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Average

#230 of 451 schools in ND

Watford City Middle School

Middle School · MCKENZIE CO 1

PO Box 589, Watford City, ND 58854

Enrollment

466

Student-Teacher

12.9:1

Score

6.3

Grades

6th – 8th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In Watford City

#2 of 4

public schools

North Dakota middle schools

#16 of 38

In district

#2 of 4

MCKENZIE CO 1

About Watford City Middle School

WATFORD CITY MIDDLE SCHOOL is a regular public middle school serving students in grades six through eight. Located in the remote town of Watford City, North Dakota, in McKenzie County, the school has an enrollment of 466 students and employs 36 full-time equivalent teachers, resulting in a student-teacher ratio of 12.9:1. The school’s MySchoolScout rating is 5.6 out of 10, placing it at number 210 among the state's 457 schools, which corresponds to the 54th percentile.

Academically, the school scores a 4.4 out of 10 on MySchoolScout, with 39% of students meeting or exceeding proficiency in ELA/reading and 33% doing so in math. While there is room for academic growth, WATFORD CITY MIDDLE SCHOOL focuses on fostering student development within its remote community setting. The school is situated in a small town where close-knit relationships and strong community ties play an important role in the educational experience of students.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress6.8Above Average40%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data3
Annual Change-0.87 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2022
TrendStable
Academics5.4Average35%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency33%
Reading/ELA Proficiency41%
Overall Proficiency37%
Expected (poverty-adj.)41%
vs. Expected-4.2 pts
Adjusted Percentile36th
Resources & Environment6.6Above Average25%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio12.9:1
Per-Pupil Spending$15,901

Watford City Middle School — Students at Watford City Middle School score 37% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 41%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

32.2%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores ND EDFACTS (2021-22)

Math Proficiency 33.3%
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 39.3%
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
37%
ELA
41%
2021*
Math
30%
ELA
36%
2022
Math
33%
ELA
41%

* 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: 6.8/10.

How Watford City Middle School Compares

See how Watford City Middle School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
6.3/10
49th percentile in ND
Academic
5.4/10
5.4/10
Growth
6.8/10
Above average
Environment
6.6/10
Above average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
32%
Teaching Staff
13:1 student-teacher ratio
36 teachers

Location

PO Box 589, Watford City, ND 58854

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Watford City Middle School may also want to explore other middle schools in the area. WILLISTON TRINITY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL (rated 8.6/10, 30.2 miles away, in nearby Williston), which scores notably higher. Another option is ALEXANDER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (rated 7.6/10, 16.9 miles away, in nearby Alexander), which scores notably higher. Additionally, BADLANDS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (rated 7.5/10, 0.2 miles away), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Watford City, see our Watford City schools guide .

Nearby Schools

18 within 35.9 mi
School Distance Rating
BADLANDS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Watford City 0.2 mi 7.5
WOLVES CENTER ACADEMY Watford City 0.6 mi
WATFORD CITY HIGH SCHOOL Watford City 1.6 mi 5.5
FOX HILLS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Watford City 2.0 mi 5.5
JOHNSON CORNERS CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Watford City 15.6 mi 7.0
ALEXANDER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Alexander 16.9 mi 7.6
ALEXANDER HIGH SCHOOL Alexander 16.9 mi 5.6
MCVAY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Williston 28.5 mi 1.8
ST JOSEPH'S SCHOOL Williston 28.9 mi 7.2
RICKARD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Williston 29.2 mi 3.0
LEWIS AND CLARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Williston 29.5 mi 4.3
WILKINSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Williston 29.8 mi 5.5
DEL EASTON ALTERNATIVE HIGH SCHOOL Williston 30.1 mi
WILLISTON TRINITY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Williston 30.2 mi 8.6
HAGAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Williston 31.0 mi 3.6
WILLISTON HIGH SCHOOL Williston 32.0 mi 3.7
GARDEN VALLEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Williston 36.9 mi 5.6
MISSOURI RIDGE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Williston 35.9 mi 4.1

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 58854 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$88,234

Median Home Value

$387,700

Median Rent

$1,212/mo

Population

9,345

College Educated

23.5%

Homeownership

48.6%

Poverty Rate

12%

Median Age

28.8

Community Profile

The community surrounding Watford City Middle School has a median household income of $88,234. It is a community where 24% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $387,700, with a median rent of $1,212/month. The area has a poverty rate of 12.0%. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
TURTLE MOUNTAIN COMMUNITY MIDDLE SCHOOL Belcourt, ND 6.3
CARL BEN EIELSON MIDDLE SCHOOL Fargo, ND 6.2
VALLEY MIDDLE SCHOOL Grand Forks, ND 5.8
CENTRAL CASS MIDDLE SCHOOL Casselton, ND 6.9
SOUTH MIDDLE SCHOOL Grand Forks, ND 6.9
JAMESTOWN MIDDLE SCHOOL Jamestown, ND 5.6

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Watford City Middle School

What grades does Watford City Middle School serve?

Watford City Middle School serves students in grades 6th through 8th.

How many students attend Watford City Middle School?

Watford City Middle School has an enrollment of approximately 466 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Watford City Middle School?

The student-teacher ratio at Watford City Middle School is 12.9:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Watford City Middle School rank in ND?

Watford City Middle School is ranked #230 out of 451 schools in ND.

What is Watford City Middle School's MySchoolScout rating?

Watford City Middle 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 Watford City Middle School?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, Watford City Middle School has 33.3% math proficiency and 39.3% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is Watford City Middle School a charter school?

No, Watford City Middle School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Watford City Middle School a Title I school?

No, Watford City Middle School is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Watford City Middle School?

32.2% of students at Watford City Middle 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

City Safety
High (1,916/100K)

FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Watford City). Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
6th – 8th
Enrollment
466
Student-Teacher Ratio
12.9:1
Teachers (FTE)
36
Free/Reduced Lunch
32.2%
Type
regular
Setting
Remote Town
County
McKenzie County
Data Year
2023–2024

District

MCKENZIE CO 1
District Enrollment
2,105
Schools in District
5
Per-Pupil Spending
$15,006
District Rank
#2 of 4

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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