Summary:
The Parshall 3 district is home to a single high school, Parshall High School, which serves grades 6 through 12 in the rural community of Parshall, North Dakota. With a total enrollment of 139 students and a low student-teacher ratio of 12.6, the school offers a small, intimate learning environment. The district spends a substantial $22,038 per student, and about 34.5% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch, indicating a moderate level of economic diversity.
Parshall High School is a school of dramatic contrasts and rapid improvement. Its state ranking has soared from the 17th percentile (1-star) in 2022-2023 to the 49th percentile (3-stars) in 2024-2025, placing it nearly in the top half of all North Dakota high schools. The standout strength is Reading, where 64.5% of students are proficient—far exceeding the state average of 40%. However, this success is not mirrored in Math and Science, where proficiency rates are just 20% each, well below state averages. The school's graduation rate of 83.3% is slightly below the state's 84.2%.
The most critical takeaway is the extreme gap between Reading and Math/Science performance, which is three times higher. This suggests a highly effective literacy program that has not yet been replicated in other core subjects. A data anomaly also exists: since Parshall High School is the only school in the district, the district's reported 23% Reading proficiency should match the school's 64.5%, indicating a likely data error. Despite high per-pupil spending, the low Math and Science scores raise questions about resource allocation. The school's rapid upward trajectory is a positive sign, and the key challenge will be to apply the successful Reading strategies to improve Math and Science outcomes for a more balanced and sustainable improvement.
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