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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

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 metrics
Student Progress6.9Above Average50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data3
Annual Change-0.76 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2022
TrendStable
Academics8.2Excellent30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency42%
Reading/ELA Proficiency57%
Overall Proficiency50%
Expected (poverty-adj.)43%
vs. Expected+6.1 pts
Adjusted Percentile73th
College ReadinessNot Available

Data not available for this school

Resources & Environment7.5Very Good20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio12.8:1
Per-Pupil Spending$16,972

Fessenden-bowdon Elementary School — Students at Fessenden-bowdon Elementary School score 50% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 43%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

25.5%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores ND EDFACTS (2021-22)

Math Proficiency 42.0%
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 45.3%
School
State
N/A

Based on 6 test records from ND state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

→ Stable

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2019
Math
47%
ELA
52%
2021*
Math
37%
ELA
27%
2022
Math
42%
ELA
57%

* 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.

Overall Score
7.4/10
78th percentile in ND
Academic
8.2/10
8.2/10
Growth
6.9/10
Above average
Environment
7.5/10
Above average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
26%
Teaching Staff
13:1 student-teacher ratio
11 teachers

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.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
14 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
45 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR. County-level only.

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
Data Year
2023–2024

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.

Read our full methodology

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