Top Rankings
Bismarck 1 School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in North Dakota for:
Category
Attribute
Graduation Rate
Highest graduation rate (Top 20%)
Diversity
Most diverse schools (Top 1%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2025 school year, there are 4 public middle schools serving 3,113 students in Bismarck 1 School District. This district's average middle testing ranking is 6/10, which is in the top 50% of public middle schools in North Dakota.
Public Middle Schools in Bismarck 1 School District have an average math proficiency score of 38% (versus the North Dakota public middle school average of 36%), and reading proficiency score of 44% (versus the 44% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 23% of the student body (majority American Indian and Hispanic), which is less than the North Dakota public middle school average of 29% (majority American Indian).
Overview
This School District
This State (ND)
# Schools
29 Schools
208 Schools
# Students
14,106 Students
39,176 Students
# Teachers
932 Teachers
3,481 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
15:1
15:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Bismarck 1 School District, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 167 school districts in North Dakota (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2021-2022 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 86% has decreased from 88% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#83 out of 169 school districts
(Top 50%)
(Top 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
43%
39%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
45%
44%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
46%
44%
Graduation Rate
86%
85%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.41
0.48
% American Indian
7%
14%
% Asian
1%
1%
% Hispanic
5%
6%
% Black
3%
4%
% White
76%
71%
% Hawaiian
1%
n/a
% Two or more races
7%
4%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $15,453 in this school district is less than the state median of $17,615. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $15,269 is less than the state median of $17,617. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Total Revenue
$218 MM
$2,154 MM
Spending
$215 MM
$2,154 MM
Revenue / Student
$15,453
$17,615
Spending / Student
$15,269
$17,617
Best Bismarck 1 School District Public Middle Schools (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Horizon Middle School
(Math: 44% | Reading: 53%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
500 Ash Coulee Dr
Bismarck, ND 58503
(701) 323-4550
Bismarck, ND 58503
(701) 323-4550
Grades: 6-8
| 1,059 students
Rank: #22.
Simle Middle School
(Math: 36% | Reading: 40%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
1218 Simle Dr
Bismarck, ND 58501
(701) 323-4600
Bismarck, ND 58501
(701) 323-4600
Grades: 6-8
| 1,047 students
Rank: #33.
Wachter Middle School
(Math: 34% | Reading: 39%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
1107 S 7th St
Bismarck, ND 58504
(701) 323-4650
Bismarck, ND 58504
(701) 323-4650
Grades: 6-8
| 1,007 students
Rank: n/an/a
128 Soo Line Dr
Bismarck, ND 58501
(701) 323-4101
Bismarck, ND 58501
(701) 323-4101
Grades: 6-8
| n/a students
Recent Articles
Texas Schools: The Voucher/School Choice Debate
The issue of school choice and a voucher system is currently being revisited in Houston and across the state of Texas, with strong opinions on both sides of the debate.
Fuel Up to Play 60 Focuses on Integrating Fitness and Wellness into the School Day
What if NFL players came to your school? With the Fuel Up to Play 60 program, sponsored by the National Dairy Council and the NFL, nutrition and exercise are promoted during the school day. NFL players participate in the program by coming to schools and talking to students about fitness. Learn more about the program and some of the schools that are implementing it.
What Parents Need to Know About Lunch Shaming
Students all over the nation go hungry every day not because their schools don’t offer lunch, but because they refuse them to children with outstanding debts. Read on to learn about the horror that is lunch shaming and what can be done about it.
