- Enrollment
- 663
- Students per teacher
- 22.9:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Watford City, ND
Watford City High School
Federal NCES profile for Watford City High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 36/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 381254000415
👥 S:T ratio 6
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 77
📋 Attendance 31
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Watford City High School earns 36/100 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.
- #4 of 5
- public schools in Watford City · Resource Index
- 36
- Resource Index · Typical
- 23.6:1
- large classes for North Dakota
- 21.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Watford City High 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, Watford City High School ranks #4 of 5 public schools in Watford City, ND.
School address
District: Mckenzie Co 1 · North Dakota
NCES ID 381254000415 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+34 students YoY
Watford City High School grew from 477 students in 2022-23 to 511 in 2023-24 (+7.1%).
Teacher FTE added 24.0 → 42.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+34 students YoY 381254000415 · Watford City, ND High · MID · TRAD
566 enr · 23.6:1 · 21.8% lunch · RII 36
Nearest enrollment peer: Fox Hills Elementary School (663 students)
Watford City High School grew from 477 students in 2022-23 to 511 in 2023-24 (+7.1%). Teacher FTE added 24.0 → 42.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · North Dakota schools → · Find another →
Watford City High School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Fox Hills Elem
Fox Hills Elementary School
663 students
- This school
Watford City High School
566 students
- Badlands Eleme
Badlands Elementary School
538 students
- Watford City M
Watford City Middle School
509 students
- Wolves Center 30
Wolves Center Academy
30 students
What this shows Watford City High School reports 566 students on the CCD universe file.
How Watford City High School compares
Watford City High School is a growing 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 | 23.6:1 | ▲ 100% | 11.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 21.8% | ▼ 23% | 28.2% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 566 | top 8% | - | - |
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.
566
Bigger than 69% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
21.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 23% 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
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
27.7%
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
$15,006
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
Counselors5.0 FTE
Per 113 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
20
in-school suspensions + 66 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 3.5 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 15.2 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 3 expulsions.
Student demographics
White 62.9%
Hispanic or Latino 24.0%
American Indian / Alaska Native 4.9%
African American 3.0%
Two or More 2.8%
Asian 1.9%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.4%
Largest group: White at 62.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 54.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 54.2, Watford City High School is more mixed than the North Dakota school average of 29.7.
Programs
AP courses offered 5
District finance for Mckenzie Co 1 reports $15,006 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Watford City High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fox Hills Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Badlands Elementary School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Watford City Middle School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Wolves Center Academy | Smaller | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Watford City High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 538
- Students per teacher
- 15.8:1
- Resource Index
- 24/100
- Enrollment
- 509
- Students per teacher
- 15.4:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 30
- Students per teacher
- 30:1
- Resource Index
- 52/100
Similar high schools in Watford City
1 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Nationwide high 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 (~566 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~23.6:1)
Frequently asked questions about Watford City High School
How many students attend Watford City High School?
Watford City High School has 566 students enrolled. It is a high school in Watford City, ND. CCD year-over-year: 477 (2022-23) → 511 (2023-24), up 34.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Watford City High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Watford City High 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 Watford City High School?
21.8% of students at Watford City High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Dakota average of 28.2%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Watford City High School?
The largest demographic group at Watford City High School is White at 62.9% of enrollment, in Watford City, ND. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 54.2/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Watford City High School?
Watford City High School has a Resource Investment Index of 36/100 (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 Watford City High School rank among public schools in Watford City?
By Resource Investment Index, Watford City High School ranks #4 of 5 public schools in Watford City, ND. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Watford City on the city page.
What other schools are in Mckenzie Co 1?
Besides Watford City High School, Mckenzie Co 1 also operates Fox Hills Elementary School (663 students), Badlands Elementary School (538 students), and Watford City Middle School (509 students). See the Mckenzie Co 1 district page for the complete list.