While the U.S. is one of the most educated countries in the world, it doesn’t provide the same quality elementary school or secondary school education to all students. In many states, more affluent school districts receive a greater amount of funding per student than poorer districts, with one estimate claiming that low-income districts are underfunded by around $6,700 per pupil.
Discrepancies between the rich and poor have been exacerbated even more due to the lasting impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Low-income students have suffered the greatest “learning loss” due to partial or total remote learning. One contributing factor is that people in low-income districts are less likely to have the technological resources they need.
States that provide equitable funding to all school districts can help prevent poor students from having lower graduation rates, lower rates of pursuing higher education and smaller future incomes than their wealthy peers. The difference is dramatic: College graduates have $154 - $1,115 higher median weekly earnings than people with a high school diploma and no college experience, depending on the degree.
North Dakota has the 18th least equitable school districts in the U.S. overall, but some districts within the state are fairer than others. To find out where school funding is distributed most equitably, WalletHub scored 169 districts in North Dakota based on two metrics: average household income and expenditures for public elementary and secondary schools per pupil.
Main Findings
Note: For visual purposes, we included only the top 7 school districts by enrollment from each category. Rank 1 on the “Expenditures Ranking” means highest expenditures and Rank 1 on “Income Ranking” means lowest income.
Most & Least Equitable School Districts in North Dakota
| Rank* | School District | Score | Expeditures for Public Elementary and Secondary Schools per Pupil | Income by School District |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Richardton-Taylor 34 | 0.37 | $13,894 | $79,271 |
| 2 | Richland 44 | 0.42 | $13,220 | $81,923 |
| 3 | Wyndmere 42 | 0.49 | $13,351 | $81,458 |
| 4 | Central Valley 3 | 0.55 | $14,094 | $77,875 |
| 5 | Mapleton 7 | 0.67 | $11,119 | $89,375 |
| 6 | Hazen 3 | 0.70 | $11,221 | $89,890 |
| 7 | Barnes County North 7 | 1.14 | $13,470 | $81,429 |
| 8 | Warwick 29 | 1.35 | $21,828 | $49,044 |
| 9 | Tioga 15 | 2.12 | $16,511 | $67,426 |
| 10 | Scranton 33 | 2.30 | $18,602 | $62,232 |
| 11 | Drayton 19 | 2.99 | $16,750 | $69,896 |
| 12 | Kindred 2 | 3.37 | $10,104 | $91,531 |
| 13 | Maple Valley 4 | 3.66 | $14,703 | $73,438 |
| 14 | Kulm 7 | 3.68 | $18,769 | $62,500 |
| 15 | Tgu 60 | 3.94 | $16,903 | $69,934 |
| 16 | Killdeer 16 | 4.66 | $13,436 | $83,906 |
| 17 | Alexander 2 | 4.94 | $14,381 | $80,417 |
| 18 | Wilton 1 | 5.27 | $13,317 | $77,757 |
