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Discovery Middle School

Q: Is Discovery Middle School a good school?

Discovery Middle School ranks 30 th of 59 North Dakota middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 6-8

30^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 59 North Dakota Middle Schools

Better than 49% of North Dakota middle schools

Summary

Discovery Middle School is a public middle school located in Fargo, North Dakota, serving 1,005 students in grades 6-8. As part of the Fargo 1 School District, Discovery Middle School has consistently been one of the top-performing middle schools in the state, ranking within the top 5 schools for several years.

Discovery Middle School's academic performance is exceptional, with students consistently outperforming the Fargo 1 district and the state of North Dakota in standardized test scores across all grade levels and subject areas. For example, in the 2024-2025 school year, 49% of Discovery Middle School students were proficient or better in math, compared to 41% for the Fargo 1 district and the state. In reading, 44% of Discovery Middle School students were proficient or better, compared to 38% for the district and 40% for the state. The school also excels in supporting the academic achievement of various student subgroups, ranking highly among middle schools in the state.

Compared to other middle schools in the Fargo 1 district, such as Ben Franklin Middle School and Carl Ben Eielson Middle School, Discovery Middle School stands out as a high-performing institution with lower dropout rates and chronic absenteeism. Despite having a higher percentage of low socioeconomic status students compared to the state average, Discovery Middle School is able to maintain strong academic outcomes, likely due to its effective strategies and the high level of funding and resources available to the school.

992

Students ?

13.3

Student/teacher ratio ?

$15,491

Per pupil spending ?

29.4%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1717 40th Ave S
Fargo, ND 58104

(701) 446-3300

District: Fargo 1

Students who attend Discovery Middle School usually attend:

High:

Fargo Davies High School

Feeder schools for Discovery Middle School:

Elementary:	Bennett Elementary School
	Centennial Elementary School
	Eagles Elementary School
	Kennedy Elementary School

Racial breakdown:

White:

62.8%

African American:

19.3%

Asian:

6.0%

See top rated North Dakota middle schools

Compare Discovery Middle School to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 91st percentile in 2016 → 49th in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the North Dakota average (46% vs 40% meeting standards)

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 42 percentile points since 2016

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school46%

District avg38%

North Dakota avg40%

30^th of 59

North Dakota public middle schools ?

Bottom 49%▼ down 47 pts since 2015

From top 4% (2015) to bottom 49% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of North Dakota Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

1^st of 3Middle Schools in the Fargo 1

104^th of 134Fargo 1 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	51.1	30 of 59	49.2%	★★★☆☆
2024	63.2	14 of 57	75.4%	★★★★☆
2023	62.0	14 of 61	77.0%	★★★★☆
2022	63.6	13 of 61	78.7%	★★★★☆
2021	69.4	10 of 60	83.3%	★★★★☆
2020	70.2	10 of 55	81.8%	★★★★☆
2019	70.0	10 of 55	81.8%	★★★★☆
2018	74.6	4 of 55	92.7%	★★★★★
2017	78.6	5 of 52	90.4%	★★★★★
2016	79.5	5 of 53	90.6%	★★★★★
2015	75.0	2 of 52	96.2%	★★★★★
2014	57.8	70 of 136	48.5%	★★★☆☆
2013	58.1	61 of 135	54.8%	★★★☆☆
2012	57.0	59 of 124	52.4%	★★★☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Dakota percentile	Rating
2025	43.4	11 of 15	26.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	35.7	15 of 17	11.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	35.2	11 of 15	26.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	43.5	9 of 14	35.7%	★★★☆☆
2021	61.6	5 of 13	61.5%	★★★★☆
2020	68.7	2 of 11	81.8%	★★★★★
2019	67.4	1 of 9	88.9%	★★★★★
2018	67.9	3 of 12	75.0%	★★★★☆
2017	52.1	5 of 10	50.0%	★★★☆☆
2016	62.9	2 of 10	80.0%	★★★★☆
2015	42.7	5 of 7	28.6%	★★★☆☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Dakota percentile	Rating
2025	55.7	2 of 3	33.3%	★★★★☆
2024	72.0	1 of 4	75.0%	★★★★★
2023	69.1	1 of 5	80.0%	★★★★★
2022	54.5	2 of 4	50.0%	★★★★☆
2021	85.0	1 of 4	75.0%	★★★★★
2017	73.1	1 of 5	80.0%	★★★★★
2016	90.7	1 of 4	75.0%	★★★★★

