Very Good
#100 of 451 schools in ND
Top 22% in state
Fessenden-bowdon Elementary School
Elementary School · FESSENDEN-BOWDON 25
PO Box 67, Fessenden, ND 58438
Enrollment
141
Student-Teacher
12.8:1
Score
7.4
Grades
Pre-K – 8th
Enrollment
141
Student-Teacher
12.8:1
Score
7.4
Grades
Pre-K – 8th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Fessenden
#1 of 2
public schools
North Dakota elementary schools
#67 of 252
In district
#1 of 2
FESSENDEN-BOWDON 25
Academic performance
8.2 / 10
Very strong
About Fessenden-bowdon Elementary School
Fessenden-Bowdon Elementary School is a small rural school located in Fessenden, North Dakota. Serving students from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade, the school has an enrollment of 141 students and a student-teacher ratio of 12.8:1. With eleven full-time equivalent teachers, the school provides personalized attention to each child.
Fessenden-Bowdon Elementary School ranks 69th percentile statewide with its MySchoolScout rating of 6.3 out of 10, indicating that there is room for academic growth and development. The school's academic score is 7.6/10, reflecting strong performance in ELA and math, with 45% of students proficient or above in reading and 42% proficient or above in math. While the immediate neighborhood data is not available, Fessenden-Bowdon Elementary School is situated in a remote rural setting where community support and involvement play crucial roles in student success.
What Parents Should Know
With an enrollment of 141 students, Fessenden-bowdon Elementary School is a smaller school where families often find a close-knit community atmosphere. Smaller settings can mean more individual attention from teachers and staff, though they may offer fewer extracurricular options than larger schools.
Located in a rural area, Fessenden-bowdon Elementary School may involve longer commutes for some families. Rural schools often serve as community anchors and may have smaller class sizes, but parents should consider transportation logistics, after-school program availability, and access to specialized services.
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
Data not available for this school
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Fessenden-bowdon Elementary School — Students at Fessenden-bowdon Elementary School score 50% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 43%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
25.5%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores ND EDFACTS (2021-22)
Based on 6 test records from ND state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
→ StableAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 6.9/10.
How Fessenden-bowdon Elementary School Compares
See how Fessenden-bowdon Elementary School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has declined from 47% (2019) to 42% (2022). Reading/ELA proficiency has improved from 52% (2019) to 57% (2022).
Location
PO Box 67, Fessenden, ND 58438
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Fessenden-bowdon Elementary School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. BM HANSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (rated 7.6/10, 16.3 miles away, in nearby Harvey), with a very similar rating. Another option is MADDOCK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (rated 7.2/10, 22.2 miles away, in nearby Maddock), with a very similar rating. Additionally, MINNEWAUKAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (rated 6.8/10, 34.0 miles away, in nearby Minnewaukan), with a comparable rating. For more schools in Fessenden, see our Fessenden schools guide .
Nearby Schools
10 within 34.0 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| FESSENDEN-BOWDON HIGH SCHOOL Fessenden | 0.0 mi | 4.6 |
| HARVEY HIGH SCHOOL Harvey | 16.3 mi | 7.3 |
| BM HANSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Harvey | 16.3 mi | 7.6 |
| MADDOCK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Maddock | 22.2 mi | 7.2 |
| MADDOCK HIGH SCHOOL Maddock | 22.2 mi | 6.4 |
| NEW ROCKFORD-SHEYENNE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL New Rockford | 23.1 mi | 5.8 |
| NEW ROCKFORD-SHEYENNE HIGH SCHOOL New Rockford | 23.1 mi | 7.1 |
| OBERON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Oberon | 27.3 mi | 6.7 |
| MINNEWAUKAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Minnewaukan | 34.0 mi | 6.8 |
| MINNEWAUKAN HIGH SCHOOL Minnewaukan | 34.0 mi | 5.3 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 58438 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$66,172
Median Home Value
$78,800
Median Rent
$605/mo
Population
688
College Educated
16.3%
Homeownership
81.1%
Poverty Rate
13.7%
Median Age
54.9
Community Profile
The community surrounding Fessenden-bowdon Elementary School has a median household income of $66,172. It is a community where 16% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $78,800, with a median rent of $605/month. The area has a poverty rate of 13.7%. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| TGU-GRANVILLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Granville, ND | 7.4 |
| WESTHOPE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Westhope, ND | 7.4 |
| ST MICHAEL'S SCHOOL Grand Forks, ND | 7.5 |
| CENTRAL VALLEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Buxton, ND | 7.3 |
| CUSTER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Mandan, ND | 7.2 |
| MADDOCK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Maddock, ND | 7.2 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Fessenden-bowdon Elementary School
What grades does Fessenden-bowdon Elementary School serve?
Fessenden-bowdon Elementary School serves students in grades Pre-K through 8th.
How many students attend Fessenden-bowdon Elementary School?
Fessenden-bowdon Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 141 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Fessenden-bowdon Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Fessenden-bowdon Elementary School is 12.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Fessenden-bowdon Elementary School rank in ND?
Fessenden-bowdon Elementary School is ranked #100 out of 451 schools in ND.
What is Fessenden-bowdon Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?
Fessenden-bowdon Elementary School has a composite rating of 7.4 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Fessenden-bowdon Elementary School?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Fessenden-bowdon Elementary School has 42.0% math proficiency and 45.3% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is Fessenden-bowdon Elementary School a charter school?
No, Fessenden-bowdon Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Fessenden-bowdon Elementary School a Title I school?
No, Fessenden-bowdon Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Fessenden-bowdon Elementary School?
25.5% of students at Fessenden-bowdon Elementary 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.
Explore More Schools
Neighborhood Context
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 8th
- Enrollment
- 141
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 12.8:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 11
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 25.5%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Remote Rural
- County
- Wells County
- Phone
- (701) 547-3296
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
FESSENDEN-BOWDON 25- District Enrollment
- 195
- Schools in District
- 2
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $18,542
- District Rank
- #1 of 2
Other Schools in This District
How We Rate Schools
Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.
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