Total enrollment
5,204
+419 (+9%) vs SY 2020-21
Stark County
North Dakota · Public K-12
Stark County in North Dakota is home to 21 public K-12 schools, serving roughly 5,206 students between them, broken out as 12 elementary, 2 middle, and 7 high. Dickinson 1 is the largest district by enrollment.
4-year change in Stark County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
19
+2 (+12%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Stark County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In North Dakota | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 5,206 | #7 of 19 | #1,296 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 21 | #6 of 19 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 11.4:1 | #8 of 18 | #382 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 29.3% | #14 of 19 | #2,407 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 38.2% | #11 of 18 | #1,544 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.
Stark County school rankings
Residents
33,302
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
21
4 districts
Enrollment
5,206
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$84,449
Above North Dakota avg
Free/reduced lunch
29.3%
Below North Dakota avg
Elementary
12
2,656 students
Middle
2
1,000 students
High
7
1,550 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
DICKINSON 1
4,177 students · 4 districts in Stark County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Stark 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+
30.0%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
7.7%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
3.0%
civilian labor
Median age
35
27.6% under 18
Test scores in Stark County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 13 schools ranked. North Dakota state average: 38.7%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- BELFIELD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL· 43.0%
- EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAM· 40.0%
- HEART RIVER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL· 40.0%
- JEFFERSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL· 40.0%
- LINCOLN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL· 40.0%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- SOUTH HEART ELEMENTARY SCHOOL· 34.0%
- SOUTH HEART HIGH SCHOOL· 34.0%
- EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAM· 40.0%
- HEART RIVER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL· 40.0%
- JEFFERSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL· 40.0%
Cities in Stark County
About Stark County
Stark County is a thinly populated North Dakota county of about 33,302 residents, home to 21 public schools and roughly 5,206 students.
Zooming out, census numbers show the median household earns about $84,449 a year, roughly 30% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and roughly 8% of residents live below the federal poverty line. That income level is 15% above the North Dakota median.
On the level-by-level breakdown, Stark County comprises 12 elementary schools (2,656 students), 2 middle schools (1,000), and 7 high schools (1,550).
DICKINSON 1 dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 4,177 students on its own.
Five-year track record. Across the same 4-year window, public-school enrollment climbed 9%: 4,785 students in SY 2020-21 versus 5,204 in SY 2024-25. The school count climbed from 17 to 19 across the same 4-year window.
On allk12, the community for Stark County discusses enrollment trends, district policy changes, and bus-route updates. Parents, students, and educators in the area can post or comment.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data