schoolsbycounty

Barnes County Schools & Education

School Score

65/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Midrange Signal

Graduation Rate

91.7%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

91.7%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 84.8%

Per-Pupil Spending

$8,185

National avg $13,239

State avg $9,385

School Score

65/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 54/100

State Score Position

#10

of 53 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Barnes County

Measured School Summary

Barnes County performs at an average level with a school score of 65/100 and a solid graduation rate of 91.7%.

Funding Context

Barnes County spends $8,185 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 20% above the North Dakota average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 6.9 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 13% lower than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Barnes 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

7 public schools and 3 districts 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

65/100

Mixed county signal. Ranks #10 of 53 North Dakota counties with school score data.

Completion

91.7%

6.9 pts above the state average

Funding context

$8,185

$1,200 below the state average

School coverage

7

3 districts represented in the county school list.

Start with measured county context

This county needs a closer look at district mix, school level, and local context. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.

Check the local school mix

Barnes County has 7 public schools across 3 districts, 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 Barnes 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.

Mixed school landscape

Barnes County has enough school-level records to compare the local mix, but no single county metric should be treated as the answer. Use district shape, grade span, and data coverage together.

State position

#10

of 53 North Dakota counties with school score data. The county score is 11 points above 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.

VALLEY CITY 2

Elementary to high school visible

1,033 students

Elementary 1Middle 2High 1Other 0

4 listed schools in this county slice.

BARNES COUNTY NORTH 7

Elementary and high visible

248 students

Elementary 1Middle 0High 1Other 0

2 listed schools in this county slice.

LITCHVILLE-MARION 46

Elementary school only in this slice

84 students

Elementary 1Middle 0High 0Other 0

1 listed school in this county slice.

District reality check

VALLEY CITY 2 is the largest listed district slice, with 4 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 Barnes County?

Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Barnes County district systems?

What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?

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 Barnes 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.

Strong Educational Foundations in Barnes

Barnes County supports 1,365 students across seven public schools distributed among three districts. The infrastructure includes three elementary schools, two middle schools, and two high schools to serve diverse age groups.

Valley City Leads Local Districts

Valley City 2 is the largest district, enrolling 1,033 students across four distinct campuses. No charter schools operate in the county, leaving education entirely in the hands of the three local public districts.

A Mix of Town and Country

The locale mix includes four schools in town settings and three in rural areas, with an average school size of 195 students. Valley City High School is the largest with 366 students, while the Barnes County North schools provide more secluded rural learning.

School Overview

Total Schools

7

in Barnes County

Reported Enrollment

1,365

7 schools reporting

School Districts

3

districts

Charter Schools

0

0% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary3
Middle2
High2
Other0

3 School Districts in Barnes County

VALLEY CITY 2

4 schools
1,033 students

BARNES COUNTY NORTH 7

2 schools
248 students

LITCHVILLE-MARION 46

2 schools
142 students

7 Public Schools in Barnes 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 7 of 7 matching schools

VALLEY CITY HIGH SCHOOL

VALLEY CITY 2

Valley City, 58072 / Town: Remote

Record9–12High366 students

JEFFERSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

VALLEY CITY 2

Valley City, 58072 / Town: Remote

RecordPK–3Primary304 students

WASHINGTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

VALLEY CITY 2

Valley City, 58072 / Town: Remote

Record4–6Middle215 students

BARNES COUNTY NORTH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

BARNES COUNTY NORTH 7

Wimbledon, 58492 / Rural: Remote

RecordPK–8Primary172 students

VALLEY CITY JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL

VALLEY CITY 2

Valley City, 58072 / Town: Remote

Record7–8Middle148 students

LITCHVILLE-MARION ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

LITCHVILLE-MARION 46

Litchville, 58461 / Rural: Remote

RecordPK–5Primary84 students

BARNES COUNTY NORTH HIGH SCHOOL

BARNES COUNTY NORTH 7

Wimbledon, 58492 / Rural: Remote

Record9–12High76 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$8,185

State avg $9,385

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Barnes 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.

View Schools

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 Barnes County?
Barnes County has a school score of 65/100, which is a midrange 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 Barnes County?
The high school graduation rate in Barnes County is 91.7%, which is above 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 Barnes County spend per student?
Barnes County spends $8,185 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 Barnes County, North Dakota — FAQ

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

Barnes County supports 1,365 students across seven public schools distributed among three districts. The infrastructure includes three elementary schools, two middle schools, and two high schools to serve diverse age groups.

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

Valley City 2 is the largest district, enrolling 1,033 students across four distinct campuses. No charter schools operate in the county, leaving education entirely in the hands of the three local public districts.

What is the school experience like in Barnes County?

The locale mix includes four schools in town settings and three in rural areas, with an average school size of 195 students. Valley City High School is the largest with 366 students, while the Barnes County North schools provide more secluded rural learning.

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.