Education

North Dakota’s State Highlights

January 03, 2006 2 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print
Vital Statistics
Public schools 517
Public school teachers 8,037
Pre-K-12 students 102,233
Annual pre-K-12 expenditures $0.7 billion
Minority students 12.0%
Children in poverty 16%
Students with disabilities 13.5%
English-language learners 1.6%

Summary of Grades

North Dakota scores below the average state in all four of the graded policy categories in Quality Counts.

In standards and accountability, North Dakota could improve its below-average score in the area of assessments. The state’s social studies and science tests are not aligned to its standards at any grade span. The state also loses points because its social studies standards are not rated clear and specific at any grade span by the American Federation of Teachers.

North Dakota also earns a low grade in teacher quality. The state lags behind in policies related to teacher assessment. For example, North Dakota is one of only eight states that do not require prospective high school teachers to pass subject-knowledge tests to earn initial licenses. However, the state will require such tests next school year.

In the area of school climate, the state earns high marks for parent involvement and also fares well on indicators of class size and school size. But North Dakota lacks a charter school law and policies related to the upkeep of school facilities, which pulls down its grade in this category.

In resource equity, North Dakota ranks among the lowest scoring states in the nation. The state’s score on the coefficient-of-variation measure is especially poor. This indicates a high degree of disparity in per-pupil funding across school districts in the state.

State Policy Report Card
North DakotaAvg. State Score
Standards and accountability C- B-
Efforts to improve teacher quality D+ C+
School climate C C+
Resource equity D- C
Overall Grade D+ C+
Quality Counts Grading Breakdown
Standards and accountability Points awardedPoints possible
Standards 31.67 40
Assessment 19.77 30
School accountability 21 30
72 100
Efforts to improve teacher quality Points awardedPoints possible
Teacher education and qualifications 25.46 35
Teacher assessment 17.7 30
Professional support and training 15 20
Accountability for teacher quality 10.5 15
69 100
School climate Points awardedPoints possible
Engagement 11.33 15
School safety 14.67 20
Parent involvement 13.5 15
Choice and autonomy 12.5 20
Class size 8.33 10
School size 9.17 10
School facilities 5 10
75 100
Resource equity Points awardedPoints possible
Wealth-neutrality score 24 33.3
McLoone Index 21.67 33.3
Coefficient of variation 16.67 33.3
62 100

Note: Details may not sum to totals due to rounding.

Grading Curve A (93-100), A- (90-92), B+ (87-89), B (83-86), B- (80-82), C+ (77-79), C (73-76), C- (70-72), D+ (67-69), D (63-66), D- (60-62), F (0-59)

Events

This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Assessment Webinar
Rethinking STEM Assessment: Strategies for Administrators
School and district leaders will explore strategies to enhance STEM assessment practices across their district, within schools and classrooms.
Content provided by Project Lead The Way
Federal Webinar Keeping Up with the Trump Administration's Latest K-12 Moves: Subscriber-Exclusive Quick Hit
EdWeek subscribers, join this 30-minute webinar to find out what the latest federal policy changes mean for K-12 education.
Artificial Intelligence Live Online Discussion A Seat at the Table: Math & Technology: Finding the Recipe for Student Success
How should we balance AI & math instruction? Join our discussion on preparing future-ready students.

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
View Jobs
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
View Jobs
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
View Jobs
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.
View Jobs

Read Next

Education Briefly Stated: June 11, 2025
Here's a look at some recent Education Week articles you may have missed.
5 min read
Education Quiz What Is the #1 Factor Boosting Students' STEM Motivation? Take This Weekly Quiz
Test your knowledge on the latest news and trends in education.
1 min read
Education Briefly Stated: June 4, 2025
Here's a look at some recent Education Week articles you may have missed.
8 min read
Education Quiz Why Did A Court Dismiss the Lawsuit Against Lucy Calkins? Take This Weekly Quiz
Test your knowledge on the latest news and trends in education.
1 min read