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	151
#94	C	Mandan High School	Mandan	Mandan 1	32%	47%	Underperforms Expectations	1,138
#95	C-	Barnes County North High School	Wimbledon	Barnes County North 7	30%	35%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	76
#96	C-	Center Stanton High School Center	Center	Center-Stanton 1	30%	35%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	115
#97	C-	Glenburn High School	Glenburn	Glenburn 26	30%	36%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	97
#98	C-	Midkota High School	Glenfield	Midkota 7	30%	34%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	84
#99	C-	Nedrose High School	Minot	Nedrose 4	30%	34%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	297
#100	C-	New England High School	New England	New England 9	30%	36%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	112
#101	C-	South Heart High School	South Heart	South Heart 9	30%	49%	Underperforms Expectations	158
#102	C-	Stanley High School	Stanley	Stanley 2	30%	37%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	327
#103	C-	Tioga High School	Tioga	Tioga 15	30%	41%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	215
#104	C-	Dickinson High School	Dickinson	Dickinson 1	29%	43%	Underperforms Expectations	1,028
#105	C-	Burke Central High School	Lignite	Burke Central 36	27%	38%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	31
#106	C-	Lidgerwood High School	Lidgerwood	Lidgerwood 28	27%	32%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	85
#107	C-	Montpelier High School	Montpelier	Montpelier 14	27%	32%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	46
#108	C-	Wishek High School	Wishek	Wishek 19	27%	34%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	92
#109	D+	Brave Center Academy	Mandan	Mandan 1	25%	28%	Meets Expectations	49
#110	D+	Community Alternative High School	Grand Forks	Grand Forks 1	25%	27%	Meets Expectations	85
#111	D+	Dakota High School	Fargo	Fargo 1	25%	27%	Meets Expectations	109
#112	D+	Drayton High School	Drayton	Drayton 19	25%	26%	Meets Expectations	46
#113	D+	Fessenden Bowdon High School	Fessenden	Fessenden-Bowdon 25	25%	34%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	49
#114	D+	Glen Ullin High School	Glen Ullin	Glen Ullin 48	25%	31%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	52
#115	D+	Kulm High School	Kulm	Kulm 7	25%	36%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	40
#116	D+	Maddock High School	Maddock	Maddock 9	25%	30%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	38
#117	D+	Mandaree High School	Mandaree	Mandaree 36	25%	29%	Meets Expectations	45
#118	D+	Midway High School	Inkster	Midway 128	25%	29%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	53
#119	D+	North Border Walhalla High School	Walhalla	North Border 100	25%	42%	Underperforms Expectations	65
#120	D+	South Central Alternative High School	Bismarck	Bismarck 1	25%	29%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	94
#121	D+	Tgu Granville High School	Granville	Tgu 60	25%	41%	Underperforms Expectations	38
#122	D+	White Shield High School	White Shield	White Shield 85	25%	36%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	51
#123	D+	Beulah High School	Beulah	Beulah 27	24%	31%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	206
#124	D+	Minnewaukan High School	Minnewaukan	Minnewaukan 5	24%	22%	Exceeds Expectations	78
#125	D	Alexander High School	Alexander	Alexander 2	22%	33%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	125
#126	D	Devils Lake High School	Devils Lake	Devils Lake 1	22%	51%	Underperforms Expectations	500
#127	D	Watford City High School	Watford City	Mckenzie Co 1	22%	27%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	477
#128	D	Linton High School	Linton	Linton 36	21%	32%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	88
#129	D	Milnor High School	Milnor	Milnor 2	21%	28%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	65
#130	D	Fairmount High School	Fairmount	Fairmount 18	20%	31%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	49
#131	D	Flasher High School	Flasher	Flasher 39	20%	31%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	120
#132	D	Garrison High School	Garrison	Garrison 51	19%	28%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	162
#133	D-	Minto High School	Minto	Minto 20	17%	25%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	83
#134	D-	Parshall High School	Parshall	Parshall 3	17%	20%	Meets Expectations	145
#135	D-	Saint John High School	Saint John	St John 3	17%	19%	Meets Expectations	123
#136	D-	Turtle Mountain Community High School	Belcourt	Belcourt 7	17%	14%	Exceeds Expectations	560
#137	D-	Eight Mile High School	Trenton	Eight Mile 6	14%	24%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	93
#138	D-	Four Winds Community High School	Fort Totten	Ft Totten 30	14%	13%	Meets Expectations	181
#139	D-	Selfridge High School	Selfridge	Selfridge 8	14%	16%	Meets Expectations	42
#140	D-	Solen High School	Solen	Solen 3	12%	12%	Meets Expectations	82
#141	F	Kenmare High School	Kenmare	Kenmare 28	10%	22%	Underperforms Expectations	98
#142	F	Souris River Campus Alternative High School	Minot	Minot 1	10%	17%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	75
#143	F	Warwick High School	Warwick	Warwick 29	10%	13%	Meets Expectations	66
#144	F	New Town High School	New Town	New Town 1	7%	22%	Underperforms Expectations	278
#145	F	Dunseith High School	Dunseith	Dunseith 1	5%	12%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	303

