Middle Schools in Fargo 1

The Fargo 1 school district in North Dakota is home to three middle schools serving grades 6-8: Discovery Middle School, Ben Franklin Middle School, and Carl Ben Eielson Middle School. Based on the data analysis, Discovery Middle School emerges as the standout performer, consistently ranking among the top 5 middle schools in North Dakota and earning a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger. In contrast, Carl Ben Eielson Middle School lags behind, ranking 20th out of 24 North Dakota middle schools with a 1-star rating.

Discovery Middle School boasts strong academic performance, with higher proficiency rates in math, reading, and science compared to the Fargo 1 district and state averages. The school also has a lower chronic absenteeism rate and a more diverse student population, suggesting it may be effectively supporting the learning needs of its diverse student body. In contrast, Carl Ben Eielson Middle School struggles with lower proficiency rates, higher dropout and chronic absenteeism rates, and a higher percentage of students receiving free/reduced-price lunch, despite having the highest per-student spending among the three schools.

The data analysis highlights the importance of addressing factors such as chronic absenteeism and resource allocation to improve educational outcomes across the Fargo 1 district. While simply increasing funding may not be the sole solution, exploring district-level policies, practices, and resource utilization could provide insights into supporting the lower-performing schools and ensuring equitable access to quality education for all students in the Fargo 1 community.