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Park River Area Elementary School

Q: Is Park River Area Elementary School a good school?

Park River Area Elementary School ranks 161 st of 216 North Dakota elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-6

161^st

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 216 North Dakota Elementary Schools

Better than 25% of North Dakota elementary schools

Summary

Park River Area Elementary School is a public elementary school serving 284 students in grades PK-6 in Park River, North Dakota. The school is part of the Park River Area 8 school district, which is ranked 19 out of 23 districts in the state and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

While the school has seen a concerning increase in chronic absenteeism rates, rising from 13% in 2021-2022 to 20% in 2024-2025 (significantly higher than the state average of 14%), its academic performance is also a concern. In 2024-2025, only 40% of students were proficient or better in math, compared to the state average of 41%, and the school's reading proficiency rate was 31%, lower than the state's 40%. Additionally, the school has a relatively high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 24.26% to 28.82% over the past few years, suggesting a higher proportion of students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

When compared to nearby elementary schools, such as Midway Elementary School and Minto Elementary School, Park River Area Elementary School appears to be underperforming in several key areas, including test scores and chronic absenteeism rates. The school's lower spending per student compared to some nearby schools, such as Valley-Edinburg Elementary School-Crystal ($20,227) and Fordville-Lankin Elementary School ($23,086), could be a contributing factor to its academic performance.

275

Students ?

9.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

$11,446

Per pupil spending ?

29.1%

Free/discounted lunch ?

704 5th St W
Park River, ND 58270

(701) 284-7164

District: Park River Area 8

Students who attend Park River Area Elementary School usually attend:

High:

Park River Area High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

88.0%

Hispanic:

4.7%

Two or more races:

4.7%

See top rated North Dakota elementary schools

Compare Park River Area Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 60th percentile in 2016 → 25th in 2025

Strengths

✓Small classes — about 9 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 35 percentile points since 2016

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school40%

District avg38%

North Dakota avg40%

161^st of 216

North Dakota public elementary schools ?

Bottom 25%▼ down 42 pts since 2015

From top 32% (2015) to bottom 25% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of North Dakota Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

76^th of 134Park River Area 8 among North Dakota districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Dakota percentile	Rating
2025	33.4	161 of 216	25.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	52.8	92 of 217	57.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	61.0	61 of 215	71.6%	★★★★☆
2022	40.3	146 of 217	32.7%	★★☆☆☆
2021	26.9	173 of 207	16.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2020	58.2	86 of 203	57.6%	★★★☆☆
2019	58.4	86 of 203	57.6%	★★★☆☆
2018	45.8	128 of 202	36.6%	★★☆☆☆
2017	67.8	41 of 199	79.4%	★★★★☆
2016	57.3	78 of 194	59.8%	★★★☆☆
2015	63.4	58 of 181	68.0%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Dakota percentile	Rating
2025	29.5	121 of 143	15.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	57.6	47 of 138	65.9%	★★★☆☆
2023	66.0	35 of 137	74.5%	★★★★☆
2022	46.8	78 of 141	44.7%	★★☆☆☆
2021	23.9	115 of 132	12.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2020	71.5	30 of 132	77.3%	★★★★☆
2019	71.7	30 of 132	77.3%	★★★★☆
2018	68.7	33 of 130	74.6%	★★★★☆
2017	69.7	29 of 128	77.3%	★★★★☆
2016	54.9	58 of 123	52.8%	★★★☆☆
2015	44.3	70 of 109	35.8%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Dakota percentile	Rating
2025	38.1	68 of 101	32.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	41.2	58 of 93	37.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	60.5	22 of 88	75.0%	★★★★☆
2022	42.4	40 of 64	37.5%	★★☆☆☆
2021	35.5	49 of 64	23.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2020	62.7	18 of 88	79.5%	★★★★☆
2019	62.9	18 of 88	79.5%	★★★★☆
2018	62.3	19 of 87	78.2%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Dakota percentile	Rating
2025	38.5	97 of 143	32.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	44.8	77 of 138	44.2%	★★☆☆☆
2023	58.2	50 of 137	63.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	39.9	98 of 141	30.5%	★★☆☆☆
2021	30.6	108 of 132	18.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2020	37.0	88 of 132	33.3%	★★☆☆☆
2019	37.2	88 of 132	33.3%	★★☆☆☆
2018	44.4	81 of 130	37.7%	★★☆☆☆
2017	68.5	22 of 128	82.8%	★★★★☆
2016	62.9	40 of 123	67.5%	★★★☆☆
2015	74.0	16 of 109	85.3%	★★★★☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)33rd percentile+7 vs school

Male (2025)32nd percentile+7 vs school

Female (2025)15th percentile-10 vs school

By subject vs North Dakota (2024-2025) ?