| 19 | Divide County 1 | 5.38 | $16,641 | $64,750 |
| 20 | Lewis And Clark 161 | 5.41 | $14,137 | $74,476 |
| 21 | Kensal 19 | 5.72 | $17,643 | $60,625 |
| 22 | Eight Mile 6 | 5.92 | $14,013 | $82,500 |
| 23 | Turtle Lake-Mercer 72 | 6.00 | $17,000 | $62,941 |
| 24 | Nesson 2 | 6.47 | $14,147 | $82,344 |
| 25 | Beulah 27 | 6.63 | $11,790 | $82,798 |
| 26 | Underwood 8 | 6.69 | $14,612 | $71,776 |
| 27 | Milnor 2 | 7.09 | $15,964 | $66,250 |
| 28 | Lamoure 8 | 7.17 | $14,986 | $70,000 |
| 29 | Nedrose 4 | 7.27 | $11,053 | $94,917 |
| 30 | United 7 | 7.41 | $11,918 | $81,780 |
| 31 | Menoken 33 | 7.72 | $13,356 | $86,250 |
| 32 | New Town 1 | 7.72 | $15,927 | $65,972 |
| 33 | Maddock 9 | 7.75 | $18,992 | $54,028 |
| 34 | North Border 100 | 8.23 | $17,542 | $59,352 |
| 35 | St John 3 | 8.29 | $17,881 | $57,989 |
| 36 | Mott-Regent 1 | 8.34 | $17,505 | $59,420 |
| 37 | Washburn 4 | 8.39 | $12,994 | $76,944 |
| 38 | Stanley 2 | 8.42 | $13,123 | $76,417 |
| 39 | Drake 57 | 9.03 | $22,457 | $51,705 |
| 40 | Midkota 7 | 9.26 | $17,360 | $59,375 |
| 41 | Anamoose 14 | 9.35 | $19,802 | $62,250 |
| 42 | Parshall 3 | 9.40 | $20,562 | $59,327 |
| 43 | Leeds 6 | 9.62 | $17,767 | $57,548 |
| 44 | Roosevelt 18 | 9.87 | $21,969 | $54,167 |
| 45 | Montpelier 14 | 10.19 | $15,000 | $81,500 |
| 46 | Westhope 17 | 10.20 | $17,828 | $70,500 |
| 47 | Fairmount 18 | 10.74 | $19,729 | $49,167 |
| 48 | Max 50 | 10.95 | $13,909 | $86,250 |
| 49 | Mckenzie Co 1 | 11.16 | $12,496 | $77,035 |
| 50 | Kenmare 28 | 11.49 | $16,420 | $61,544 |
| 51 | Glenburn 26 | 12.10 | $16,290 | $77,750 |
| 52 | Sweet Briar 17 | 12.46 | $11,190 | $81,250 |
| 53 | West Fargo 6 | 12.57 | $12,461 | $76,233 |
| 54 | Williston 1 | 12.64 | $12,311 | $76,770 |
| 55 | Northwood 129 | 13.49 | $12,704 | $74,675 |
| 56 | Mandan 1 | 13.65 | $12,432 | $75,631 |
| 57 | Mohall-Lansford-Sherwood 1 | 13.98 | $13,638 | $70,714 |
| 58 | Garrison 51 | 14.00 | $14,140 | $68,750 |
| 59 | Belfield 13 | 14.32 | $13,491 | $71,058 |
| 60 | Gackle-Streeter 56 | 14.38 | $19,295 | $48,438 |
| 61 | Emerado 127 | 14.55 | $15,972 | $61,250 |
| 62 | Fessenden-Bowdon 25 | 14.81 | $16,420 | $59,338 |
| 63 | North Sargent 3 | 14.83 | $15,428 | $63,182 |
| 64 | Litchville-Marion 46 | 15.03 | $20,194 | $64,508 |
| 65 | Rolette 29 | 15.48 | $19,026 | $48,750 |
| 66 | Bowman Co 1 | 15.63 | $13,734 | $69,242 |
| 67 | Hankinson 8 | 15.89 | $14,523 | $66,000 |
| 68 | Dakota Prairie 1 | 15.93 | $17,283 | $55,234 |
| 69 | Valley-Edinburg 118 | 16.34 | $17,036 | $55,921 |
| 70 | Oberon 16 | 16.75 | $21,968 | $58,750 |
| 71 | Bakker 10 | 16.86 | $20,444 | $64,750 |
| 72 | Surrey 41 | 16.90 | $12,487 | $73,250 |
| 73 | Beach 3 | 16.98 | $18,454 | $72,578 |
| 74 | Mcclusky 19 | 17.16 | $19,133 | $47,212 |
| 75 | Apple Creek 39 | 17.94 | $12,695 | $95,625 |
| 76 | Midway 128 | 18.13 | $17,016 | $54,808 |
| 77 | Bismarck 1 | 18.41 | $12,339 | $72,819 |
