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J Nelson Kelly Elementary School

Public Grades PK, KG-5

5^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 216 North Dakota Elementary Schools

Better than 98% of North Dakota elementary schools

Summary

J Nelson Kelly Elementary School is a public elementary school serving 494 students in grades PK-5 in Grand Forks, North Dakota, a city ranked 10th out of 23 districts in the state. This school consistently ranks among the top elementary schools in North Dakota, with students demonstrating significantly higher proficiency rates in math and reading compared to the district and state averages.

J Nelson Kelly Elementary stands out for its strong academic performance, with 67% of its students proficient or better in math in the 2024-2025 school year, compared to 43% for the Grand Forks 1 district and 41% statewide. The school also has a relatively low percentage of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, at around 16% in recent years, which is significantly lower than many of the nearby schools. Additionally, J Nelson Kelly spends more per student than the district and state averages, with per-student spending ranging from $10,526 to $12,918 over the past 4 years.

While J Nelson Kelly is a top-performing school, the nearby schools in the Grand Forks 1 district have more varied performance. Some, like Ben Franklin Elementary, also rank highly, while others, such as Wilder Elementary and Century Elementary, struggle with lower rankings and test scores. Additionally, the school's high chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 11% to 23% in recent years, are a concern that warrants further investigation.

482

Students ?

12.9

Student/teacher ratio ?

$14,922

Per pupil spending ?

13.9%

Free/discounted lunch ?

3000 Cherry St
Grand Forks, ND 58201

(701) 746-2265

District: Grand Forks 1

Students who attend J Nelson Kelly Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Schroeder Middle School
High:	Red River High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

83.4%

Hispanic:

5.4%

Two or more races:

5.4%

See top rated North Dakota elementary schools

Compare J Nelson Kelly Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 90th percentile in 2016 → 98th in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the North Dakota average (67% vs 40% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 2% of North Dakota elementary schools

✓Ranking is trending up — up 8 percentile points since 2016

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school67%

District avg43%

North Dakota avg40%

5^th of 216

North Dakota public elementary schools ?

Top 2%▬ steady since 2015

See the entire ranking list of North Dakota Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

1^st of 11Elementary Schools in the Grand Forks 1

69^th of 134Grand Forks 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	90.3	5 of 216	97.7%	★★★★★
2024	92.0	5 of 217	97.7%	★★★★★
2023	90.0	5 of 215	97.7%	★★★★★
2022	78.7	24 of 217	88.9%	★★★★☆
2021	74.8	31 of 207	85.0%	★★★★☆
2020	82.9	7 of 203	96.6%	★★★★★
2019	83.0	7 of 203	96.6%	★★★★★
2018	83.1	8 of 202	96.0%	★★★★★
2017	81.9	11 of 199	94.5%	★★★★★
2016	78.2	20 of 194	89.7%	★★★★★
2015	91.2	4 of 181	97.8%	★★★★★
2014	79.3	15 of 217	93.1%	★★★★★
2013	76.9	25 of 217	88.5%	★★★★☆
2012	63.0	71 of 195	63.6%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Dakota percentile	Rating
2025	88.3	2 of 143	98.6%	★★★★★
2024	88.8	5 of 138	96.4%	★★★★★
2023	93.2	4 of 137	97.1%	★★★★★
2022	83.6	11 of 141	92.2%	★★★★★
2021	62.9	41 of 132	68.9%	★★★★☆
2020	88.9	5 of 132	96.2%	★★★★★
2019	88.9	5 of 132	96.2%	★★★★★
2018	84.4	4 of 130	96.9%	★★★★★
2017	73.8	23 of 128	82.0%	★★★★☆
2016	73.1	21 of 123	82.9%	★★★★☆
2015	86.3	8 of 109	92.7%	★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Dakota percentile	Rating
2025	81.4	5 of 101	95.0%	★★★★★
2024	67.7	15 of 93	83.9%	★★★★☆
2023	45.5	46 of 88	47.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	62.7	13 of 64	79.7%	★★★★☆
2020	88.2	2 of 88	97.7%	★★★★★
2019	88.2	2 of 88	97.7%	★★★★★
2018	83.1	5 of 87	94.3%	★★★★★
2017	68.4	12 of 81	85.2%	★★★★☆
2016	58.7	26 of 74	64.9%	★★★☆☆
2015	52.5	26 of 65	60.0%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Dakota percentile	Rating
2025	92.7	1 of 143	99.3%	★★★★★
2024	88.9	6 of 138	95.7%	★★★★★
2023	84.1	10 of 137	92.7%	★★★★★
2022	78.3	12 of 141	91.5%	★★★★★
2021	81.0	9 of 132	93.2%	★★★★★
2020	74.9	16 of 132	87.9%	★★★★☆
2019	75.0	16 of 132	87.9%	★★★★☆
2018	88.8	6 of 130	95.4%	★★★★★
2017	88.0	3 of 128	97.7%	★★★★★
2016	81.5	8 of 123	93.5%	★★★★★
2015	89.5	2 of 109	98.2%	★★★★★

