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Public School Review - Established 2003

Best Bismarck Public Schools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 33 public schools serving 14,294 students in Bismarck, ND (there are 12 private schools, serving 2,341 private students). 85% of all K-12 students in Bismarck, ND are educated in public schools (compared to the ND state average of 92%).
The top-ranked public schools in Bismarck, ND are Prairie Rose Elementary School, Victor Solheim Elementary School and Sunrise Elementary School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Bismarck, ND public schools have an average math proficiency score of 44% (versus the North Dakota public school average of 39%), and reading proficiency score of 45% (versus the 44% statewide average). Schools in Bismarck have an average ranking of 6/10, which is in the top 50% of North Dakota public schools.
Minority enrollment is 26% of the student body (majority American Indian and Hispanic), which is less than the North Dakota public school average of 30% (majority American Indian and Hispanic).

Best Public Schools in Bismarck, ND (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Prairie Rose Elementary School
(Math: 70-79% | Reading: 60-69%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
2200 Oahe Bend
Bismarck, ND 58504
(701) 323-4280
Gr: K-5 | 136 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 13%
Rank: #22.
Victor Solheim Elementary School
(Math: 62% | Reading: 57%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
325 Munich Dr
Bismarck, ND 58504
(701) 323-4260
Gr: K-5 | 588 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 20%
Rank: #33.
Sunrise Elementary School
(Math: 55% | Reading: 52%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
3800 Nickerson Ave
Bismarck, ND 58503
(701) 323-4300
Gr: K-5 | 445 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 18%
Rank: #44.
Highland Acres Elementary School
(Math: 40-49% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
1200 Prairie Dr
Bismarck, ND 58501
(701) 323-4160
Gr: K-5 | 103 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 14%
Rank: #55.
Manning Elementary School
(Math: ≥50% | Reading: ≥50%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
10500 Hwy 1804 S
Bismarck, ND 58504
(701) 223-0082
Gr: K-8 | 12 students Student-teacher ratio: 6:1 Minority enrollment: 8%
Rank: #66.
Liberty Elementary School
(Math: 62% | Reading: 47%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
5400 Onyx Dr
Bismarck, ND 58503
(701) 323-4320
Gr: K-5 | 470 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 15%
Rank: #77.
Century High School
(Math: 39% | Reading: 64%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
1000 E Century Ave
Bismarck, ND 58503
(701) 323-4900
Gr: 9-12 | 1,406 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 18%
Rank: #88.
Centennial Elementary School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 45%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
2800 Ithica Dr
Bismarck, ND 58503
(701) 323-4290
Gr: K-5 | 390 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 26%
Rank: #99.
Naughton Elementary School
(Math: 40-59% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
9101 123rd Ave Ne
Bismarck, ND 58503
(701) 673-3119
Gr: PK-8 | 16 students Student-teacher ratio: 5:1 Minority enrollment: 19%
Rank: #1010.
Roosevelt Elementary School
(Math: 60-69% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
613 W Avenue B
Bismarck, ND 58501
(701) 323-4240
Gr: K-5 | 113 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 26%
Rank: #1111.
Horizon Middle School
(Math: 44% | Reading: 53%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
500 Ash Coulee Dr
Bismarck, ND 58503
(701) 323-4550
Gr: 6-8 | 1,124 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 21%
Rank: #1212.
South Central Alternative High School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
406 S Anderson St
Bismarck, ND 58504
(701) 323-4520
Gr: 9-12 | 97 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 46%
Rank: #1313.
Robert Place Miller Elementary School
(Math: 43% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
1989 N 20th St
Bismarck, ND 58501
(701) 323-4170
Gr: K-5 | 485 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 36%
Rank: #1414.
Lincoln Elementary School
(Math: 51% | Reading: 38%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
3320 Mccurry Way
Bismarck, ND 58504
(701) 323-4310
Gr: K-5 | 605 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 13%
Rank: #1515.
Apple Creek Elementary School
