McLean County Schools & Education
McLean County, North Dakota
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
37/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Lower Signal
Graduation Rate
81.7%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
81.7%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 84.8%
Per-Pupil Spending
$7,923
National avg $13,239
State avg $9,385
School Score
37/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 54/100
State Score Position
#48
of 53 counties by score
Education Data Brief: McLean County
Measured School Summary
McLean County faces educational challenges with a school score of 37/100 and a graduation rate of 81.7%, falling below typical benchmarks.
Funding Context
At $7,923 per pupil, McLean County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 31% below the North Dakota average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 3.1 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 16% lower than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read McLean 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
14 public schools and 7 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
37/100
Lower measured signal. Ranks #48 of 53 North Dakota counties with school score data.
Completion
81.7%
3.1 pts below the state average
Funding context
$7,923
$1,462 below the state average
School coverage
14
7 districts 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
McLean County has 14 public schools across 7 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 McLean 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.
Review-carefully county
McLean County has a lower measured county-level school signal. Use the school table to look for specific districts or grade bands that may differ from the county average.
State position
#48
of 53 North Dakota counties with school score data. The county score is 17 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.
GARRISON 51
Elementary and high visible
388 students
2 listed schools in this county slice.
WASHBURN 4
Elementary and high visible
335 students
2 listed schools in this county slice.
WILTON 1
Elementary and high visible
278 students
2 listed schools in this county slice.
UNDERWOOD 8
Elementary and high visible
219 students
2 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
GARRISON 51 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 McLean County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different McLean 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 McLean 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.
Broad Educational Reach Across Seven Districts
McLean County supports 1,738 students through a network of 14 public schools managed by 7 different districts. The county maintains an equal balance between 7 elementary and 7 high school facilities. This distributed system ensures that students in every corner of the county have local access to education.
Garrison and Wilton Anchor the County
Garrison 51 is the largest district, educating 388 students, followed by Wilton 1 with 278 students. These districts provide the core of the county's secondary education alongside five other smaller districts. The county does not host any charter schools, relying instead on its diverse array of seven traditional public districts.
Classic Rural Education Across 14 Campuses
The county's schools are entirely rural, with an average enrollment of 124 students per school. Bob Callies Elementary is the largest school, serving 226 students in Garrison, while several high schools offer even smaller, more intimate learning environments. This rural setting provides a traditional North Dakota school experience for all residents.
School Overview
Total Schools
14
in McLean County
Reported Enrollment
1,738
14 schools reporting
School Districts
7
districts
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
7 School Districts in McLean County
GARRISON 51
WASHBURN 4
WILTON 1
UNDERWOOD 8
WHITE SHIELD 85
TURTLE LAKE-MERCER 72
MAX 50
14 Public Schools in McLean 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 14 of 14 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BOB CALLIES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Record | GARRISON 51 | Garrison, 58540Rural: Remote | PK–6 | Primary | 226 |
| WASHBURN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Record | WASHBURN 4 | Washburn, 58577Rural: Remote | PK–6 | Primary | 199 |
| WILTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Record | WILTON 1 | Wilton, 58579Rural: Distant | PK–6 | Primary | 165 |
| GARRISON HIGH SCHOOL | Record | GARRISON 51 | Garrison, 58540Rural: Remote | 7–12 | High | 162 |
| WHITE SHIELD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Record | WHITE SHIELD 85 | Roseglen, 58775Rural: Remote | KG–8 | Primary | 137 |
| WASHBURN HIGH SCHOOL | Record | WASHBURN 4 | Washburn, 58577Rural: Remote | 7–12 | High | 136 |
| UNDERWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Record | UNDERWOOD 8 | Underwood, 58576Rural: Remote | PK–6 | Primary | 121 |
| WILTON HIGH SCHOOL | Record | WILTON 1 | Wilton, 58579Rural: Distant | 7–12 | High | 113 |
| TURTLE LAKE-MERCER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Record | TURTLE LAKE-MERCER 72 | Turtle Lake, 58575Rural: Remote | PK–6 | Primary | 105 |
| UNDERWOOD HIGH SCHOOL | Record | UNDERWOOD 8 | Underwood, 58576Rural: Remote | 7–12 | High | 98 |
| MAX ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Record | MAX 50 | Max, 58759Rural: Remote | PK–6 | Primary | 82 |
| MAX HIGH SCHOOL | Record | MAX 50 | Max, 58759Rural: Remote | 7–12 | High | 73 |
| TURTLE LAKE-MERCER HIGH SCHOOL | Record | TURTLE LAKE-MERCER 72 | Turtle Lake, 58575Rural: Remote | 7–12 | High | 70 |
| WHITE SHIELD HIGH SCHOOL | Record | WHITE SHIELD 85 | Roseglen, 58775Rural: Remote | 9–12 | High | 51 |
BOB CALLIES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
GARRISON 51
Garrison, 58540 / Rural: Remote
WHITE SHIELD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
WHITE SHIELD 85
Roseglen, 58775 / Rural: Remote
TURTLE LAKE-MERCER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
TURTLE LAKE-MERCER 72
Turtle Lake, 58575 / Rural: Remote
TURTLE LAKE-MERCER HIGH SCHOOL
TURTLE LAKE-MERCER 72
Turtle Lake, 58575 / Rural: Remote
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$7,923
State avg $9,385
Compare Nearby Counties
Review McLean 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 McLean County?
What is the graduation rate in McLean County?
How much does McLean County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in McLean County, North Dakota — FAQ
What does the school system look like in McLean County, North Dakota?
McLean County supports 1,738 students through a network of 14 public schools managed by 7 different districts. The county maintains an equal balance between 7 elementary and 7 high school facilities. This distributed system ensures that students in every corner of the county have local access to education.
What are the major school districts in McLean County, North Dakota?
Garrison 51 is the largest district, educating 388 students, followed by Wilton 1 with 278 students. These districts provide the core of the county's secondary education alongside five other smaller districts. The county does not host any charter schools, relying instead on its diverse array of seven traditional public districts.
What is the school experience like in McLean County?
The county's schools are entirely rural, with an average enrollment of 124 students per school. Bob Callies Elementary is the largest school, serving 226 students in Garrison, while several high schools offer even smaller, more intimate learning environments. This rural setting provides a traditional North Dakota school experience for all residents.
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.