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Dakota percentile	Rating
2025	97.5	1 of 83	98.8%	★★★★★
2024	96.8	1 of 79	98.7%	★★★★★
2023	97.4	2 of 71	97.2%	★★★★★
2022	80.4	7 of 75	90.7%	★★★★★
2020	89.2	2 of 66	97.0%	★★★★★
2019	89.3	2 of 66	97.0%	★★★★★
2015	91.1	2 of 40	95.0%	★★★★★

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)

Male (2025)99th percentile~ school

White (2025)99th percentile~ school

Female (2025)99th percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)95th percentile-3 vs school

By subject vs North Dakota (2024-2025) ?

Science69%+31 vs state

Math67%+26 vs state

Reading64%+24 vs state

★

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Schools Near J Nelson Kelly 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 All Grades	A-Plus Reading 3rd Grade	A-Plus Reading 4th Grade	A-Plus Reading 5th Grade	A-Plus Reading All Grades	A-Plus Science 4th Grade	A-Plus Science All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
J Nelson Kelly Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	3000 Cherry St	Grand Forks	58201	Grand Forks County	Grand Forks 1	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(701) 746-2265	482	37	12.9	13.9%	402 (83.4%)	15 (3.1%)	26 (5.4%)	7 (1.5%)	5 (1.0%)	1 (0.2%)	26 (5.4%)	90.3	5^th of 216 public elementary schools	97.7%		92	5^th of 217 public elementary schools	97.7%		59.0	69.0	74.0	67.0	54.0	64.0	69.0	64.0	69.0	69.0	$14,922	$608	$14,314
Viking Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	809 22nd Ave S	Grand Forks	58201	Grand Forks County	Grand Forks 1	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(701) 746-2300	328	41	7.9	42.1%	215 (65.5%)	24 (7.3%)	34 (10.4%)	13 (4.0%)	14 (4.3%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (8.5%)	41.4	132^nd of 216 public elementary schools	38.9%		59.3	76^th of 217 public elementary schools	65.0%	56	34.0	34.0	49.0	34.0	24.0	49.0	39.0	40.5	44.0	44.0	$16,088	$1,396	$14,691
Lewis And Clark Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1100 13th Ave S	Grand Forks	58201	Grand Forks County	Grand Forks 1	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(701) 746-2285	178	13	13.6	40.4%	130 (73.0%)	2 (1.1%)	19 (10.7%)	1 (0.6%)	2 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	24 (13.5%)	46.4	115^th of 216 public elementary schools	46.8%		56.9	81^st of 217 public elementary schools	62.7%	34	39.0	19.5	59.0	44.0	29.5	49.5	49.5	39.0	39.0	39.0	$20,772	$1,735	$19,037
Ben Franklin Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1016 S 20th St	Grand Forks	58201	Grand Forks County	Grand Forks 1	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(701) 746-2250	367	30	12.1	33.2%	257 (70.0%)	17 (4.6%)	36 (9.8%)	5 (1.4%)	16 (4.4%)	1 (0.3%)	35 (9.5%)	44.5	123^rd of 216 public elementary schools	43.1%		31.8	166^th of 217 public elementary schools	23.5%	43	39.0	44.0	54.0	44.0	44.0	34.0	39.0	39.0	34.0	34.0	$17,332	$1,548	$15,785
Phoenix Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	351 4th Ave S	Grand Forks	58201	Grand Forks County	Grand Forks 1	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(701) 746-2240	235	24	9.6	50.6%	155 (66.0%)	10 (4.3%)	28 (11.9%)	1 (0.4%)	10 (4.3%)	0 (0.0%)	31 (13.2%)	54	88^th of 216 public elementary schools	59.3%		42.7	131^st of 217 public elementary schools	39.6%	43	29.0	49.0	49.0	44.0	49.5	39.5	59.0	49.0	39.0	39.0	$24,237	$2,174	$22,063
