Best Schools in North Dakota
North Dakota has 552 public schools (174 high, 44 middle, 304 elementary) serving 132,456 students. On average they score 43% on state proficiency tests against a projected 40%, so schools in North Dakota meet expectations. Rankings below compare each school’s actual results with the projection for its socioeconomic context.
Best High Schools in North Dakota
The top high schools in North Dakota, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.
1. Powers Lake High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Powers Lake 27 • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 73 Students
2. Velva High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Velva 1 • Public • Grades 7 - 12 • 216 Students
3. North Border-pembina High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
North Border 100 • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 37 Students
4. Lakota High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Lakota 66 • Public • Grades 7 - 12 • 67 Students
5. Harvey High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Harvey 38 • Public • Grades 7 - 12 • 169 Students
6. Northern Cass High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Northern Cass 97 • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 189 Students
7. Kindred High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Kindred 2 • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 396 Students
8. Ellendale High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Ellendale 40 • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 91 Students
9. Glen Ullin High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Glen Ullin 48 • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 52 Students
10. Hatton Eielson High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Hatton Eielson 7 • Public • Grades 7 - 12 • 89 Students
Best Middle Schools in North Dakota
The top middle schools in North Dakota, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.
1. Wahpeton Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Wahpeton 37 • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 267 Students
2. Memorial Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Minot 1 • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 189 Students
3. Nathan Twining Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Grand Forks 1 • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 85 Students
4. Northern Cass Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Northern Cass 97 • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 157 Students
5. Central Cass Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Central Cass 17 • Public • Grades 5 - 8 • 327 Students
6. Schroeder Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Grand Forks 1 • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 549 Students
7. Hazen Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Hazen 3 • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 131 Students
8. May-port Cg Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
May-port Cg 14 • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 114 Students
9. Lisbon Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Lisbon 19 • Public • Grades 5 - 8 • 186 Students
10. Wachter Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Bismarck 1 • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 1000 Students
Best Elementary Schools in North Dakota
The top elementary schools in North Dakota, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.
1. Rhame Elementary School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Bowman Co 1 • Public • Grades KG - 6 • 23 Students
2. Sweet Briar School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Sweet Briar 17 • Public • Grades KG - 8 • 25 Students
3. Kensal Elementary School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Kensal 19 • Public • Grades Pre K - 6 • 28 Students
4. Finley-sharon Elementary School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Finley-sharon 19 • Public • Grades Pre K - 6 • 45 Students
5. Hebron Elementary School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Hebron 13 • Public • Grades Pre K - 6 • 84 Students
6. North Border-pembina Elementary School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
North Border 100 • Public • Grades Pre K - 8 • 94 Students
7. Longfellow Elementary School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Fargo 1 • Public • Grades KG - 5 • 392 Students
8. Elk Ridge Elementary School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Bismarck 1 • Public • Grades KG - 5 • 482 Students
9. J Nelson Kelly Elementary School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Grand Forks 1 • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 476 Students
10. Cavalier Elementary School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Cavalier 6 • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 220 Students
Education & Community Snapshot in North Dakota
State-level factors that shape the learning environment around local schools.
Community Factors
North Dakota has a total population of 779,094 with 26% of that population attending schools. The adult high school graduation rate is 94%, and 33% of adults have a bachelor’s degree or higher.
Students in North Dakota
K-12 Students
High School Graduates
Adults 25+ with HS diplomas
College Graduates
Adults 25+ with a Bachelor’s degree or higher
Demographics statistics provided by Best Neighborhood North Dakota.
Safety
Crime Grades summarize reported incidents per 1,000 residents. Use them as neighborhood context, not a school rating.
Overall Crime Grade
22.72 per 1,000 Residents
Violent Crime Grade
3.21 per 1,000 Residents
Property Crime Grade
19.50 per 1,000 Residents
Crime statistics provided by CrimeGrade in North Dakota.
Connectivity
Connectivity influences learning at home. We summarize internet infrastructure, typical download speed, and a digital connectivity index for North Dakota.
ISP Report Card
Internet Infrastructure Grade
Average Download Speed
Speed Most Residents Can Get
Digital Connectivity Index
ISP Connectivity Demand Report
To read more about these statistics, please visit North Dakota Internet Health Assessment.
Questions About Schools in North Dakota
How many schools are in North Dakota?
North Dakota has 552 public schools: 174 high schools, 44 middle schools and 304 elementary schools, serving 132,456 students in total.
How do schools in North Dakota perform on state tests?
On average, 552 schools in North Dakota score 43% proficient on state assessments. Given the socioeconomic context of their students we project 40%, so on average schools in North Dakota meet expectations.
How does SchoolGrade rank the best schools in North Dakota?
