Summary:
The Hettinger 13 district is home to a single high school, Hettinger High School, which serves 122 students in grades 7 through 12 in Hettinger, North Dakota.
Hettinger High School is a standout for its exceptional Reading proficiency and high graduation rate, but it faces significant challenges in Math and Science. The school’s Reading proficiency rate of 84.5% is more than double the state average of 40%, and its graduation rate of 95.0% far exceeds the state’s 84.2%. These strengths are supported by a very low student-teacher ratio of 8.9:1 and per-student spending of $13,365, which typically indicate a resource-rich environment. However, the school’s Math proficiency (34.5%) is below the state average (41%), and its Science proficiency (20%) is critically low—half the state average of 38%. This creates a stark “Reading vs. Math & Science” paradox, suggesting the school has a highly effective Reading program but may have gaps in its STEM curriculum. The school’s state ranking has also been volatile, moving from 39th (2022-2023) to 21st (2023-2024) and then to 34th (2024-2025), likely because its overall rank is heavily influenced by its strong Reading scores.
For parents, the key takeaway is that Hettinger High School offers an excellent environment for students who thrive in reading and language arts, with strong support from small class sizes and high graduation rates. However, the school’s below-average performance in Math and Science indicates that students may need additional support or enrichment in STEM subjects. The school’s low free/reduced lunch rate (24.59%) suggests a lower-than-average poverty level among students, and the district’s overall 3-star rating reflects mixed academic results. Parents should consider these subject-specific strengths and weaknesses when evaluating the school for their child’s needs.
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