Total enrollment
14,427
+762 (+6%) vs SY 2020-21
Burleigh County
North Dakota · Public K-12
Burleigh County, North Dakota's 37 public schools span elementary through high school (27 elementary, 4 middle, and 6 high). Total enrollment is roughly 14,427 students.
4-year change in Burleigh County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
34
+3 (+10%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Burleigh County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In North Dakota | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 14,427 | #2 of 19 | #618 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 34 | #3 of 19 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 14.2:1 | #18 of 18 | #1,443 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 24.4% | #17 of 19 | #2,466 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 43.0% | #8 of 18 | #1,375 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.
Burleigh County school rankings
Residents
100,600
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
37
8 districts
Enrollment
14,427
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$86,851
Above North Dakota avg
Free/reduced lunch
24.4%
Below North Dakota avg
Elementary
27
6,927 students
Middle
4
3,189 students
High
6
4,311 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
BISMARCK 1
14,086 students · 8 districts in Burleigh County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Burleigh 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+
39.1%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
4.7%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
2.3%
civilian labor
Median age
39
23.2% under 18
Test scores in Burleigh County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 28 schools ranked. North Dakota state average: 38.7%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- BECEP CENTER· 42.0%
- BISMARCK HIGH SCHOOL· 42.0%
- CENTENNIAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL· 42.0%
- CENTURY HIGH SCHOOL· 42.0%
- DOROTHY MOSES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL· 42.0%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- APPLE CREEK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL· 30.0%
- MENOKEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL· 40.0%
- BECEP CENTER· 42.0%
- BISMARCK HIGH SCHOOL· 42.0%
- CENTENNIAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL· 42.0%
Cities in Burleigh County
About Burleigh County
Across the middle-population North Dakota county of Burleigh County of about 100,600 residents, the public-school footprint covers 37 schools and about 14,427 students.
Looking at the broader picture, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $86,851, about 39% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and roughly 5% of residents live below the federal poverty line. That income level is 19% noticeably above the North Dakota median.
In terms of grade levels, Burleigh County is built around 27 elementary schools (6,927 students), 4 middle schools (3,189), and 6 high schools (4,311).
The largest single district in Burleigh County is BISMARCK 1, which alone enrolls about 14,086 students.
Five-year track record. Combined enrollment now sits at 14,427 students, climbed 6% from the 13,665 reported in SY 2020-21. Over that span, Burleigh County gained 3 schools, going from 31 to 34.
Within the allk12 community for this area, the community for Burleigh County discusses sports rivalries, cross-district programs, and shared facilities. Posts come from current and former families, staff, and alumni.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data