Every public school gets a SchoolGrade from A+ to F based on the share of students at or above the state proficiency bar. The Impact Grade compares that result with what we would expect given the school’s student and community context, so schools that outperform their circumstances stand out. Schools cannot pay to change a grade. Read the full methodology.
Best Schools in Cities Near North Dakota
Explore nearby cities to widen your school search.
- Actual: 45%
- Projected: 41%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 36%
- Projected: 44%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 62%
- Projected: 49%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 53%
- Projected: 45%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 72%
- Projected: 56%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 36%
- Projected: 37%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 43%
- Projected: 42%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 39%
- Projected: 34%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 42%
- Projected: 35%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 43%
- Projected: 27%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
Every city and county in North Dakota
School rankings for each place: 588 cities, towns and neighborhoods, and 53 counties.
Counties
- Adams County
- Barnes County
- Benson County
- Billings County
- Bottineau County
- Bowman County
- Burke County
- Burleigh County
- Cass County
- Cavalier County
- Dickey County
- Divide County
- Dunn County
- Eddy County
- Emmons County
- Foster County
- Golden Valley County
- Grand Forks County
- Grant County
- Griggs County
- Hettinger County
- Kidder County
- Lamoure County
- Logan County
- Mchenry County
- Mcintosh County
- Mckenzie County
- Mclean County
- Mercer County
- Morton County
- Mountrail County
- Nelson County
- Oliver County
- Pembina County
- Pierce County
- Ramsey County
- Ransom County
- Renville County
- Richland County
- Rolette County
- Sargent County
- Sheridan County
- Sioux County
- Slope County
- Stark County
- Steele County
- Stutsman County
- Towner County
- Traill County
- Walsh County
- Ward County
- Wells County
- Williams County
Cities and towns
- Abercrombie (1)
- Absaraka
- Adams
- Agate
- Alamo
- Alexander (2)
- Alfred
- Alice
- Almont
- Alsen
- Amber Valley Fargo
- Ambrose
- Amenia
- Amidon
- Anamoose (1)
- Aneta
- Antler
- Appam
- Ardoch
- Arena
- Argusville
- Arnegard
- Arthur
- Arvilla
- Ashley (2)
- Aylmer
- Ayr
- Baker
- Baldwin
- Balfour
- Balta
- Bantry
- Barney
- Barton
- Bathgate
- Beach (2)
- Belcourt (8)
- Belfield (3)
- Benedict
- Bennett Fargo
- Berlin
- Berthold (2)
- Beulah (3)
- Binford (1)
- Bisbee
- Bismarck (29)
- Blaisdell
- Blanchard (1)
- Bluemont Lakes Fargo
- Bordulac
- Bottineau (2)
- Bowbells (2)
- Bowdon
- Bowman (3)
- Braddock
- Bremen
- Brinsmade
- Brocket
- Brunsdale Fargo
- Buchanan (1)
- Buckskin
- Bucyrus
- Buffalo Springs
- Buffalo
- Buford
- Burlington (1)
- Butte
- Buxton (2)
- Caledonia
- Calvin
- Cando (2)
- Cannon Ball (1)
- Canton City
- Carpio
- Carrington (2)
- Carson (1)
- Cartwright (1)
- Cashel
- Casselton (3)
- Cathay
- Cavalier (2)
- Cayuga
- Center (2)
- Chaffee
- Charbonneau
- Chaseley
- Christine
- Churchs Ferry
- Cleveland
- Clifford
- Clyde
- Cogswell
- Coleharbor
- Colfax (1)
- Colgate
- Columbus
- Concrete
- Cooperstown (2)
- Corinth
- Coteau
- Courtenay
- Crary
- Crocus
- Crosby (2)
- Crystal Springs
- Crystal (1)
- Cuba
- Cummings
- Dahlen
