- Enrollment
- 1,419
- Students per teacher
- 17.3:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Bismarck, ND
Bismarck High School
Federal NCES profile for Bismarck High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 30/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 380001400045
👥 S:T ratio 30
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 32
📋 Attendance 28
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Bismarck High School earns 30/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 94% of North Dakota schools. It is also one of the largest schools in North Dakota.
- #4 of 4
- high schools in Bismarck · Resource Index
- 30
- Resource Index · Lower
- 17.5:1
- large classes for North Dakota
- 21.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Bismarck High School has class sizes larger than 94% of North Dakota schools. Computed live against every North Dakota school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Bismarck High School ranks #4 of 4 high schools in Bismarck, ND.
School address
District: Bismarck 1 · North Dakota
NCES ID 380001400045 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+38 students YoY
Bismarck High School held near 1,371 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+38 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 78.0 → 85.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+38 students YoY 380001400045 · Bismarck, ND High · MID · TRAD
1,367 enr · 17.5:1 · 21.2% lunch · RII 30
Nearest enrollment peer: Legacy High School (1,419 students)
Bismarck High School held near 1,371 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+38 headcount). Teacher FTE added 78.0 → 85.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · North Dakota schools → · Find another →
Bismarck High School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Legacy High Sc
Legacy High School
1,419 students
- Century High S
Century High School
1,406 students
- This school
Bismarck High School
1,367 students
- Horizon Middle
Horizon Middle School
1,124 students
- Simle Middle S
Simle Middle School
1,053 students
- Wachter Middle
Wachter Middle School
1,012 students
What this shows Bismarck High School reports 1,367 students on the CCD universe file.
How Bismarck High School compares
Bismarck High School held steady on CCD headcount: 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 | 17.5:1 | ▲ 48% | 11.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 21.2% | ▼ 25% | 28.2% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,367 | top 1% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17.5:1
Leaner classes than 27% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
1,367
Bigger than 95% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
21.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 25% below 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
17.5:1
students per teacher
- 48% above state mean
Top 94% in North Dakota - lower ratio than 6% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
28.9%
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
$14,558
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
Counselors4.0 FTE
Per 342 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
126
in-school suspensions + 128 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 9.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 18.6 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 1 expulsion.
Student demographics
White 72.0%
American Indian / Alaska Native 11.3%
Two or More 6.8%
Hispanic or Latino 5.3%
African American 2.6%
Asian 1.0%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 1.0%
Largest group: White at 72.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 46.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 46.1, Bismarck High School is more mixed than the North Dakota school average of 29.7.
Programs
AP courses offered 12
District finance for Bismarck 1 reports $14,558 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Bismarck High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Legacy High School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Century High School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Horizon Middle School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Simle Middle School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Wachter Middle School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Bismarck High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,406
- Students per teacher
- 16.5:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 1,124
- Students per teacher
- 15:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 1,053
- Students per teacher
- 14.4:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 1,012
- Students per teacher
- 14.5:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
Similar high schools in Bismarck
3 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Nationwide high 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 (~1,367 students)
Frequently asked questions about Bismarck High School
How many students attend Bismarck High School?
Bismarck High School has 1,367 students enrolled. It is a high school in Bismarck, ND. CCD year-over-year: 1,333 (2022-23) → 1,371 (2023-24), nearly flat (+38).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Bismarck High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Bismarck High School is 17.5:1, which is 48% higher than the North Dakota average of 11.8:1 and 11% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Bismarck High School?
21.2% of students at Bismarck High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Dakota average of 28.2%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Bismarck High School?
The largest demographic group at Bismarck High School is White at 72.0% of enrollment, in Bismarck, ND.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Bismarck High School?
Bismarck High School has a Resource Investment Index of 30/100 (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 Bismarck High School rank among high schools in Bismarck?
By Resource Investment Index, Bismarck High School ranks #4 of 4 high schools in Bismarck, ND. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in Bismarck on the city page.
What other schools are in Bismarck 1?
Besides Bismarck High School, Bismarck 1 also operates Legacy High School (1,419 students), Century High School (1,406 students), and Horizon Middle School (1,124 students). See the Bismarck 1 district page for the complete list.