- Enrollment
- 1,419
- Students per teacher
- 17.3:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Bismarck, ND
Pioneer Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Pioneer Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 48/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 380001400054
👥 S:T ratio 55
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 19
📋 Attendance 47
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Pioneer Elementary School earns 48/100 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.
- #11 of 19
- elementary schools in Bismarck · Resource Index
- 48
- Resource Index · Typical
- 11.3:1
- students per teacher
- 65.7%
- free-lunch eligible
Pioneer Elementary School has class sizes near the North Dakota median. Computed live against every North Dakota school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Pioneer Elementary School ranks #11 of 19 elementary schools in Bismarck, ND.
School address
District: Bismarck 1 · North Dakota
NCES ID 380001400054 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-11 students YoY
Pioneer Elementary School shrank from 213 students in 2022-23 to 202 in 2023-24 (-5.2%).
Teacher FTE lost 18.8 → 16.9 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-11 students YoY 380001400054 · Bismarck, ND Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
203 enr · 11.3:1 · 65.7% lunch · RII 48
Nearest enrollment peer: Legacy High School (1,419 students)
Pioneer Elementary School shrank from 213 students in 2022-23 to 202 in 2023-24 (-5.2%). Teacher FTE lost 18.8 → 16.9 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · North Dakota schools → · Find another →
Pioneer Elementary 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
- Horizon Middle
Horizon Middle School
1,124 students
- Simle Middle S
Simle Middle School
1,053 students
- This school 203
Pioneer Elementary School
203 students
What this shows Pioneer Elementary School reports 203 students on the CCD universe file.
How Pioneer Elementary School compares
Pioneer Elementary School is a shrinking campus on CCD: 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 | 11.3:1 | ▼ 4% | 11.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 65.7% | ▲ 133% | 28.2% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 203 | top 39% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
11.3:1
Leaner classes than 81% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
203
Bigger than 20% of US schools by enrollment, a small campus.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
65.7%
free-lunch eligible
- 133% above the North Dakota average of 28.2%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
11.3:1
students per teacher
- 4% below state mean
Top 49% in North Dakota - lower ratio than 51% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
21.2%
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
Counselors0.5 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
3
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.5 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.5 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 63.5%
Two or More 13.3%
Hispanic or Latino 8.9%
American Indian / Alaska Native 8.9%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 3.0%
African American 2.5%
Largest group: White at 63.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 56.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 56.2, Pioneer Elementary School is more mixed than the North Dakota school average of 29.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Bismarck 1 reports $14,558 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Pioneer Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Legacy High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Century High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Bismarck High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Horizon Middle School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Simle Middle School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Pioneer Elementary 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
- 1,124
- Students per teacher
- 15:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 1,053
- Students per teacher
- 14.4:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
Similar elementary schools in Bismarck
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Victor Solheim Elementary School
Standard public school
588 students 15.5:1 students per teacher
Elk Ridge Elementary School
Standard public school
510 students 18.2:1 students per teacher
Robert Place Miller Elementary School
Standard public school
485 students 14.7:1 students per teacher
Liberty Elementary School
Standard public school
470 students 16.2:1 students per teacher
Sunrise Elementary School
Standard public school
445 students 13.9:1 students per teacher
Northridge Elementary School
Standard public school
410 students 11.4:1 students per teacher
Nationwide elementary 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 (~203 students)
Frequently asked questions about Pioneer Elementary School
How many students attend Pioneer Elementary School?
Pioneer Elementary School has 203 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Bismarck, ND. CCD year-over-year: 213 (2022-23) → 202 (2023-24), down 11.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Pioneer Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Pioneer Elementary School is 11.3:1, which is 4% lower than the North Dakota average of 11.8:1 and 28% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Pioneer Elementary School?
65.7% of students at Pioneer Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Dakota average of 28.2%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Pioneer Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Pioneer Elementary School is White at 63.5% of enrollment, in Bismarck, ND. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 56.2/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Pioneer Elementary School?
Pioneer Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 48/100 (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 Pioneer Elementary School rank among elementary schools in Bismarck?
By Resource Investment Index, Pioneer Elementary School ranks #11 of 19 elementary 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 elementary schools in Bismarck on the city page.
What other schools are in Bismarck 1?
Besides Pioneer Elementary 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.