Kennedy Elementary School

Summary:

Kennedy Elementary School is a public elementary school in Fargo, North Dakota, serving 452 students from kindergarten to 5th grade. The school is part of the Fargo 1 school district, which is ranked 10th out of 20 districts in the state and has a 3-star rating from SchoolDigger.

While Kennedy Elementary has a more diverse student population compared to surrounding schools, with higher percentages of African American (23.23%) and Hispanic (5.31%) students, the school faces several challenges. It has seen a significant increase in chronic absenteeism, rising from 5% in 2018-2019 to 20% in the last two school years, which is higher than nearby schools. Additionally, Kennedy Elementary's proficiency rates in both mathematics and reading on the NDSA (North Dakota State Assessment) are lower than the Fargo 1 district and the state averages. The school also has a higher percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch (33.41% in 2022-2023), indicating a higher proportion of students from low-income families.

Interestingly, despite having higher per-student spending ($15,846 in 2021-2022) and a lower student-teacher ratio (10.7 in 2022-2023) compared to the surrounding schools, Kennedy Elementary's academic performance lags behind some of the higher-performing nearby schools, such as Bennett Elementary and Legacy Elementary, which have significantly higher proficiency rates and lower chronic absenteeism. The school's statewide ranking has also dropped from 10th out of 46 schools in 2017-2018 to 40th out of 50 schools in 2023-2024, with a corresponding decrease in its SchoolDigger rating from 4 stars to 1 star, suggesting a concerning trend in the school's academic performance.

Detail:

Public K-5

4401 42nd St S
Fargo, ND 58104

(701) 446-4200

District: Fargo 1

SchoolDigger Rank:
40^th of 50 North Dakota Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $15,846

Students who attend Kennedy Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Discovery Middle School
High:	Fargo Davies High School

Student/teacher ratio: 11.2

Number of students: 451

Racial breakdown:

White:

60.8%

African American:

23.7%

Hispanic:

6.2%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 33.9%

See top rated North Dakota elementary schools

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Kennedy Elementary School ranks worse than 80% of elementary schools in North Dakota. It also ranks 3^rd among 4 ranked elementary schools in the Fargo 1 School District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 25.08. (See more...)

Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (60.8%), African American (23.7%), Hispanic (6.2%). (See more...)

Compare Details 33.9% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Kennedy Elementary School is 11.2. 9 elementary schools in the Fargo 1 School District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)

Compare Kennedy Elementary School employs 40 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Kennedy Elementary School is $15,846. 10 elementary schools in the Fargo 1 School District spend more per student.

Schooldigger Rankings:

Kennedy Elementary School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

Fargo 1:

SchoolDigger ranks Fargo 1 10^th of 20 North Dakota school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Kennedy Elementary School

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Rank History for all students at Kennedy Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	ND State Percentile
2012	41.76	146^th	195	25.1%
2013	55.26	120^th	217	44.7%
2014	50.61	135^th	217	37.8%
2015	66.25	57^th	194	70.6%
2016	73.44	33^rd	207	84.1%
2017	75.92	40^th	202	80.2%
2018	84.96	10^th	46	78.3%
2019	70.02	20^th	42	52.4%
2021	49.55	23^rd	39	41.0%
2022	49.23	28^th	47	40.4%
2023	31.29	35^th	48	27.1%
2024	25.08	40^th	50	20.0%

See the entire list of North Dakota Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for White students at Kennedy Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	ND State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2018	84.31	5^th	22	77.3%
2019	70.02	10^th	22	54.5%

See the entire list of Best North Dakota Elementary Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: North Dakota Department of Public Instruction, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Data source: North Dakota Department of Public Instruction

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Enrollment information for Kennedy Elementary School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
2007	352	50	9	8	12	n/a	n/a	431
2008	383	75	11	17	14	n/a	n/a	500
2009	419	75	19	24	14	n/a	n/a	551
2010	472	64	16	24	10	n/a	n/a	586
2011	489	75	17	0	14	7	22	624
2012	534	76	17	28	11	7	8	681
2013	556	93	21	29	10	5	8	722
2014	558	111	18	28	7	3	14	739
2015	556	132	21	17	18	3	25	772
2016	412	44	7	9	2	1	14	489
2017	437	58	9	6	1	1	16	528
2018	423	74	10	7	0	1	12	527
2019	412	71	10	7	2	1	15	518
2020	382	75	9	9	4	1	17	497
2021	332	75	16	12	4	1	19	459
2022	300	89	20	18	4	0	11	442
2023	284	105	16	24	9	0	14	452
2024	274	107	17	28	8	0	17	451

