Ellendale 40

Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. District totals are aggregated directly from the schools reporting under this district in the source records. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.

Ellendale, North Dakota - 4 schools

An equity score of 34/100 ranks Ellendale 40 #76 of 101 districts in North Dakota (state average 51). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $14,544 per pupil, Ellendale 40 ranks #124 of 168 North Dakota districts by per-pupil spending (North Dakota districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

339
Total Enrollment
4
Schools
$14,544
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined, High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Ellendale 40 operates 4 public schools serving 339 students, placing it among the smallest districts in North Dakota. The school portfolio breaks down into 2 combined, 1 high, 1 elementary schools, a small enough portfolio that most families will interact with nearly every campus in the district at some point. These enrollment and school figures come from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 release, and the district is based in Dickey County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $14,544 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the lower half of 168 North Dakota districts by per-pupil spending. See how North Dakota compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 43.1% local, 48.6% state, and 8.3% federal, a balanced mix across local, state, and federal sources, spreading budget risk across funding cycles rather than concentrating it in one. The district's equity score is 34/100, ranked #76 of 101 in North Dakota against a state average of 51, notably less even than the typical district in the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

Academic infrastructure includes 1 of 4 schools offering Advanced Placement (1 AP courses district-wide), a 319:1 student-counselor ratio, somewhat above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 17.9% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 93.6% White, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 0.6% Asian across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Ellendale Elementary School, with a diversity index of 29.3/100.

Its largest campus is Ellendale Elementary School, enrolling 120 students (48% of the district's total enrollment). Its smallest is Ellendale High Virtual Academy, at 1 students, a 120x enrollment spread across the district's campuses.

Ellendale Elementary School accounts for 35.4% of all Ellendale 40 student enrollment

That dominant concentration means Ellendale 40-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. Grade band: combined. A single dominant campus often anchors a district's program offerings and staffing patterns; the share helps explain why district-wide averages may not reflect the typical neighbourhood-school experience. When one entity dominates a region's footprint, its programmatic and budget decisions effectively set policy for a majority of the affected population.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

Ellendale 40 school enrollment varies 120× across entities

Ellendale 40 school enrollment ranges from 1 students (lowest) to 120 students (highest), a spread of 119 students. That ratio is an extreme outlier spread — among the widest gaps observed anywhere in this dataset. Per-school staffing ratios, programme availability, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same district based on enrollment shape.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

Ellendale 40 student-counselor ratio is 319:1 — near the typical range (US average ~408) — within the typical range for U.S. public districts

student-counselor ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE counselors against total enrollment, districts that contract intervention or social-emotional staff outside the counselor classification may be under-counted Variation between sub-units within Ellendale 40 is typically wider than the Ellendale 40-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

Ellendale 40 chronic absenteeism rate is 17.9% — near the typical range (US average ~28) — aligned with the national post-pandemic baseline of roughly 28% chronic absenteeism

chronic absenteeism rate is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: a student is chronically absent if they miss ≥10% of enrolled days for any reason, illness, family obligations, or disengagement Variation between sub-units within Ellendale 40 is typically wider than the Ellendale 40-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22 NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

8.3%
Federal
48.6%
State
43.1%
Local

Funding Equity

34
Equity Score
76 / 101
State Rank
51
State Average

This district scores below average on funding equity. High reliance on local revenue or lower spending may contribute.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 4 schools in Ellendale 40.

White 93.6%
Hispanic or Latino 4.0%
Asian 0.6%
Multiracial 1.1%
Other 0.8%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 11.5/100

Average Simpson diversity index across Ellendale 40's schools, below the North Dakota average of 29.7.

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Ellendale Elementary School 29.3
  2. 2 Ellendale High School 16.7
  3. 3 Maple River Colony School 0.0
  4. 4 Ellendale High Virtual Academy 0.0

Programs & Resources

1 / 4
Schools with AP
1 AP courses total
319:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
17.9%
Chronically Absent

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22.

Schools in Ellendale 40

School Enrollment
Ellendale Elementary School
120
Ellendale High School
79
Maple River Colony School
49
Ellendale High Virtual Academy
1

How Ellendale 40 Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The North Dakota districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Tgu 60 Similar size Higher spending Similar funding mix
Washburn 4 Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
New Rockford-Sheyenne 2 Similar size Similar spending Less locally funded
Northwood 129 Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
North Border 100 Similar size Higher spending Similar funding mix

Comparisons are relative to Ellendale 40's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data and the F-33 Finance Survey.

Nearby Districts in North Dakota

Top districts in the same state, compare side-by-side for enrollment, spending, and demographics.

Bismarck 1
13,976 students · 29 schools · $14,037/pupil
Compare vs Ellendale 40 →
West Fargo 6
12,680 students · 25 schools · $13,475/pupil
Compare vs Ellendale 40 →
Fargo 1
11,431 students · 25 schools · $16,941/pupil
Compare vs Ellendale 40 →
Minot 1
7,715 students · 22 schools · $15,116/pupil
Compare vs Ellendale 40 →
Grand Forks 1
7,604 students · 18 schools · $14,844/pupil
Compare vs Ellendale 40 →

Compare Ellendale 40

See how this district compares to others in enrollment, spending, demographics, and academic resources.

Compare vs Bismarck 1 →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Ellendale 40?

Ellendale 40 has 4 schools, including 2 combined, 1 high, 1 elementary. Total enrollment is 339 students.

How much does Ellendale 40 spend per student?

Ellendale 40 spends $14,544 per student. The district has an equity score of 34/100, ranking #76 in North Dakota.

What is the demographic composition of Ellendale 40?

Ellendale 40 students are 93.6% White, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 0.6% Asian, averaged across 4 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Ellendale 40?

Ellendale 40 has an equity score of 34/100, ranking #76 out of 101 districts in North Dakota.