(Math: 21-39% | Reading: 50-59%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
2000 93rd St Se
Bismarck, ND 58504
(701) 223-7349
Gr: PK-5 | 78 students Student-teacher ratio: 8:1 Minority enrollment: 16%
Rank: #1616.
Bismarck High School
(Math: 33% | Reading: 51%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
800 N 8th St
Bismarck, ND 58501
(701) 323-4800
Gr: 9-12 | 1,367 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 28%
Rank: #1717.
Legacy High School
(Math: 29% | Reading: 52%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
3400 E Calgary Ave
Bismarck, ND 58503
(701) 323-4850
Gr: 9-12 | 1,419 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 19%
Rank: #1818.
Northridge Elementary School
(Math: 46% | Reading: 40%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
1727 N 3rd St
Bismarck, ND 58501
(701) 323-4210
Gr: K-5 | 410 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 32%
Rank: #1919.
Grimsrud Elementary School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
716 W St Benedict Dr
Bismarck, ND 58501
(701) 323-4150
Gr: K-5 | 180 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 45%
Rank: #2020.
Rita Murphy Elementary School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 39%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
611 N 31st St
Bismarck, ND 58501
(701) 323-4190
Gr: K-5 | 367 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 30%
Rank: #2121.
Wachter Middle School
(Math: 40% | Reading: 39%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
1107 S 7th St
Bismarck, ND 58504
(701) 323-4650
Gr: 6-8 | 1,012 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 32%
Rank: #2222.
Simle Middle School
(Math: 38% | Reading: 40%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
1218 Simle Dr
Bismarck, ND 58501
(701) 323-4600
Gr: 6-8 | 1,053 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 23%
Rank: #2323.
Pioneer Elementary School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
1400 Braman Ave
Bismarck, ND 58501
(701) 323-4220
Gr: K-5 | 203 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 36%
Rank: #2424.
Dorothy Moses Elementary School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
1312 Columbia Dr
Bismarck, ND 58504
(701) 323-4180
Gr: K-5 | 390 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 58%
Rank: #25 - 2625. - 26.
Jeannette Myhre Elementary School
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
919 S 12th St
Bismarck, ND 58504
(701) 323-4200
Gr: K-5 | 258 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 56%
Rank: #25 - 2625. - 26.
Will-moore Elementary School
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
400 E Ave E
Bismarck, ND 58501
(701) 323-4270
Gr: K-5 | 232 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 54%
Rank: n/an/a
Becep Center
720 N 14th St
Bismarck, ND 58501
(701) 323-4400
Gr: PK | 337 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 48%
Rank: n/an/a
Bismarck Elementary Virtual Academy
806 N Washington St
Bismarck, ND 58501
(701) 323-4101
Gr: K-5
Rank: n/an/a
Bismarck High Virtual Academy
806 N Washington St
Bismarck, ND 58501
(701) 323-4101
Gr: 9-12
Rank: n/an/a
Bismarck Middle Virtual Academy
128 Soo Line Dr
Bismarck, ND 58501
(701) 323-4101
Gr: 6-8
Rank: n/an/a
Elk Ridge Elementary School
4401 Ivory Lane
Bismarck, ND 58503
(701) 323-4230
Gr: K-5 | 510 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 9%
Rank: n/an/a
Silver Ranch Elementary School
4511 Silver Boulevard
Bismarck, ND 58503
(701) 323-4250
Gr: K-5 | 386 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 8%
Rank: n/an/a
Theodore Jamerson Elementary School
3315 University Dr
Bismarck, ND 58504
(701) 221-1800
Gr: K-5 | 102 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked public schools in Bismarck, ND?
The top-ranked public schools in Bismarck, ND include Prairie Rose Elementary School, Victor Solheim Elementary School and Sunrise Elementary School.
How many public schools are located in Bismarck?
33 public schools are located in Bismarck.
What percentage of students in Bismarck go to public school?
85% of all K-12 students in Bismarck are educated in public schools (compared to the ND state average of 92%).
What is the racial composition of students in Bismarck?
Bismarck public schools minority enrollment is 26% of the student body (majority American Indian and Hispanic), which is less than the North Dakota public schools average of 30% (majority American Indian and Hispanic).
Which public schools in Bismarck are often viewed compared to one another?

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