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Kennedy Elementary School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2007	431	31.8	13.6	29.9
2008	500	33.6	14.9	32.2
2009	551	41.8	13.2	29.2
2010	586	43.3	13.5	29.5
2011	624	49.0	12.7	24.2
2012	681	57.0	11.9	28.3
2013	722	48.0	15.0	33.4
2014	739	51.6	14.3	19.1
2015	772	64.0	12.0	16.2
2016	489	34.0	14.3	18
2017	528	34.5	15.3	22.3
2018	527	35.0	15.0	23
2019	518	39.0	13.2	23.9
2020	497	41.0	12.1	21.7
2021	459	41.0	11.1	20.9
2022	442	41.0	10.7	18.8
2023	452	42.0	10.7	33.4
2024	451	40.0	11.2	33.9

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Kennedy Elementary School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2007	431	31.8	13.6	29.9
2008	500	33.6	14.9	32.2
2009	551	41.8	13.2	29.2
2010	586	43.3	13.5	29.5
2011	624	49.0	12.7	24.2
2012	681	57.0	11.9	28.3
2013	722	48.0	15.0	33.4
2014	739	51.6	14.3	19.1
2015	772	64.0	12.0	16.2
2016	489	34.0	14.3	18
2017	528	34.5	15.3	22.3
2018	527	35.0	15.0	23
2019	518	39.0	13.2	23.9
2020	497	41.0	12.1	21.7
2021	459	41.0	11.1	20.9
2022	442	41.0	10.7	18.8
2023	452	42.0	10.7	33.4
2024	451	40.0	11.2	33.9

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Kennedy Elementary School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$498 (4.0%)	$11,903 (96.0%)	$12,402
2020	$763 (6.0%)	$11,997 (94.0%)	$12,760
2021	$1,330 (9.2%)	$13,102 (90.8%)	$14,432
2022	$1,438 (9.1%)	$14,409 (90.9%)	$15,846

Data source: North Dakota Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Kennedy Elementary School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Rank Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Ranks 20^th of 42 Elementary schools	Ranks 35^th of 48 Elementary schools	25.3%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
All Grades Mathematics (Kennedy Elementary School)	60	43	17%
All Grades Mathematics (Fargo 1)	50	41	9%
All Grades Mathematics (North Dakota)	45	39	6%
All Grades Reading (Kennedy Elementary School)	50	32	18%
All Grades Reading (Fargo 1)	52	45	7%
All Grades Reading (North Dakota)	47	44	3%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	518	452	12.7%
African American	71	105	47.9%
American Indian	2	9	350%
Asian	10	16	60%
Hispanic	7	24	242.9%
Pacific Islander	1	0	100%
White	412	284	31.1%
Two or More Races	15	14	6.7%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	23.9%	33.4%	9.5%