Discovery Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	3300 43rd Ave S	Grand Forks	58201	Grand Forks County	Grand Forks 1	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(701) 787-4359	567	32	17.7	12.3%	420 (74.1%)	48 (8.5%)	30 (5.3%)	25 (4.4%)	5 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	39 (6.9%)	84.5	12^th of 216 public elementary schools	94.4%		84.6	13^th of 217 public elementary schools	94.0%	1	59.0	74.0	64.0	64.0	54.0	59.0	54.0	56.0	59.0	59.0	$14,213	$443	$13,770
Century Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	3351 17th Ave S	Grand Forks	58201	Grand Forks County	Grand Forks 1	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(701) 746-2440	493	42	11.7	54.0%	212 (43.0%)	83 (16.8%)	74 (15.0%)	46 (9.3%)	23 (4.7%)	1 (0.2%)	54 (11.0%)	35.2	154^th of 216 public elementary schools	28.7%		33.8	160^th of 217 public elementary schools	26.3%	6	39.0	29.0	44.0	36.0	39.0	34.0	34.0	34.0	39.0	39.0	$16,909	$1,731	$15,178
Winship Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1412 5th Ave N	Grand Forks	58203	Grand Forks County	Grand Forks 1	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(701) 746-2325	212	24	8.9	67.5%	86 (40.6%)	20 (9.4%)	61 (28.8%)	17 (8.0%)	13 (6.1%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (7.1%)	41.1	133^rd of 216 public elementary schools	38.4%		34.7	157^th of 217 public elementary schools	27.6%	24	39.0	49.0	39.0	44.0	29.5	49.5	29.0	35.5	39.5	39.5	$19,770	$2,231	$17,539
Wilder Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1009 N 3rd St	Grand Forks	58203	Grand Forks County	Grand Forks 1	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(701) 746-2320	184	19	9.8	63.6%	99 (53.8%)	5 (2.7%)	30 (16.3%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (10.3%)	0 (0.0%)	31 (16.8%)	33.6	160^th of 216 public elementary schools	25.9%		42.6	133^rd of 217 public elementary schools	38.7%	27	19.5	39.0	29.0	29.0	29.5	39.5	29.5	29.0	59.0	59.0	$18,489	$2,306	$16,183
Lake Agassiz Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	605 Stanford Rd	Grand Forks	58203	Grand Forks County	Grand Forks 1	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(701) 746-2275	464	37	12.6	61.6%	178 (38.4%)	82 (17.7%)	86 (18.5%)	26 (5.6%)	35 (7.5%)	1 (0.2%)	56 (12.1%)	12.3	209^th of 216 public elementary schools	3.2%		14.3	205^th of 217 public elementary schools	5.5%	4	24.0	29.0	19.0	19.0	24.0	24.0	19.0	23.0	29.0	29.0	$17,672	$1,914	$15,759

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 J Nelson Kelly Elementary School

What schools do graduates of J Nelson Kelly Elementary School attend?

Students who attend J Nelson Kelly Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Schroeder Middle School
High : Red River High School

How many students attend J Nelson Kelly Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 482 students attended J Nelson Kelly Elementary School.

What district is J Nelson Kelly Elementary School in?

Grand Forks 1

Is J Nelson Kelly Elementary School a good school?

Yes! J Nelson Kelly Elementary School is one of the best elementary schools in the state. It ranks 5^th of 216 North Dakota elementary schools.

What is the racial makeup of J Nelson Kelly Elementary School?

Students at J Nelson Kelly Elementary School are 83% White, 5% Hispanic, 5% Two or more races, 3% African American, 1% Asian, 1% American Indian.

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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.