Traditionally one of the least populated U.S. states, North Dakota has experienced a population boom in the past ten years thanks to new developments in oil extraction technology which have bolstered state industry. With the influx of recent migrants, North Dakota’s public school districts have rapidly expanded to accommodate new students, opening many new schools.

North Dakota’s best school district is Northwood School District No. 129, a system of one elementary and one high school serving the small town of less than 1,000, Northwood, ND. Northwood High School was recently awarded a bronze medal by U.S. News & World Report, placing it among the best public high schools in the nation.

Mohall-Lansford-Sherwood School District No.1, comprising two elementaries and one high school based in Mohall, ND, comes in at #2. Students enrolled in the district’s schools benefit from a student:teacher ratio of 10:1, two better than the state average of 12:1.

At #3 is another modestly sized school district, Wyndmere Public Schools serving the small town of Wyndmere, ND. Based on state test results, 82% of Wyndmere’s students are proficient in reading, while 77% are proficient in reading.

Buxton, ND’s Central Valley School District No.3 places fourth in the ranking. Central Valley High School’s high graduation rate and state test scores earned it a bronze medal from U.S. News & World Report.

Kindred Public School #2, home of 2017 National Blue Ribbon School award recipient, Kindred Elementary School, is North Dakota’s #5 best school district.

Top School Districts in North Dakota, 2018

State RankSchool DistrictState
1Northwood 129North Dakota
2Mohall-Lansford-Sherwood 1North Dakota
3Wyndmere 42North Dakota
4Central Valley 3North Dakota
5Kindred 2North Dakota
6Mckenzie Co 1North Dakota
7Beach 3North Dakota
8Valley City 2North Dakota
9Edgeley 3North Dakota
10Milnor 2North Dakota
11Thompson 61North Dakota
12North Border 100North Dakota
13Ellendale 40North Dakota
14New Rockford-Sheyenne 2North Dakota
15Surrey 41North Dakota
16Kenmare 28North Dakota
17Maple Valley 4North Dakota
18Bowman Co 1North Dakota
19Griggs County Central 18North Dakota
20Harvey 38North Dakota
21Cavalier 6North Dakota
22Hillsboro 9North Dakota
23Jamestown 1North Dakota
24Napoleon 2North Dakota
25West Fargo 6North Dakota
26Oakes 41North Dakota
27Midway 128North Dakota
28Fargo 1North Dakota
29Garrison 51North Dakota
30Underwood 8North Dakota
31Bismarck 1North Dakota
32Northern Cass 97North Dakota
33Beulah 27North Dakota
34Lewis And Clark 161North Dakota
35Rugby 5North Dakota
36Lisbon 19North Dakota
37Minot 1North Dakota
38Killdeer 16North Dakota
39Grand Forks 1North Dakota
40North Star 10North Dakota
41Tioga 15North Dakota
42Richardton-Taylor 34North Dakota
43Larimore 44North Dakota
44Stanley 2North Dakota
45Central Cass 17North Dakota
46Grafton 3North Dakota
47Barnes County North 7North Dakota
48Lamoure 8North Dakota
49Bottineau 1North Dakota
50Devils Lake 1North Dakota
51Nesson 2North Dakota
52Mandan 1North Dakota
53United 7North Dakota
54Richland 44North Dakota
55South Heart 9North Dakota
56Hankinson 8North Dakota
57Velva 1North Dakota
58Hazen 3North Dakota
59May-Port Cg 14North Dakota
60Enderlin Area 24North Dakota
61Williston 1North Dakota
62Hettinger 13North Dakota
63Belfield 13North Dakota
64Wahpeton 37North Dakota
65Dickinson 1North Dakota
66Linton 36North Dakota
67Wilton 1North Dakota
68Sargent Central 6North Dakota
69Washburn 4North Dakota
70Kidder County 1North Dakota
71Tgu 60North Dakota
72Mt Pleasant 4North Dakota
73Lakota 66North Dakota
74Langdon Area 23North Dakota
75Mott-Regent 1North Dakota
76Minto 20North Dakota
77Divide County 1North Dakota
78Glenburn 26North Dakota
79Dakota Prairie 1North Dakota
80Belcourt 7North Dakota
81New Town 1North Dakota
82St John 3North Dakota
83Parshall 3North Dakota
84Dunseith 1North Dakota
85Eight Mile 6North Dakota
86Minnewaukan 5North Dakota
87Warwick 29North Dakota

Methodology

The following contributed to the ranking: student performance (math and reading test scores), dropout rates, school funding, and area poverty rates. Data was collected from a total of 9,577 school districts.

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