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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.

7-year change in Richland County

SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25
Total enrollment
2,416
+169 (+8%) vs SY 2017-18
School count
15
+1 (+7%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
79%
was 85%
% Hispanic
6%
was 7%
% Black
1%
was 1%
% Asian
1%
was 1%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
16
8 districts
Enrollment
2,416
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
White
90%
Hispanic
4%
Black
1%
Asian
1%
Two or more
5%
Native American
2%
Pacific Islander
0%
School enrollment
White
79%
Hispanic
6%
Black
1%
Asian
1%
Two or more
3%
Native American
10%
Pacific Islander
0%
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%.

See all 11 schools in Richland County ranked by score →

All schools (16)

LargestA-ZTop rated
NameCityLevelGradesEnrollmentRating
WAHPETON ELEMENTARY SCHOOLWahpetonElementary01-05469·
WAHPETON HIGH SCHOOLWahpetonHigh09-12364·
WAHPETON MIDDLE SCHOOLWahpetonMiddle06-08272·
RICHLAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOLAbercrombieElementaryPK-06184·
HANKINSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOLHankinsonElementaryPK-06136·
RICHLAND JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOLColfaxHigh07-12126·
WYNDMERE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLWyndmereElementaryKG-06125·
Circle of NationsWahpetonMiddle04-08121·
WYNDMERE HIGH SCHOOLWyndmereHigh07-12120·
ZIMMERMAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLWahpetonElementaryPK-KG116·
HANKINSON HIGH SCHOOLHankinsonHigh07-12108·
LIDGERWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOLLidgerwoodElementaryPK-06100·
LIDGERWOOD HIGH SCHOOLLidgerwoodHigh07-1276·
FAIRMOUNT ELEMENTARY SCHOOLFairmountElementaryPK-0654·
FAIRMOUNT HIGH SCHOOLFairmountHigh07-1245·
SQUAW GAP SCHOOLSidneyElementaryKG-080·

Cities in Richland County

Wahpeton5 schoolsFairmount2 schoolsHankinson2 schoolsLidgerwood2 schoolsWyndmere2 schoolsAbercrombie1 schoolColfax1 schoolSidney1 school

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 8% since SY 2017-18, moving from about 2,247 students to 2,416. Over that span, Richland County opened 1 school, going from 14 to 15. The White share of public-school enrollment fell from 85% to 79%.

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

How many K-12 schools serve Richland County?
There are 16 public K-12 schools in Richland County, North Dakota, with a combined enrollment of about 2,416.
How many high schools are in Richland County?
Richland County, North Dakota has 6 public high schools, serving approximately 839 students.
How many middle schools are in Richland County?
Richland County, North Dakota has 2 public middle schools, serving approximately 393 students.
How many elementary schools are in Richland County?
Richland County, North Dakota has 8 public elementary schools, serving approximately 1,184 students.
What is the largest school district in Richland County?
WAHPETON 37 is the largest school district in Richland County, serving approximately 1,221 students. The county contains 8 school districts overall.
What is the population of Richland County?
Richland County, North Dakota has a population of approximately 16,584, with a median age of 38. About 21.7% of residents are under 18.
What is the median household income in Richland County?
Median household income in Richland County is $75,432, above the North Dakota average of $73,179. About 6.5% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
How educated are residents of Richland County?
Approximately 24.9% of adults 25 and older in Richland County hold a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What share of students in Richland County qualify for free or reduced lunch?
Roughly 33.4% of students in Richland County public schools qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a common proxy for low-income enrollment. This is lower than the North Dakota county average of 33.7%.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Richland County schools?
Across Richland County public schools, the enrollment-weighted student-teacher ratio is approximately 12.6 to 1.

Richland County school rankings

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