2024 Best Middle Schools in North Dakota

A Guide to Navigating Middle Schools in North Dakota

When discussing the education landscape of North Dakota, the state stands out due to its relatively small population and the large number of middle schools. The total number of middle schools in North Dakota is 328, which is a whopping 116% higher than the national per capita average. Although it may seem that the large number of middle schools could overcrowd the sector and potentially lead to poor educational quality, this couldn’t be further from the truth. All middle schools in North Dakota have earned a B– grade on average, which is identical to the national average. When evaluating North Dakota's middle schools, parents and students have a plethora of choices available to them.

North Dakota is an ideal place for those seeking personalized instruction in a relatively intimate environment. The average school size in North Dakota is 184 students, which is about 55% smaller than the typical American school. This implies that families are able to access individualized counseling at an increased frequency and with greater efficiency. Furthermore, the student-to-teacher ratio for North Dakota’s middle schools stands at 10:1, which is around 29% lower than the typical school size in most states.

Stats about Public Middle Schools in North Dakota

Public middle schools are by far the most popular choice for parents and students in North Dakota, and account for 89% of all institutions in the state. This statistic implies that there are 291 public middle schools in North Dakota, however they all perform at a similar standard as their predecessors, with an overall grade B– being awarded. The average enrollment size of these public schools is 185 students, which is actually slightly lower than the national average despite being larger than most North Dakota middle schools (which generally sit around 184 students). This difference can be attributed to the fact that some public middle schools contain more than 500 pupils.

Traditional Public Middle Schools

Traditional public middle schools are easily one of the most popular school types nationally, and this trend applies to North Dakota as well. There are 291 traditional public middle schools across the state, representing 100% of all public institutions and 87% of all middle schools in total (remember those 8th-grade charter and magnet options are much less common here). Nearly 55% (159) of these traditional public middle schools rank above the national average when it comes to academic performance, making it quite easy to find a great school for your child if you know where to look (and if you consider where you want to look). It's also worth noting that traditional public middle schools tend to be smaller than their public counterparts (185 students), but still slightly larger than most other options in North Dakota (184 students).

An In-Depth Look at Sawyer Elementary School

For parents looking for quality education without sacrificing size or convenience, Sawyer Elementary School is one of their best bets. This exemplary institution has achieved a remarkable A+ grade despite its small size (38 students). It also boasts an impressive student-to-teacher ratio of 5:1, which is around 64% lower than the state average, making it an ideal choice for those seeking personalized instruction on a regular basis. Additionally, Sawyer Elementary School has been recognized for its success by leading publications such as US News and World Report magazine, further validating its quality as a top institution.

An Overview of North Dakota's Private School Sector

North Dakota is home to a total of 36 private schools, offering students and their families an array of other education options outside of public schooling. As far as the overall performance of these schools is concerned, the average grade is a B+, which can be seen as a passing score, especially when compared to the lower grades received by quite a few public institutions. Additionally, it is worth noting that the average enrollment for a private school in North Dakota is considerably lower, with an average of 175 students per school, falling approximately 57% below the national average. Once again, this could correlate with increased educational quality due to smaller class sizes, and is certainly something that prospective parents should consider when exploring their private school options.

All you need to know about religious middle schools in North Dakota

Most private schools in the state are actually religiously influenced, 94% to be exact. There are 34 total options to choose from, and the grade quality of the average religious school is a B+. It's also worth noting that when adjust per-capita, the state has 19% more religious schools than most states (ranking it 16th). It's likely due to this that the average school size is slightly larger than private schools overall in the state (184 students), however still beating the national average by 55%. In terms of which religious influence is most prevalent in the state, Catholic schools make up how about 19 of those 34 options, which might be a good indicator if you're looking for a specifically Catholic experience.

What is the best religious middle school in North Dakota?

The highest rated religious middle school located in North Dakota is Oak Grove Lutheran School located in Fargo. The school received an outstanding A grade, and has a well below average school size of 696 students. With just twelve students per instructor, Oak Grove Lutheran School beats the national average by 14%, meaning your child could be receiving exceptional attention from faculty and staff alike.

A snapshot on private non-religious middle schools in North Dakota

Diving deeper into private schools, those that are non-religious play an important role in private academics. Private schools that are not associated with any religious denomination constitute just 1% of all private schools in the state (a total of 2 institutions). Unsurprisingly due to this small number, North Dakota's per capita rate of these schools compared to other states ranks dead last nationwide.

The academic performance of private non-religious middle schools in North Dakota cannot be determined since there are no rated schools in this category currently. Additionally, while data can't be extrapolated due to such a small sample size, it's worth noting that the average school size appears to be much smaller than the national average at 35 students on average (falling 91% below the national average). Private non-religious middle schools in North Dakota therefore appear to offer families/greater control over their student’s education but may lack established data for parents to judge performance standards.

What is the best private non-religious middle school in North Dakota?

In this category Anne Carlsen Center in Jamestown stands out as top choice for parents looking for an alternative to public schooling and/or religious institutions. The school has about 53 students with a 3:1 student/teacher ratio which is 79% lower than national rate meaning your child would receive considerable attention from faculty and staff alike.

Additional middle school options in North Dakota

Top All-Boys Middle Schools in North Dakota

North Dakota offers limited options for all-boys middle schools, with only one Prairie Learning Education Center located in Fargo catering to this niche. Nevertheless, details on academic performance and other important metrics are not available at this time due to lack of data associated with this institution.

Top-Ranked All-Girls Middle Schools

Unfortunately there are no all-girls middle school options available in North Dakota currently and no data associated with any potential future openings can be extrapolated due to lack of associated metrics provided by relevant agencies or institutions.

Are there fully-online middle school options in North Dakota?

Given recent educational shifts due to the pandemic, online learning has certainly taken off nationally. However it appears there are no elementary schools currently offered exclusively online in The Peace Garden State according to our tally. This could mean that parents looking for fully virtual educational experience for their children have no established options at present time but may keep their eyes peeled for future openings as online schooling popularity continues to grow nationally and locally.