Summary:
The Drayton 19 district is home to a single elementary school, Drayton Elementary School, a small rural institution serving grades PK through 8 with 120 students.
Drayton Elementary School presents a paradox of high resources and low academic outcomes. The school spends a substantial $18,634 per student and maintains a very low student-teacher ratio of 7.8:1, yet it ranks in the bottom 12% of North Dakota schools (191st out of 216) and has earned a 1-star rating. Overall proficiency rates are well below state averages: 29% in math (state: 41%), 19% in reading (state: 40%), and 29.5% in science (state: 38%). The school's state ranking has also been on a steep decline, dropping from the 33rd percentile in 2023-2024 to the 12th percentile in 2024-2025.
The most notable bright spot is an "8th Grade Math Anomaly," where 54.5% of students are proficient—significantly exceeding the state average of 45% and the only instance where the school outperforms the state. Conversely, a "reading crisis" is evident in the upper grades, with only 20% of students proficient in reading for 3rd, 4th, 6th, and 8th grades. The high spending and low student-teacher ratio, which typically correlate with strong performance, are not translating into academic success here, suggesting that funds may not be allocated effectively or that the school faces challenges that money alone cannot solve. This combination of declining performance and high investment makes Drayton Elementary School a school that demands close attention from parents and stakeholders.
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