Nelson County Schools & Education
Nelson County, North Dakota
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
57/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Midrange Signal
Graduation Rate
85.1%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
85.1%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 84.8%
Per-Pupil Spending
$10,395
National avg $13,239
State avg $9,385
School Score
57/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 54/100
State Score Position
#18
of 53 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Nelson County
Measured School Summary
Nelson County performs at an average level with a school score of 57/100 and a solid graduation rate of 85.1%.
Funding Context
Nelson County spends $10,395 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 6% above the North Dakota average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 0.3 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 11% higher than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Nelson 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
4 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
57/100
Mixed county signal. Ranks #18 of 53 North Dakota counties with school score data.
Completion
85.1%
0.3 pts above the state average
Funding context
$10,395
$1,010 above the state average
School coverage
4
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
Nelson County has 4 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.
What Nelson 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
Nelson 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
#18
of 53 North Dakota counties with school score data. The county score is 3 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.
DAKOTA PRAIRIE 1
Elementary and high visible
295 students
2 listed schools in this county slice.
LAKOTA 66
Elementary and high visible
184 students
2 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
DAKOTA PRAIRIE 1 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 Nelson County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Nelson 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 Nelson 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.
Focused Education in Nelson's Small Districts
Nelson County maintains a compact educational system with 4 schools serving a total of 479 students. These schools are managed by 2 districts and are divided evenly between elementary and high school levels. This small-scale infrastructure ensures that education remains a local, community-driven effort.
Dakota Prairie and Lakota Serve the County
Dakota Prairie 1 is the county's largest district, educating 295 students in its two schools. Lakota 66 serves the remaining 184 students across an elementary and a high school. With zero charter schools, these two districts are the pillars of the Nelson County educational community.
The Quintessential Rural School Experience
All schools in Nelson County are rural, with an average size of only 120 students per campus. Dakota Prairie Elementary is the largest school with 168 students, while Lakota High School offers a very personalized experience for its 67 students. This small environment fosters a tight-knit culture where every student is known by name.
School Overview
Total Schools
4
in Nelson County
Reported Enrollment
479
4 schools reporting
School Districts
2
districts
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
2 School Districts in Nelson County
DAKOTA PRAIRIE 1
LAKOTA 66
4 Public Schools in Nelson 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 4 of 4 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DAKOTA PRAIRIE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Record | DAKOTA PRAIRIE 1 | McVille, 58254Rural: Remote | PK–6 | Primary | 168 |
| DAKOTA PRAIRIE HIGH SCHOOL | Record | DAKOTA PRAIRIE 1 | Petersburg, 58272Rural: Remote | 7–12 | High | 127 |
| LAKOTA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Record | LAKOTA 66 | Lakota, 58344Rural: Remote | PK–6 | Primary | 117 |
| LAKOTA HIGH SCHOOL | Record | LAKOTA 66 | Lakota, 58344Rural: Remote | 7–12 | High | 67 |
DAKOTA PRAIRIE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
DAKOTA PRAIRIE 1
McVille, 58254 / Rural: Remote
DAKOTA PRAIRIE HIGH SCHOOL
DAKOTA PRAIRIE 1
Petersburg, 58272 / Rural: Remote
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$10,395
State avg $9,385
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Nelson 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 Nelson County?
What is the graduation rate in Nelson County?
How much does Nelson County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Nelson County, North Dakota — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Nelson County, North Dakota?
Nelson County maintains a compact educational system with 4 schools serving a total of 479 students. These schools are managed by 2 districts and are divided evenly between elementary and high school levels. This small-scale infrastructure ensures that education remains a local, community-driven effort.
What are the major school districts in Nelson County, North Dakota?
Dakota Prairie 1 is the county's largest district, educating 295 students in its two schools. Lakota 66 serves the remaining 184 students across an elementary and a high school. With zero charter schools, these two districts are the pillars of the Nelson County educational community.
What is the school experience like in Nelson County?
All schools in Nelson County are rural, with an average size of only 120 students per campus. Dakota Prairie Elementary is the largest school with 168 students, while Lakota High School offers a very personalized experience for its 67 students. This small environment fosters a tight-knit culture where every student is known by name.
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.