NDNorth Dakota rankings

Towns with the best public schools in North Dakota

Ranked by how far each town's public schools score above or below the North Dakota average in math and reading proficiency, weighted by enrollment. 18 towns with 2,500+ residents.

U.S. Census ACS 2020–2024 5-yearTest scores SY2020–21

1 Horace +12.2 pts Math 50.7% · Reading 54% 2 Valley City +8.3 pts Math 52.6% · Reading 44.5% 3 Jamestown +7.8 pts Math 42% · Reading 53.9%

#Townvs. state averageMathReading

1 HoraceWEST FARGO 6 +12.2 pts 50.7% 54%

2 Valley CityVALLEY CITY 2 +8.3 pts 52.6% 44.5%

3 JamestownJAMESTOWN 1 +7.8 pts 42% 53.9%

4 TatmanWard County · MINOT 1 +7.8 pts 43% 53%

5 CasseltonCENTRAL CASS 17 +7.3 pts 44.3% 50.8%

6 Grand ForksGRAND FORKS 1 +2.8 pts 36.4% 49.6%

WahpetonWAHPETON 37 +2.4 pts 41.1% 44.1%

8 FargoFARGO 1 +0.8 pts 39.6% 42.4%

LincolnBISMARCK 1 +0.8 pts 49% 33%

10 BismarckBISMARCK 1 +0.4 pts 38.1% 43%

11 MinotMINOT 1 +0.3 pts 38.6% 42.4%

West FargoWEST FARGO 6 −0.1 pts 39.1% 41%

13 DickinsonDICKINSON 1 −4.0 pts 33.3% 39%

14 MandanMANDAN 1 −4.9 pts 31.9% 38.7%

15 Watford CityMCKENZIE CO 1 −6.3 pts 32.8% 35%

Devils LakeDEVILS LAKE 1 −7.9 pts 32.4% 32.2%

BeulahBEULAH 27 −10.0 pts 29.6% 30.8%

18 New TownNEW TOWN 1 −31.6 pts 4.8% 12.4%

How this ranking works

For every public school in a town we take its latest math and reading proficiency and subtract the North Dakota average for the same test. The town’s score is the average of those gaps, weighted by each school’s enrollment, so a big high school counts more than a small annex. Private schools aren’t included.

Each state writes its own tests, so these scores compare towns within North Dakota only. We don’t rank a town unless at least 150 students in its schools were tested. Test data: EDFacts via Urban Institute Education Data Portal (SY2020-21).

Only towns with at least 2,500 residents are ranked; Census estimates for smaller places are too uncertain. Population and income: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates. Town photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each town’s page.

Same ranking in other states

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