Total enrollment
1,911
+1,002 (+110%) vs SY 2020-21
Walsh County
North Dakota · Public K-12
Walsh County runs 11 public K-12 schools inside North Dakota, with the county population around 10,396. The mix is 5 elementary, 1 middle, and 5 high.
4-year change in Walsh County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
11
+3 (+38%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Walsh County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In North Dakota | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 1,911 | #13 of 19 | #2,256 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 11 | #14 of 19 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 8.9:1 | #1 of 18 | #24 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 40.9% | #5 of 19 | #2,062 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 46.8% | #7 of 18 | #1,234 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.
Walsh County school rankings
Residents
10,396
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
11
5 districts
Enrollment
1,911
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$71,944
Below North Dakota avg
Free/reduced lunch
40.9%
Above North Dakota avg
Elementary
5
1,128 students
Middle
1
137 students
High
5
646 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
GRAFTON 18
953 students · 5 districts in Walsh County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Walsh 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+
19.2%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
7.3%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
2.0%
civilian labor
Median age
43
23.4% under 18
Test scores in Walsh County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 8 schools ranked. North Dakota state average: 38.7%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- VALLEY-EDINBURG ELEMENTARY SCHOOL-HOOPLE· 50.0%
- VALLEY-EDINBURG HIGH SCHOOL· 50.0%
- MINTO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL· 35.0%
- CENTURY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL· 33.0%
- GRAFTON HIGH SCHOOL· 33.0%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- PARK RIVER AREA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL· 30.0%
- PARK RIVER AREA HIGH SCHOOL· 30.0%
- CENTURY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL· 33.0%
- GRAFTON HIGH SCHOOL· 33.0%
- GRAFTON JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL· 33.0%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CENTURY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Grafton | Elementary | PK-06 | 532 | · |
| GRAFTON HIGH SCHOOL | Grafton | High | 09-12 | 284 | · |
| PARK RIVER AREA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Park River | Elementary | PK-06 | 275 | · |
| MINTO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Minto | Elementary | PK-08 | 220 | · |
| PARK RIVER AREA HIGH SCHOOL | Park River | High | 07-12 | 195 | · |
| GRAFTON JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL | Grafton | Middle | 07-08 | 137 | · |
| VALLEY-EDINBURG HIGH SCHOOL | Edinburg | High | 07-12 | 77 | · |
| MINTO HIGH SCHOOL | Minto | High | 09-12 | 76 | · |
| VALLEY-EDINBURG ELEMENTARY SCHOOL-HOOPLE | Hoople | Elementary | PK-02 | 65 | · |
| FORDVILLE-LANKIN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Fordville | Elementary | PK-08 | 36 | · |
| FORDVILLE-LANKIN HIGH SCHOOL | Fordville | High | 09-12 | 14 | · |
Cities in Walsh County
About Walsh County
Walsh County is a rural-scale North Dakota county of about 10,396 residents, home to 11 public schools and roughly 1,911 students.
Looking at the wider area, census numbers show the median household earns about $71,944 a year, about 19% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and the poverty rate is around 7%.
Looking at the level breakdown, Walsh County is built around 5 elementary schools (1,128 students), 1 middle school (137), and 5 high schools (646).
GRAFTON 18 is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 953 students across Walsh County.
Five-year track record. Combined enrollment now sits at 1,911 students, rose 110% from the 909 reported in SY 2020-21. The school count climbed from 8 to 11 across the same 4-year window.
On this page, the community for Walsh County discusses school events, board meetings, and seasonal calendars. Anyone with firsthand knowledge of these schools is welcome to weigh in.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data