Total enrollment
2,416
+120 (+5%) vs SY 2020-21
Richland County
North Dakota · Public K-12
Richland County operates 16 public K-12 schools inside North Dakota, with combined enrollment of approximately 2,416 (about 151 students per school). By grade band, the county runs 8 elementary, 2 middle, and 6 high schools.
4-year change in Richland County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
15
+1 (+7%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Richland County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In North Dakota | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 2,416 | #11 of 19 | #2,046 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 15 | #10 of 19 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 11.5:1 | #9 of 18 | #397 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 33.4% | #7 of 19 | #2,315 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 36.2% | #12 of 18 | #1,615 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.
Richland County school rankings
Residents
16,584
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
16
8 districts
Enrollment
2,416
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$75,432
Above North Dakota avg
Free/reduced lunch
33.4%
Below North Dakota avg
Elementary
8
1,184 students
Middle
2
393 students
High
6
839 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
WAHPETON 37
1,221 students · 8 districts in Richland County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Richland 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+
24.9%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
6.5%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
1.7%
civilian labor
Median age
38
21.7% under 18
Test scores in Richland County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 11 schools ranked. North Dakota state average: 38.7%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- RICHLAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL· 60.0%
- RICHLAND JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL· 60.0%
- WAHPETON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL· 40.0%
- WAHPETON HIGH SCHOOL· 40.0%
- WAHPETON MIDDLE SCHOOL· 40.0%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- LIDGERWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL· 25.0%
- FAIRMOUNT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL· 30.0%
- WYNDMERE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL· 33.0%
- HANKINSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL· 35.0%
- HANKINSON HIGH SCHOOL· 35.0%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WAHPETON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Wahpeton | Elementary | 01-05 | 469 | · |
| WAHPETON HIGH SCHOOL | Wahpeton | High | 09-12 | 364 | · |
| WAHPETON MIDDLE SCHOOL | Wahpeton | Middle | 06-08 | 272 | · |
| RICHLAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Abercrombie | Elementary | PK-06 | 184 | · |
| HANKINSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Hankinson | Elementary | PK-06 | 136 | · |
| RICHLAND JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | Colfax | High | 07-12 | 126 | · |
| WYNDMERE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Wyndmere | Elementary | KG-06 | 125 | · |
| Circle of Nations | Wahpeton | Middle | 04-08 | 121 | · |
| WYNDMERE HIGH SCHOOL | Wyndmere | High | 07-12 | 120 | · |
| ZIMMERMAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Wahpeton | Elementary | PK-KG | 116 | · |
| HANKINSON HIGH SCHOOL | Hankinson | High | 07-12 | 108 | · |
| LIDGERWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Lidgerwood | Elementary | PK-06 | 100 | · |
| LIDGERWOOD HIGH SCHOOL | Lidgerwood | High | 07-12 | 76 | · |
| FAIRMOUNT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Fairmount | Elementary | PK-06 | 54 | · |
| FAIRMOUNT HIGH SCHOOL | Fairmount | High | 07-12 | 45 | · |
| SQUAW GAP SCHOOL | Sidney | Elementary | KG-08 | 0 | · |
Cities in Richland County
About Richland County
Richland County is a compact North Dakota county of about 16,584 residents, home to 16 public schools and roughly 2,416 students.
Zooming out, census numbers show median household income runs near $75,432, about 25% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and the poverty rate is around 7%.
On the school-mix side, Richland County is built around 8 elementary schools (1,184 students), 2 middle schools (393), and 6 high schools (839).
WAHPETON 37 dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 1,221 students on its own.
Five-year track record. Total public-school enrollment in Richland County has increased 5% since SY 2020-21, moving from about 2,296 students to 2,416. Over that span, Richland County opened 1 school, going from 14 to 15.
On allk12, the community for Richland County discusses open enrollment windows, redistricting talk, and busing logistics. Parents, students, and educators in the area can post or comment.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data