schoolsbycounty

Mercer County Schools & Education

School Score

60/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Midrange Signal

Graduation Rate

95.0%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

95.0%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 84.8%

Per-Pupil Spending

$6,770

National avg $13,239

State avg $9,385

School Score

60/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 54/100

State Score Position

#14

of 53 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Mercer County

Measured School Summary

Mercer County performs at an average level with a school score of 60/100 and a solid graduation rate of 95.0%.

Funding Context

At $6,770 per pupil, Mercer County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.

Neighbor Context

Its school score is 10% above the North Dakota average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 10.2 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 28% lower than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Mercer 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

6 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

60/100

Mixed county signal. Ranks #14 of 53 North Dakota counties with school score data.

Completion

95.0%

10.2 pts above the state average

Funding context

$6,770

$2,615 below the state average

School coverage

6

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

Mercer County has 6 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 Mercer 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

Mercer 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

#14

of 53 North Dakota counties with school score data. The county score is 6 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.

BEULAH 27

Elementary to high school visible

761 students

Elementary 1Middle 1High 1Other 0

3 listed schools in this county slice.

HAZEN 3

Elementary to high school visible

568 students

Elementary 1Middle 1High 1Other 0

3 listed schools in this county slice.

District reality check

BEULAH 27 is the largest listed district slice, with 3 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 Mercer County?

Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Mercer 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 Mercer 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.

Exceptional Performance in a Focused System

Mercer County operates a streamlined system of 6 schools across just 2 primary districts, serving 1,329 students. The infrastructure is modern and comprehensive, featuring two elementary, two middle, and two high schools. This structured approach ensures a clear developmental path for students as they age.

A Blend of Small Town and Rural Life

Unlike many neighboring counties, Mercer split its schools between rural and town locales, creating a more diverse feel. The average school size is 222 students, with Beulah Elementary being the largest at 319 students. This scale allows for competitive athletics and extracurriculars while maintaining a manageable student-to-teacher ratio.

School Overview

Total Schools

6

in Mercer County

Reported Enrollment

1,329

6 schools reporting

School Districts

2

districts

Charter Schools

0

0% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary2
Middle2
High2
Other0

2 School Districts in Mercer County

BEULAH 27

3 schools
761 students

HAZEN 3

3 schools
568 students

6 Public Schools in Mercer 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 6 of 6 matching schools

BEULAH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

BEULAH 27

Beulah, 58523 / Town: Remote

RecordPK–4Primary319 students

HAZEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

HAZEN 3

Hazen, 58545 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–5Primary274 students

BEULAH MIDDLE SCHOOL

BEULAH 27

Beulah, 58523 / Town: Remote

Record5–8Middle236 students

BEULAH HIGH SCHOOL

BEULAH 27

Beulah, 58523 / Town: Remote

Record9–12High206 students

HAZEN HIGH SCHOOL

HAZEN 3

Hazen, 58545 / Rural: Distant

Record9–12High163 students

HAZEN MIDDLE SCHOOL

HAZEN 3

Hazen, 58545 / Rural: Distant

Record6–8Middle131 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$6,770

State avg $9,385

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Mercer 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 Mercer County?
Mercer County has a school score of 60/100, 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 Mercer County?
The high school graduation rate in Mercer County is 95.0%, 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 Mercer County spend per student?
Mercer County spends $6,770 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 Mercer County, North Dakota — FAQ

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

Mercer County operates a streamlined system of 6 schools across just 2 primary districts, serving 1,329 students. The infrastructure is modern and comprehensive, featuring two elementary, two middle, and two high schools. This structured approach ensures a clear developmental path for students as they age.

What is the school experience like in Mercer County?

Unlike many neighboring counties, Mercer split its schools between rural and town locales, creating a more diverse feel. The average school size is 222 students, with Beulah Elementary being the largest at 319 students. This scale allows for competitive athletics and extracurriculars while maintaining a manageable student-to-teacher ratio.

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.