Schools Near Kennedy Elementary School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				NDSA Mathematics (2024)	NDSA Reading (2024)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2022)
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 (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	NDSA Mathematics All Grades	NDSA Reading All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Kennedy Elementary School	Public	K-5	4401 42nd St S	Fargo	58104	Cass County	Fargo 1	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(701) 446-4200	451	40	11.2	33.9%	274 (60.8%)	107 (23.7%)	28 (6.2%)	17 (3.8%)	8 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (3.8%)	25.1	40^th of 50 public elementary schools	20.0%		31.3	35^th of 48 public elementary schools	27.1%	5	43.0	29.0	$15,846	$1,438	$14,409
Independence Elementary School	Public	K-5	3700 54th St S	Fargo	58104	Cass County	West Fargo 6	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(701) 356-5890	588	41	14.5	24.0%	368 (62.6%)	110 (18.7%)	26 (4.4%)	43 (7.3%)	9 (1.5%)	0 (0.0%)	32 (5.4%)	58.1	25^th of 50 public elementary schools	50.0%		57.7	22^nd of 48 public elementary schools	54.2%	3	54.0	45.0	$11,752	$847	$10,905
Osgood Elementary School	Public	K-5	5550 44th Ave S	Fargo	58104	Cass County	West Fargo 6	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(701) 356-2190	543	44	12.2	37.4%	320 (58.9%)	137 (25.2%)	27 (5.0%)	10 (1.8%)	7 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	42 (7.7%)	12.9	46^th of 50 public elementary schools	8.0%		17.1	42^nd of 48 public elementary schools	12.5%	4	34.0	29.0	$11,816	$1,253	$10,563
Centennial Elementary School	Public	K-5	4201 25th St S	Fargo	58104	Cass County	Fargo 1	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(701) 446-4300	618	41	15.0	25.2%	391 (63.3%)	115 (18.6%)	39 (6.3%)	31 (5.0%)	6 (1.0%)	2 (0.3%)	34 (5.5%)	15.8	45^th of 50 public elementary schools	10.0%		23.9	38^th of 48 public elementary schools	20.8%	7	37.0	26.0	$13,299	$1,736	$11,563
Educational Clapp Elementary School	Public	K-5	3131 S 28th St	Fargo	58103	Cass County	Fargo 1	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(701) 446-2900	437	45	9.7	76.0%	189 (43.2%)	156 (35.7%)	30 (6.9%)	26 (5.9%)	5 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	31 (7.1%)								(n/a)			$18,018	$3,961	$14,057
Deer Creek Elementary School	Public	K-5	6400 54th Ave S	Fargo	58104	Cass County	West Fargo 6	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(701) 356-8390	517	40	13.0	10.4%	432 (83.6%)	32 (6.2%)	7 (1.4%)	14 (2.7%)	7 (1.4%)	1 (0.2%)	24 (4.6%)	82.9	11^th of 50 public elementary schools	78.0%		78.5	9^th of 48 public elementary schools	81.3%	2	61.0	55.0	$12,657	$885	$11,771
Bennett Elementary School	Public	K-5	2000 S 58th Ave	Fargo	58104	Cass County	Fargo 1	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(701) 446-4000	631	38	16.8	20.3%	442 (70.0%)	85 (13.5%)	20 (3.2%)	30 (4.8%)	10 (1.6%)	1 (0.2%)	43 (6.8%)	78.2	12^th of 50 public elementary schools	76.0%		85.1	7^th of 48 public elementary schools	85.4%	5	57.0	54.0	$12,040	$1,407	$10,633
Freedom Elementary School	Public	K-5	401 26th Ave E	West Fargo	58078	Cass County	West Fargo 6	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(701) 356-5221	548	41	13.3	28.6%	297 (54.2%)	156 (28.5%)	21 (3.8%)	54 (9.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (3.6%)	50.9	30^th of 50 public elementary schools	40.0%		57.1	23^rd of 48 public elementary schools	52.1%	7	47.0	46.0	$11,588	$1,300	$10,288
Eagles Elementary School	Public	K-5	3502 University Dr	Fargo	58104	Cass County	Fargo 1	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(701) 446-3900	303	27	11.0	34.0%	170 (56.1%)	66 (21.8%)	23 (7.6%)	11 (3.6%)	14 (4.6%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (6.3%)								(n/a)			$18,807	$2,726	$16,081
Legacy Elementary School	Public	K-5	5150 9th St W	West Fargo	58078	Cass County	West Fargo 6	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(701) 356-3740	496	35	13.9	11.9%	409 (82.5%)	30 (6.0%)	15 (3.0%)	9 (1.8%)	4 (0.8%)	1 (0.2%)	28 (5.6%)	72.9	15^th of 50 public elementary schools	70.0%		80.8	8^th of 48 public elementary schools	83.3%	7	57.0	51.0	$11,122	$851	$10,271

Frequently Asked Questions about Kennedy Elementary School

What schools do graduates of Kennedy Elementary School attend?

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

Middle : Discovery Middle School
High : Fargo Davies High School

How many students attend Kennedy Elementary School?

In the 2023-24 school year, 451 students attended Kennedy Elementary School.

Is Kennedy Elementary School a good school?

Kennedy Elementary School ranks in the bottom 20.0% of North Dakota elementary schools.

What district is Kennedy Elementary School in?

Fargo 1

What is the racial makeup of Kennedy Elementary School?

Students at Kennedy Elementary School are 61% White, 24% African American, 6% Hispanic, 4% Asian, 4% Two or more races, 2% 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.

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.