- Danzig
- Davenport
- Dawson
- Dazey
- Deering
- Delamere
- Denbigh
- Denhoff
- Des Lacs (1)
- Devils Lake (6)
- Dickey
- Dickinson (12)
- Dodge
- Donnybrook
- Douglas
- Dover
- Downtown Fargo Fargo
- Downtown Grand Forks Grand Forks
- Doyon
- Drake (1)
- Drayton (2)
- Driscoll
- Dunn Center
- Dunseith (3)
- Dwight
- East Dunseith
- Eckelson
- Eckman
- Edgeley (3)
- Edinburg (1)
- Edmore (2)
- Egeland
- Eldridge
- Elgin (2)
- Ellendale (3)
- Elliott
- Emerado (1)
- Enderlin (3)
- Epping
- Erie
- Esmond
- Fairdale
- Fairfield
- Fairmount (2)
- Fairview
- Fargo (29)
- Fessenden (2)
- Fillmore
- Fingal
- Finley (2)
- Flasher (2)
- Flaxton
- Forbes (1)
- Fordville (2)
- Forest River Colony
- Forest River
- Forman (2)
- Fort Clark
- Fort Ransom (1)
- Fort Rice
- Fort Totten (3)
- Fort Yates (3)
- Fortuna
- Foxholm
- Fredonia
- Frontier
- Fryburg
- Fullerton (1)
- Gackle (2)
- Galchutt
- Galesburg
- Gardar
- Gardena
- Gardner
- Garrison (2)
- Gilby
- Gladstone
- Glasston
- Glen Ullin (2)
- Glenburn (2)
- Glenfield (1)
- Golden Valley
- Golva (1)
- Goodrich
- Gorham
- Grace City
- Grafton (3)
- Grand Forks Afb (2)
- Grand Forks Air Force Base
- Grand Forks (16)
- Grandin
- Granville (2)
- Grassy Butte
- Great Bend
- Green Acres
- Grenora (2)
- Griffin
- Guelph
- Guthrie
- Gwinner (2)
- Hague (1)
- Haley
- Halliday (1)
- Hallson
- Hamberg
- Hamilton
- Hampden
- Hankinson (2)
- Hanks Corner
- Hannaford
- Hannah
- Hannover
- Hansboro
- Hartland
- Harvey (2)
- Harwood (1)
- Hatton (2)
- Havana
- Haynes
- Hazelton (2)
- Hazen (3)
- Heaton
- Hebron (2)
- Heil
- Heimdal
- Hensel
- Hensler
- Hesper
- Hettinger (2)
- Hillsboro (2)
- Homer
- Honeyford
- Hoople (1)
- Hope (1)
- Horace (3)
- Hove Mobile Park
- Huff
- Hull
- Hunter (3)
- Hurdsfield
- Inkster (2)
- Jamestown (7)
- Jefferson Carl Ben Fargo
- Jessie
- Johnstown
- Juanita
- Jud
- Judson
- Karlsruhe
- Karnak
- Kathryn
- Keene
- Kelso
- Kelvin
- Kenaston
- Kenmare (2)
- Kensal (2)
- Kief
- Killdeer (2)
- Kindred (2)
- Kintyre
- Knox
- Kongsberg
- Kramer
- Kulm (2)
- Kuroki
- Lakewood Park
- Lakota (2)
- Lamoure (3)
- Landa
- Langdon (2)
- Lankin
- Lansford
- Larimore (2)
- Lark
- Larson
- Lawton
- Leeds (2)
- Lefor
- Lehigh
- Lehr
- Leith
- Lemmon
- Leonard
- Leroy
- Leyden
- Lidgerwood (2)
- Lignite (2)
- Lincoln (1)
- Linton (2)
- Lisbon (3)
- Litchville (1)
- Livona
- Loma
- Lone Tree
- Lostwood
- Lucca
- Ludden
- Lunds Valley
- Luverne
- Lynchburg
- Maddock (2)
- Maida
- Makoti
- Mandan (13)
- Mandaree (3)
- Manfred
- Manning
- Mantador
- Manvel (1)
- Mapes
- Mapleton (1)
- Marion (1)
- Marmarth (1)
- Marmon
- Marshall
- Martin
- Max (2)
- Maxbass
- Mayville (3)
- Maza
- Mc Intosh
- Mccanna
- Mcclusky (2)
- Mcgregor
- Mchenry
- Mckenzie
- Mcleod
- Mcville (1)
- Medina (2)
- Medora (1)
- Mekinock
- Melville
- Menoken (1)
- Mercer
- Merricourt
- Michigan City
- Michigan
- Millarton
- Milnor (4)
- Milton
- Minnewaukan (2)
- Minot Afb (3)
- Minot Air Force Base
- Minot (22)
- Minto (2)
- Moffit
- Mohall (2)
- Monango
- Montpelier (2)
- Mooreton
- Morristown
- Mott (2)
- Mount Carmel
- Mountain
- Munich (2)
- Munster
- Mylo
- Nanson
- Napoleon (2)
- Nash
- Neche
- Nekoma
- New England (2)
- New Hradec
- New Leipzig
- New Rockford (2)
- New Salem (2)
- New Town (3)
- Newburg (2)
- Niagara
- Niobe
- Nome
- Noonan
- Norma
- North Dakota State University Fargo
- North Lemmon
- North River
- Northgate
- Northport Fargo
- Northwood (2)
- Nortonville
- Norwich
- Oakes (2)
- Oakwood
- Oberon (1)
- Olga
