Enrollment
449
North Dakota · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Williston, ND
Mcvay Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Mcvay Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 23/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 380040500910
👥 S:T ratio 6
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 40
📋 Attendance 15
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Mcvay Elementary School earns 23/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 98% of North Dakota schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most North Dakota schools.
- #10 of 10
- elementary schools in Williston · Resource Index
- 23
- Resource Index · Lower
- 23.6:1
- large classes for North Dakota
- 28.6%
- free-lunch eligible
Mcvay Elementary School has class sizes larger than 98% of North Dakota schools. Computed live against every North Dakota school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Mcvay Elementary School ranks #10 of 10 elementary schools in Williston, ND.
School address
District: Williston Basin 7 · North Dakota
NCES ID 380040500910 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
19.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
23.6:1
vs 11.8:1 North Dakota avg
+100% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
28.6%
vs 28.2% North Dakota avg
+1% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Mcvay Elementary School compares with North Dakota and U.S. medians
What stands out at Mcvay Elementary School
Mcvay Elementary School is a large elementary school in Williston, North Dakota, enrolling 449 students.
Class loads run heavy: 23.6:1 is larger than about 98% of North Dakota schools and 100% 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 28.6% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 449 puts it in the larger third of North Dakota schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index trails 99% of the 498 North Dakota schools with a score on record, one of the lower results on this measure.
Among 70 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need North Dakota schools statewide, it ranks #69, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (54%) and Hispanic or Latino (21%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 64/100).
Counselor coverage runs a bit thin, about 299 students per counselor, somewhat past the ASCA-recommended 250:1 benchmark.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 33.9% 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): Mcvay Elementary School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (23.6:1 vs 12.8:1).
Williston Basin 7 also operates Williston High School (1,370 students) and Bakken Elementary School (627 students) alongside Mcvay 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 Mcvay Elementary School compares
Mcvay 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 | 23.6:1 | ▲ 100% | 11.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 28.6% | ▲ 1% | 28.2% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 449 | top 14% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
23.6:1
Leaner classes than 7% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
449
Bigger than 55% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
28.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 1% 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
23.6:1
students per teacher
- 100% above state mean
Top 98% in North Dakota - lower ratio than 2% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
33.9%
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
$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
Counselors1.5 FTE
Per 299 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.
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 53.9%
Hispanic or Latino 21.4%
Two or More 13.8%
African American 8.9%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1.3%
Asian 0.4%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: White at 53.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 63.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 63.7, Mcvay 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 Mcvay 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 Mcvay Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Williston High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Bakken Elementary School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Hagan Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Williston Middle School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Missouri Ridge Middle School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Mcvay 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
- 397
- Students per teacher
- 13.2:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
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
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
Wilkinson Elementary School
Standard public school
301 students 10.8:1 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 (~449 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Mcvay Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare Mcvay 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 Mcvay Elementary School
How many students attend Mcvay Elementary School?
Mcvay Elementary School has 449 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Williston, ND.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Mcvay Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Mcvay Elementary School is 23.6:1, which is 100% higher than the North Dakota average of 11.8:1 and 50% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Mcvay Elementary School?
28.6% of students at Mcvay Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Dakota average of 28.2%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Mcvay Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Mcvay Elementary School is White at 53.9% of enrollment, in Williston, ND. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 63.7/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Mcvay Elementary School?
Mcvay Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 23/100 (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 Mcvay Elementary School rank among elementary schools in Williston?
By Resource Investment Index, Mcvay Elementary School ranks #10 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 Mcvay Elementary School a good school?
Mcvay Elementary School earns 23/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 98% of North Dakota schools. 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 Mcvay 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.