Total enrollment
1,178
-142 (-11%) vs SY 2020-21
Barnes County
North Dakota · Public K-12
Barnes County is a North Dakota county whose public-school system spans 7 schools 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.
4-year change in Barnes County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
6
0 (0%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Barnes County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In North Dakota | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 1,178 | #19 of 19 | #2,648 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 6 | #18 of 19 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 12.8:1 | #13 of 18 | #820 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 31.9% | #9 of 19 | #2,356 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 20.8% | #17 of 18 | #2,119 of 2,707 |
Counties need at least 3 schools and 1,000 students to be ranked. Test proficiency is ranked within the state only, since each state gives a different test. Each rank links to the full list.
Residents
10,773
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
7
2 districts
Enrollment
1,178
students · 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
School enrollment
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%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VALLEY CITY HIGH SCHOOL | Valley City | High | 09-12 | 317 | · |
| JEFFERSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Valley City | Elementary | PK-03 | 258 | · |
| WASHINGTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Valley City | Middle | 04-06 | 209 | · |
| BARNES COUNTY NORTH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Wimbledon | Elementary | PK-08 | 161 | · |
| VALLEY CITY JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL | Valley City | Middle | 07-08 | 159 | · |
| BARNES COUNTY NORTH HIGH SCHOOL | Wimbledon | High | 09-12 | 74 | · |
| VALLEY CITY HIGH SCHOOL ALTERNATIVE HIGH SCHOOL | Valley City | Elementary | M-M | · | · |
Cities in Barnes County
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 4-year window, public-school enrollment shrank 11%: 1,320 students in SY 2020-21 versus 1,178 in SY 2024-25.
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
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data