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Barnes County

North Dakota · Public K-12

Barnes County is a North Dakota county whose public-school system spans 7 campuses and approximately 1,178 students. Median household income runs about $68,038. By grade band, the county runs 3 elementary, 2 middle, and 2 high schools.

7-year change in Barnes County

SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25
Total enrollment
1,178
-292 (-20%) vs SY 2017-18
School count
6
-2 (-25%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
89%
was 91%
% Hispanic
4%
was 2%
% Black
2%
was 2%
% Asian
1%
was 1%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
7
2 districts
Enrollment
1,178
NCES CCD
Median income
$68,038
Below North Dakota avg
Free/reduced lunch
31.9%
Below North Dakota avg
Elementary
3
419 students
Middle
2
368 students
High
2
391 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
VALLEY CITY 2
943 students · 2 districts in Barnes County

County vs. school enrollment demographics

Left bar is the racial makeup of Barnes County residents (Census ACS 5-year). Right bar is the enrollment-weighted makeup of public schools in the county (NCES CCD). NCES systematically under-reports Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment for many schools; where the resident share is meaningful but the reported school share is zero, we mark the school bar "not reported".

County residents
White
90%
Hispanic
2%
Black
0%
Asian
2%
Two or more
6%
Native American
2%
Pacific Islander
0%
School enrollment
White
89%
Hispanic
4%
Black
2%
Asian
1%
Two or more
3%
Native American
1%
Pacific Islander
0%
Bachelor's+
30.7%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
6.3%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
3.8%
civilian labor
Median age
44
19.7% under 18

Test scores in Barnes County

Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 6 schools ranked. North Dakota state average: 38.7%.

See all 6 schools in Barnes County ranked by score →

All schools (7)

LargestA-ZTop rated
NameCityLevelGradesEnrollmentRating
VALLEY CITY HIGH SCHOOLValley CityHigh09-12317·
JEFFERSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOLValley CityElementaryPK-03258·
WASHINGTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOLValley CityMiddle04-06209·
BARNES COUNTY NORTH ELEMENTARY SCHOOLWimbledonElementaryPK-08161·
VALLEY CITY JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLValley CityMiddle07-08159·
BARNES COUNTY NORTH HIGH SCHOOLWimbledonHigh09-1274·
VALLEY CITY HIGH SCHOOL ALTERNATIVE HIGH SCHOOLValley CityElementaryM-M··

Cities in Barnes County

Valley City5 schoolsWimbledon2 schools

About Barnes County

Barnes County is a thinly populated North Dakota county of about 10,773 residents, home to 7 public schools and roughly 1,178 students.

Zooming out, census numbers show median household income runs near $68,038, roughly 31% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and roughly 6% of residents live below the federal poverty line. That income level is 7% below the North Dakota median.

On the level-by-level breakdown, Barnes County is made up of 3 elementary schools (419 students), 2 middle schools (368), and 2 high schools (391).

The largest single district in Barnes County is VALLEY CITY 2, which alone enrolls about 943 students.

Five-year track record. Across the same 7-year window, public-school enrollment shrank 20%: 1,470 students in SY 2017-18 versus 1,178 in SY 2024-25. Over that span, Barnes County closed 2 schools, going from 8 to 6.

On this page, the community for Barnes County discusses enrollment trends, district policy changes, and bus-route updates. Members of the local community share what they see day-to-day.

Frequently asked questions

How many public schools are in Barnes County?
Barnes County, North Dakota has 7 public K-12 schools serving approximately 1,178 students.
How many high schools are in Barnes County?
Barnes County, North Dakota has 2 public high schools, serving approximately 391 students.
How many middle schools are in Barnes County?
Barnes County, North Dakota has 2 public middle schools, serving approximately 368 students.
How many elementary schools are in Barnes County?
Barnes County, North Dakota has 3 public elementary schools, serving approximately 419 students.
What is the largest school district in Barnes County?
VALLEY CITY 2 is the largest school district in Barnes County, serving approximately 943 students. The county contains 2 school districts overall.
What is the population of Barnes County?
Barnes County, North Dakota has a population of approximately 10,773, with a median age of 44. About 19.7% of residents are under 18.
What is the median household income in Barnes County?
Median household income in Barnes County is $68,038, below the North Dakota average of $73,179. About 6.3% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
How educated are residents of Barnes County?
Approximately 30.7% of adults 25 and older in Barnes County hold a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What share of students in Barnes County qualify for free or reduced lunch?
Roughly 31.9% of students in Barnes County public schools qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a common proxy for low-income enrollment. This is lower than the North Dakota county average of 33.7%.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Barnes County schools?
Across Barnes County public schools, the enrollment-weighted student-teacher ratio is approximately 13.2 to 1.
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data