PARK RIVER AREA 8

Park River, North Dakota — 2 schools

485
Total Enrollment
2
Schools
$15,061
Per-Pupil Spending
Other
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

PARK RIVER AREA 8 operates 2 public schools serving 485 students, placing it among the smaller districts in North Dakota. The school portfolio breaks down into 2 other schools, giving families a clear picture of grade-band coverage before they move, rent, or enrol. Aggregated across those campuses, enrollment totals 470 pupils using the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2022-23 release, and the district is geographically located in Walsh County County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $15,061 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 28.7% local, 53.3% state, and 18.0% 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 $64,241 per NCES F-33, a signal of the district's ability to recruit and retain staff against neighbouring districts. The district's equity score — 34/100, ranked #78 of 101 in North Dakota against a state average of 51 — measures how evenly funding reaches schools within its boundaries.

a 235:1 student-counselor ratio that meets the ASCA-recommended benchmark, and 21.5% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 90.4% White, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 1.1% Asian across the district's schools.

Park River Area Elementary School accounts for 58.5% of all PARK RIVER AREA 8 student enrollment

That concentration — well above the 8.4% national median for largest-entity share — means PARK RIVER AREA 8-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. Grade band: other. 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

PARK RIVER AREA 8 student-counselor ratio is 235:1 — 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

PARK RIVER AREA 8 chronic absenteeism rate is 21.5% — 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 PARK RIVER AREA 8 is typically wider than the PARK RIVER AREA 8-aggregate figure suggests.

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

Where does the funding come from?

18.0%
Federal
53.3%
State
28.7%
Local

Funding Equity

34
Equity Score
78 / 101
State Rank
51
State Average

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

Local Rent Costs

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

$676
Studio/mo
$680
1 BR/mo
$873
2 BR/mo
$1,140
3 BR/mo
$1,464
4 BR/mo

Average Teacher Salary

$64,241
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 2 schools in PARK RIVER AREA 8.

White 90.4%
Hispanic or Latino 4.7%
Asian 1.1%
Multiracial 3.1%
Other 0.8%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

235:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
21.5%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in PARK RIVER AREA 8

School Enrollment
Park River Area Elementary School
275
Park River Area High School
195

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 PARK RIVER AREA 8 →
WEST FARGO 6
12,680 students · 25 schools · $17,878/pupil
Compare vs PARK RIVER AREA 8 →
FARGO 1
11,431 students · 25 schools · $18,379/pupil
Compare vs PARK RIVER AREA 8 →
MINOT 1
7,715 students · 22 schools · $16,899/pupil
Compare vs PARK RIVER AREA 8 →
GRAND FORKS 1
7,604 students · 18 schools · $16,806/pupil
Compare vs PARK RIVER AREA 8 →

Compare PARK RIVER AREA 8

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 PARK RIVER AREA 8?

PARK RIVER AREA 8 has 2 schools, including 2 other. Total enrollment is 485 students.

How much does PARK RIVER AREA 8 spend per student?

PARK RIVER AREA 8 spends $15,061 per student. The district has an equity score of 34/100, ranking #78 in North Dakota.

What is the average teacher salary in PARK RIVER AREA 8?

The average teacher salary in PARK RIVER AREA 8 is $64,241 per year, according to the NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

What is the average rent near PARK RIVER AREA 8?

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

What is the demographic composition of PARK RIVER AREA 8?

PARK RIVER AREA 8 students are 90.4% White, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 1.1% Asian, averaged across 2 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for PARK RIVER AREA 8?

PARK RIVER AREA 8 has an equity score of 34/100, ranking #78 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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