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Custer Elementary School

Q: Is Custer Elementary School a good school?

Custer Elementary School ranks 129 th of 216 North Dakota elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Q: How many students attend Custer Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 126 students attended Custer Elementary School.

Q: What is the racial makeup of Custer Elementary School?

Students at Custer Elementary School are 60% White, 15% Hispanic, 13% American Indian, 6% Two or more races, 4% African American, 2% Asian.

Q: What schools do graduates of Custer Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Custer Elementary School usually go on to attend: Middle : Mandan Middle School High : Mandan High School

Public Grades PK, KG-5

129^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 216 North Dakota Elementary Schools

Better than 40% of North Dakota elementary schools

Summary

Custer Elementary School is a public elementary school located in Mandan, North Dakota, serving grades PK-5 with 129 students. It is part of the Mandan 1 School District, which is ranked 66 out of 134 districts in the state and has a 3-star rating from SchoolDigger. Over the past 10 years, Custer Elementary has consistently ranked in the bottom half of Custer Elementary School elementary schools in North Dakota, with a 1-2 star rating from SchoolDigger.

Custer Elementary consistently underperforms compared to the Mandan 1 district and the state of North Dakota in both math and reading proficiency across all grade levels. For example, in 2024-2025, only 34% of Custer students were proficient in math compared to 45% for the district and 41% for the state. The school also has significant achievement gaps between different student subgroups, with male students outperforming female students and white students outperforming low-socioeconomic status students. Additionally, Custer Elementary has very high rates of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, reaching over 73% in 2023-2024, which is significantly higher than the nearby Ft. Lincoln Elementary (16%) and Lakewood Elementary (42%).

Despite spending significantly more per student ($17,396 in 2021-2022) compared to the higher-performing Ft. Lincoln Elementary ($10,416) and Roosevelt Elementary ($12,602), Custer Elementary's performance has steadily declined over the past 10 years, dropping from a 1-star rating in 2015-2016 to a 2-star rating in recent years. This is in contrast to some nearby schools like Ft. Lincoln and Roosevelt, which have maintained 3-star ratings. When comparing Custer Elementary to schools in the neighboring Bismarck district, the performance gap is even more pronounced, with Elk Ridge Elementary in Bismarck outperforming Custer Elementary by over 30 percentage points in math and reading proficiency.

126

Students ?

9.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

$19,008

Per pupil spending ?

75.4%

Free/discounted lunch ?

205 8th Ave NE
Mandan, ND 58554

(701) 751-6503

District: Mandan 1

Students who attend Custer Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Mandan Middle School
High:	Mandan High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

59.5%

Hispanic:

15.1%

American Indian:

12.7%

See top rated North Dakota elementary schools

Compare Custer Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 7th percentile in 2016 → 40th in 2025

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 33 percentile points since 2016

✓Small classes — about 10 students per teacher

Worth a look

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

!Reading scores 11 pts below the North Dakota average

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school37%

District avg44%

North Dakota avg40%

129^th of 216

North Dakota public elementary schools ?

Bottom 40%▲ up 33 pts since 2016

From bottom 7% (2016) to bottom 40% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of North Dakota Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

5^th of 7Elementary Schools in the Mandan 1

66^th of 134Mandan 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	43.1	129 of 216	40.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	36.7	151 of 217	30.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	37.7	149 of 215	30.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	39.2	149 of 217	31.3%	★★☆☆☆
2021	25.9	176 of 207	15.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2020	30.0	169 of 203	16.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	30.1	169 of 203	16.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	26.7	176 of 202	12.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	30.3	168 of 199	15.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	21.0	180 of 194	7.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2014	45.7	148 of 217	31.8%	★★☆☆☆
2013	49.2	138 of 217	36.4%	★★☆☆☆
2012	43.8	144 of 195	26.2%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Dakota percentile	Rating
2025	36.3	104 of 143	27.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	37.8	98 of 130	24.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	55.9	60 of 128	53.1%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Dakota percentile	Rating
2020	13.3	88 of 88	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	13.3	88 of 88	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Dakota percentile	Rating
2025	56.7	53 of 143	62.9%	★★★☆☆
2018	33.0	106 of 130	18.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	24.4	117 of 128	8.6%	☆☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Dakota percentile	Rating
2025	26.0	74 of 83	10.8%	★☆☆☆☆

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)63rd percentile+23 vs school

Female (2025)27th percentile-13 vs school

White (2025)11th percentile-29 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2020)<1st percentile-17 vs school

By subject vs North Dakota (2024-2025) ?