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Dakota percentile	Rating
2025	52.4	7 of 12	41.7%	★★★☆☆
2024	64.8	3 of 11	72.7%	★★★★☆
2023	48.5	7 of 9	22.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	52.9	5 of 9	44.4%	★★★☆☆
2021	50.1	3 of 7	57.1%	★★★★☆
2020	31.5	6 of 7	14.3%	★★☆☆☆
2019	31.5	6 of 7	14.3%	★★☆☆☆
2018	60.3	1 of 4	75.0%	★★★★★
2017	63.4	3 of 5	40.0%	★★★★☆
2016	45.2	2 of 5	60.0%	★★★★☆
2015	78.6	1 of 4	75.0%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Dakota percentile	Rating
2025	47.5	18 of 37	51.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	56.4	14 of 36	61.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	57.7	12 of 39	69.2%	★★★★☆
2022	59.9	11 of 37	70.3%	★★★★☆
2021	69.1	8 of 37	78.4%	★★★★☆
2020	67.6	7 of 34	79.4%	★★★★☆
2019	67.0	7 of 34	79.4%	★★★★☆
2018	67.5	5 of 31	83.9%	★★★★☆
2017	77.1	1 of 34	97.1%	★★★★★
2016	78.7	3 of 32	90.6%	★★★★★
2015	71.7	4 of 30	86.7%	★★★★☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Dakota percentile	Rating
2024	37.3	10 of 14	28.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	53.2	7 of 14	50.0%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Dakota percentile	Rating
2025	30.4	23 of 31	25.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	52.1	10 of 28	64.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	47.6	12 of 28	57.1%	★★★☆☆
2022	48.2	11 of 24	54.2%	★★★☆☆
2021	47.6	12 of 24	50.0%	★★★☆☆
2020	39.9	15 of 26	42.3%	★★★☆☆
2019	39.3	15 of 26	42.3%	★★★☆☆
2018	46.9	11 of 25	56.0%	★★★☆☆
2017	30.0	20 of 25	20.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	41.4	12 of 23	47.8%	★★★☆☆
2015	44.7	14 of 23	39.1%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Dakota percentile	Rating
2025	53.9	18 of 37	51.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	63.9	10 of 36	72.2%	★★★★☆
2023	64.3	7 of 39	82.1%	★★★★☆
2022	71.2	5 of 37	86.5%	★★★★☆
2021	80.3	2 of 37	94.6%	★★★★★
2020	74.6	5 of 34	85.3%	★★★★☆
2019	74.3	5 of 34	85.3%	★★★★☆
2018	80.3	3 of 31	90.3%	★★★★★
2017	77.4	3 of 34	91.2%	★★★★★
2016	79.7	2 of 32	93.8%	★★★★★
2015	77.0	2 of 30	93.3%	★★★★★

Native American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Dakota percentile	Rating
2024	64.5	2 of 12	83.3%	★★★★★

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Dakota percentile	Rating
2025	67.8	8 of 23	65.2%	★★★★☆
2024	80.3	2 of 24	91.7%	★★★★★
2023	78.1	3 of 22	86.4%	★★★★★
2022	79.8	2 of 24	91.7%	★★★★★
2021	86.4	2 of 22	90.9%	★★★★★
2020	79.7	2 of 21	90.5%	★★★★★
2019	79.7	2 of 21	90.5%	★★★★★
2018	86.7	1 of 20	95.0%	★★★★★
2017	93.3	1 of 19	94.7%	★★★★★
2016	93.1	1 of 19	94.7%	★★★★★
2015	84.4	2 of 18	88.9%	★★★★★

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)

Native American (2024)83rd percentile+8 vs school

White (2025)65th percentile+16 vs school

Female (2025)51st percentile~ school

Male (2025)51st percentile~ school

English Language Learner (2025)42nd percentile-7 vs school

Asian (2025)33rd percentile-16 vs school

Hispanic (2024)29th percentile-47 vs school

African American (2025)27th percentile-22 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)26th percentile-23 vs school

By subject vs North Dakota (2024-2025) ?