How North Dakota's high schools compare

A: 9B: 51C: 48D: 32F: 5

41% of the 145 ranked high schools in North Dakota earn an A or B (9 A grades, 51 B, 48 C, 32 D, 5 F), against 48% of high schools nationwide. 93 schools meet or beat the proficiency projected from their student context (64% here, 75% nationally), and 49 exceed it. On average 37% of tested students meet the state bar against a projected 38% (national averages: 42% actual, 40% projected).

The biggest overperformers, by actual proficiency above projection: Rolette High School (75% against 26%, A), North Sargent High School (58% against 36%, B+), Wyndmere High School (65% against 44%, A-), Carrington High School (67% against 47%, A-), Finley Sharon High School (58% against 39%, B+).

Districts with the most schools in the top quarter (the top 37): Fargo 1 (2), Lewis And Clark 161 (2).

Cities with the most ranked high schools: Bismarck (4, 1 at A or B), Fargo (4, 2 at A or B), Grand Forks (3, 2 at A or B), Minot (3, 0 at A or B).

The largest ranked high schools: West Fargo Sheyenne High School (1,473 students, C, #86), Century High School (1,427 students, B+, #12), West Fargo High School (1,423 students, B-, #53).

High schools in North Dakota that are not ranked

26 graded high schools are listed here rather than ranked, each for the reason given. Every one has its own page with its full SchoolGrade report.

Very small schools (9)

Schools with fewer than 30 students have grades that swing on a handful of test results.

B+ Gackle Streeter High School, Gackle
B Leeds High School, Leeds
A Munich High School, Munich
B Newburg United High School, Newburg
B Starkweather High School, Starkweather
B+ Sundale Colony High School, Milnor
A Wing High School, Wing
D+ Wolves Center Academy, Watford City
A Zeeland High School, Zeeland

Closed schools (1)

NCES lists these schools as closed or inactive since their last graded year.

C+ Mcclusky High School, Mcclusky

Not yet graded (16)

Too little test data to grade.

Del Easton Alternative High School, Williston
Edmore High School, Edmore
Ellendale High Virtual Academy, Ellendale
Fargo 9 12 Virtual Academy, Fargo
Fordville Lankin High School, Fordville
Horace High School, Horace
Kensal High School, Kensal
Magic City Campus High School, Minot
Mandan Virtual High School, Mandan
Minot Public Schools 9 12 Virtual Academy, Minot
Roughrider High Virtual Academy, Dickinson
Sawyer High School, Sawyer
South Heart High Virtual Academy, South Heart
Southwest Community High School, Dickinson
West Fargo High Virtual Academy, West Fargo
Williston High School, Williston

About this ranking

Scope: every public high school in North Dakota.
Order: SchoolGrade, then actual proficiency, then name; schools with the same grade and score share a rank.
Ranked: regular public schools that NCES lists as open, not fully online, with at least 30 students. Others are listed with the reason.
Tags: Magnet and Charter from the NCES school directory; K-12 marks schools serving every grade that are ranked with the high schools.
Grades are the 2025-26 SchoolGrade model. How SchoolGrade works

Questions about high schools in North Dakota

What is the best high school in North Dakota?

Bowbells High School in Bowbells ranks first among the 145 ranked high schools in North Dakota with a SchoolGrade of A, 75% of tested students meeting the state bar against a projected 60%.

How are high schools in North Dakota ranked?

By SchoolGrade, the 2025-26 model that scores each school's actual test proficiency against the level projected for its student context, then by actual proficiency to break ties. Regular public schools that are open, not fully online and have at least 30 students are ranked; the rest are listed below the table with the reason.

How many high schools does North Dakota have?

SchoolGrade grades 171 public high schools in North Dakota; 145 are ranked here and 26 are listed as not ranked.