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Steele County

North Dakota · Public K-12

Steele County, North Dakota's 3 public schools span elementary through high school (1 elementary and 2 high). Total enrollment is roughly 166 students.

7-year change in Steele County

SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25
Total enrollment
166
+22 (+15%) vs SY 2017-18
School count
3
0 (0%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
90%
was 94%
% Black
1%
was 1%
% Asian
0%
was 1%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
3
2 districts
Enrollment
166
NCES CCD
Median income
$77,500
Above North Dakota avg
Free/reduced lunch
35.5%
Above North Dakota avg
Elementary
1
66 students
Middle
0
schools
High
2
100 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
FINLEY-SHARON 19
101 students · 2 districts in Steele County

County vs. school enrollment demographics

Left bar is the racial makeup of Steele 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
95%
Hispanic
2%
Black
0%
Asian
0%
Two or more
4%
Native American
1%
Pacific Islander
0%
School enrollment
White
90%
Hispanic
3%
Black
1%
Asian
0%
Two or more
4%
Native American
2%
Pacific Islander
0%
Bachelor's+
28.9%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
12.7%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
3.3%
civilian labor
Median age
47
21.8% under 18

Test scores in Steele County

Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 2 schools ranked. North Dakota state average: 38.7%.

Top 2 schools (ELA)
  1. FINLEY-SHARON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL· 45.0%
  2. HOPE PAGE HIGH SCHOOL· 40.0%

See all 2 schools in Steele County ranked by score →

All schools (3)

LargestA-ZTop rated
NameCityLevelGradesEnrollmentRating
FINLEY-SHARON ELEMENTARY SCHOOLFinleyElementaryPK-0666·
HOPE PAGE HIGH SCHOOLHopeHigh07-1265·
FINLEY-SHARON HIGH SCHOOLFinleyHigh07-1235·

Cities in Steele County

Finley2 schoolsHope1 school

About Steele County

In North Dakota, Steele County is a low-population county of about 1,804 residents. 3 public schools across the county hosts about 166 students between them.

Looking at the broader picture, census numbers show the median household earns about $77,500 a year, 29% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and roughly 13% of residents live below the federal poverty line. That income level is 6% meaningfully above the North Dakota median.

Looking at the level breakdown, Steele County spans 1 elementary school (66 students), and 2 high schools (100).

The largest single district in Steele County is FINLEY-SHARON 19, which alone enrolls about 101 students.

Over the past 7-year window. Total public-school enrollment in Steele County has grew 15% since SY 2017-18, moving from about 144 students to 166. The White share of public-school enrollment shrank from 94% to 90%.

In the discussion threads here, the community for Steele County discusses comparison threads between local schools and program reviews. Anyone with firsthand knowledge of these schools is welcome to weigh in.

Frequently asked questions

How many public schools are in Steele County?
Steele County, North Dakota has 3 public K-12 schools serving approximately 166 students.
How many high schools are in Steele County?
Steele County, North Dakota has 2 public high schools, serving approximately 100 students.
How many elementary schools are in Steele County?
Steele County, North Dakota has 1 public elementary school, serving approximately 66 students.
What is the largest school district in Steele County?
FINLEY-SHARON 19 is the largest school district in Steele County, serving approximately 101 students. The county contains 2 school districts overall.
What is the population of Steele County?
Steele County, North Dakota has a population of approximately 1,804, with a median age of 47. About 21.8% of residents are under 18.
What is the median household income in Steele County?
Median household income in Steele County is $77,500, above the North Dakota average of $73,179. About 12.7% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
How educated are residents of Steele County?
Approximately 28.9% of adults 25 and older in Steele County hold a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What share of students in Steele County qualify for free or reduced lunch?
Roughly 35.5% of students in Steele 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 Steele County schools?
Across Steele County public schools, the enrollment-weighted student-teacher ratio is approximately 7.1 to 1.
What is the racial makeup of Steele County?
Steele County residents are approximately 95% White, 2% Hispanic, 0% Black, 4% two or more races according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data