- Enrollment
- 663
- Students per teacher
- 22.9:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Watford City, ND
Badlands Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Badlands Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 24/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 381254000414
👥 S:T ratio 37
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 30
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Badlands Elementary School earns 24/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 87% of North Dakota schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most North Dakota schools.
- #5 of 5
- public schools in Watford City · Resource Index
- 24
- Resource Index · Lower
- 15.8:1
- large classes for North Dakota
- 37.3%
- free-lunch eligible
Badlands Elementary School has class sizes larger than 87% of North Dakota schools. Computed live against every North Dakota school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Badlands Elementary School ranks #5 of 5 public schools in Watford City, ND.
School address
District: Mckenzie Co 1 · North Dakota
NCES ID 381254000414 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-66 students YoY
Badlands Elementary School shrank from 566 students in 2022-23 to 500 in 2023-24 (-11.7%).
Teacher FTE lost 34.0 → 30.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-66 students YoY 381254000414 · Watford City, ND Other · MID · TRAD
538 enr · 15.8:1 · 37.3% lunch · RII 24
Nearest enrollment peer: Fox Hills Elementary School (663 students)
Badlands Elementary School shrank from 566 students in 2022-23 to 500 in 2023-24 (-11.7%). Teacher FTE lost 34.0 → 30.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · North Dakota schools → · Find another →
Badlands Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Fox Hills Elem
Fox Hills Elementary School
663 students
- Watford City H
Watford City High School
566 students
- This school
Badlands Elementary School
538 students
- Watford City M
Watford City Middle School
509 students
- Wolves Center 30
Wolves Center Academy
30 students
What this shows Badlands Elementary School reports 538 students on the CCD universe file.
How Badlands Elementary School compares
Badlands Elementary School is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs North Dakota and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs North Dakota | North Dakota avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 15.8:1 | ▲ 34% | 11.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 37.3% | ▲ 32% | 28.2% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 538 | top 9% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.8:1
Leaner classes than 40% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
538
Bigger than 66% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
37.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 32% above the North Dakota average of 28.2%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
15.8:1
students per teacher
- 34% above state mean
Top 87% in North Dakota - lower ratio than 13% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
28.1%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$15,006
per pupil, district-wide
- below North Dakota avg of $19,475
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 538 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
4
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.7 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 61.0%
Hispanic or Latino 30.9%
American Indian / Alaska Native 3.0%
Two or More 2.4%
African American 1.7%
Asian 0.6%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.6%
Largest group: White at 61.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 53.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 53.1, Badlands Elementary School is more mixed than the North Dakota school average of 29.7.
Programs
District finance for Mckenzie Co 1 reports $15,006 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Badlands Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fox Hills Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Watford City High School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Watford City Middle School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Wolves Center Academy | Smaller | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Badlands Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 566
- Students per teacher
- 23.6:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 509
- Students per teacher
- 15.4:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 30
- Students per teacher
- 30:1
- Resource Index
- 52/100
Nationwide other schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~538 students)
Frequently asked questions about Badlands Elementary School
How many students attend Badlands Elementary School?
Badlands Elementary School has 538 students enrolled. It is a public school in Watford City, ND. CCD year-over-year: 566 (2022-23) → 500 (2023-24), down 66.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Badlands Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Badlands Elementary School is 15.8:1, which is 34% higher than the North Dakota average of 11.8:1 and 1% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Badlands Elementary School?
37.3% of students at Badlands Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Dakota average of 28.2%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Badlands Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Badlands Elementary School is White at 61.0% of enrollment, in Watford City, ND. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 53.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Badlands Elementary School?
Badlands Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 24/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Badlands Elementary School rank among public schools in Watford City?
By Resource Investment Index, Badlands Elementary School ranks #5 of 5 public schools in Watford City, ND. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Watford City on the city page.
What other schools are in Mckenzie Co 1?
Besides Badlands Elementary School, Mckenzie Co 1 also operates Fox Hills Elementary School (663 students), Watford City High School (566 students), and Watford City Middle School (509 students). See the Mckenzie Co 1 district page for the complete list.