Total enrollment
493
+42 (+9%) vs SY 2017-18
Nelson County
North Dakota · Public K-12
Nelson County in North Dakota has 4 public K-12 schools in service today, collectively responsible for roughly 493 students with Dakota Prairie 1 the largest district. That works out to 2 elementary and 2 high schools.
7-year change in Nelson County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
4
0 (0%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
87%
was 90%
% Hispanic
4%
was 4%
% Black
1%
was 1%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Residents
3,016
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
4
2 districts
Enrollment
493
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$67,193
Below North Dakota avg
Free/reduced lunch
24.9%
Below North Dakota avg
Elementary
2
287 students
Middle
0
schools
High
2
206 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
DAKOTA PRAIRIE 1
288 students · 2 districts in Nelson County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Nelson 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+
29.4%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
3.7%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
1.1%
civilian labor
Median age
50
20.7% under 18
Test scores in Nelson County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 4 schools ranked. North Dakota state average: 38.7%.
Top 4 schools (ELA)
- DAKOTA PRAIRIE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL· 50.0%
- DAKOTA PRAIRIE HIGH SCHOOL· 50.0%
- LAKOTA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL· 30.0%
- LAKOTA HIGH SCHOOL· 30.0%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DAKOTA PRAIRIE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Mcville | Elementary | PK-06 | 158 | · |
| DAKOTA PRAIRIE HIGH SCHOOL | Petersburg | High | 07-12 | 130 | · |
| LAKOTA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Lakota | Elementary | PK-06 | 129 | · |
| LAKOTA HIGH SCHOOL | Lakota | High | 07-12 | 76 | · |
Cities in Nelson County
About Nelson County
In North Dakota, Nelson County is a compact county of about 3,016 residents. 4 public schools across the county serves about 493 students between them.
For perspective, census numbers show the median household earns about $67,193 a year, about 29% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and roughly 4% of residents live below the federal poverty line. That income level is 8% lower than the North Dakota median.
For a sense of the school types, Nelson County is built around 2 elementary schools (287 students), and 2 high schools (206).
The largest single district in Nelson County is DAKOTA PRAIRIE 1, which alone enrolls about 288 students.
Over the past 7-year window. Total public-school enrollment in Nelson County has expanded 9% since SY 2017-18, moving from about 451 students to 493. Demographically, the White share of enrollment shrank from 90% to 87%.
On this page, the community for Nelson 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