schoolsbycounty

Dunn County Schools & Education

School Score

56/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Midrange Signal

Graduation Rate

84.0%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

84.0%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 84.8%

Per-Pupil Spending

$10,955

National avg $13,239

State avg $9,385

School Score

56/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 54/100

State Score Position

#21

of 53 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Dunn County

Measured School Summary

Dunn County has midrange measured school signals (score: 56/100) with a graduation rate of 84.0%, which warrants review in official state and district records.

Funding Context

Dunn County spends $10,955 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 4% above the North Dakota average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 0.8 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 17% higher than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Dunn 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

3 public schools and 2 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

56/100

Mixed county signal. Ranks #21 of 53 North Dakota counties with school score data.

Completion

84.0%

0.8 pts below the state average

Funding context

$10,955

$1,570 above the state average

School coverage

3

2 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

Dunn County has 3 public schools across 2 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 Dunn 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

Dunn 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

#21

of 53 North Dakota counties with school score data. The county score is 2 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.

KILLDEER 16

Elementary and high visible

646 students

Elementary 1Middle 0High 1Other 0

2 listed schools in this county slice.

TWIN BUTTES 37

Elementary school only in this slice

56 students

Elementary 1Middle 0High 0Other 0

1 listed school in this county slice.

District reality check

KILLDEER 16 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 Dunn County?

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

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 Dunn 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.

Rural Schooling Across the High Plains

Dunn County supports 702 students across 3 public schools and 2 school districts. The infrastructure consists of 2 elementary schools and 1 high school, all situated in rural locales. There are no charter schools, keeping the focus on local district management.

Killdeer 16 Anchors the County System

Killdeer 16 is the dominant district, enrolling 646 students across its two schools. The smaller Twin Buttes 37 district manages a single elementary school with 56 students. These districts provide essential educational services to a geographically dispersed population.

Spacious Rural Campuses for Local Kids

Schools in Dunn County average 234 students per campus, providing a balance of size and intimacy. Killdeer Elementary is the largest school with 396 students, while Twin Buttes Elementary offers a very small setting for 56 children. Every school is classified as rural, reflecting the county's open-space character.

School Overview

Total Schools

3

in Dunn County

Reported Enrollment

702

3 schools reporting

School Districts

2

districts

Charter Schools

0

0% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary2
Middle0
High1
Other0

2 School Districts in Dunn County

KILLDEER 16

2 schools
646 students

TWIN BUTTES 37

1 school
56 students

3 Public Schools in Dunn 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 3 of 3 matching schools

KILLDEER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

KILLDEER 16

Killdeer, 58640 / Rural: Remote

RecordPK–6Primary396 students

KILLDEER HIGH SCHOOL

KILLDEER 16

Killdeer, 58640 / Rural: Remote

Record7–12High250 students

TWIN BUTTES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

TWIN BUTTES 37

Halliday, 58636 / Rural: Remote

RecordPK–8Primary56 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$10,955

State avg $9,385

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Dunn 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 Dunn County?
Dunn County has a school score of 56/100, 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 Dunn County?
The high school graduation rate in Dunn County is 84.0%, 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 Dunn County spend per student?
Dunn County spends $10,955 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 Dunn County, North Dakota — FAQ

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

Dunn County supports 702 students across 3 public schools and 2 school districts. The infrastructure consists of 2 elementary schools and 1 high school, all situated in rural locales. There are no charter schools, keeping the focus on local district management.

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

Killdeer 16 is the dominant district, enrolling 646 students across its two schools. The smaller Twin Buttes 37 district manages a single elementary school with 56 students. These districts provide essential educational services to a geographically dispersed population.

What is the school experience like in Dunn County?

Schools in Dunn County average 234 students per campus, providing a balance of size and intimacy. Killdeer Elementary is the largest school with 396 students, while Twin Buttes Elementary offers a very small setting for 56 children. Every school is classified as rural, reflecting the county's open-space character.

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.