Enrollment
273
North Dakota · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Dickinson, ND
Heart River Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Heart River Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 46/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 380003800742
👥 S:T ratio 32
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 45
📋 Attendance 37
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Heart River Elementary School earns 46/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 92% of North Dakota schools.
- #3 of 7
- elementary schools in Dickinson · Resource Index
- 46
- Resource Index · Typical
- 17.1:1
- large classes for North Dakota
- 32.1%
- free-lunch eligible
Heart River Elementary School has class sizes larger than 92% of North Dakota schools. Computed live against every North Dakota school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Heart River Elementary School ranks #3 of 7 elementary schools in Dickinson, ND.
School address
District: Dickinson 1 · North Dakota
NCES ID 380003800742 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
16.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
17.1:1
vs 11.8:1 North Dakota avg
+45% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
32.1%
vs 28.2% North Dakota avg
+14% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Heart River Elementary School compares with North Dakota and U.S. medians
What stands out at Heart River Elementary School
Heart River Elementary School is a mid-sized elementary school in Dickinson, North Dakota, enrolling 273 students.
Class loads run heavy: 17.1:1 is larger than about 92% of North Dakota schools and 45% above the 11.8:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 32.1% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 273 puts it in the larger third of North Dakota schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 498 scored North Dakota schools.
Against 62 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #35.
Its student body is led by White (70%) and Hispanic or Latino (21%) (diversity index 47/100).
Counselor coverage runs a bit thin, about 273 students per counselor, somewhat past the ASCA-recommended 250:1 benchmark.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 25.3% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Dickinson 1 spends $14,801 per pupil, 20% below the North Dakota average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Among Dickinson's elementary schools, it stands alongside Prairie Rose Elementary School (490 students): Heart River Elementary School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (17.1:1 vs 16.9:1).
Dickinson 1 also operates Dickinson High School (1,022 students) and Dickinson Middle School (944 students) alongside Heart River 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 Heart River Elementary School compares
Heart River 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 | 17.1:1 | ▲ 45% | 11.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 32.1% | ▲ 14% | 28.2% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 273 | top 28% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17.1:1
Leaner classes than 30% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
273
Bigger than 28% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
32.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 14% 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
17.1:1
students per teacher
- 45% above state mean
Top 92% in North Dakota - lower ratio than 8% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
25.3%
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
$14,801
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
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 273 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
3
in-school suspensions + 2 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.8 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 69.6%
Hispanic or Latino 21.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native 3.7%
African American 3.3%
Two or More 1.8%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.4%
Largest group: White at 69.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 46.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 46.8, Heart River Elementary School is more mixed than the North Dakota school average of 29.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Dickinson 1, which includes Heart River Elementary School.
$14,801
Per student
-20%
vs North Dakota
Avg $18,450
-11%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 35.7%
State 49.9%
Federal 14.4%
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 Heart River Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dickinson High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Dickinson Middle School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Prairie Rose Elementary School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Lincoln Elementary School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Jefferson Elementary School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Heart River Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,022
- Students per teacher
- 18.3:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 944
- Students per teacher
- 20.1:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 490
- Students per teacher
- 16.9:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 387
- Students per teacher
- 18.4:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
- Enrollment
- 370
- Students per teacher
- 19.5:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
Similar elementary schools in Dickinson
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Prairie Rose Elementary School
Standard public school
490 students 16.9:1 students per teacher
Lincoln Elementary School
Standard public school
387 students 18.4:1 students per teacher
Jefferson Elementary School
Standard public school
370 students 19.5:1 students per teacher
Roosevelt Elementary School
Standard public school
254 students 12.1:1 students per teacher
P S Berg Elementary School
Standard public school
223 students 14.9:1 students per teacher
Roughrider Elementary Virtual Academy
Standard public school
38 students 38:1 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 (~273 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Heart River Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare Heart River Elementary School against another school. Compare schools
- Dickinson 1'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 Heart River Elementary School
How many students attend Heart River Elementary School?
Heart River Elementary School has 273 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Dickinson, ND.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Heart River Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Heart River Elementary School is 17.1:1, which is 45% higher than the North Dakota average of 11.8:1 and 9% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Heart River Elementary School?
32.1% of students at Heart River Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Dakota average of 28.2%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Heart River Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Heart River Elementary School is White at 69.6% of enrollment, in Dickinson, ND.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Heart River Elementary School?
Heart River Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 46/100 (typical 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 Heart River Elementary School rank among elementary schools in Dickinson?
By Resource Investment Index, Heart River Elementary School ranks #3 of 7 elementary schools in Dickinson, 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 Dickinson on the city page.
Is Heart River Elementary School a good school?
Heart River Elementary School earns 46/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 92% of 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 Dickinson 1?
Besides Heart River Elementary School, Dickinson 1 also operates Dickinson High School (1,022 students), Dickinson Middle School (944 students), and Prairie Rose Elementary School (490 students). See the Dickinson 1 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.