- Ops
- Oriska
- Orr
- Orrin
- Osgood Fargo
- Osnabrock
- Overly
- Oxbow
- Page (1)
- Palermo
- Park River (2)
- Parshall (2)
- Pekin
- Pembina (2)
- Penn
- Perth
- Petersburg (1)
- Pettibone
- Pick City
- Pickardville
- Pillsbury
- Pingree (1)
- Pisek
- Plaza (2)
- Pollock
- Portal
- Portland
- Powers Lake (2)
- Prairie Rose
- Price
- Prosper
- Raleigh
- Rawson
- Ray (2)
- Reeder
- Regan
- Regent
- Reiles Acres
- Reynolds
- Rhame (1)
- Richardton (2)
- Riverdale
- Robinson
- Rocklake
- Rogers
- Rolette (2)
- Rolla (2)
- Roseglen (1)
- Ross
- Roth
- Rugby (2)
- Ruso
- Russell
- Ruthville
- Rutland
- Ryder
- San Haven
- Sanborn
- Sanger
- Sanish
- Sarles
- Sawyer (2)
- Schefield
- Scranton (2)
- Selfridge (2)
- Selz
- Sentinel Butte
- Sharon
- Sheldon
- Shell Valley
- Shepard
- Sherwood
- Sheyenne
- Shields
- Sibley
- Silva
- Simcoe
- Sims
- Solen (1)
- Souris
- South Cottonwood
- South Heart (3)
- South Minnewaukan
- South Prairie
- Southam
- Southpointe Fargo
- Spiritwood Lake
- Spiritwood
- Springbrook
- St Anthony
- St Benedict
- St Gertrude
- St John
- St Michael
- St Paul
- St Thomas
- Stanley (2)
- Stanton
- Starkweather (2)
- Steele (2)
- Sterling (1)
- Stirum
- Stone Bridge Fargo
- Stoneview
- Strasburg (2)
- Straubville
- Streeter
- Surrey (2)
- Sutton
- Sydney
- Sykeston
- Taft
- Tagus
- Tappen
- Taylor (1)
- Temvik
- Thompson (2)
- Thorne
- Tilden
- Timmer
- Tioga (2)
- Tokio
- Tolley
- Tolna
- Tower City (3)
- Towner (2)
- Trenton (2)
- Trotters
- Turtle Lake (2)
- Tuttle
- Twin Buttes
- Underwood (2)
- Union
- Upham
- Urbana
- Valley City (4)
- Velva (2)
- Venturia
- Verona
- Veseleyville
- Village West Fargo
- Voltaire
- Voss
- Wabek
- Wachters Bismarck
- Wahpeton (5)
- Walcott
- Wales
- Walhalla (2)
- Walum
- Wano
- Warren
- Warsaw
- Warwick (3)
- Washburn (2)
- Washington Fargo
- Watford City (5)
- Webster
- Wellsburg
- Werner
- West Acres Fargo
- West Fargo (17)
- West Ontario
- Westfield
- Westgate Fargo
- Westhope (2)
- Wheatland
- Wheelock
- White Earth
- White Shield (2)
- Whitman
- Wild Rice
- Wildrose
- Williston (13)
- Willow City
- Willow Park Fargo
- Wilton (2)
- Wimbledon (2)
- Windsor
- Wing (2)
- Wishek (2)
- Wolford
- Wolseth
- Woodhaven Fargo
- Woods
- Woodworth
- Wyndmere (2)
- York
- Ypsilanti
- Zahl
- Zap
- Zeeland (2)
School district map of North Dakota
Every public school district in North Dakota with graded schools. Hover for the district and its school count; click to open its page.
shaded by the district's average SchoolGrade, F to A; grey = not yet graded. Boundaries from the NCES EDGE composite school district file. Districts without a page (fewer than three graded schools) are not linked.
Largest school districts in North Dakota
The 25 districts with the most graded schools in North Dakota. Each district page lists every one of its schools.
- Fargo 1 (25 schools)
- Bismarck 1 (24 schools)
- West Fargo 6 (24 schools)
- Minot 1 (21 schools)
- Grand Forks 1 (18 schools)
- Williston Basin 7 (13 schools)
- Dickinson 1 (12 schools)
- Mandan 1 (11 schools)
- Jamestown 1 (7 schools)
- Devils Lake 1 (5 schools)
- Mckenzie Co 1 (5 schools)
- Belcourt 7 (4 schools)
- Bowman Co 1 (4 schools)
- Ellendale 40 (4 schools)
- Lewis And Clark 161 (4 schools)
- Milnor 2 (4 schools)
- North Border 100 (4 schools)
- Tgu 60 (4 schools)
- Valley City 2 (4 schools)
- Wahpeton 37 (4 schools)
- Beulah 27 (3 schools)
- Central Cass 17 (3 schools)
- Edgeley 3 (3 schools)
- Enderlin Area 24 (3 schools)
- Hazen 3 (3 schools)