Average
#228 of 451 schools in ND
Prairie Elementary School
Elementary School · BILLINGS CO 1
PO Box 307, Medora, ND 58645
Enrollment
47
Student-Teacher
5.9:1
Score
6.3
Grades
Pre-K – 8th
Enrollment
47
Student-Teacher
5.9:1
Score
6.3
Grades
Pre-K – 8th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Medora
#2 of 2
public schools
North Dakota elementary schools
#132 of 252
In district
#2 of 2
BILLINGS CO 1
School environment
9.6 / 10
Exceptional
About Prairie Elementary School
Prairie Elementary School serves 47 students from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade in the small community of Medora, North Dakota. This regular public school maintains an exceptionally low student-teacher ratio of 5.9:1 with 8 full-time equivalent teachers, allowing for personalized attention and small class sizes that many families value. The school performs well academically, earning a 7.2 out of 10 rating from MySchoolScout and ranking 82nd out of 457 schools statewide, placing it in the 82nd percentile among North Dakota elementary schools.
Students demonstrate solid foundational skills with 50% achieving proficiency or above in both English Language Arts and mathematics across tested grade levels. Prairie Elementary serves a close-knit rural community where the median household income is $70,833 and 29% of residents hold bachelor's degrees or higher. The area maintains a relatively low poverty rate of 10.3%, reflecting the stable nature of this small town environment.
Located in Billings County's remote rural landscape, Prairie Elementary School operates in one of North Dakota's most sparsely populated areas, where the entire ZIP code is home to just 243 residents, creating a truly intimate educational setting.
What Parents Should Know
With an enrollment of 47 students, Prairie 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.
With a student-teacher ratio of 5.9:1, Prairie Elementary School offers a notably low ratio compared to the national average. This typically means smaller class sizes and more opportunities for one-on-one interaction between students and teachers.
Located in a rural area, Prairie 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
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Data not available for this school
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Prairie Elementary School — Students at Prairie Elementary School score 50% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 50%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
6.4%
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
↓ DecliningAverage 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: 4.2/10.
How Prairie Elementary School Compares
See how Prairie Elementary School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has declined from 69.5% (2019) to 49.5% (2022). Reading/ELA proficiency has remained stable from 49.5% (2019) to 49.5% (2022).
Location
PO Box 307, Medora, ND 58645
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Prairie Elementary School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. DEMORES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (rated 8.7/10, 21.2 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is SOUTH HEART ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (rated 7.4/10, 20.4 miles away, in nearby South Heart), which scores notably higher. Additionally, LINCOLN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (rated 7.3/10, 25.4 miles away, in nearby Dickinson), which scores slightly higher. For more schools in Medora, see our Medora schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 25.7 miNeighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 58645 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$68,125
Median Home Value
$347,200
Median Rent
$634/mo
Population
269
College Educated
31.3%
Homeownership
69.9%
Poverty Rate
20.1%
Median Age
65.6
Community Profile
The community surrounding Prairie Elementary School has a median household income of $68,125. It is an area where 31% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $347,200, with a median rent of $634/month. The area has a poverty rate of 20.1%, indicating some economic challenges in the community. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| FORDVILLE-LANKIN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Fordville, ND | 6.7 |
| OBERON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Oberon, ND | 6.7 |
| MARTIN LUTHER SCHOOL Bismarck, ND | 6.8 |
| ST ALPHONSUS SCHOOL Langdon, ND | 6.8 |
| FINLEY-SHARON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Finley, ND | 6.9 |
| ROOSEVELT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Carson, ND | 7.1 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Prairie Elementary School
What grades does Prairie Elementary School serve?
Prairie Elementary School serves students in grades Pre-K through 8th.
How many students attend Prairie Elementary School?
Prairie Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 47 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Prairie Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Prairie Elementary School is 5.9:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Prairie Elementary School rank in ND?
Prairie Elementary School is ranked #228 out of 451 schools in ND.
What is Prairie Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?
Prairie Elementary School has a composite rating of 6.3 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 Prairie Elementary School?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Prairie Elementary School has 56.2% math proficiency and 49.5% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is Prairie Elementary School a charter school?
No, Prairie Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Prairie Elementary School a Title I school?
No, Prairie Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Prairie Elementary School?
6.4% of students at Prairie 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
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 8th
- Enrollment
- 47
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 5.9:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 8
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 6.4%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Remote Rural
- County
- Billings County
- Phone
- (701) 575-4773
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
BILLINGS CO 1- District Enrollment
- 105
- Schools in District
- 2
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $28,657
- District Rank
- #2 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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