Math49%+8 vs state

Science46%+8 vs state

Reading44%+4 vs state

3.0

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What people are saying

by a parent
Sunday, February 4, 2024

Good

Schools Near Discovery Middle 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 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 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 8th Grade	A-Plus Science All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Discovery Middle School	Public	6-8	1717 40th Ave S	Fargo	58104	Cass County	Fargo 1	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(701) 446-3300	992	74	13.3	29.4%	623 (62.8%)	191 (19.3%)	58 (5.8%)	60 (6.0%)	15 (1.5%)	1 (0.1%)	44 (4.4%)	51.1	30^th of 59 public middle schools	49.2%		63.2	14^th of 57 public middle schools	75.4%	16		50.0	47.0	50.0	49.0		40.0	42.0	49.0	44.0	46.0	46.0	$15,491	$618	$14,873
Carl Ben Eielson Middle School	Public	6-8	1601 13th Ave S	Fargo	58103	Cass County	Fargo 1	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(701) 446-1700	677	58	11.5	45.5%	387 (57.2%)	116 (17.1%)	81 (12.0%)	32 (4.7%)	23 (3.4%)	1 (0.1%)	37 (5.5%)	35.3	41^st of 59 public middle schools	30.5%		31.6	39^th of 57 public middle schools	31.6%	2		35.0	41.0	44.0	39.0		25.0	39.0	44.0	34.0	44.0	44.0	$16,015	$895	$15,120
Self-Directed Academy	Public	6-8	1305 9th Avenue South	Fargo	58103	Cass County	Fargo 1	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(701) 446-3000	16	7	2.2		12 (75.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (12.5%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (6.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (6.3%)								(n/a)					44.5					64.5			$37,225	$453	$36,772
Liberty Middle School	Public	6-8	801 36th Ave E	West Fargo	58078	Cass County	West Fargo 6	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(701) 356-2671	1,103	106	10.4	24.8%	736 (66.7%)	209 (18.9%)	52 (4.7%)	48 (4.4%)	17 (1.5%)	0 (0.0%)	41 (3.7%)	55.3	22^nd of 59 public middle schools	62.7%		47.5	27^th of 57 public middle schools	52.6%	5		53.0	53.0	47.0	51.0		33.0	48.0	50.0	43.0	50.0	50.0	$13,165	$874	$12,291
Cheney Middle School	Public	6-8	825 17th Ave E	West Fargo	58078	Cass County	West Fargo 6	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(701) 356-2090	1,006	86	11.6	40.8%	636 (63.2%)	173 (17.2%)	72 (7.2%)	35 (3.5%)	32 (3.2%)	6 (0.6%)	52 (5.2%)	42.1	38^th of 59 public middle schools	35.6%		40.6	34^th of 57 public middle schools	40.4%	4		48.0	50.0	47.0	48.0		31.0	40.0	40.0	37.0	43.0	43.0	$14,186	$961	$13,226
Heritage Middle School	Public	6-8	6350 76th Ave S	Horace	58047	Cass County	West Fargo 6	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(701) 356-5910	799	79	10.1	12.6%	681 (85.2%)	50 (6.3%)	17 (2.1%)	10 (1.3%)	3 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	38 (4.8%)	68.5	9^th of 59 public middle schools	84.7%		41.4	32^nd of 57 public middle schools	43.9%	23		64.0	63.0	51.0	59.0		56.0	52.0	46.0	51.0	47.0	47.0	$12,317	$937	$11,381
Ben Franklin Middle School	Public	6-8	1420 8th St N	Fargo	58102	Cass County	Fargo 1	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(701) 446-3600	873	72	12.1	33.6%	624 (71.5%)	73 (8.4%)	65 (7.4%)	23 (2.6%)	33 (3.8%)	0 (0.0%)	55 (6.3%)	45.4	36^th of 59 public middle schools	39.0%		51.1	23^rd of 57 public middle schools	59.6%	13		52.0	45.0	43.0	47.0		38.0	36.0	43.0	38.0	52.0	52.0	$14,912	$681	$14,231
West Fargo Middle Virtual Academy	Public, Virtual	6-8	207 Main Ave W	West Fargo	58078	Cass County	West Fargo 6	(n/a)	(n/a)	Yes	No	(701) 356-2001	13				7 (53.8%)	4 (30.8%)	1 (7.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (7.7%)								(n/a)													$11,073	$844	$10,229
Kindred Middle School	Public	6-8	255 Dakota Street	Kindred	58051	Cass County	Kindred 2	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(701) 428-3177	205	19	10.7	4.9%	197 (96.1%)	2 (1.0%)	4 (2.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)		74.0	69.0	59.0	66.0		59.0	54.0	39.0	50.0	34.0	34.0	$7,972	$00	$7,972
Central Cass Middle School	Public	5-8	802 5th St N	Casselton	58012	Cass County	Central Cass 17	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(701) 347-5352	343	20	17.4	13.1%	331 (96.5%)	2 (0.6%)	4 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.9%)	76.7	4^th of 59 public middle schools	93.2%		74.2	3^rd of 57 public middle schools	94.7%	1	44.0	64.0	59.0	54.0	56.0	34.0	54.0	64.0	54.0	51.0	54.0	54.0	$11,665	$441	$11,224

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 Discovery Middle School

What is the racial makeup of Discovery Middle School?

Students at Discovery Middle School are 63% White, 19% African American, 6% Asian, 6% Hispanic, 4% Two or more races, 2% American Indian.

Is Discovery Middle School a good school?

Discovery Middle School ranks 30^th of 59 North Dakota middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What high school do graduates of Discovery Middle School attend?

Students who attend Discovery Middle School usually go on to attend Fargo Davies High School

What district is Discovery Middle School in?

Fargo 1

How many students attend Discovery Middle School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 992 students attended Discovery Middle School.

Rate Discovery Middle School!

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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.