Wells County Schools & Education
Wells County, North Dakota
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
53/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Midrange Signal
Graduation Rate
86.8%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
86.8%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 84.8%
Per-Pupil Spending
$8,651
National avg $13,239
State avg $9,385
School Score
53/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 54/100
State Score Position
#24
of 53 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Wells County
Measured School Summary
Wells County performs at an average level with a school score of 53/100 and a solid graduation rate of 86.8%.
Funding Context
Wells County spends $8,651 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 3% below the North Dakota average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 2.0 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 8% lower than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Wells 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
53/100
Mixed county signal. Ranks #24 of 53 North Dakota counties with school score data.
Completion
86.8%
2.0 pts above the state average
Funding context
$8,651
$734 below 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
Wells 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 Wells 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
Wells 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
#24
of 53 North Dakota counties with school score data. The county score is 1 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.
HARVEY 38
Elementary and high visible
394 students
2 listed schools in this county slice.
FESSENDEN-BOWDON 25
Elementary and high visible
179 students
2 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
FESSENDEN-BOWDON 25 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 Wells County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Wells 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 Wells 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.
Streamlined Rural Education System
Wells County operates a focused system of four public schools serving 573 total students. These schools are managed by just two districts, providing a highly localized and simplified educational landscape.
Harvey and Fessenden-Bowdon Districts
Harvey 38 is the larger of the two districts, enrolling 394 students. Like many neighboring counties, Wells County features no charter schools, relying entirely on its traditional rural districts.
Small Classes in a Rural Setting
All four schools in Wells County are rural, creating an average school size of 143 students. While B.M. Hanson Elementary serves 225 students, Fessenden-Bowdon High School offers an incredibly intimate setting with just 49 students.
School Overview
Total Schools
4
in Wells County
Reported Enrollment
573
4 schools reporting
School Districts
2
districts
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
2 School Districts in Wells County
HARVEY 38
FESSENDEN-BOWDON 25
4 Public Schools in Wells 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BM HANSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Record | HARVEY 38 | Harvey, 58341Rural: Remote | KG–6 | Primary | 225 |
| HARVEY HIGH SCHOOL | Record | HARVEY 38 | Harvey, 58341Rural: Remote | 7–12 | High | 169 |
| FESSENDEN-BOWDON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Record | FESSENDEN-BOWDON 25 | Fessenden, 58438Rural: Remote | PK–8 | Primary | 130 |
| FESSENDEN-BOWDON HIGH SCHOOL | Record | FESSENDEN-BOWDON 25 | Fessenden, 58438Rural: Remote | 9–12 | High | 49 |
FESSENDEN-BOWDON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
FESSENDEN-BOWDON 25
Fessenden, 58438 / Rural: Remote
FESSENDEN-BOWDON HIGH SCHOOL
FESSENDEN-BOWDON 25
Fessenden, 58438 / Rural: Remote
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$8,651
State avg $9,385
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Wells 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 Wells County?
What is the graduation rate in Wells County?
How much does Wells County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Wells County, North Dakota — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Wells County, North Dakota?
Wells County operates a focused system of four public schools serving 573 total students. These schools are managed by just two districts, providing a highly localized and simplified educational landscape.
What are the major school districts in Wells County, North Dakota?
Harvey 38 is the larger of the two districts, enrolling 394 students. Like many neighboring counties, Wells County features no charter schools, relying entirely on its traditional rural districts.
What is the school experience like in Wells County?
All four schools in Wells County are rural, creating an average school size of 143 students. While B.M. Hanson Elementary serves 225 students, Fessenden-Bowdon High School offers an incredibly intimate setting with just 49 students.
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.