Photo: formulanone · CC BY-SA 2.0Fargo’s public schools outscore 50% of North Dakota districts
The grade covers the two public school districts serving Fargo, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within North Dakota, not nationally.
From North Dakota state tests taken in spring 2022, when 97% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.
Fargo’s schools, in brief
Against towns with similar incomes
Among the 265 North Dakota towns with household incomes within a quarter of Fargo’s, its schools beat 43%, lower than their 50% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓
Above the state on tests
Reading proficiency is 44% and math 41% across both districts in spring 2022, against 44% and 39% statewide; 81% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 83%. Test scores ↓
Spending and class size
Fargo Public School District 1 spends $18,846 per student and West Fargo Public School District 6 $14,624, against $16,642 across North Dakota (FY2024). Neither counts toward the grade. Districts ↓
Choice beyond the district
Jpii Catholic Schools (private), Oak Grove Lutheran School (private), Oak Grove Lutheran Elementary School (private), Shanley High School (private), Sacred Heart Middle School (private), Capstone Classical Academy (private), Grace Lutheran School (private), Children's Montessori Center (private), Holy Spirit Elementary School (private) and Full Circle Academy (private) are in town. Fargo 9-12 Virtual Academy, an online school, is based here too; it isn’t counted as a local school. Every school ↓
Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.
What’s behind Fargo’s grade
B−: better than 50% of North Dakota school districts, #10 of 23 North Dakota towns. Test scores are above the North Dakota average; graduation is below it.
Where will my kid go?
Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Fargo, with each school’s own grade.
Pre-K in Fargo
Early Childhood Special Education School
Grades PK · 162 students · 9:1 students per teacher
Fargo runs its own schools through grade 12 (Fargo Public School District 1). From grade PK, students attend the West Fargo Public School District 6, shared with Barnes, Harwood, Harwood, Horace, Mapleton, Raymond, Reed, Reile's Acres, Warren and West Fargo. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.
Two districts serve Fargo
Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.
Close to the state in reading
Fargo vs. its neighbors
Schools grades for the North Dakota towns that share Fargo’s borders.
| Town | Schools | Main districts |
|---|---|---|
| Fargo | B− | Fargo Public School District 1 PK–12 · West Fargo Public School District 6 PK–12 |
| Stanley | — | Fargo Public School District 1 |
| Reed | B− | West Fargo Public School District 6 PK–12 · Fargo Public School District 1 PK–12 |
| West Fargo | B− | West Fargo Public School District 6 |
| Horace | B− | West Fargo Public School District 6 |
| Frontier | — | Fargo Public School District 1 |
| Pleasant | — | Kindred Public School District 2 |
| Briarwood | — | Fargo Public School District 1 |
| Harwood | — | West Fargo Public School District 6 PK–12 · Northern Cass Public School District 97 PK–12 |
| Harwood (city) | — | West Fargo Public School District 6 |
5 of the 9 neighbors share West Fargo Public School District 6 with Fargo for grades PK–12, so their letters differ mainly through the lower grades. Kragnes, MN, Kurtz, MN, Moorhead, MN and Oakport, MN border Fargo but are graded on their own state’s tests, so they’re left out.
Every school in Fargo
40 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with North Dakota’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).
Left off: 1 public program with fewer than 25 students (Fargo K-8 Virtual Academy).
Questions about Fargo’s schools
Are Fargo’s schools good?
They sit near the middle of North Dakota: the public schools Fargo children attend outscore 50% of North Dakota’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B− Schools grade, #10 of 23 North Dakota towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 43%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.
What school district is Fargo in?
Two districts: Fargo Public School District 1 runs grades PK–12, and West Fargo Public School District 6 runs grades PK–12, shared with Barnes, Harwood, Harwood, Horace, Mapleton, Raymond, Reed, Reile's Acres, Warren and West Fargo.
Where do Fargo kids go to high school?
One of 4 high schools, depending on your address: Fargo Davies High School, North High School, South High School and Dakota High School.
What is Fargo’s graduation rate?
81% of the class of 2023 in Fargo Public School District 1 graduated in four years, against 83% across North Dakota.
How much does Fargo spend per student?
$18,846 in Fargo Public School District 1 and $14,624 in West Fargo Public School District 6 (FY2024), against $16,642 across North Dakota. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.
Are there private schools in Fargo?
Yes: Jpii Catholic Schools (Catholic, grades PK–12, 1,215 students), Oak Grove Lutheran School (religious, grades K–12, 655 students), Oak Grove Lutheran Elementary School (religious, grades K–5, 318 students), Shanley High School (Catholic, grades 9–12, 316 students), Sacred Heart Middle School (Catholic, grades 6–8, 263 students), Capstone Classical Academy (religious, grades PK–8, 173 students), Grace Lutheran School (religious, grades PK–8, 103 students), Children's Montessori Center (nonsectarian, grades PK–2, 93 students), Holy Spirit Elementary School (Catholic, grades K–5, 67 students) and Full Circle Academy (special education, grades K–5, 5 students).
Parents talk
What Fargo families are saying about school.
Looking for colleges? Colleges near Fargo → They have their own page.
School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within North Dakota. Stars are from neighbors.