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#297 of 451 schools in ND

Bismarck High School

High School · Bismarck 1 · Bismarck, ND

A Bismarck 1 high school where students score 4 points below what's typical for similar communities.

800 N 8th St, Bismarck, ND 58501

  • Math 30% proficient (2022)
  • Reading 51% proficient (2022)
  • 91.0% 4-year graduation

Academics

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress7.5Very Good25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-2.78 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2022
TrendDeclining
Academics6.1Average25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency30% (2022 EdFacts)
Reading/ELA Proficiency51% (2022 EdFacts)
Overall Proficiency41% (2022 EdFacts, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)44% (model expectation from 2022 EdFacts)
vs. Expected-3.5 pts
Adjusted Percentile44th
College Readiness4.8Below Average30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
4-Year Graduation Rate91%
AP Participation14.8%
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment2.9Needs Improvement20%
Student-teacher ratio, district spending per student, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio16.1:1
District spending per student$14,570
Chronic Absenteeism25.7%

Students at Bismarck High School score 40% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 44%).

How we calculate scores →

2022 EdFacts proficiency

Most recent published year. School vs. ND average.

Math Proficiency30%(2022 EdFacts)
School
State
Not reported(2022 EdFacts)
ELA Proficiency51%(2022 EdFacts)
School
State
Not reported(2022 EdFacts)

Trend

↑ Recovering

Proficiency declined earlier in the 14-year record (2009–2022), then recovered 9 points since 2019, reaching 41% in 2022.

Show all 14 years
2009
Math
53%
ELA
62%
2010
Math
57%
ELA
66%
2011
Math
60%
ELA
68%
2012
Math
56%
ELA
62%
2013
Math
63%
ELA
72%
2014
Math
35%
ELA
55%
2015
Math
47%
ELA
52%
2016
Math
31%
ELA
57%
2017
Math
31%
ELA
36%
2018
Math
26%
ELA
37%
2019
Math
26%
ELA
37%
2020*
Math
22%
ELA
38%
2021*
Math
22%
ELA
38%
2022
Math
30%
ELA
51%

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 40% (multi-year average, 2009-2022) · reading/ELA 52% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Based on 28 test records from ND state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).

Equity & diversity

Shown separately, not included in the overall score

Free/reduced lunch

23.7%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

How we rate schools

A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.

See how we rate

The neighborhood

Where Bismarck High School sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.

Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.

Getting around & local context

  • Walk 62Somewhat Walkable
  • Bike 57Bikeable
  • City Safety: High2,684/100K

Powered byWalk Score

FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Bismarck), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details

Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.

Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)

Median income

$69,796

Median home value

$276,000

Median rent

$938/mo

College educated

35.4%

Homeownership

63.3%

Poverty rate

13%

ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 58501; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.

Programs & students

Programs & Offerings

AP/IB Programs3AP courses offered
14.8% participation·State avg: 2.2 AP courses·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Athletics23sports offered
10 boys'·13 girls'·62 teams (incl. JV)·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Advanced STEM Courses5of 5 advanced subjects offered
Algebra II, Advanced Math, Calculus, Chemistry, Physics·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22

Compare nearby

Nearby same-level schools

4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available

SchoolScoreGradesDistanceEnrollmentCompare
Light of Christ Catholic SchoolsPrivate · tuition5.0privatePK–120.4 mi1,212Compare →
South Central Alternative High SchoolEnrollment path unverified5.09–121.2 mi118Compare →
Shiloh Christian SchoolPrivate · tuition6.2privatePK–121.7 mi538Compare →
Century High SchoolEnrollment path unverified6.89–121.8 mi1,401Compare →

Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.

Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.

Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.

Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.

Bismarck 1

Schools in district
29
Rank in district
#16 of 26
District spending per student
$14,570NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
District child poverty rate
6.8%Census SAIPE · 2024

Bismarck High School is listed in BISMARCK 1; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.

About Bismarck High School

Bismarck High School is a public high school in Bismarck, ND, part of Bismarck 1, serving approximately 1,371 students in grades 9th-12th with a 16.1:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 5.4 out of 10 and ranks #297 of 451 schools in ND. State assessment records show 40% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 52% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about Bismarck High School

What grades does Bismarck High School serve?

Bismarck High School serves students in grades 9th through 12th.

How many students attend Bismarck High School?

Bismarck High School has an enrollment of approximately 1,371 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Bismarck High School?

The student-teacher ratio at Bismarck High School is 16.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Bismarck High School rank in ND?

Bismarck High School ranks #297 of 451 schools in ND.

What is Bismarck High School's MySchoolScout rating?

Bismarck High School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.4 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Bismarck High School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Bismarck High School has 40% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 52% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

Is Bismarck High School a charter school?

No, Bismarck High School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Bismarck High School a Title I school?

No, Bismarck High School is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Bismarck High School?

23.7% of students at Bismarck High School qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)

Grades
9th – 12th
Enrollment
1,371
Student-Teacher Ratio
16.1:1
Teachers (FTE)
85
Type
regular
Setting
Small City
County
Burleigh County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
25.7%
4-Year Graduation
91.0%
Area population (ZIP 58501)
28,571
Area average commute
13.9 min
Area median age
37.1
About this school's data

Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.

School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
  • Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
MySchoolScout rating and rank
MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
  • Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
  • Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
Math proficiency
State department of education · 2022 EdFacts · Low confidence
  • Older source: 2022 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
Reading/ELA proficiency
State department of education · 2022 EdFacts · Low confidence
  • Older source: 2022 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
Student progress (growth)
NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
  • Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
  • Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
  • Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 58501; this does not measure the attendance area.
Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.

Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2022; directory SY 2023–24

About our data · How we calculate scores

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