BURKE CENTRAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

BURKE CENTRAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL is a rural-scale K-5 school in Lignite, North Dakota, operated by BURKE CENTRAL 36. The school works with 52 students in grades K through 6. Compared to the state average of about 212 students per school, that is 75% smaller than typical.

BURKE CENTRAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL is one of 2 schools operated by BURKE CENTRAL 36, a district that serves 95 students overall.

Looking at the student body, BURKE CENTRAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL lists that nearly all students (88%) are White. Other groups include 10% Hispanic. That mix tracks the wider county fairly closely.

Looking at school resources, On paper, BURKE CENTRAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL has 5 full-time-equivalent teachers, translating to a class-load average of around 10.4:1. Statewide, the average ratio sits near 11.4:1, putting BURKE CENTRAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL tighter than the state norm the norm. About 27% of enrolled students meet the income threshold for free or reduced-price lunch, a number frequently used as a low-income enrollment indicator. By comparison, Burke County runs at roughly 19%, so the school's eligibility rate is higher than the surrounding baseline.

Zooming out to the county, the surrounding county (Burke County) reports that median household earnings sit near $91,591, 23% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and census figures put the poverty rate at about 1%. BURKE CENTRAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL is one of 6 public schools in Burke County (combined enrollment of about 408 students).

BURKE CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL is the nearest neighboring public school, about 0.0 miles from this campus.

Geographically, the school is in an outlying area.

Looking at the recent track record. Looking back 7 years, enrollment at BURKE CENTRAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL has increased 13%, going from 46 students in 2018 to 52 in 2025. The White share of enrollment edged up from 78% to 88% over that span. The student-to-teacher ratio rose from 4.2:1 in 2018 to 10.4:1 today.

On allk12, posts here usually surface around school events, parent volunteer needs, and clubs. The community welcomes input from current and former families.