Can I use Grand Forks County's school score to choose a house?

No. Use the Grand Forks County school score as a first-pass county screen, then verify the exact district, attendance boundary, transfer rules, and grade pathway for any address you are considering.

Does SchoolsByCounty confirm school attendance boundaries in Grand Forks County?

No. SchoolsByCounty publishes NCES and Census-backed public-school records. Attendance zones, magnet eligibility, charter lotteries, transportation, and transfer rules must be confirmed with local districts.

How should parents compare public schools in Grand Forks County?

Start with the 29 listed public schools and 8 district entries, then compare similar grade bands and confirm the address-level rules locally.

Grand Forks County Schools & Education

Name: Grand Forks County, North Dakota Education Data
Creator: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

Grand Forks County, North Dakota

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

School Score

58/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Midrange Signal

Graduation Rate

87.5%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

87.5%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 84.8%

Per-Pupil Spending

$9,101

National avg $13,239

State avg $9,385

School Score

58/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 54/100

State Score Position

#16

of 53 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Grand Forks County

Measured School Summary

Grand Forks County performs at an average level with a school score of 58/100 and a solid graduation rate of 87.5%.

Funding Context

Grand Forks County spends $9,101 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 7% above the North Dakota average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 2.7 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 3% lower than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Grand Forks 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

29 public schools and 8 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

58/100

Mixed county signal. Ranks #16 of 53 North Dakota counties with school score data.

Completion

87.5%

2.7 pts above the state average

Funding context

$9,101

$284 below the state average

School coverage

8 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

Grand Forks County has 29 public schools across 8 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.

View Public Schools Compare Counties

Parent decision brief

What Grand Forks 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.

Dominant-district county

GRAND FORKS 1 carries most of the listed public-school system, with 18 of 29 schools. Start there, then verify whether your target address sits inside that district slice.

State position

#16

of 53 North Dakota counties with school score data. The county score is 4 points above the state average.

Data confidence

Usable

3 of 5 county signals are present, and 97% 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.

GRAND FORKS 1

Elementary to high school visible

7,597 students

Elementary 11Middle 4High 3Other 0

18 listed schools in this county slice.

THOMPSON 61

Elementary and high visible

655 students

Elementary 1Middle 0High 1Other 0

2 listed schools in this county slice.

LARIMORE 44

Elementary and high visible

390 students

Elementary 1Middle 0High 1Other 0

2 listed schools in this county slice.

NORTHWOOD 129

Elementary and high visible

334 students

Elementary 1Middle 0High 1Other 0

2 listed schools in this county slice.

District reality check

GRAND FORKS 1 is the largest listed district slice, with 18 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 Grand Forks County?

Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Grand Forks 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?

Which schools are missing enrollment or ratio fields, and does the district publish a newer local profile than the NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data?

Data Story

Grand Forks Maintains Large Urban-Rural District Mix

Education data brief for Grand Forks County, North Dakota.

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorPublished Jul 7, 2026Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

Lead metric:District structure

Grand Forks County is characterized by a large, centralized district structure that contrasts with North Dakota's typical rural systems. The county contains 29 public schools, with the Grand Forks 1 district managing 18 of those and enrolling 7,597 students—roughly 80% of the county's 9,474 total students. The system features a rare city-rural split, with 16 schools in city settings and 11 in rural areas. The county's composite school score of 58.0 is higher than the state average of 53.6. The graduation rate is 87.5%, which is slightly higher than both the national average of 87.0% and the state average of 84.8%. Per-pupil spending is $9,101, falling below the state average of $9,385 and the national average of $13,000. Red River High School is the county's largest campus with 1,137 students. Review the NCES Common Core of Data for detailed campus information.

Sources

NCES Common Core of Data
U.S. Census Bureau ACS

School Overview

Total Schools

in Grand Forks County

Reported Enrollment

9,474

28 schools reporting

School Districts

districts

Charter Schools

0% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary17

Middle4

High7

Other1

8 School Districts in Grand Forks County

GRAND FORKS 1

THOMPSON 61

2 schools

655 students

LARIMORE 44

2 schools

390 students

NORTHWOOD 129

2 schools

334 students

MIDWAY 128

2 schools

200 students

MANVEL 125

1 school

188 students

EMERADO 127

1 school

110 students

ND VISION SERVICES

1 school

0 students

29 Public Schools in Grand Forks County

Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 2 high-enrollment schools; every NCES public school remains listed here.

