North Dakota Schools & Education Laws: 2026 Guide

According to the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction, there are about 120,000 students and over 9,000 teachers in the public school system. The state has an attendance rate of around 94%, with a dropout rate of approximately 2%. The graduation rate in North Dakota is about 89%.

As for school choice, North Dakota offers more limited options compared to some states. The state does not have a large charter school sector, as charter schools are not currently authorized. However, some districts may allow open enrollment, giving families limited flexibility to attend schools outside their assigned district. North Dakota also has a small number of nonpublic schools, but it does not offer broad statewide private school choice programs like vouchers.

Families may also choose to homeschool their children in North Dakota, provided they follow state requirements such as notifying their local school district and ensuring instruction in required subjects.

How North Dakota Scores on School Choice

Every state sets its own school choice rules, and North Dakota is no exception. The NWEF School Choice Index scores North Dakota on 17 measures, from open enrollment to education savings accounts, then ranks it against all 50 states. Open any category below to see where North Dakota earns points and where it falls short.

North Dakota

Rank #24 of 50

Growing

North Dakota scores well on charter school access. Its biggest gaps are private-school options like ESAs and vouchers.

Scored from state law · as of August 2026

North Dakota

How North Dakota Scores on School Choice

Open Enrollment 35/55

Charter Schools 5/5

Private Options 0/15

Homeschooling 10/15

Online Learning 5/10

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