| 78 | South Prairie 70 | 18.44 | $11,977 | $98,750 |
| 79 | Hatton Eielson 7 | 18.55 | $15,074 | $62,083 |
| 80 | Larimore 44 | 18.69 | $12,249 | $72,984 |
| 81 | Northern Cass 97 | 18.86 | $11,836 | $99,583 |
| 82 | Manvel 125 | 20.06 | $11,122 | $76,458 |
| 83 | Thompson 61 | 20.81 | $8,736 | $112,941 |
| 84 | Minot 1 | 21.17 | $13,635 | $65,945 |
| 85 | May-Port Cg 14 | 21.22 | $11,501 | $74,213 |
| 86 | Hazelton-Moffit-Braddock 6 | 21.95 | $16,153 | $55,625 |
| 87 | Williams County 8 | 22.46 | $9,098 | $112,632 |
| 88 | Elgin-New Leipzig 49 | 22.58 | $16,527 | $53,750 |
| 89 | Enderlin Area 24 | 22.86 | $14,854 | $60,071 |
| 90 | Mt Pleasant 4 | 22.90 | $15,477 | $57,625 |
| 91 | Napoleon 2 | 23.21 | $14,735 | $60,304 |
| 92 | Munich 19 | 23.26 | $24,868 | $51,793 |
| 93 | Grenora 99 | 23.63 | $18,085 | $78,438 |
| 94 | Medina 3 | 24.43 | $14,965 | $58,594 |
| 95 | Glen Ullin 48 | 24.91 | $17,927 | $46,750 |
| 96 | Dickinson 1 | 24.91 | $12,550 | $67,674 |
| 97 | Oakes 41 | 25.33 | $10,844 | $74,034 |
| 98 | Flasher 39 | 26.26 | $14,203 | $60,347 |
| 99 | Sargent Central 6 | 26.87 | $21,236 | $68,333 |
| 100 | Langdon Area 23 | 27.15 | $13,933 | $60,804 |
| 101 | Yellowstone 14 | 27.16 | $18,100 | $44,583 |
| 102 | Starkweather 44 | 27.29 | $21,950 | $65,833 |
| 103 | Lakota 66 | 27.93 | $15,632 | $53,674 |
| 104 | Bottineau 1 | 28.23 | $13,513 | $61,721 |
| 105 | Fargo 1 | 28.44 | $14,683 | $57,024 |
| 106 | Center-Stanton 1 | 28.70 | $15,324 | $54,356 |
| 107 | Lone Tree 6 | 28.87 | $21,471 | $68,750 |
| 108 | Hebron 13 | 29.10 | $16,405 | $49,886 |
| 109 | South Heart 9 | 30.90 | $13,092 | $102,708 |
| 110 | Central Cass 17 | 31.98 | $10,904 | $69,375 |
| 111 | Strasburg 15 | 32.13 | $15,684 | $50,677 |
| 112 | New England 9 | 32.69 | $11,586 | $66,250 |
| 113 | Harvey 38 | 32.88 | $14,087 | $56,392 |
| 114 | Wishek 19 | 33.25 | $14,593 | $54,177 |
| 115 | Marmarth 12 | 33.29 | $12,769 | $61,250 |
| 116 | Belcourt 7 | 33.62 | $17,393 | $43,032 |
| 117 | Lidgerwood 28 | 35.16 | $15,938 | $47,670 |
| 118 | Griggs County Central 18 | 35.57 | $14,054 | $54,732 |
| 119 | Ashley 9 | 35.70 | $16,136 | $46,538 |
| 120 | Naughton 25 | 35.72 | $23,444 | $65,625 |
| 121 | Rugby 5 | 36.22 | $13,483 | $56,518 |
| 122 | Velva 1 | 36.28 | $12,310 | $61,042 |
| 123 | Minnewaukan 5 | 37.19 | $19,716 | $81,111 |
| 124 | Lisbon 19 | 37.95 | $11,690 | $62,344 |
| 125 | Solen 3 | 38.20 | $18,995 | $33,750 |
| 126 | Ft Yates 4 | 38.43 | $30,275 | $40,850 |
| 127 | Kidder County 1 | 39.18 | $14,025 | $52,438 |
| 128 | Hillsboro 9 | 39.44 | $11,406 | $62,460 |
| 129 | Ft Ransom 6 | 39.47 | $18,143 | $88,750 |
| 130 | Devils Lake 1 | 39.57 | $14,119 | $51,814 |
| 131 | Powers Lake 27 | 40.17 | $16,557 | $95,391 |
| 132 | Little Heart 4 | 40.50 | $15,857 | $98,333 |
| 133 | Linton 36 | 41.32 | $15,057 | $47,000 |
