North Star 10

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, the data changelog, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.

Cando, North Dakota - 2 schools

An equity score of 45/100 ranks North Star 10 #59 of 101 districts in North Dakota (state average 51). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $13,532 per pupil, North Star 10 ranks #147 of 168 North Dakota districts by per-pupil spending (North Dakota districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

299
Total Enrollment
2
Schools
$13,532
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined, High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

North Star 10 operates 2 public schools serving 299 students, placing it among the smallest districts in North Dakota. The school portfolio breaks down into 1 combined, 1 high 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 Towner County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $13,532 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 31.8% local, 52.7% state, and 15.5% 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 45/100, ranked #59 of 101 in North Dakota against a state average of 51, in line with the typical spread seen across the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

a 246:1 student-counselor ratio, that meets the ASCA-recommended benchmark, and 16.3% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 88.8% White, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 1.1% Asian across the district's schools.

Its largest campus is North Star Elementary School, enrolling 208 students (73% of the district's total enrollment).

North Star Elementary School accounts for 69.6% of all North Star 10 student enrollment

That is an overwhelming concentration, leaving the rest of North Star 10 a distant remainder — means North Star 10-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the largest entity. Grade band: combined. The share measures enrollment concentration only; it does not establish how the district allocates programs, capital, or staff. Because it contains a majority of the affected population, enrollment-weighted aggregates will sit closer to this entity's reported fields than to those of smaller peers; an unweighted entity count answers a different question.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data

North Star 10 student-counselor ratio is 246:1 — 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

North Star 10 chronic absenteeism rate is 16.3% — 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 North Star 10 is typically wider than the North Star 10-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

15.5%
Federal
52.7%
State
31.8%
Local

Funding Equity

45
Equity Score
59 / 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 2 schools in North Star 10.

White 88.8%
Hispanic or Latino 3.8%
African American 0.9%
Asian 1.1%
Multiracial 2.8%
Other 2.5%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

246:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
16.3%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in North Star 10

School Enrollment
North Star Elementary School
208
North Star High School
76

How North Star 10 Compares to Similar-Size Districts

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

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Minnewaukan 5 Similar size Higher spending Less locally funded
Kenmare 28 Similar size Higher spending Similar funding mix
Dakota Prairie 1 Similar size Higher spending Similar funding mix
Hettinger 13 Similar size Higher spending More locally funded
New England 9 Similar size Higher spending Similar funding mix

Comparisons are relative to North Star 10'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 · $14,558/pupil
Compare vs North Star 10 →
West Fargo 6
12,680 students · 25 schools · $13,666/pupil
Compare vs North Star 10 →
Fargo 1
11,431 students · 25 schools · $17,740/pupil
Compare vs North Star 10 →
Minot 1
7,715 students · 22 schools · $15,223/pupil
Compare vs North Star 10 →
Grand Forks 1
7,604 students · 18 schools · $15,253/pupil
Compare vs North Star 10 →

Nationwide districts with similar enrollment or spending

Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by per-pupil expenditure, not the same-state lists above.

Compare North Star 10

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 North Star 10?

North Star 10 has 2 schools, including 1 combined, 1 high. Total enrollment is 299 students.

How much does North Star 10 spend per student?

North Star 10 spends $13,532 per student. The district has an equity score of 45/100, ranking #59 in North Dakota.

What is the demographic composition of North Star 10?

North Star 10 students are 88.8% White, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 1.1% Asian, 0.9% African American, averaged across 2 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for North Star 10?

North Star 10 has an equity score of 45/100, ranking #59 out of 101 districts in North Dakota.