Total enrollment
9,731
+451 (+5%) vs SY 2017-18
Grand Forks County
North Dakota · Public K-12
In Grand Forks County, North Dakota, the public-school system rolls up to 30 schools and roughly 9,731 K-12 students, with county median household income around $68,075. By level, that breaks down as 19 elementary, 4 middle, and 7 high schools.
7-year change in Grand Forks County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
28
-1 (-3%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
68%
was 76%
% Hispanic
11%
was 6%
% Black
6%
was 8%
% Asian
3%
was 4%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
30
8 districts
Enrollment
9,731
NCES CCD
Median income
$68,075
Below North Dakota avg
Free/reduced lunch
31.0%
Below North Dakota avg
Elementary
19
4,960 students
Middle
4
1,695 students
High
7
3,076 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
GRAND FORKS 1
7,811 students · 8 districts in Grand Forks County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Grand Forks 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+
38.0%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
6.3%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
2.3%
civilian labor
Median age
31
21.2% under 18
Test scores in Grand Forks County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 26 schools ranked. North Dakota state average: 38.7%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- THOMPSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL· 56.0%
- MANVEL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL· 45.0%
- MIDWAY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL· 45.0%
- MIDWAY HIGH SCHOOL· 45.0%
- NORTHWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL· 43.0%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- EMERADO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL· 25.0%
- LARIMORE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL· 40.0%
- LARIMORE HIGH SCHOOL· 40.0%
- BEN FRANKLIN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL· 42.0%
- CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL· 42.0%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RED RIVER HIGH SCHOOL | Grand Forks | High | 09-12 | 1,190 | · |
| CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL | Grand Forks | High | 09-12 | 1,115 | · |
| SCHROEDER MIDDLE SCHOOL | Grand Forks | Middle | 06-08 | 569 | · |
| DISCOVERY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Grand Forks | Elementary | PK-05 | 567 | · |
| SOUTH MIDDLE SCHOOL | Grand Forks | Middle | 06-08 | 549 | · |
| VALLEY MIDDLE SCHOOL | Grand Forks | Middle | 06-08 | 508 | · |
| CENTURY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Grand Forks | Elementary | PK-05 | 493 | · |
| J NELSON KELLY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Grand Forks | Elementary | PK-05 | 482 | · |
| LAKE AGASSIZ ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Grand Forks | Elementary | PK-05 | 464 | · |
| THOMPSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Thompson | Elementary | KG-06 | 399 | · |
| BEN FRANKLIN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Grand Forks | Elementary | PK-05 | 367 | · |
| VIKING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Grand Forks | Elementary | PK-05 | 328 | · |
| THOMPSON HIGH SCHOOL | Thompson | High | 07-12 | 280 | · |
| PHOENIX ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Grand Forks | Elementary | PK-05 | 235 | · |
| NATHAN TWINING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Grand Forks Afb | Elementary | PK-05 | 228 | · |
| LARIMORE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Larimore | Elementary | PK-06 | 212 | · |
| WINSHIP ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Grand Forks | Elementary | PK-05 | 212 | · |
| LARIMORE HIGH SCHOOL | Larimore | High | 07-12 | 204 | · |
| MANVEL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Manvel | Elementary | PK-08 | 192 | · |
| WILDER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Grand Forks | Elementary | PK-05 | 184 | · |
| LEWIS AND CLARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Grand Forks | Elementary | PK-05 | 178 | · |
| NORTHWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Northwood | Elementary | KG-06 | 177 | · |
| NORTHWOOD HIGH SCHOOL | Northwood | High | 07-12 | 160 | · |
| MIDWAY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Inkster | Elementary | PK-08 | 141 | · |
| EMERADO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Emerado | Elementary | PK-08 | 101 | · |
| COMMUNITY ALTERNATIVE HIGH SCHOOL | Grand Forks | High | 09-12 | 73 | · |
| NATHAN TWINING MIDDLE SCHOOL | Grand Forks Afb | Middle | 06-08 | 69 | · |
| MIDWAY HIGH SCHOOL | Inkster | High | 09-12 | 54 | · |
| GRAND FORKS VIRTUAL HIGH SCHOOL | Grand Forks | Elementary | M-M | · | · |
| SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND | Grand Forks | Elementary | N-N | · | · |
Cities in Grand Forks County
About Grand Forks County
Grand Forks County is a middle-population county of about 72,923 residents in North Dakota. Its public-school system serves approximately 9,731 students across 30 schools.
Stepping back, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $68,075, roughly 38% 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% lower than the North Dakota median.
In terms of grade levels, Grand Forks County is built around 19 elementary schools (4,960 students), 4 middle schools (1,695), and 7 high schools (3,076).
The largest single district in Grand Forks County is GRAND FORKS 1, which alone enrolls about 7,811 students.
Over the past 7-year window. Combined enrollment now sits at 9,731 students, increased 5% from the 9,280 reported in SY 2017-18. The school count fell from 29 to 28 across the same 7-year window. On the demographic side, White enrollment moved from 76% to 68% over the same window.
On this page, the community for Grand Forks 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
Grand Forks County school rankings
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data