Grand Forks 1

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.

Grand Forks, North Dakota - 18 schools

An equity score of 61/100 ranks Grand Forks 1 #27 of 101 districts in North Dakota (state average 51). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $14,844 per pupil, Grand Forks 1 ranks #119 of 168 North Dakota districts by per-pupil spending (North Dakota districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

7,604
Total Enrollment
18
Schools
$14,844
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined, Middle
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Grand Forks 1 operates 18 public schools serving 7,604 students, placing it among the smaller districts in North Dakota. The school portfolio breaks down into 11 combined, 4 middle, 3 high schools, a compact enough portfolio that families can compare every campus directly before they move, rent, or enrol. These enrollment and school figures come from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 release, and the district is based in Grand Forks County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $14,844 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 27.3% local, 53.5% state, and 19.2% federal, a state-revenue-heavy mix that insulates the district somewhat from local property-tax volatility, though it ties funding to state budget cycles. The district's equity score is 61/100, ranked #27 of 101 in North Dakota against a state average of 51, notably more even than the typical district in the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

Academic infrastructure includes 2 of 18 schools offering Advanced Placement (21 AP courses district-wide), a 328.5:1 student-counselor ratio, well above the ASCA benchmark though still under the roughly 408:1 national average, and 18.8% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 61.2% White, 13.0% Hispanic or Latino, 7.3% African American across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Lake Agassiz Elementary School, with a diversity index of 76.4/100.

Its largest campus is Red River High School, enrolling 1,190 students (15% of the district's total enrollment). Its smallest is Nathan Twining Middle School, at 69 students, a 17x enrollment spread across the district's campuses.

Red River High School accounts for 15.2% of all Grand Forks 1 student enrollment

That concentration means Grand Forks 1-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. Grade band: high. 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

Grand Forks 1 school enrollment varies 17× across entities

Grand Forks 1 school enrollment ranges from 69 students (lowest) to 1,190 students (highest), a spread of 1,121 students. That spread reflects typical mixed-portfolio variation between specialty programs and large neighbourhood schools. 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

Grand Forks 1 student-counselor ratio is 329:1 — 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 Grand Forks 1 is typically wider than the Grand Forks 1-aggregate figure suggests.

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

Grand Forks 1 chronic absenteeism rate is 18.8% — 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 Grand Forks 1 is typically wider than the Grand Forks 1-aggregate figure suggests.

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

Where does the funding come from?

19.2%
Federal
53.5%
State
27.3%
Local

Funding Equity

61
Equity Score
27 / 101
State Rank
51
State Average

This district has moderate funding equity. There may be room to improve funding diversity or resource allocation.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 18 schools in Grand Forks 1.

White 61.2%
Hispanic or Latino 13.0%
African American 7.3%
Asian 3.1%
Multiracial 11.4%
Other 4.1%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 56.3/100

Average Simpson diversity index across Grand Forks 1's schools, above the North Dakota average of 29.7.

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Lake Agassiz Elementary School 76.4
  2. 2 Century Elementary School 74.1
  3. 3 Winship Elementary School 72.8
  4. 4 Community Alternative High School 68.2
  5. 5 Valley Middle School 67.9

Programs & Resources

2 / 18
Schools with AP
21 AP courses total
328.5:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
18.8%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Grand Forks 1

School Enrollment
Red River High School
1,190
Central High School
1,115
Schroeder Middle School
569
Discovery Elementary School
567
South Middle School
549
Valley Middle School
508
Century Elementary School
493
J Nelson Kelly Elementary School
482
Lake Agassiz Elementary School
464
Ben Franklin Elementary School
367
Viking Elementary School
328
Phoenix Elementary School
235
Nathan Twining Elementary School
228
Winship Elementary School
212
Wilder Elementary School
184
Lewis and Clark Elementary School
178
Community Alternative High School
73
Nathan Twining Middle School
69

How Grand Forks 1 Compares to Similar-Size Districts

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

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Minot 1 Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Williston Basin 7 Smaller Similar spending More locally funded
Mandan 1 Smaller Similar spending Similar funding mix
Dickinson 1 Smaller Similar spending Similar funding mix
Fargo 1 Larger Similar spending Similar funding mix

Comparisons are relative to Grand Forks 1'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 Grand Forks 1 →
West Fargo 6
12,680 students · 25 schools · $13,475/pupil
Compare vs Grand Forks 1 →
Fargo 1
11,431 students · 25 schools · $16,941/pupil
Compare vs Grand Forks 1 →
Minot 1
7,715 students · 22 schools · $15,116/pupil
Compare vs Grand Forks 1 →
Williston Basin 7
5,294 students · 13 schools · $13,430/pupil
Compare vs Grand Forks 1 →

Compare Grand Forks 1

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 Grand Forks 1?

Grand Forks 1 has 18 schools, including 3 high, 4 middle, 11 combined. Total enrollment is 7,604 students.

How much does Grand Forks 1 spend per student?

Grand Forks 1 spends $14,844 per student. The district has an equity score of 61/100, ranking #27 in North Dakota.

What is the demographic composition of Grand Forks 1?

Grand Forks 1 students are 61.2% White, 13.0% Hispanic or Latino, 7.3% African American, 3.1% Asian, averaged across 18 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Grand Forks 1?

Grand Forks 1 has an equity score of 61/100, ranking #27 out of 101 districts in North Dakota.