Total enrollment
1,397
+365 (+35%) vs SY 2020-21
Benson County
North Dakota · Public K-12
Public K-12 schools in Benson County number 14 per the most recent NCES data, averaging about 100 students per school. By level, that breaks down as 8 elementary, 1 middle, and 5 high schools.
4-year change in Benson County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
13
+1 (+8%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Benson County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In North Dakota | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 1,397 | #16 of 19 | #2,536 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 13 | #12 of 19 | N/A |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 85.5% | #2 of 19 | #402 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 33.1% | #13 of 18 | #1,705 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.
Benson County school rankings
Residents
5,808
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
14
7 districts
Enrollment
1,397
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$64,033
Below North Dakota avg
Free/reduced lunch
85.5%
Above North Dakota avg
Elementary
8
999 students
Middle
1
52 students
High
5
346 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Tate Topa Tribal School
458 students · 7 districts in Benson County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Benson 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+
21.9%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
24.8%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
3.4%
civilian labor
Median age
33
33.5% under 18
Test scores in Benson County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 4 schools ranked. North Dakota state average: 38.7%.
Top 4 schools (ELA)
- LEEDS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL· 55.0%
- MADDOCK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL· 50.0%
- MINNEWAUKAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL· 20.0%
- MINNEWAUKAN HIGH SCHOOL· 20.0%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tate Topa Tribal School | Fort Totten | Elementary | KG-08 | 458 | · |
| MINNEWAUKAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Minnewaukan | Elementary | PK-08 | 182 | · |
| FOUR WINDS COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL | Fort Totten | High | 09-12 | 159 | · |
| WARWICK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Warwick | Elementary | PK-04 | 99 | · |
| LEEDS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Leeds | Elementary | PK-08 | 96 | · |
| MADDOCK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Maddock | Elementary | PK-08 | 96 | · |
| MINNEWAUKAN HIGH SCHOOL | Minnewaukan | High | 09-12 | 71 | · |
| OBERON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Oberon | Elementary | PK-08 | 52 | · |
| WARWICK MIDDLE SCHOOL | Warwick | Middle | 05-08 | 52 | · |
| WARWICK HIGH SCHOOL | Warwick | High | 09-12 | 48 | · |
| MADDOCK HIGH SCHOOL | Maddock | High | 09-12 | 38 | · |
| LEEDS HIGH SCHOOL | Leeds | High | 09-12 | 30 | · |
| FOUR WINDS COMMUNITY PK SCHOOL | Fort Totten | Elementary | PK-PK | 16 | · |
| FOUR WINDS CEDAR ACADEMY | Fort Totten | Elementary | M-M | · | · |
Cities in Benson County
About Benson County
Benson County is a rural-scale county of about 5,808 residents in North Dakota. Its public-school system hosts approximately 1,397 students across 14 schools.
Zooming out, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $64,033, about 22% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and roughly 25% of residents live below the federal poverty line. That income level is 12% below the North Dakota median.
On the level-by-level breakdown, Benson County consists of 8 elementary schools (999 students), 1 middle school (52), and 5 high schools (346).
The largest single district in Benson County is Tate Topa Tribal School, which alone enrolls about 458 students.
Looking at the last 4 years. Combined enrollment now sits at 1,397 students, climbed 35% from the 1,032 reported in SY 2020-21. The school count climbed from 12 to 13 across the same 4-year window.
On allk12, the community for Benson County discusses open enrollment windows, redistricting talk, and busing logistics. 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