Central Middle School

Central Middle School serves grades 6–8 and enrolls 482 students in Minot, North Dakota, in the Minot 1 district. Its 2025–2026 results show science as a relative bright spot, but math and reading proficiency are below district and state results. Among the three nearby middle schools, Memorial Middle School, Erik Ramstad Middle School and Jim Hill Middle School, the clearest concern is that Central has the lowest all-grade math and reading results, with reading its largest gap against broader benchmarks.

Reading is the weakest subject: 45% of Central students were proficient, 12 points below the district and state, both at 57%. Math proficiency was 43%, compared with 52% in the district and 54% statewide. Central was below each nearby school in both subjects. Seventh grade stands out as a particular challenge: Central’s math result was 30–38% and reading was 40–48%; its reading range was below the 50–58% results at both Erik Ramstad and Jim Hill, and the 90–98% range at Memorial. Science is stronger relative to the district: Central’s result was 35–43%, compared with 34% districtwide and 39% statewide. The science range overlaps results at Erik Ramstad and Jim Hill, but is below Memorial’s 55–63%.

Scores improved year over year, but not as quickly as comparison results: math rose 5 points to 43% and reading rose 13 points to 45%, while both gaps with the district and state widened. Science increased from 34% to 35–43%. SchoolDigger ranks Central 53rd of 65 statewide, at the 18th percentile, with 1 star; its nearby peers rank higher. In 2024–2025, Central’s student-teacher ratio was 13.2, and 50% of students were free/reduced lunch eligible, the highest reported share among the nearby schools. SchoolDigger’s statewide effectiveness rankings place Central at the 60th percentile for serving Hispanic students and the 53rd percentile for serving African American students, both above its overall 18th-percentile standing.