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Excellent

#67 of 451 schools in ND

Top 15% in state

Turtle Lake-mercer High School

High School · TURTLE LAKE-MERCER 72

PO Box 160, Turtle Lake, ND 58575

Enrollment

84

Student-Teacher

7:1

Score

8.0

Grades

7th – 12th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

North Dakota schools

#67 of 451

In Turtle Lake

#1 of 2

public schools

In district

#1 of 2

TURTLE LAKE-MERCER 72

School environment

8.8 / 10

Excellent

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Turtle Lake-mercer High School

8.0/10

High School in Turtle Lake · grades 7th – 12th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Turtle Lake-mercer Elementary School

7.8/10

0.0 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Underwood Elementary School

4.6/10

12.4 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Turtle Lake-mercer High School

Turtle Lake-mercer High School is a public high school in Turtle Lake, ND, part of TURTLE LAKE-MERCER 72. Turtle Lake-mercer High School serves approximately 84 students, and covers grades 7th-12th, and has a 7:1 student-teacher ratio. Turtle Lake-mercer High School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.0 out of 10 and ranks #67 of 451 schools in ND.

Structured state assessment records for Turtle Lake-mercer High School show 43% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 50% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

How it compares1.6 pts above ND schools
  • This school 8.0 · Excellent
  • ND avg 6.4

What Parents Should Know

At 84 students, Turtle Lake-mercer High School is on the smaller side. That usually buys more individual attention and teachers who know every kid by name, with the trade-off of fewer electives and extracurriculars than a larger school can staff. Ask what activities it actually offers.

At 7:1 students to teachers, Turtle Lake-mercer High School sits well below the national average. Smaller classes like that usually mean more one-on-one time between students and teachers.

Turtle Lake-mercer High School sits in a rural area, which can mean longer drives for some families. Rural schools are often community anchors with smaller classes, but check transportation, after-school options, and access to specialized services before you commit.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress8.1Excellent25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-2.47 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2022
TrendDeclining
Academics8.3Excellent25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency49.5% (2022 EdFacts)
Reading/ELA Proficiency49.5% (2022 EdFacts)
Overall Proficiency50% (2022 EdFacts, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)43% (model expectation from 2022 EdFacts)
vs. Expected+6.3 pts
Adjusted Percentile74th
College Readiness7.0Very Good30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
4-Year Graduation Rate50%+
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment8.8Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio7:1
Per-Pupil Spending$17,766

Turtle Lake-mercer High School — Students at Turtle Lake-mercer High 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

26.2%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores ND EDFACTS (2021-22)

Math Proficiency 43.1% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 50.3% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
School
State
N/A

Based on 28 test records from ND state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

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

2009
Math
69.5%
ELA
69.5%
2010
Math
64.5%
ELA
64.5%
2011
Math
64.5%
ELA
74.5%
2012
Math
54.5%
ELA
54.5%
2013
Math
64.5%
ELA
64.5%
2014
Math
24.5%
ELA
24.5%
2015
Math
24.5%
ELA
44.5%
2016
Math
34.5%
ELA
44.5%
2017
Math
24.5%
ELA
44.5%
2018
Math
30%
ELA
30%
2019
Math
30%
ELA
30%
2020*
Math
34.5%
ELA
54.5%
2021*
Math
34.5%
ELA
54.5%
2022
Math
49.5%
ELA
49.5%

* 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: 8.1/10.

How Turtle Lake-mercer High School Compares

See how Turtle Lake-mercer High School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
8.0/10
85th percentile in ND
Academic
8.3/10
Excellent
Growth
8.1/10
Excellent
Environment
8.8/10
Excellent
Sports
2
1 boys' · 1 girls'
Advanced STEM
3/5
Subjects offered

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
26%
Teaching Staff
7:1 student-teacher ratio
12 teachers

Programs & Offerings

Athletics2sports offered
1 boys'·1 girls'·6 teams (incl. JV)·CRDC 2021-22
Advanced STEM Courses3 of 5 advanced subjects offered
Algebra II, Advanced Math, Calculus, Chemistry, Physics·CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

Location

PO Box 160, Turtle Lake, ND 58575

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Turtle Lake-mercer High School may also want to explore other high schools in the area. WILTON HIGH SCHOOL (rated 8.3/10, 25.5 miles away, in nearby Wilton), which scores slightly higher. Another option is WASHBURN HIGH SCHOOL (rated 7.4/10, 16.9 miles away, in nearby Washburn), with a comparable rating. Additionally, CENTER-STANTON HIGH SCHOOL (rated 6.6/10, 33.5 miles away, in nearby Center), a more accessible option. For more schools in Turtle Lake, see our Turtle Lake schools guide .

Nearby Schools

11 within 33.6 mi
School Distance Rating
TURTLE LAKE-MERCER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Turtle Lake 0.0 mi 7.8
UNDERWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Underwood 12.4 mi 4.6
UNDERWOOD HIGH SCHOOL Underwood 12.4 mi 4.2
WASHBURN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Washburn 16.9 mi 8.2
WASHBURN HIGH SCHOOL Washburn 16.9 mi 7.4
WILTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Wilton 25.5 mi 8.6
WILTON HIGH SCHOOL Wilton 25.5 mi 8.3
MAX ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Max 28.2 mi 4.7
MAX HIGH SCHOOL Max 28.2 mi 5.5
CENTER-STANTON HIGH SCHOOL Center 33.5 mi 6.6
CENTER-STANTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Center 33.6 mi 5.2

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 58575 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$78,618

Median Home Value

$170,400

Median Rent

$779/mo

Population

904

College Educated

21%

Homeownership

85.5%

Poverty Rate

11%

Median Age

49

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
GRENORA HIGH SCHOOL Grenora, ND 8.0
POWERS LAKE HIGH SCHOOL Powers Lake, ND 8.0
CENTRAL VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL Buxton, ND 7.9
ELGIN-NEW LEIPZIG HIGH SCHOOL Elgin, ND 8.1
GLENBURN HIGH SCHOOL Glenburn, ND 8.2
NORTH BORDER-WALHALLA HIGH SCHOOL Walhalla, ND 8.2

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Turtle Lake-mercer High School

What grades does Turtle Lake-mercer High School serve?

Turtle Lake-mercer High School serves students in grades 7th through 12th.

How many students attend Turtle Lake-mercer High School?

Turtle Lake-mercer High School has an enrollment of approximately 84 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Turtle Lake-mercer High School?

The student-teacher ratio at Turtle Lake-mercer High School is 7:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Turtle Lake-mercer High School rank in ND?

Turtle Lake-mercer High School ranks #67 of 451 schools in ND.

What is Turtle Lake-mercer High School's MySchoolScout rating?

Turtle Lake-mercer High School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.0 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 Turtle Lake-mercer High School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Turtle Lake-mercer High School has 43% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 50% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

Is Turtle Lake-mercer High School a charter school?

No, Turtle Lake-mercer High School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Turtle Lake-mercer High School a Title I school?

No, Turtle Lake-mercer High School is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Turtle Lake-mercer High School?

26.2% of students at Turtle Lake-mercer 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.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
33 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
40 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
7th – 12th
Enrollment
84
Student-Teacher Ratio
7:1
Teachers (FTE)
12
Free/Reduced Lunch
26.2%
Type
regular
Setting
Remote Rural
County
McLean County
4-Year Graduation
50%+

District

TURTLE LAKE-MERCER 72
District Enrollment
192
Schools in District
2
Per-Pupil Spending
$17,766
District Rank
#1 of 2

Other Schools in This District

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