Enrollment
178
North Dakota · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Williston, ND
Garden Valley Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Garden Valley Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 27/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 380040500917
👥 S:T ratio 49
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 29
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Garden Valley Elementary School earns 27/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the North Dakota median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most North Dakota schools.
- #7 of 10
- elementary schools in Williston · Resource Index
- 27
- Resource Index · Lower
- 12.7:1
- students per teacher
- 15.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Garden Valley Elementary School has class sizes near the North Dakota median. Computed live against every North Dakota school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Garden Valley Elementary School ranks #7 of 10 elementary schools in Williston, ND.
School address
District: Williston Basin 7 · North Dakota
NCES ID 380040500917 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
14.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
12.7:1
vs 11.8:1 North Dakota avg
+8% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
15.9%
vs 28.2% North Dakota avg
-44% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Garden Valley Elementary School compares with North Dakota and U.S. medians
What stands out at Garden Valley Elementary School
Garden Valley Elementary School is a lower-poverty, mid-sized elementary school in Williston, North Dakota, enrolling 178 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 12.7:1 puts it in the larger third of North Dakota schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 15.9% of students eligible for free meals.
With 178 students, its enrollment sits close to the North Dakota median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index trails 97% of the 498 North Dakota schools with a score on record, one of the lower results on this measure.
Among 116 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need North Dakota schools statewide, it ranks #115, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (66%) and Hispanic or Latino (21%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 52/100).
Counselor availability sits well past the ASCA benchmark, roughly 356 students sharing each counselor, though short of the most stretched campuses.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 42.1% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Williston Basin 7 spends $13,430 per pupil, 27% below the North Dakota average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Among Williston's elementary schools, it stands alongside Bakken Elementary School (627 students): Garden Valley Elementary School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (12.7:1 vs 12.8:1).
Williston Basin 7 also operates Williston High School (1,370 students) and Bakken Elementary School (627 students) alongside Garden Valley Elementary School.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Garden Valley Elementary School compares
Garden Valley Elementary School on the metrics families compare, against North Dakota and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs North Dakota | North Dakota avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 12.7:1 | ▲ 8% | 11.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 15.9% | ▼ 44% | 28.2% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 178 | top 43% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12.7:1
Leaner classes than 69% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
178
Bigger than 17% of US schools by enrollment, a small campus.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
15.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 44% 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
12.7:1
students per teacher
- 8% above state mean
Top 64% in North Dakota - lower ratio than 36% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
42.1%
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
$13,430
per pupil, district-wide
- below North Dakota avg of $18,450
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.5 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
White 65.7%
Hispanic or Latino 20.8%
Two or More 9.6%
American Indian / Alaska Native 2.2%
Asian 1.1%
African American 0.6%
Largest group: White at 65.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 51.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 51.5, Garden Valley Elementary School is more mixed than the North Dakota school average of 29.7.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Williston Basin 7, which includes Garden Valley Elementary School.
$13,430
Per student
-27%
vs North Dakota
Avg $18,450
-19%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 43.8%
State 50.4%
Federal 5.8%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Garden Valley Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Williston High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Bakken Elementary School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Hagan Elementary School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Williston Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Mcvay Elementary School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Garden Valley Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,370
- Students per teacher
- 14.7:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 627
- Students per teacher
- 12.8:1
- Resource Index
- 24/100
- Enrollment
- 486
- Students per teacher
- 15.7:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 485
- Students per teacher
- 11.8:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 449
- Students per teacher
- 23.6:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
Similar elementary schools in Williston
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Bakken Elementary School
Standard public school
627 students 12.8:1 students per teacher
Hagan Elementary School
Standard public school
486 students 15.7:1 students per teacher
Mcvay Elementary School
Standard public school
449 students 23.6:1 students per teacher
Missouri Ridge Middle School
Standard public school
397 students 13.2:1 students per teacher
Rickard Elementary School
Standard public school
319 students 14.5:1 students per teacher
Lewis and Clark Elementary School
Standard public school
303 students 12.6:1 students per teacher
Similar elementary schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of North Dakota, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~178 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~12.7:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Garden Valley Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare Garden Valley Elementary School against another school. Compare schools
- Williston Basin 7's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Garden Valley Elementary School
How many students attend Garden Valley Elementary School?
Garden Valley Elementary School has 178 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Williston, ND.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Garden Valley Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Garden Valley Elementary School is 12.7:1, which is 8% higher than the North Dakota average of 11.8:1 and 19% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Garden Valley Elementary School?
15.9% of students at Garden Valley Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Dakota average of 28.2%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Garden Valley Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Garden Valley Elementary School is White at 65.7% of enrollment, in Williston, ND. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 51.5/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Garden Valley Elementary School?
Garden Valley Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 27/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Garden Valley Elementary School rank among elementary schools in Williston?
By Resource Investment Index, Garden Valley Elementary School ranks #7 of 10 elementary schools in Williston, ND. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Williston on the city page.
Is Garden Valley Elementary School a good school?
Garden Valley Elementary School earns 27/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the North Dakota median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most North Dakota schools. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Williston Basin 7?
Besides Garden Valley Elementary School, Williston Basin 7 also operates Williston High School (1,370 students), Bakken Elementary School (627 students), and Hagan Elementary School (486 students). See the Williston Basin 7 district page for the complete list.
Related tools
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. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.