- Enrollment
- 1,419
- Students per teacher
- 17.3:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Bismarck, ND
Horizon Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Horizon Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 39/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 380001400051
👥 S:T ratio 40
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 25
📋 Attendance 63
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Horizon Middle School earns 39/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 84% of North Dakota schools. It is also one of the largest schools in North Dakota.
- #1 of 3
- middle schools in Bismarck · Resource Index
- 39
- Resource Index · Typical
- 15:1
- large classes for North Dakota
- 10.6%
- free-lunch eligible
Horizon Middle School has class sizes larger than 84% of North Dakota schools. Computed live against every North Dakota school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Horizon Middle School ranks #1 of 3 middle schools in Bismarck, ND.
School address
District: Bismarck 1 · North Dakota
NCES ID 380001400051 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+15 students YoY
Horizon Middle School held near 1,059 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+15 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 75.2 → 73.9 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+15 students YoY 380001400051 · Bismarck, ND Middle · MID · TRAD
1,124 enr · 15:1 · 10.6% lunch · RII 39
Nearest enrollment peer: Legacy High School (1,419 students)
Horizon Middle School held near 1,059 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+15 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 75.2 → 73.9 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · North Dakota schools → · Find another →
Horizon Middle 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
- Bismarck High
Bismarck High School
1,367 students
- This school
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 Horizon Middle School reports 1,124 students on the CCD universe file.
How Horizon Middle School compares
Horizon Middle 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 | 15:1 | ▲ 27% | 11.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 10.6% | ▼ 62% | 28.2% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,124 | top 2% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15:1
Leaner classes than 47% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
1,124
Bigger than 93% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
10.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 62% below the North Dakota average of 28.2%
Below the 40% Title I threshold, among the lower-need profiles in the state; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
15:1
students per teacher
- 27% above state mean
Top 84% in North Dakota - lower ratio than 16% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
15.0%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
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
Counselors3.0 FTE
Per 375 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
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.
Student demographics
White 79.3%
Two or More 6.0%
Hispanic or Latino 4.9%
American Indian / Alaska Native 3.4%
African American 2.5%
Asian 2.5%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 1.4%
Largest group: White at 79.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 36.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 36.3, Horizon Middle School is more mixed than the North Dakota school average of 29.7.
Programs
District finance for Bismarck 1 reports $14,558 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Horizon Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Legacy High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Century High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Bismarck High School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Simle Middle School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Wachter Middle School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Horizon Middle 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
- 1,367
- Students per teacher
- 17.5:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
- 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 middle schools in Bismarck
2 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Nationwide middle 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 (~1,124 students)
Frequently asked questions about Horizon Middle School
How many students attend Horizon Middle School?
Horizon Middle School has 1,124 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Bismarck, ND. CCD year-over-year: 1,044 (2022-23) → 1,059 (2023-24), nearly flat (+15).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Horizon Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Horizon Middle School is 15:1, which is 27% higher than the North Dakota average of 11.8:1 and 4% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Horizon Middle School?
10.6% of students at Horizon Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Dakota average of 28.2%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Horizon Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Horizon Middle School is White at 79.3% of enrollment, in Bismarck, ND.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Horizon Middle School?
Horizon Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 39/100 (typical 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 Horizon Middle School rank among middle schools in Bismarck?
By Resource Investment Index, Horizon Middle School ranks #1 of 3 middle 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 middle schools in Bismarck on the city page.
What other schools are in Bismarck 1?
Besides Horizon Middle School, Bismarck 1 also operates Legacy High School (1,419 students), Century High School (1,406 students), and Bismarck High School (1,367 students). See the Bismarck 1 district page for the complete list.