Valley City 2

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.

Valley City, North Dakota - 4 schools

An equity score of 33/100 ranks Valley City 2 #79 of 101 districts in North Dakota (state average 51). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $13,301 per pupil, Valley City 2 ranks #145 of 168 North Dakota districts by per-pupil spending (North Dakota districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

1,036
Total Enrollment
4
Schools
$13,301
Per-Pupil Spending
High, Combined
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Valley City 2 operates 4 public schools serving 1,036 students, placing it among the smallest districts in North Dakota. The school portfolio breaks down into 1 high, 1 combined, 1 elementary, 1 middle 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 Barnes County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $13,301 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 31.7% local, 55.8% state, and 12.5% 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 33/100, ranked #79 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.

Academic infrastructure includes 1 of 4 schools offering Advanced Placement (1 AP courses district-wide), a 196.1:1 student-counselor ratio, that meets the ASCA-recommended benchmark, and 15.7% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 86.8% White, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 2.0% African American across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Valley City Junior High School, with a diversity index of 26.3/100.

Its largest campus is Valley City High School, enrolling 317 students (34% of the district's total enrollment).

Valley City High School accounts for 30.6% of all Valley City 2 student enrollment

That dominant concentration means Valley City 2-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

Valley City 2 student-counselor ratio is 196:1 — 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

Valley City 2 chronic absenteeism rate is 15.7% — 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 Valley City 2 is typically wider than the Valley City 2-aggregate figure suggests.

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

Where does the funding come from?

12.5%
Federal
55.8%
State
31.7%
Local

Funding Equity

33
Equity Score
79 / 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 4 schools in Valley City 2.

White 86.8%
Hispanic or Latino 4.5%
African American 2.0%
Asian 1.1%
Multiracial 4.4%
Other 1.3%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 24.2/100

Average Simpson diversity index across Valley City 2's schools, below the North Dakota average of 29.7.

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Valley City Junior High School 26.3
  2. 2 Valley City High School 25.8
  3. 3 Jefferson Elementary School 23.5
  4. 4 Washington Elementary School 21.3

Programs & Resources

1 / 4
Schools with AP
1 AP courses total
196.1:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
15.7%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Valley City 2

School Enrollment
Valley City High School
317
Jefferson Elementary School
258
Washington Elementary School
209
Valley City Junior High School
159

How Valley City 2 Compares to Similar-Size Districts

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

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Central Cass 17 Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
New Town 1 Similar size Higher spending Less locally funded
Grafton 18 Similar size Similar spending Less locally funded
Kindred 2 Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Wahpeton 37 Similar size Higher spending Similar funding mix

Comparisons are relative to Valley City 2'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 Valley City 2 →
West Fargo 6
12,680 students · 25 schools · $13,475/pupil
Compare vs Valley City 2 →
Fargo 1
11,431 students · 25 schools · $16,941/pupil
Compare vs Valley City 2 →
Minot 1
7,715 students · 22 schools · $15,116/pupil
Compare vs Valley City 2 →
Grand Forks 1
7,604 students · 18 schools · $14,844/pupil
Compare vs Valley City 2 →

Compare Valley City 2

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 Valley City 2?

Valley City 2 has 4 schools, including 1 high, 1 combined, 1 elementary, 1 middle. Total enrollment is 1,036 students.

How much does Valley City 2 spend per student?

Valley City 2 spends $13,301 per student. The district has an equity score of 33/100, ranking #79 in North Dakota.

What is the demographic composition of Valley City 2?

Valley City 2 students are 86.8% White, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 2.0% African American, 1.1% Asian, averaged across 4 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Valley City 2?

Valley City 2 has an equity score of 33/100, ranking #79 out of 101 districts in North Dakota.