Thompson 61

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.

Thompson, North Dakota - 2 schools

An equity score of 26/100 ranks Thompson 61 #90 of 101 districts in North Dakota (state average 51). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $9,646 per pupil, Thompson 61 ranks #167 of 168 North Dakota districts by per-pupil spending (North Dakota districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

656
Total Enrollment
2
Schools
$9,646
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Thompson 61 operates 2 public schools serving 656 students, placing it among the smallest districts in North Dakota. The school portfolio breaks down into 2 combined 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 Grand Forks County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $9,646 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, among the bottom 17 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 24.2% local, 67.5% state, and 8.3% 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 26/100, ranked #90 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.

a 239.8:1 student-counselor ratio, that meets the ASCA-recommended benchmark, and 4.8% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 93.5% White, 1.7% Hispanic or Latino, 0.9% African American across the district's schools.

Its largest campus is Thompson Elementary School, enrolling 399 students (59% of the district's total enrollment).

Thompson Elementary School accounts for 58.8% of all Thompson 61 student enrollment

That is an overwhelming concentration, leaving the rest of Thompson 61 a distant remainder — means Thompson 61-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

Thompson 61 student-counselor ratio is 240:1 — 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

Thompson 61 chronic absenteeism rate is 4.8% — well below typical (typically associated with unusually small scale or exceptionally high per-unit investment)

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 Values this far below typical often correlate with unusually small scale or population characteristics rather than higher resource budgets per se — worth checking whether the underlying denominator is itself an outlier.

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

Where does the funding come from?

8.3%
Federal
67.5%
State
24.2%
Local

Funding Equity

26
Equity Score
90 / 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 2 schools in Thompson 61.

White 93.5%
Hispanic or Latino 1.7%
African American 0.9%
Multiracial 3.4%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

239.8:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
4.8%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Thompson 61

School Enrollment
Thompson Elementary School
399
Thompson High School
280

How Thompson 61 Compares to Similar-Size Districts

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

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Bottineau 1 Similar size Higher spending More locally funded
Killdeer 16 Similar size Higher spending More locally funded
Lisbon 19 Similar size Higher spending Similar funding mix
Northern Cass 97 Similar size Higher spending Similar funding mix
Carrington 49 Similar size Higher spending More locally funded

Comparisons are relative to Thompson 61'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 Thompson 61 →
West Fargo 6
12,680 students · 25 schools · $13,475/pupil
Compare vs Thompson 61 →
Fargo 1
11,431 students · 25 schools · $16,941/pupil
Compare vs Thompson 61 →
Minot 1
7,715 students · 22 schools · $15,116/pupil
Compare vs Thompson 61 →
Grand Forks 1
7,604 students · 18 schools · $14,844/pupil
Compare vs Thompson 61 →

Compare Thompson 61

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 Thompson 61?

Thompson 61 has 2 schools, including 2 combined. Total enrollment is 656 students.

How much does Thompson 61 spend per student?

Thompson 61 spends $9,646 per student. The district has an equity score of 26/100, ranking #90 in North Dakota.

What is the demographic composition of Thompson 61?

Thompson 61 students are 93.5% White, 1.7% Hispanic or Latino, 0.9% African American, averaged across 2 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Thompson 61?

Thompson 61 has an equity score of 26/100, ranking #90 out of 101 districts in North Dakota.