Summary:
There is one middle school, Central Middle School, serving grades 5 through 8 in the Devils Lake 1 district, which is ranked 114th out of 134 districts in North Dakota.
Central Middle School is facing significant challenges. Its state ranking has dropped sharply over the past three years, falling from a 2-star rating to a 0-star rating, placing it in the 7th percentile statewide. Academic proficiency is below state averages across all subjects, with only 31% of students proficient in Math, 29% in Reading, and 34% in Science, compared to state averages of 41%, 40%, and 38%, respectively. A particularly concerning trend is the "8th grade cliff" in math, where only 20.5% of 8th graders are proficient versus 45% statewide, suggesting a systemic issue with math instruction in the upper grades.
A major factor contributing to these low scores is a chronic absenteeism rate of 30%, which is 10 percentage points higher than the state average. Despite spending $15,559 per student—a significant amount—the school is not achieving strong academic outcomes. This spending-versus-performance paradox raises questions about how funds are allocated. On a positive note, science proficiency (34%) is closer to the state average and actually exceeds the district average (30%), indicating a relative strength. Overall, Central Middle School requires immediate, targeted interventions to address attendance and overhaul math instruction for its older students.
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