Can I use Williams County's school score to choose a house?

No. Use the Williams County school score as a first-pass county screen, then verify the exact district, attendance boundary, transfer rules, and grade pathway for any address you are considering.

Does SchoolsByCounty confirm school attendance boundaries in Williams County?

No. SchoolsByCounty publishes NCES and Census-backed public-school records. Attendance zones, magnet eligibility, charter lotteries, transportation, and transfer rules must be confirmed with local districts.

How should parents compare public schools in Williams County?

Start with the 21 listed public schools and 5 district entries, then compare similar grade bands and confirm the address-level rules locally.

Williams County Schools & Education

Name: Williams County, North Dakota Education Data
Creator: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

Williams County, North Dakota

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

School Score

36/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Lower Signal

Graduation Rate

78.7%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

78.7%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 84.8%

Per-Pupil Spending

$7,962

National avg $13,239

State avg $9,385

School Score

36/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 54/100

State Score Position

#51

of 53 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Williams County

Measured School Summary

Williams County faces educational challenges with a school score of 36/100 and a graduation rate of 78.7%, falling below typical benchmarks.

Funding Context

At $7,962 per pupil, Williams County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.

Neighbor Context

Its school score is 34% below the North Dakota average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 6.1 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 15% lower than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Williams 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

21 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

36/100

Lower measured signal. Ranks #51 of 53 North Dakota counties with school score data.

Completion

78.7%

6.1 pts below the state average

Funding context

$7,962

$1,423 below the state average

School coverage

5 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

Williams County has 21 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.

View Public Schools Compare Counties

Parent decision brief

What Williams 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.

Dominant-district county

WILLISTON BASIN 7 carries most of the listed public-school system, with 13 of 21 schools. Start there, then verify whether your target address sits inside that district slice.

State position

#51

of 53 North Dakota counties with school score data. The county score is 18 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.

WILLISTON BASIN 7

Elementary to high school visible

5,292 students

Elementary 7Middle 4High 2Other 0

13 listed schools in this county slice.

TIOGA 15

Elementary and high visible

523 students

Elementary 1Middle 0High 1Other 0

2 listed schools in this county slice.

NESSON 2

Elementary and high visible

427 students

Elementary 1Middle 0High 1Other 0

2 listed schools in this county slice.

EIGHT MILE 6

Elementary and high visible

325 students

Elementary 1Middle 0High 1Other 0

2 listed schools in this county slice.

District reality check

WILLISTON BASIN 7 is the largest listed district slice, with 13 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 Williams County?

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

Expanding Infrastructure in a Growing County

Williams County supports 6,731 students across 21 public schools managed by five districts. The system includes 11 elementary schools and 6 high schools to accommodate its growing population.

Williston Basin 7 Dominates Enrollment

Williston Basin 7 is the primary district, serving 5,292 students across 13 different schools. All schools in the county are traditional public institutions, with no charter options currently available.

A Dynamic Mix of Large and Small Schools

The county features 13 rural and 8 town-based schools, with Williston High School being a standout facility at 1,363 students. This variety allows families to choose between large-scale high school experiences and smaller elementary environments.

School Overview

Total Schools

in Williams County

Reported Enrollment

6,731

21 schools reporting

School Districts

districts

Charter Schools

0% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary11

Middle4

High6

Other0

5 School Districts in Williams County

WILLISTON BASIN 7

TIOGA 15

2 schools

523 students

NESSON 2

2 schools

427 students

EIGHT MILE 6

2 schools

325 students

GRENORA 99

2 schools

164 students

21 Public Schools in Williams County

Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 1 high-enrollment school; every NCES public school remains listed here.

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

Search schools

Level

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Showing 20 of 21 matching schools

