schoolsbycounty

Adams County Schools & Education

School Score

34/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Lower Signal

Graduation Rate

75.0%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

75.0%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 84.8%

Per-Pupil Spending

$8,050

National avg $13,239

State avg $9,385

School Score

34/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 54/100

State Score Position

#52

of 53 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Adams County

Measured School Summary

Adams County faces educational challenges with a school score of 34/100 and a graduation rate of 75.0%, falling below typical benchmarks.

Funding Context

Adams County spends $8,050 per student, which is on the lower end of adequate and may require careful resource allocation to maintain quality.

Neighbor Context

Its school score is 36% below the North Dakota average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 9.8 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 14% lower than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Adams County before comparing districts

County-level education data is best used as a screening layer. It summarizes the local school environment, then points you toward the district and school records that matter for local review.

Local context that changes the interpretation

2 public schools and 1 district are represented below. Use those school and district records to confirm whether the county-level context fits the neighborhoods you are actually considering.

Overall screen

34/100

Lower measured signal. Ranks #52 of 53 North Dakota counties with school score data.

Completion

75.0%

9.8 pts below the state average

Funding context

$8,050

$1,335 below the state average

School coverage

2

1 district represented in the county school list.

Start with measured county context

The county-level signal is lower, so review individual schools and local records before interpreting the score. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.

Check the local school mix

Adams County has 2 public schools across 1 district, so school-level fit can vary inside the county.

Verify local rules

Use this page as county-level context, then confirm attendance zones, transportation, special programs, and current school boundaries with local districts.

Parent decision brief

What Adams County school data means before you move

County averages are useful for screening, but parents choose addresses, grade pathways, and district rules. This brief turns the public data into the checks that matter before you sign a lease or mortgage.

Small-system county

Adams County has a compact public-school footprint. A single school change, boundary rule, or district update can move the lived experience more than the county score suggests.

State position

#52

of 53 North Dakota counties with school score data. The county score is 20 points below the state average.

Data confidence

Usable

3 of 5 county signals are present, and 100% of listed schools report enrollment. Compare schools, then verify missing fields locally.

K-12 continuity check

These are the largest visible district slices in the county data. They show whether elementary, middle, and high school records appear together or whether a family needs to investigate transition points.

HETTINGER 13

Elementary and high visible

294 students

Elementary 1Middle 0High 1Other 0

2 listed schools in this county slice.

District reality check

HETTINGER 13 is the largest listed district slice, with 2 schools. County pages do not prove address assignment, so verify boundaries with local district tools.

What the data cannot tell you

NCES records do not confirm current attendance zones, private-school options, transfer approvals, program capacity, transportation, or whether a listed school is available to a specific address.

Questions to ask before choosing an address

Which district actually serves the addresses we are considering in Adams County?

Which attendance zones, transfer rules, and transportation policies apply inside the local district?

Where do students transition after the visible grade band, and is that next school inside the same district path?

If we need a program not visible in the NCES flags, which district office can confirm current offerings?

Are the largest listed schools the ones our address can actually attend, or are they only county-level context?

Education Overview

About Schools in Adams County, North Dakota

This context is screened for neutral school-data wording and should be read alongside the current metrics on this page. It is not school advice.

A Small-Scale Education Infrastructure

Adams County operates just two public schools across one consolidated district, serving a total of 294 students. This streamlined setup includes one elementary school and one high school, providing a focused educational pathway for local families.

Evaluating Performance and Lower Investment

The county's 75% graduation rate trails both the North Dakota average of 84.8% and the national mark of 87%. Investment remains lean, as the per-pupil expenditure of $8,050 is significantly lower than the state average of $9,385 and the national benchmark of $13,000.

Single District Serves All Students

The Hettinger 13 district manages all educational needs in the county with an enrollment of 294 students. There are currently no charter schools in the area, meaning 100% of students attend traditional public institutions.

The Intimacy of Rural Learning

Both schools in Adams County are located in rural settings, maintaining an average size of 147 students. Hettinger Elementary is the largest campus with 170 students, while Hettinger High School offers a smaller environment for 124 students.

School Overview

Total Schools

2

in Adams County

Reported Enrollment

294

2 schools reporting

School Districts

1

district

Charter Schools

0

0% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary1
Middle0
High1
Other0

1 School District in Adams County

HETTINGER 13

2 schools
294 students enrolled

2 Public Schools in Adams County

Sorted by reported enrollment. Every NCES public school remains listed here; no school-level profile pages are included in the current generated coverage for this county.

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

Level

Showing 2 of 2 matching schools

HETTINGER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

HETTINGER 13

Hettinger, 58639 / Rural: Remote

RecordPK–6Primary170 students

HETTINGER HIGH SCHOOL

HETTINGER 13

Hettinger, 58639 / Rural: Remote

Record7–12High124 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$8,050

State avg $9,385

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Adams County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.

Open Compare

Browse Public Schools

See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which North Dakota counties have the highest graduation rates?
Mercer County (95.0%), Pierce County (95.0%), and Dickey County (93.4%) currently lead North Dakota among counties with available NCES four-year adjusted cohort graduation-rate data. This answer is generated from the same dataset used in the county table and can change when federal data refreshes.
What is per-pupil spending like in North Dakota?
Across North Dakota counties with available NCES district-finance data, average per-pupil spending is $9,385. The highest current county values are Steele County ($16,783), Sioux County ($14,627), and Burke County ($12,732). Compare counties in the table before treating the statewide average as representative of a local district.
How should I read the school score in Adams County?
Adams County has a school score of 34/100, which is a lower measured signal in this county-level index. This score is calculated from available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance data, with school-level records shown separately below.
What is the graduation rate in Adams County?
The high school graduation rate in Adams County is 75.0%, which is below the national average of 87.5%. This figure is based on NCES district-level data for public high schools in the county.
How much does Adams County spend per student?
Adams County spends $8,050 per pupil annually on public education, based on NCES district finance data. Current operating spending per fall enrollment, including instruction, support services, administration, transportation, and operations. It excludes capital outlays and debt service in the SchoolsByCounty methodology.

Frequently Asked Questions

Schools in Adams County, North Dakota — FAQ

What does the school system look like in Adams County, North Dakota?

Adams County operates just two public schools across one consolidated district, serving a total of 294 students. This streamlined setup includes one elementary school and one high school, providing a focused educational pathway for local families.

How do schools in Adams County perform academically?

The county's 75% graduation rate trails both the North Dakota average of 84.8% and the national mark of 87%. Investment remains lean, as the per-pupil expenditure of $8,050 is significantly lower than the state average of $9,385 and the national benchmark of $13,000.

What are the major school districts in Adams County, North Dakota?

The Hettinger 13 district manages all educational needs in the county with an enrollment of 294 students. There are currently no charter schools in the area, meaning 100% of students attend traditional public institutions.

What is the school experience like in Adams County?

Both schools in Adams County are located in rural settings, maintaining an average size of 147 students. Hettinger Elementary is the largest campus with 170 students, while Hettinger High School offers a smaller environment for 124 students.

Counties with Similar School Profile

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

Data Sources

Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance signals.

Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.