Enrollment
319
North Dakota · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Williston, ND
Rickard Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Rickard Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 45/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 380040500908
👥 S:T ratio 42
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 57
📋 Attendance 49
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Rickard Elementary School earns 45/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 79% of North Dakota schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most North Dakota schools.
- #2 of 10
- elementary schools in Williston · Resource Index
- 45
- Resource Index · Typical
- 14.5:1
- large classes for North Dakota
- 15.1%
- free-lunch eligible
Rickard Elementary School has class sizes larger than 79% of North Dakota schools. Computed live against every North Dakota school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Rickard Elementary School ranks #2 of 10 elementary schools in Williston, ND.
School address
District: Williston Basin 7 · North Dakota
NCES ID 380040500908 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
22.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
14.5:1
vs 11.8:1 North Dakota avg
+23% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
15.1%
vs 28.2% North Dakota avg
-46% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Rickard Elementary School compares with North Dakota and U.S. medians
What stands out at Rickard Elementary School
Rickard Elementary School is a lower-poverty, mid-sized elementary school in Williston, North Dakota, enrolling 319 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 14.5:1 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 15.1% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 319 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 97 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #55.
Its student body is led by White (67%) and Hispanic or Latino (17%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 52/100).
Counselor coverage is strong, about 213 students per counselor, inside the American School Counselor Association's recommended 250:1.
Attendance runs somewhat below the norm, with 20.4% of students chronically absent per the 2021-22 civil-rights 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): Rickard Elementary School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (14.5:1 vs 12.8:1).
Williston Basin 7 also operates Williston High School (1,370 students) and Bakken Elementary School (627 students) alongside Rickard 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 Rickard Elementary School compares
Rickard 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 | 14.5:1 | ▲ 23% | 11.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 15.1% | ▼ 46% | 28.2% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 319 | top 24% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.5:1
Leaner classes than 52% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
319
Bigger than 35% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
15.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 46% 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
14.5:1
students per teacher
- 23% above state mean
Top 79% in North Dakota - lower ratio than 21% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
20.4%
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 213 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 66.5%
Hispanic or Latino 16.9%
Two or More 8.5%
African American 3.1%
American Indian / Alaska Native 2.5%
Asian 1.6%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.9%
Largest group: White at 66.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 52.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 52.0, Rickard 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 Rickard 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 Rickard Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Williston High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Bakken Elementary School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Hagan Elementary School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Williston Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Mcvay Elementary School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Rickard 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
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 (~319 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Rickard Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare Rickard 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 Rickard Elementary School
How many students attend Rickard Elementary School?
Rickard Elementary School has 319 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Williston, ND.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Rickard Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Rickard Elementary School is 14.5:1, which is 23% higher than the North Dakota average of 11.8:1 and 8% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Rickard Elementary School?
15.1% of students at Rickard Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Dakota average of 28.2%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Rickard Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Rickard Elementary School is White at 66.5% of enrollment, in Williston, ND. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 52.0/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Rickard Elementary School?
Rickard Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 45/100 (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 Rickard Elementary School rank among elementary schools in Williston?
By Resource Investment Index, Rickard Elementary School ranks #2 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 Rickard Elementary School a good school?
Rickard Elementary School earns 45/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 79% 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 Rickard 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.