Public schools in Williams County, including district, location, profile availability, grades, type, and enrollment.
School Name	Profile	District	Location	Grades	Type / Flags	Reported Enrollment
WILLISTON HIGH SCHOOL	Profile	WILLISTON BASIN 7	Williston, 58802Rural: Fringe	9–12	High	1,363
BAKKEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	WILLISTON BASIN 7	Williston, 58802Town: Remote	5–6	Middle	627
HAGAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	WILLISTON BASIN 7	Williston, 58802Rural: Fringe	KG–4	Primary	543
WILLISTON MIDDLE SCHOOL	Record	WILLISTON BASIN 7	Williston, 58802Town: Remote	7–8	Middle	485
MCVAY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	WILLISTON BASIN 7	Williston, 58802Town: Remote	KG–4	Primary	423
MISSOURI RIDGE MIDDLE SCHOOL	Record	WILLISTON BASIN 7	Williston, 58801Rural: Distant	3–8	Middle	381
RICKARD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	WILLISTON BASIN 7	Williston, 58802Town: Remote	KG–4	Primary	351
WILKINSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	WILLISTON BASIN 7	Williston, 58802Town: Remote	KG–4	Primary	338
CENTRAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	TIOGA 15	Tioga, 58852Rural: Remote	PK–6	Primary	308
RAY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	NESSON 2	Ray, 58849Rural: Remote	PK–8	Primary	306
LEWIS AND CLARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	WILLISTON BASIN 7	Williston, 58802Town: Remote	KG–4	Primary	305
ASB INNOVATION ACADEMY	Record	WILLISTON BASIN 7	Williston, 58802Town: Remote	5–8	Middle	265
EIGHT MILE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	EIGHT MILE 6	Trenton, 58853Rural: Distant	KG–8	Primary	232
TIOGA HIGH SCHOOL	Record	TIOGA 15	Tioga, 58852Rural: Remote	7–12	High	215
GARDEN VALLEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	WILLISTON BASIN 7	Williston, 58802Rural: Distant	KG–2	Primary	157
RAY HIGH SCHOOL	Record	NESSON 2	Ray, 58849Rural: Remote	9–12	High	121
EIGHT MILE HIGH SCHOOL	Record	EIGHT MILE 6	Trenton, 58853Rural: Distant	9–12	High	93
GRENORA HIGH SCHOOL	Record	GRENORA 99	Grenora, 58845Rural: Remote	7–12	High	83
GRENORA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	GRENORA 99	Grenora, 58845Rural: Remote	PK–6	Primary	81
ROUND PRAIRIE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	WILLISTON BASIN 7	Williston, 58802Rural: Remote	KG–5	Primary	33

WILLISTON HIGH SCHOOL

WILLISTON BASIN 7

Williston, 58802 / Rural: Fringe

Profile9–12High1,363 students

BAKKEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

WILLISTON BASIN 7

Williston, 58802 / Town: Remote

Record5–6Middle627 students

HAGAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

WILLISTON BASIN 7

Williston, 58802 / Rural: Fringe

RecordKG–4Primary543 students

WILLISTON MIDDLE SCHOOL

WILLISTON BASIN 7

Williston, 58802 / Town: Remote

Record7–8Middle485 students

MCVAY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

WILLISTON BASIN 7

Williston, 58802 / Town: Remote

RecordKG–4Primary423 students

MISSOURI RIDGE MIDDLE SCHOOL

WILLISTON BASIN 7

Williston, 58801 / Rural: Distant

Record3–8Middle381 students

RICKARD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

WILLISTON BASIN 7

Williston, 58802 / Town: Remote

RecordKG–4Primary351 students

WILKINSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

WILLISTON BASIN 7

Williston, 58802 / Town: Remote

RecordKG–4Primary338 students

CENTRAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

TIOGA 15

Tioga, 58852 / Rural: Remote

RecordPK–6Primary308 students

RAY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

NESSON 2

Ray, 58849 / Rural: Remote

RecordPK–8Primary306 students

LEWIS AND CLARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

WILLISTON BASIN 7

Williston, 58802 / Town: Remote

RecordKG–4Primary305 students

ASB INNOVATION ACADEMY

WILLISTON BASIN 7

Williston, 58802 / Town: Remote

Record5–8Middle265 students

EIGHT MILE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

EIGHT MILE 6

Trenton, 58853 / Rural: Distant

RecordKG–8Primary232 students

TIOGA HIGH SCHOOL

TIOGA 15

Tioga, 58852 / Rural: Remote

Record7–12High215 students

GARDEN VALLEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

WILLISTON BASIN 7

Williston, 58802 / Rural: Distant

RecordKG–2Primary157 students

RAY HIGH SCHOOL

NESSON 2

Ray, 58849 / Rural: Remote

Record9–12High121 students

EIGHT MILE HIGH SCHOOL

EIGHT MILE 6

Trenton, 58853 / Rural: Distant

Record9–12High93 students

GRENORA HIGH SCHOOL

GRENORA 99

Grenora, 58845 / Rural: Remote

Record7–12High83 students

GRENORA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

GRENORA 99

Grenora, 58845 / Rural: Remote

RecordPK–6Primary81 students

ROUND PRAIRIE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

WILLISTON BASIN 7

Williston, 58802 / Rural: Remote

RecordKG–5Primary33 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$7,962

State avg $9,385

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Williams 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 Williams County?

Williams County has a school score of 36/100, which is a lower 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 Williams County?

The high school graduation rate in Williams County is 78.7%, which is below 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 Williams County spend per student?

Williams County spends $7,962 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 Williams County, North Dakota — FAQ

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

Williams County supports 6,731 students across 21 public schools managed by five districts. The system includes 11 elementary schools and 6 high schools to accommodate its growing population.

What are the major school districts in Williams County, North Dakota?

What is the school experience like in Williams County?

Counties with Similar School Profile

Eddy County

North Dakota

+0 pts

36/100

School score

Walsh County

North Dakota

+1 pts

37/100

School score

Adams County

North Dakota

-1 pts

34/100

School score

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated May 13, 2026Reviewed 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.

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