MCKENZIE CO 1

Watford City, North Dakota — 5 schools

2,004
Total Enrollment
5
Schools
$26,594
Per-Pupil Spending
High, Elementary
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

MCKENZIE CO 1 operates 5 public schools serving 2,004 students, placing it among the smaller districts in North Dakota. The school portfolio breaks down into 2 high, 1 elementary, 1 other, 1 middle schools, giving families a clear picture of grade-band coverage before they move, rent, or enrol. Aggregated across those campuses, enrollment totals 2,306 pupils using the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2022-23 release, and the district is geographically located in McKenzie County County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $26,594 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, which aggregates every revenue and spending line reported under federal accounting standards. The funding mix is 69.6% local, 17.3% state, and 13.1% federal — a breakdown that matters because districts leaning heavily on local revenue are more exposed to property-tax swings, while higher federal shares typically track Title I concentration. Average teacher compensation clocks in at $86,861 per NCES F-33, a signal of the district's ability to recruit and retain staff against neighbouring districts. The district's equity score — 49/100, ranked #50 of 101 in North Dakota against a state average of 51 — measures how evenly funding reaches schools within its boundaries.

Academic infrastructure includes 1 of 5 schools offering Advanced Placement (5 AP courses district-wide), a 183.1:1 student-counselor ratio that meets the ASCA-recommended benchmark, and 22.3% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 60.9% White, 26.5% Hispanic or Latino, 2.6% African American across the district's schools.

Fox Hills Elementary School accounts for 28.8% of all MCKENZIE CO 1 student enrollment

That concentration — well above the 8.4% national median for largest-entity share — means MCKENZIE CO 1-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. Grade band: elementary. 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

MCKENZIE CO 1 school enrollment varies 22× across entities

MCKENZIE CO 1 school enrollment ranges from 30 students (lowest) to 663 students (highest), a spread of 633 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

MCKENZIE CO 1 student-counselor ratio is 183:1 — low (typically associated with meeting or exceeding the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) recommended 250:1 benchmark, which correlates with stronger college and career counseling capacity)

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 Lower values often correlate with smaller scale and population characteristics rather than higher resource budgets per se.

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

MCKENZIE CO 1 chronic absenteeism rate is 22.3% — 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 MCKENZIE CO 1 is typically wider than the MCKENZIE CO 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?

13.1%
Federal
17.3%
State
69.6%
Local

Funding Equity

49
Equity Score
50 / 101
State Rank
51
State Average

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

Local Rent Costs

Fair Market Rents in McKenzie County county, where this district is located.

$1,117
Studio/mo
$1,124
1 BR/mo
$1,354
2 BR/mo
$1,672
3 BR/mo
$2,271
4 BR/mo

Average Teacher Salary

$86,861
Average annual teacher salary

Source: NCES CCD F-33 (Finance Survey).

Teacher salary data from NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 5 schools in MCKENZIE CO 1.

White 60.9%
Hispanic or Latino 26.5%
African American 2.6%
Asian 0.9%
Multiracial 3.0%
Other 6.1%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

1 / 5
Schools with AP
5 AP courses total
183.1:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
22.3%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in MCKENZIE CO 1

School Enrollment
Fox Hills Elementary School
663
Watford City High School
566
Badlands Elementary School
538
Watford City Middle School
509
Wolves Center Academy
30

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 · $17,656/pupil
Compare vs MCKENZIE CO 1 →
WEST FARGO 6
12,680 students · 25 schools · $17,878/pupil
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FARGO 1
11,431 students · 25 schools · $18,379/pupil
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MINOT 1
7,715 students · 22 schools · $16,899/pupil
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GRAND FORKS 1
7,604 students · 18 schools · $16,806/pupil
Compare vs MCKENZIE CO 1 →

Compare MCKENZIE CO 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 MCKENZIE CO 1?

MCKENZIE CO 1 has 5 schools, including 1 elementary, 2 high, 1 other, 1 middle. Total enrollment is 2,004 students.

How much does MCKENZIE CO 1 spend per student?

MCKENZIE CO 1 spends $26,594 per student. The district has an equity score of 49/100, ranking #50 in North Dakota.

What is the average teacher salary in MCKENZIE CO 1?

The average teacher salary in MCKENZIE CO 1 is $86,861 per year, according to the NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

What is the average rent near MCKENZIE CO 1?

The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in McKenzie County County is $N/A/month (2026). This affects housing affordability for families in the district.

What is the demographic composition of MCKENZIE CO 1?

MCKENZIE CO 1 students are 60.9% White, 26.5% Hispanic or Latino, 2.6% African American, 0.9% Asian, averaged across 5 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for MCKENZIE CO 1?

MCKENZIE CO 1 has an equity score of 49/100, ranking #50 out of 101 districts in North Dakota. This score measures resource distribution fairness across schools in the district.

Federal data Last updated 2026 Free public data

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