Science49%+11 vs state

Math40%~ state avg

Reading31%-9 vs state

★

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Schools Near Park River Area Elementary School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				A-Plus Math (2025)							A-Plus Reading (2025)							A-Plus Science (2025)			Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	A-Plus Math 3rd Grade	A-Plus Math 4th Grade	A-Plus Math 5th Grade	A-Plus Math 6th Grade	A-Plus Math 7th Grade	A-Plus Math 8th Grade	A-Plus Math All Grades	A-Plus Reading 3rd Grade	A-Plus Reading 4th Grade	A-Plus Reading 5th Grade	A-Plus Reading 6th Grade	A-Plus Reading 7th Grade	A-Plus Reading 8th Grade	A-Plus Reading All Grades	A-Plus Science 4th Grade	A-Plus Science 8th Grade	A-Plus Science All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Park River Area Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	704 5th St W	Park River	58270	Walsh County	Park River Area 8	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(701) 284-7164	275	30	9.0	29.1%	242 (88.0%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (4.7%)	3 (1.1%)	4 (1.5%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (4.7%)	33.4	161^st of 216 public elementary schools	25.5%		52.8	92^nd of 217 public elementary schools	57.6%	69	19.5	29.0	29.5	69.0	49.0	59.0	40.0	19.5	29.5	29.5	49.5	39.5	49.5	31.0	49.0	59.0	49.0	$11,446	$1,193	$10,252
Valley-Edinburg Elementary School-Hoople	Public	PK, KG-2	2040 Myrtle Ave	Hoople	58243	Walsh County	Valley-Edinburg 118	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(701) 894-6226	65	8	8.1	27.7%	51 (78.5%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (15.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.5%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (4.6%)								(n/a)																		$16,331	$1,311	$15,020
Fordville-Lankin Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	102 Main St N	Fordville	58231	Walsh County	Fordville-Lankin 5	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(701) 229-3297	36	8	4.6	33.3%	31 (86.1%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (13.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)							34.5							34.5				$31,515	$00	$31,515
Valley-Edinburg Elementary School-Crystal	Public	3-6	4013 Euclid Ave	Crystal	58222	Pembina County	Valley-Edinburg 118	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(701) 657-2163	79	7	11.2	38.0%	70 (88.6%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (11.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	44.7	121^st of 216 public elementary schools	44.0%		54.4	89^th of 217 public elementary schools	59.0%	32	69.0	19.5	34.5	20.0	59.0	44.5	44.0	74.5	49.5	44.5	44.5	64.5	64.5	49.0	10.0	54.5	19.5	$13,468	$1,214	$12,254
Century Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	1540 school road	Grafton	58237	Walsh County	Grafton 18	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(701) 352-1930	532	60	8.8	48.5%	299 (56.2%)	8 (1.5%)	195 (36.7%)	3 (0.6%)	11 (2.1%)	3 (0.6%)	13 (2.4%)	19.4	195^th of 216 public elementary schools	9.7%		23.1	191^st of 217 public elementary schools	12.0%	4	14.0	14.0	29.0	14.0			18.0	39.0	29.0	39.0	29.0			33.0	34.0		34.0	$11,703	$1,991	$9,712
Minto Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	200 4th St	Minto	58261	Walsh County	Minto 20	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(701) 248-3479	220	26	8.4	43.6%	132 (60.0%)	2 (0.9%)	78 (35.5%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (2.3%)	38.9	143^rd of 216 public elementary schools	33.8%		19	202^nd of 217 public elementary schools	6.9%	59	44.5	34.5	19.5	49.0	34.5	44.5	39.0	54.5	44.5	29.5	20.0	54.5	44.5	35.5	44.5	59.0	49.0	$12,262	$997	$11,265
Midway Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	3202 33rd Ave NE	Inkster	58233	Grand Forks County	Midway 128	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(701) 869-2432	141	16	8.7	28.4%	115 (81.6%)	1 (0.7%)	23 (16.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.7%)	60.2	72^nd of 216 public elementary schools	66.7%		63.9	59^th of 217 public elementary schools	72.8%	13	59.0	59.0	44.5		69.0		44.0	44.5	74.5	34.5		64.5		49.0	34.5		29.5	$16,962	$2,053	$14,909

IMPORTANT NOTE: North Dakota does not publish exact assessment percentages; instead, results are reported as ranges (e.g., 20-29%) to protect student privacy in smaller groups. The proficiency rates displayed on SchoolDigger are calculated using midpoint imputation—the center value of each reported range. Actual values may differ by up to 5 percentage points from the figures shown.

Frequently Asked Questions about Park River Area Elementary School

What is the racial makeup of Park River Area Elementary School?

Students at Park River Area Elementary School are 88% White, 5% Hispanic, 5% Two or more races, 1% American Indian, 1% Asian.

What schools do graduates of Park River Area Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Park River Area Elementary School usually go on to attend:

High : Park River Area High School

How many students attend Park River Area Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 275 students attended Park River Area Elementary School.

Is Park River Area Elementary School a good school?

Park River Area Elementary School ranks 161^st of 216 North Dakota elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

What district is Park River Area Elementary School in?

Park River Area 8

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction.

About North Dakota Assessment Data: To protect student privacy, the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction reports assessment results as percentage ranges rather than exact values. SchoolDigger calculates proficiency rates using midpoint imputation, which uses the center value of each reported range. For example, a reported range of 20-29% is represented as 24.5%. As a result, the proficiency rates shown may vary by approximately ±5 percentage points from actual values. This variance is most significant for individual grade/subject combinations and diminishes when data is aggregated across multiple grades or subjects.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.