Total enrollment
10,522
+317 (+3%) vs SY 2020-21
Ward County
North Dakota · Public K-12
Ward County, North Dakota's 40 public schools span elementary through high school (22 elementary, 5 middle, and 12 high). Total enrollment is roughly 11,732 students.
4-year change in Ward County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
36
+4 (+13%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Ward County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In North Dakota | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 11,732 | #3 of 19 | #722 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 39 | #2 of 19 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 13.3:1 | #14 of 18 | #1,058 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 31.1% | #11 of 19 | #2,376 of 2,526 |
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.
Ward County school rankings
Residents
68,973
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
40
8 districts
Enrollment
11,732
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$78,238
Above North Dakota avg
Free/reduced lunch
31.1%
Below North Dakota avg
Elementary
22
5,550 students
Middle
5
1,729 students
High
12
3,405 students
Combined / other
1
1,048 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
MINOT 1
8,878 students · 8 districts in Ward County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Ward 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+
29.6%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
5.6%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
3.6%
civilian labor
Median age
34
24.1% under 18
Test scores in Ward County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 25 schools ranked. North Dakota state average: 38.7%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- SAWYER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL· 35.0%
- NEDROSE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL· 36.0%
- SURREY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL· 37.0%
- BEL AIR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL· 39.0%
- CENTRAL MIDDLE SCHOOL· 39.0%
Cities in Ward County
About Ward County
In North Dakota, Ward County is a moderately sized county of about 68,973 residents. 40 public schools across the county enrolls about 11,732 students between them.
In context, census numbers show the median household earns about $78,238 a year, about 30% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and roughly 6% of residents live below the federal poverty line. That income level is 7% above the North Dakota median.
For a sense of the school types, Ward County spans 22 elementary schools (5,550 students), 5 middle schools (1,729), 12 high schools (3,405), and 1 combined or other schools.
The largest single district in Ward County is MINOT 1, which alone enrolls about 8,878 students.
Looking at the last 4 years. Combined enrollment now sits at 10,522 students, grew 3% from the 10,205 reported in SY 2020-21. Ward County now counts 36 public schools, up from 32 in SY 2020-21.
Within the allk12 community for this area, the community for Ward County discusses comparison threads between local schools and program reviews. Posts come from current and former families, staff, and alumni.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data