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 5%)
Diversity
Most diverse schools (Top 1%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2026 school year, there are 4 public middle schools serving 3,189 students in Bismarck 1 School District. This district's average middle testing ranking is 5/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public middle schools in North Dakota.
Public Middle Schools in Bismarck 1 School District have an average math proficiency score of 41% (versus the North Dakota public middle school average of 37%), and reading proficiency score of 44% (versus the 45% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 25% of the student body (majority American Indian and Hispanic), which is less than the North Dakota public middle school average of 30% (majority American Indian).
Overview
This School District
This State (ND)
# Schools
29 Schools
209 Schools
# Students
14,086 Students
39,317 Students
# Teachers
970 Teachers
3,701 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
15:1
15:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Bismarck 1 School District, which is ranked within the top 50% of all 163 school districts in North Dakota (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 88% has decreased from 89% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#77 out of 167 school districts
(Top 50%)
(Top 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
44%
39%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
45%
44%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
46%
44%
Graduation Rate
88%
85%
Chronically Absent Students
(2022-23)15.5%
20.9%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.43
0.49
% American Indian
7%
14%
% Asian
2%
1%
% Hispanic
5%
7%
% Black
3%
4%
% White
75%
70%
% Hawaiian
1%
n/a
% Two or more races
7%
4%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $15,475 in this school district is less than the state median of $17,517. The school district revenue/student has grown by 7% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $15,291 is less than the state median of $17,519. 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
$15,475
$17,517
Spending / Student
$15,291
$17,519
Best Bismarck 1 School District Public Middle Schools (2026)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Horizon Middle School
(Math: 44% | Reading: 53%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
500 Ash Coulee Dr
Bismarck, ND 58503
(701) 323-4550
Bismarck, ND 58503
(701) 323-4550
Gr: 6-8 | 1,124 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 21%
Rank: #22.
Wachter Middle School
(Math: 40% | Reading: 39%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
1107 S 7th St
Bismarck, ND 58504
(701) 323-4650
Bismarck, ND 58504
(701) 323-4650
Gr: 6-8 | 1,012 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 32%
Rank: #33.
Simle Middle School
(Math: 38% | Reading: 40%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
1218 Simle Dr
Bismarck, ND 58501
(701) 323-4600
Bismarck, ND 58501
(701) 323-4600
Gr: 6-8 | 1,053 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 23%
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