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McKenzie County

North Dakota · Public K-12

Across 13 public schools, McKenzie County, North Dakota serves roughly 3,091 K-12 students, roughly 1 in 5 residents. That works out to 6 elementary, 1 middle, and 5 high schools.

7-year change in McKenzie County

SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25
Total enrollment
3,091
+1,195 (+63%) vs SY 2017-18
School count
13
+6 (+86%) vs SY 2017-18
% Hispanic
22%
was 12%
% Black
2%
was 3%
% Asian
1%
was 1%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
13
5 districts
Enrollment
3,091
NCES CCD
Median income
$93,404
Above North Dakota avg
Free/reduced lunch
41.6%
Above North Dakota avg
Elementary
6
1,552 students
Middle
1
509 students
High
5
811 students
Combined / other
1
219 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
MCKENZIE CO 1
2,349 students · 5 districts in McKenzie County

County vs. school enrollment demographics

Left bar is the racial makeup of McKenzie 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
78%
Hispanic
12%
Black
2%
Asian
1%
Two or more
9%
Native American
8%
Pacific Islander
0%
School enrollment
White
56%
Hispanic
22%
Black
2%
Asian
1%
Two or more
2%
Native American
16%
Pacific Islander
1%
Bachelor's+
19.1%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
8.4%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
1.3%
civilian labor
Median age
32
31.1% under 18

Test scores in McKenzie County

Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 10 schools ranked. North Dakota state average: 38.7%.

See all 10 schools in McKenzie County ranked by score →

All schools (13)

LargestA-ZTop rated
NameCityLevelGradesEnrollmentRating
FOX HILLS ELEMENTARY SCHOOLWatford CityElementaryKG-05663·
WATFORD CITY HIGH SCHOOLWatford CityHigh09-12566·
BADLANDS ELEMENTARY SCHOOLWatford CityElementaryKG-05538·
WATFORD CITY MIDDLE SCHOOLWatford CityMiddle06-08509·
Mandaree Day SchoolMandareeCombinedKG-12219·
ALEXANDER ELEMENTARY SCHOOLAlexanderElementaryPK-06195·
MANDAREE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLMandareeElementaryKG-08136·
ALEXANDER HIGH SCHOOLAlexanderHigh07-12114·
MANDAREE HIGH SCHOOLMandareeHigh09-1267·
WATFORD CITY VIRTUAL ACADEMY HIGH SCHOOLWatford CityHigh07-1234·
WOLVES CENTER ACADEMYWatford CityHigh09-1230·
HORSE CREEK SCHOOLCartwrightElementaryKG-0811·
WATFORD CITY VIRTUAL ACADEMY ELEMENTARY SCHOOLWatford CityElementaryKG-069·

Cities in McKenzie County

Watford City7 schoolsMandaree3 schoolsAlexander2 schoolsCartwright1 school

About McKenzie County

McKenzie County is a low-population North Dakota county of about 14,321 residents, home to 13 public schools and roughly 3,091 students.

Looking at the wider area, census numbers show the median household earns about $93,404 a year, 19% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and roughly 8% of residents live below the federal poverty line. That income level is 28% higher than the North Dakota median.

For a sense of the school types, McKenzie County is made up of 6 elementary schools (1,552 students), 1 middle school (509), 5 high schools (811), and 1 combined or other schools.

The largest single district in McKenzie County is MCKENZIE CO 1, which alone enrolls about 2,349 students.

Looking at the last 7 years. Combined enrollment now sits at 3,091 students, expanded 63% from the 1,896 reported in SY 2017-18. The school count climbed from 7 to 13 across the same 7-year window. The Hispanic share of public-school enrollment grew from 12% to 22%.

In the discussion threads here, the community for McKenzie County discusses open enrollment windows, redistricting talk, and busing logistics. Parents, students, and educators in the area can post or comment.

Frequently asked questions

How many K-12 schools serve McKenzie County?
There are 13 public K-12 schools in McKenzie County, North Dakota, with a combined enrollment of about 3,091.
How many high schools are in McKenzie County?
McKenzie County, North Dakota has 5 public high schools, serving approximately 811 students.
How many middle schools are in McKenzie County?
McKenzie County, North Dakota has 1 public middle school, serving approximately 509 students.
How many elementary schools are in McKenzie County?
McKenzie County, North Dakota has 6 public elementary schools, serving approximately 1,552 students.
What is the largest school district in McKenzie County?
MCKENZIE CO 1 is the largest school district in McKenzie County, serving approximately 2,349 students. The county contains 5 school districts overall.
How many people live in McKenzie County?
McKenzie County has roughly 14,321 residents according to the latest Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What is the median household income in McKenzie County?
Median household income in McKenzie County is $93,404, above the North Dakota average of $73,179. About 8.4% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
How educated are residents of McKenzie County?
Approximately 19.1% of adults 25 and older in McKenzie County hold a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What share of students in McKenzie County qualify for free or reduced lunch?
Roughly 41.6% of students in McKenzie County public schools qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a common proxy for low-income enrollment. This is higher than the North Dakota county average of 33.7%.
What is the student-teacher ratio in McKenzie County schools?
Across McKenzie County public schools, the enrollment-weighted student-teacher ratio is approximately 13.6 to 1.

McKenzie County school rankings

Largest schoolsAll rankings →
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data