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

Search schools

Level

Sort

Showing 20 of 29 matching schools

Public schools in Grand Forks County, including district, location, profile availability, grades, type, and enrollment.
School Name	Profile	District	Location	Grades	Type / Flags	Reported Enrollment
RED RIVER HIGH SCHOOL	Profile	GRAND FORKS 1	Grand Forks, 58201City: Small	9–12	High	1,137
CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL	Profile	GRAND FORKS 1	Grand Forks, 58203City: Small	9–12	High	1,093
DISCOVERY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	GRAND FORKS 1	Grand Forks, 58201Rural: Fringe	PK–5	Primary	557
SCHROEDER MIDDLE SCHOOL	Record	GRAND FORKS 1	Grand Forks, 58201City: Small	6–8	Middle	549
SOUTH MIDDLE SCHOOL	Record	GRAND FORKS 1	Grand Forks, 58201City: Small	6–8	Middle	549
VALLEY MIDDLE SCHOOL	Record	GRAND FORKS 1	Grand Forks, 58203City: Small	6–8	Middle	513
J NELSON KELLY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	GRAND FORKS 1	Grand Forks, 58201City: Small	PK–5	Primary	476
LAKE AGASSIZ ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	GRAND FORKS 1	Grand Forks, 58203City: Small	PK–5	Primary	426
CENTURY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	GRAND FORKS 1	Grand Forks, 58201City: Small	PK–5	Primary	420
THOMPSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	THOMPSON 61	Thompson, 58278Rural: Distant	PK–6	Primary	394
BEN FRANKLIN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	GRAND FORKS 1	Grand Forks, 58201City: Small	PK–5	Primary	328
VIKING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	GRAND FORKS 1	Grand Forks, 58201City: Small	PK–5	Primary	320
THOMPSON HIGH SCHOOL	Record	THOMPSON 61	Thompson, 58278Rural: Distant	7–12	High	261
PHOENIX ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	GRAND FORKS 1	Grand Forks, 58201City: Small	PK–5	Primary	260
NATHAN TWINING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	GRAND FORKS 1	Grand Forks AFB, 58204Town: Distant	PK–5	Primary	227
WINSHIP ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	GRAND FORKS 1	Grand Forks, 58203City: Small	PK–5	Primary	227
LARIMORE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	LARIMORE 44	Larimore, 58251Rural: Distant	PK–6	Primary	197
LARIMORE HIGH SCHOOL	Record	LARIMORE 44	Larimore, 58251Rural: Distant	7–12	High	193
NORTHWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	NORTHWOOD 129	Northwood, 58267Rural: Distant	KG–6	Primary	190
MANVEL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	MANVEL 125	Manvel, 58256Rural: Distant	PK–8	Primary	188

RED RIVER HIGH SCHOOL

GRAND FORKS 1

Grand Forks, 58201 / City: Small

Profile9–12High1,137 students

CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL

GRAND FORKS 1

Grand Forks, 58203 / City: Small

Profile9–12High1,093 students

DISCOVERY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

GRAND FORKS 1

Grand Forks, 58201 / Rural: Fringe

RecordPK–5Primary557 students

SCHROEDER MIDDLE SCHOOL

GRAND FORKS 1

Grand Forks, 58201 / City: Small

Record6–8Middle549 students

SOUTH MIDDLE SCHOOL

GRAND FORKS 1

Grand Forks, 58201 / City: Small

Record6–8Middle549 students

VALLEY MIDDLE SCHOOL

GRAND FORKS 1

Grand Forks, 58203 / City: Small

Record6–8Middle513 students

J NELSON KELLY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

GRAND FORKS 1

Grand Forks, 58201 / City: Small

RecordPK–5Primary476 students

LAKE AGASSIZ ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

GRAND FORKS 1

Grand Forks, 58203 / City: Small

RecordPK–5Primary426 students

CENTURY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

GRAND FORKS 1

Grand Forks, 58201 / City: Small

RecordPK–5Primary420 students

THOMPSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

THOMPSON 61

Thompson, 58278 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–6Primary394 students

BEN FRANKLIN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

GRAND FORKS 1

Grand Forks, 58201 / City: Small

RecordPK–5Primary328 students

VIKING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

GRAND FORKS 1

Grand Forks, 58201 / City: Small

RecordPK–5Primary320 students

THOMPSON HIGH SCHOOL

THOMPSON 61

Thompson, 58278 / Rural: Distant

Record7–12High261 students

PHOENIX ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

GRAND FORKS 1

Grand Forks, 58201 / City: Small

RecordPK–5Primary260 students

NATHAN TWINING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

GRAND FORKS 1

Grand Forks AFB, 58204 / Town: Distant

RecordPK–5Primary227 students

WINSHIP ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

GRAND FORKS 1

Grand Forks, 58203 / City: Small

RecordPK–5Primary227 students

LARIMORE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

LARIMORE 44

Larimore, 58251 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–6Primary197 students

LARIMORE HIGH SCHOOL

LARIMORE 44

Larimore, 58251 / Rural: Distant

Record7–12High193 students

NORTHWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

NORTHWOOD 129

Northwood, 58267 / Rural: Distant

RecordKG–6Primary190 students

MANVEL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

MANVEL 125

Manvel, 58256 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–8Primary188 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$9,101

State avg $9,385

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Grand Forks 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 Grand Forks County?

Grand Forks County has a school score of 58/100, 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 Grand Forks County?

The high school graduation rate in Grand Forks County is 87.5%, 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 Grand Forks County spend per student?

Grand Forks County spends $9,101 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.

Counties with Similar School Profile

Traill County

North Dakota

-1 pts

57/100

School score

Nelson County

North Dakota

-1 pts

57/100

School score

Kidder County

North Dakota

+1 pts

59/100

School score

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated Jul 7, 2026Reviewed 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.

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