| 134 | Page 80 | 41.77 | $19,072 | $86,667 |
| 135 | Wing 28 | 41.78 | $23,276 | $70,313 |
| 136 | Hettinger 13 | 42.03 | $14,485 | $48,750 |
| 137 | Dunseith 1 | 42.88 | $17,321 | $37,153 |
| 138 | Edgeley 3 | 42.99 | $13,960 | $50,156 |
| 139 | Grand Forks 1 | 43.07 | $13,813 | $50,676 |
| 140 | Newburg-United 54 | 43.25 | $21,842 | $76,875 |
| 141 | Burke Central 36 | 46.19 | $21,905 | $78,583 |
| 142 | Bowbells 14 | 46.54 | $21,922 | $78,750 |
| 143 | Jamestown 1 | 46.74 | $12,820 | $52,096 |
| 144 | Valley City 2 | 49.87 | $11,633 | $54,636 |
| 145 | Minto 20 | 50.57 | $11,587 | $54,349 |
| 146 | Cavalier 6 | 51.10 | $11,080 | $55,969 |
| 147 | Billings Co 1 | 51.27 | $26,292 | $64,896 |
| 148 | Ft Totten 30 | 51.55 | $19,256 | $23,854 |
| 149 | Grafton 3 | 51.79 | $11,482 | $53,947 |
| 150 | Horse Creek 32 | 52.47 | $12,818 | $118,125 |
| 151 | Wahpeton 37 | 53.25 | $12,110 | $50,528 |
| 152 | New Rockford-Sheyenne 2 | 54.69 | $11,935 | $50,250 |
| 153 | North Star 10 | 56.07 | $12,314 | $47,857 |
| 154 | Ellendale 40 | 56.51 | $12,170 | $48,125 |
| 155 | Mandaree 36 | 61.95 | $27,409 | $67,656 |
| 156 | Hope 10 | 67.68 | $31,587 | $55,208 |
| 157 | St Thomas 43 | 69.43 | $26,800 | $75,000 |
| 158 | Manning 45 | 71.64 | $26,000 | $79,583 |
| 159 | White Shield 85 | 76.08 | $12,897 | $32,273 |
| 160 | Zeeland 4 | 80.69 | $31,697 | $63,438 |
| 161 | Goodrich 16 | 83.12 | $32,818 | $60,694 |
| 162 | Halliday 19 | 85.10 | $30,250 | $72,000 |
| 163 | Fordville-Lankin 5 | 90.07 | $31,293 | $71,250 |
| 164 | Finley-Sharon 19 | 90.35 | $29,513 | $78,362 |
| 165 | Edmore 2 | 106.64 | $37,381 | $58,585 |
| 166 | Sawyer 16 | 134.24 | $33,787 | $90,938 |
| 167 | Selfridge 8 | 137.17 | $33,815 | $92,778 |
| 168 | Sterling 35 | 170.97 | $50,556 | $50,125 |
| 169 | Twin Buttes 37 | 183.31 | $56,767 | $34,167 |
*1=Most Equitable
Methodology
In order to rank the states with the most and least equitable school districts, WalletHub first scored 12,876 school districts throughout the U.S. based on two metrics: average household income and expenditures for public elementary and secondary schools per pupil.
For expenditures, for each 1 percent above the state's average we removed 1 point from a base score of 50 points for each district. For household income, for each 1 percent above the state's average we added 1 point to a base score of 50 points for each district. The inverse was true for each 1 percent below the state's average.
The final score for each district was calculated by taking the absolute difference between the score for expenditures and the score for household income. We then ranked the districts based on the total score, with the lowest value, representing the most equitable, being ranked 1.
Sources: Data used to create this ranking were collected from of the U.S. Census Bureau and the National Center for Education Statistics.