Science49%+11 vs state

Math34%-7 vs state

Reading29%-11 vs state

★

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Schools Near Custer 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
Custer Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	205 8th Ave NE	Mandan	58554	Morton County	Mandan 1	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(701) 751-6503	126	13	9.6	75.4%	75 (59.5%)	5 (4.0%)	19 (15.1%)	2 (1.6%)	16 (12.7%)	1 (0.8%)	8 (6.3%)	43.1	129^th of 216 public elementary schools	40.3%		36.7	151^st of 217 public elementary schools	30.4%	22	49.0	49.5	19.5	34.0	54.5	29.5	19.5	29.0	49.0	49.0	$19,008	$1,496	$17,511
Mandan K-8 Elementary Virtual Academy	Public, Virtual	K-8	901 Division St NW	Mandan	58554	Morton County	Mandan 1	(n/a)	(n/a)	Yes	No	(701) 751-6500	14	3	4.6		14 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)											$5,263	$478	$4,785
Mary Stark Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	405 8th Ave SW	Mandan	58554	Morton County	Mandan 1	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(701) 751-6506	193	18	10.8	75.1%	121 (62.7%)	9 (4.7%)	24 (12.4%)	0 (0.0%)	29 (15.0%)	2 (1.0%)	8 (4.1%)	36	151^st of 216 public elementary schools	30.1%		45.2	124^th of 217 public elementary schools	42.9%	27	19.5	29.0	59.0	39.0	29.5	29.5	59.5	34.0	29.0	29.0	$17,224	$2,540	$14,684
Roosevelt Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	305 10th Ave NW	Mandan	58554	Morton County	Mandan 1	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(701) 751-6507	284	19	15.3	35.9%	199 (70.1%)	13 (4.6%)	28 (9.9%)	1 (0.4%)	30 (10.6%)	5 (1.8%)	8 (2.8%)	56.4	82^nd of 216 public elementary schools	62.0%		60.5	72^nd of 217 public elementary schools	66.8%	10	49.0	49.0	34.0	44.0	59.5	44.0	49.0	54.0	39.0	39.0	$15,175	$1,202	$13,972
Lewis And Clark Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	600 14th St NW	Mandan	58554	Morton County	Mandan 1	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(701) 751-6505	379	26	14.4	31.1%	278 (73.4%)	17 (4.5%)	33 (8.7%)	1 (0.3%)	35 (9.2%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (4.0%)	40.4	137^th of 216 public elementary schools	36.6%		37.1	149^th of 217 public elementary schools	31.3%	12	34.0	39.0	39.0	39.0	54.0	44.0	34.0	44.0	29.0	29.0	$13,625	$478	$13,147
Ft Lincoln Elementary School	Public	K-5	2007 8th Ave SE	Mandan	58554	Morton County	Mandan 1	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(701) 751-6504	455	26	17.5	14.7%	384 (84.4%)	6 (1.3%)	28 (6.2%)	5 (1.1%)	18 (4.0%)	3 (0.7%)	11 (2.4%)	63.6	64^th of 216 public elementary schools	70.4%		49.6	104^th of 217 public elementary schools	52.1%	40	44.0	54.0	44.0	49.0	44.0	49.0	59.0	48.0	49.0	49.0	$12,904	$478	$12,426
Lakewood Elementary School	Public	K-5	2601 38th Ave SE	Mandan	58554	Morton County	Mandan 1	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(701) 751-6509	285	23	12.3	43.2%	185 (64.9%)	25 (8.8%)	22 (7.7%)	0 (0.0%)	34 (11.9%)	2 (0.7%)	17 (6.0%)	58.4	76^th of 216 public elementary schools	64.8%		52.8	94^th of 217 public elementary schools	56.7%	18	59.0	39.0	59.0	49.0	44.0	39.0	59.0	44.0	34.0	34.0	$14,556	$1,327	$13,229
Elk Ridge Elementary School	Public	K-5	4401 Ivory Lane	Bismarck	58503	Burleigh County	Bismarck 1	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(701) 323-4230	510	29	17.4	2.2%	467 (91.6%)	3 (0.6%)	11 (2.2%)	8 (1.6%)	9 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (2.4%)	85.6	10^th of 216 public elementary schools	95.4%		92.8	3^rd of 217 public elementary schools	98.6%	7	59.0	69.0	89.0	71.0	49.0	49.0	69.0	57.0	64.0	64.0	$12,186	$598	$11,588
Highland Acres Elementary School	Public	K-5	1200 Prairie Dr	Bismarck	58501	Burleigh County	Bismarck 1	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(701) 323-4160	103	7	14.7	10.7%	89 (86.4%)	2 (1.9%)	1 (1.0%)	1 (1.0%)	6 (5.8%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (3.9%)	74.9	33^rd of 216 public elementary schools	84.7%		60.1	73^rd of 217 public elementary schools	66.4%	40	34.5	69.0	49.0	54.0	44.5	64.5	64.5	49.5	79.0	79.0	$17,262	$656	$16,606
Centennial Elementary School	Public	K-5	2800 Ithica Dr	Bismarck	58503	Burleigh County	Bismarck 1	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(701) 323-4290	390	29	13.3	25.4%	289 (74.1%)	8 (2.1%)	16 (4.1%)	15 (3.8%)	20 (5.1%)	9 (2.3%)	33 (8.5%)	59.8	73^rd of 216 public elementary schools	66.2%		73.7	36^th of 217 public elementary schools	83.4%	37	54.0	59.0	64.0	58.0	34.0	34.0	44.0	37.0	49.0	49.0	$14,251	$612	$13,639

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 Custer Elementary School

Is Custer Elementary School a good school?

Custer Elementary School ranks 129^th of 216 North Dakota elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What schools do graduates of Custer Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Custer Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Mandan Middle School
High : Mandan High School

How many students attend Custer Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 126 students attended Custer Elementary School.

What is the racial makeup of Custer Elementary School?

Students at Custer Elementary School are 60% White, 15% Hispanic, 13% American Indian, 6% Two or more races, 4% African American, 2% Asian.

What district is Custer Elementary School in?

Mandan 1

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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.