Public schools in Bismarck, ND
31 open public schools with an address in Bismarck, operated by 4 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
31
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
13,587
31 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
14.4:1
North Dakota median 10.6:1
Charter schools
0
3 virtual
An overview of Bismarck public schools
The federal directory lists 31 public schools in Bismarck, ND: 21 elementary, 4 middle, 5 high, 1 combined or other. The 31 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 13,587 students, an average of 438 per school. The largest campus is Legacy High School (1,419 students), and the largest elementary school is Victor Solheim Elementary School (588).
Bismarck 1 operates the most schools here (28), and 4 regular districts have at least one Bismarck campus. City names come from school mailing addresses, which often differ from district or municipal boundaries.
Across schools that reported staffing, the median student–teacher ratio is 14.4:1, higher than the statewide school median of 10.6:1. A ratio counts classroom-teacher FTE against total enrollment, so specialized programs and part-time staffing can move it; ask schools for actual class sizes by grade.
School choice options include 3 virtual schools. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 4 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 3 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 3 of 4 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 24% of students in reporting schools were eligible for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. This describes the community served; it is not a quality signal, and community-eligibility schools can report differently.
School districts and agencies serving Bismarck
Elementary schools in Bismarck
21Middle schools in Bismarck
4| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bismarck Middle Virtual Academy Bismarck 1 · Virtual | 06–08 | 0 | — | |
| Horizon Middle School Bismarck 1 | 06–08 | 1,124 | 15.2:1 | |
| Simle Middle School Bismarck 1 | 06–08 | 1,053 | 14.5:1 | |
| Wachter Middle School Bismarck 1 | 06–08 | 1,012 | 14.6:1 |
High schools in Bismarck
5| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bismarck High School Bismarck 1 | 09–12 | 1,367 | 16.1:1 | |
| Bismarck High Virtual Academy Bismarck 1 · Virtual | 09–12 | 0 | — | |
| Century High School Bismarck 1 | 09–12 | 1,406 | 16.4:1 | |
| Legacy High School Bismarck 1 | 09–12 | 1,419 | 16.8:1 | |
| South Central Alternative High School Bismarck 1 | 09–12 | 97 | 14.5:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Bismarck
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Becep Center Bismarck 1 | PK–PK | 337 | 14.1:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White74.3%
- Hispanic5.4%
- Black3%
- Asian1.6%
- American Indian / Alaska Native7.3%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander1.3%
- Multiracial7.2%
Enrollment-weighted across 28 Bismarck schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (13,587 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Bismarck
How many public schools are in Bismarck, ND?
The current NCES directory lists 31 open public schools with a location address in Bismarck: 21 elementary, 4 middle, 5 high, 1 combined or other. Together they reported 13,587 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Bismarck?
Schools with an address in Bismarck belong to 4 education agencies, led by Bismarck 1 (28 schools), Apple Creek 39 (1 school), Manning 45 (1 school). A mailing city is not an attendance boundary; confirm the district for a specific address.
What is the largest public high school in Bismarck?
Legacy High School reported the largest high-school enrollment in Bismarck, with 1,419 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Bismarck?
No school with an address in Bismarck is identified as a charter school in the current NCES directory. Families may still have charter or virtual options elsewhere in North Dakota.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Bismarck schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Bismarck public schools is 14.4:1, higher than the North Dakota school median of 10.6:1. The ratio divides enrollment by classroom-teacher FTE; it is not an average class size.
Does living in Bismarck guarantee a seat at a specific school?
No. Assignment depends on the district's attendance boundaries, programs, and enrollment rules, which can split a city or cross city lines. Use the district profile and its official boundary or school-locator tool to confirm the assigned school for an exact address.
Nearby North Dakota cities
Sources: NCES Common Core of Data 2025–26 preliminary directory (schools, grades, addresses, charter status) and 2024–25 nonfiscal files (enrollment, teachers, race/ethnicity, meal eligibility); Civil Rights Data Collection 2021–22 (AP and computer science). Cities are grouped by school mailing address. Methodology · All North Dakota cities