- Enrollment
- 1,419
- Students per teacher
- 17.3:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Bismarck, ND
Wachter Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Wachter Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 35/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 380001400061
👥 S:T ratio 42
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 33
📋 Attendance 34
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Wachter Middle School earns 35/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 79% of North Dakota schools. It is also one of the largest schools in North Dakota.
- #3 of 3
- middle schools in Bismarck · Resource Index
- 35
- Resource Index · Typical
- 14.5:1
- large classes for North Dakota
- 23.6%
- free-lunch eligible
Wachter Middle 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, Wachter Middle School ranks #3 of 3 middle schools in Bismarck, ND.
School address
District: Bismarck 1 · North Dakota
NCES ID 380001400061 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+7 students YoY
Wachter Middle School held near 1,007 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+7 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 70.8 → 66.7 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+7 students YoY 380001400061 · Bismarck, ND Middle · MID · TRAD
1,012 enr · 14.5:1 · 23.6% lunch · RII 35
Nearest enrollment peer: Legacy High School (1,419 students)
Wachter Middle School held near 1,007 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+7 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 70.8 → 66.7 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · North Dakota schools → · Find another →
Wachter 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
- Horizon Middle
Horizon Middle School
1,124 students
- Simle Middle S
Simle Middle School
1,053 students
- This school
Wachter Middle School
1,012 students
What this shows Wachter Middle School reports 1,012 students on the CCD universe file.
How Wachter Middle School compares
Wachter 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 | 14.5:1 | ▲ 23% | 11.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 23.6% | ▼ 16% | 28.2% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,012 | top 3% | - | - |
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.
1,012
Bigger than 91% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
23.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 16% 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
26.4%
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
$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 337 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
88
in-school suspensions + 20 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 8.7 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 10.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 1 expulsion.
Student demographics
White 67.9%
American Indian / Alaska Native 11.6%
Two or More 8.8%
Hispanic or Latino 7.7%
African American 2.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 1.2%
Asian 0.6%
Largest group: White at 67.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 51.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 51.1, Wachter 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 Wachter Middle 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 | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Horizon Middle School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Simle Middle School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Wachter 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
- 1,124
- Students per teacher
- 15:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 1,053
- Students per teacher
- 14.4:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
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 (~1,012 students)
Frequently asked questions about Wachter Middle School
How many students attend Wachter Middle School?
Wachter Middle School has 1,012 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Bismarck, ND. CCD year-over-year: 1,000 (2022-23) → 1,007 (2023-24), nearly flat (+7).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Wachter Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Wachter Middle 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 Wachter Middle School?
23.6% of students at Wachter Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Dakota average of 28.2%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Wachter Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Wachter Middle School is White at 67.9% of enrollment, in Bismarck, ND. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 51.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Wachter Middle School?
Wachter Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 35/100 (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 Wachter Middle School rank among middle schools in Bismarck?
By Resource Investment Index, Wachter Middle School ranks #3 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 Wachter 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.