Total enrollment
6,885
+5,522 (+405%) vs SY 2020-21
Williams County
North Dakota · Public K-12
Williams County's public-school footprint spans 23 K-12 schools with combined enrollment of about 6,885, the largest district being Williston Basin 7. By level, that breaks down as 12 elementary, 1 middle, and 6 high schools.
4-year change in Williams County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
19
+11 (+138%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Williams County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In North Dakota | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 6,885 | #5 of 19 | #1,071 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 19 | #7 of 19 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 14.1:1 | #17 of 18 | #1,438 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 29.0% | #15 of 19 | #2,416 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 54.8% | #3 of 18 | #850 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.
Williams County school rankings
Residents
39,555
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
23
5 districts
Enrollment
6,885
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$85,595
Above North Dakota avg
Free/reduced lunch
28.9%
Below North Dakota avg
Elementary
12
3,415 students
Middle
1
1,536 students
High
6
1,934 students
Combined / other
4
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
WILLISTON BASIN 7
5,413 students · 5 districts in Williams County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Williams 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+
24.4%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
5.1%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
4.4%
civilian labor
Median age
32
30.2% under 18
Test scores in Williams County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 15 schools ranked. North Dakota state average: 38.7%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- GRENORA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL· 40.0%
- GRENORA HIGH SCHOOL· 40.0%
- EIGHT MILE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL· 38.0%
- RAY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL· 36.0%
- RAY HIGH SCHOOL· 36.0%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
Cities in Williams County
About Williams County
Williams County is a small county of about 39,555 residents in North Dakota. Its public-school system educates approximately 6,885 students across 23 schools.
Looking at the wider area, census numbers show median household income runs near $85,595, 24% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the federal-poverty share is near 5%. That income level is 17% above the North Dakota median.
For a sense of the school types, Williams County covers 12 elementary schools (3,415 students), 1 middle school (1,536), 6 high schools (1,934), and 4 combined or other schools.
The largest single district in Williams County is WILLISTON BASIN 7, which alone enrolls about 5,413 students.
Five-year track record. Combined enrollment now sits at 6,885 students, increased 405% from the 1,363 reported in SY 2020-21. Over that span, Williams County added 11 schools, going from 8 to 19.
Within the allk12 community for this area, the community for Williams County discusses enrollment trends, district policy changes, and bus-route updates. Posts come from current and former families, staff, and alumni.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data