McKenzie County Schools & Education
McKenzie County, North Dakota
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
50/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Midrange Signal
Graduation Rate
84.4%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
84.4%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 84.8%
Per-Pupil Spending
$9,017
National avg $13,239
State avg $9,385
School Score
50/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 54/100
State Score Position
#35
of 53 counties by score
Education Data Brief: McKenzie County
Measured School Summary
McKenzie County has midrange measured school signals (score: 50/100) with a graduation rate of 84.4%, which warrants review in official state and district records.
Funding Context
McKenzie County spends $9,017 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% below the North Dakota average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 0.4 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 4% lower than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read McKenzie 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
12 public schools and 5 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
50/100
Mixed county signal. Ranks #35 of 53 North Dakota counties with school score data.
Completion
84.4%
0.4 pts below the state average
Funding context
$9,017
$368 below the state average
School coverage
12
5 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
McKenzie County has 12 public schools across 5 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.
What McKenzie 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
McKenzie 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
#35
of 53 North Dakota counties with school score data. The county score is 4 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.
MCKENZIE CO 1
Elementary to high school visible
2,004 students
5 listed schools in this county slice.
ALEXANDER 2
Elementary and high visible
321 students
2 listed schools in this county slice.
MANDAREE 36
Elementary and high visible
179 students
2 listed schools in this county slice.
YELLOWSTONE 14
Elementary school only in this slice
92 students
2 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
MCKENZIE CO 1 is the largest listed district slice, with 5 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 McKenzie County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different McKenzie County district systems?
What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?
Which charter, magnet, or virtual options require a lottery, application window, separate transportation plan, or address eligibility check?
Are the largest listed schools the ones our address can actually attend, or are they only county-level context?
Education Overview
About Schools in McKenzie 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 Growing Infrastructure for 2,600 Students
McKenzie County features 12 public schools serving a robust population of 2,608 students across 5 districts. The system includes 7 elementary schools, 1 middle school, and 4 high schools to accommodate various age groups. This infrastructure represents a significant educational hub for the western North Dakota region.
McKenzie County 1 Leads Regional Growth
McKenzie Co 1 is the dominant district, serving 2,004 students across five schools in the Watford City area. Alexander 2 and Mandaree 36 provide additional options, serving 321 and 179 students respectively. There are currently no charter schools, as the traditional public system manages the entirety of the county's enrollment.
Rural Schools with Modern Capacity
While all 12 schools are classified as rural, they are much larger than those in neighboring counties with an average size of 217 students. Badlands Elementary is the largest campus, housing 566 students in a modern primary setting. In contrast, the smallest schools still maintain significant enrollment, reflecting the area's population growth.
School Overview
Total Schools
12
in McKenzie County
Reported Enrollment
2,608
12 schools reporting
School Districts
5
districts
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
5 School Districts in McKenzie County
MCKENZIE CO 1
ALEXANDER 2
MANDAREE 36
YELLOWSTONE 14
HORSE CREEK 32
12 Public Schools in McKenzie 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 dataLevel
Showing 12 of 12 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BADLANDS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Record | MCKENZIE CO 1 | Watford City, 58854Rural: Remote | PK–5 | Primary | 566 |
| FOX HILLS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Record | MCKENZIE CO 1 | Watford City, 58854Rural: Remote | KG–5 | Primary | 489 |
| WATFORD CITY HIGH SCHOOL | Record | MCKENZIE CO 1 | Watford City, 58854Rural: Remote | 9–12 | High | 477 |
| WATFORD CITY MIDDLE SCHOOL | Record | MCKENZIE CO 1 | Watford City, 58854Rural: Remote | 6–8 | Middle | 455 |
| ALEXANDER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Record | ALEXANDER 2 | Alexander, 58831Rural: Remote | PK–6 | Primary | 196 |
| MANDAREE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Record | MANDAREE 36 | Mandaree, 58757Rural: Remote | PK–8 | Primary | 134 |
| ALEXANDER HIGH SCHOOL | Record | ALEXANDER 2 | Alexander, 58831Rural: Remote | 7–12 | High | 125 |
| EAST FAIRVIEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Record | YELLOWSTONE 14 | Fairview, 59221Rural: Remote | KG–8 | Primary | 62 |
| MANDAREE HIGH SCHOOL | Record | MANDAREE 36 | Mandaree, 58757Rural: Remote | 9–12 | High | 45 |
| YELLOWSTONE VIRTUAL ACADEMY | Record | YELLOWSTONE 14 | Fairview, 59221Rural: Remote | KG–8 | Virtual | 30 |
| WOLVES CENTER ACADEMY | Record | MCKENZIE CO 1 | Watford City, 58854Rural: Remote | 9–12 | High | 17 |
| HORSE CREEK SCHOOL | Record | HORSE CREEK 32 | Cartwright, 58838Rural: Remote | KG–8 | Primary | 12 |
BADLANDS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
MCKENZIE CO 1
Watford City, 58854 / Rural: Remote
FOX HILLS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
MCKENZIE CO 1
Watford City, 58854 / Rural: Remote
WATFORD CITY MIDDLE SCHOOL
MCKENZIE CO 1
Watford City, 58854 / Rural: Remote
EAST FAIRVIEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
YELLOWSTONE 14
Fairview, 59221 / Rural: Remote
YELLOWSTONE VIRTUAL ACADEMY
YELLOWSTONE 14
Fairview, 59221 / Rural: Remote
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$9,017
State avg $9,385
Compare Nearby Counties
Review McKenzie County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.
Open CompareBrowse Public Schools
See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.
View SchoolsFrequently Asked Questions
Which North Dakota counties have the highest graduation rates?
What is per-pupil spending like in North Dakota?
How should I read the school score in McKenzie County?
What is the graduation rate in McKenzie County?
How much does McKenzie County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in McKenzie County, North Dakota — FAQ
What does the school system look like in McKenzie County, North Dakota?
McKenzie County features 12 public schools serving a robust population of 2,608 students across 5 districts. The system includes 7 elementary schools, 1 middle school, and 4 high schools to accommodate various age groups. This infrastructure represents a significant educational hub for the western North Dakota region.
What are the major school districts in McKenzie County, North Dakota?
McKenzie Co 1 is the dominant district, serving 2,004 students across five schools in the Watford City area. Alexander 2 and Mandaree 36 provide additional options, serving 321 and 179 students respectively. There are currently no charter schools, as the traditional public system manages the entirety of the county's enrollment.
What is the school experience like in McKenzie County?
While all 12 schools are classified as rural, they are much larger than those in neighboring counties with an average size of 217 students. Badlands Elementary is the largest campus, housing 566 students in a modern primary setting. In contrast, the smallest schools still maintain significant enrollment, reflecting the area's population growth.
Counties with Similar School Profile
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.