Choosing a school? Youāve got options.
If you live in North Dakota and are curious about the school choice options for your child, this post is for you. Where you send your child to school impacts whether they are inspired, happy, and equipped for success!
While North Dakota offers fewer options than most states, there are still choices. You can choose fromĀ traditional public schools,Ā private schools,Ā online learning,Ā homeschooling, andĀ microschooling and mix-and-match learning. North Dakota does not currently have public charter schools and public magnet schools, but it may in the future!
One factor families consider when choosing a school is transportation. In North Dakota, transportation is available for students who attend their assigned public school, transfer to another public school within their zoned school district, or have transportation services in their Individualized Education Plan (IEP). Transportation may be available for other types of schools – check out this transportation guide for more information.
Looking for special education options? You can learn what special education services are available in North Dakota at theĀ Ultimate Guide to Special Education.
Widely
Available
Traditional Public Schools
Private Schools
Homeschooling
Microschooling
Partially
Available
Public School Transfers
Public Magnet Schools
Online Learning
Not
Available
Public Charter Schools
State Choice Funding
Widely
Available
Traditional Public Schools
Private Schools
Homeschooling
Microschooling
Partially
Available
Public School Transfers
Public Magnet Schools
Online Learning
Not
Available
Public Charter Schools
State Choice Funding
Download the School Choice Snapshot for North Dakota
Click a School Type to See Your Options
Traditional Public School
Free public school based on your address or zone
Public Charter School
Free public schools open to all students run by an independent board of directors
Homeschool
School that takes place in your own home
Online Learning
Schools where students attend virtually, can be free public or private schools
Microschool
School that takes place with a small group of students
North Dakota Traditional Public Schools
Most North Dakota families (87.6% of all K-12 students) choose traditional public schools. Operated by schoolĀ districts, these are free to attend, open to all students, and funded by taxpayers.Ā On average, North Dakota spendsĀ $15,140 per public school student each year.
North Dakota offers some newly expanded open enrollment optionsĀ for families. Now, North Dakota parents can transfer their child to any public school district; districts may only deny applications for a few reasons, such as lack of capacity. However, note that in some cases in North Dakota,Ā fees may be attached to transfers.
For information about whether transfersĀ withinĀ districts are available, families should contact their local school district. Curious aboutĀ what the transfer process may look like? Check outĀ West Fargo Public Schoolsā in-district transfer request guidelinesĀ as an example.
Open enrollment is an important form of public school choice, widening parentsā options and ensuring that their zip code isnāt the sole determiner of their education. In some cases, such as when a transferring student was a victim of violence,Ā transportation assistance may be available.
Find out more about public schools in your state at theĀ North Dakota Department of Public Instruction.Ā You can also learn more about open enrollment at āPublic Schools Without Boundaries: A 50-State Ranking.ā
North Dakota Charter Schools
In 2025, North Dakota became theĀ 47th state in the country toĀ pass a charter school law allowing for the creation of charter schools in the state. With this new legislation, families can anticipate more public charter school options and innovative learning environments in the near future.
Like traditional public schools, charter schools are public, free, and typically have no requirements for entry. What distinguishes charter schools is that they are allowed extra freedom to innovate with curriculum and learning methods and held accountable toĀ authorizing bodiesĀ for results.
Each school has a charter which explains the schoolās purpose and what specific community need it serves, whether that be providing a language immersion program or offering a rigorous, literacy-based curriculum. If there are more families seeking admittance to a charter school than there are seats, a lottery system (like drawing random names out of a hat!) is usually used to determine admittance.
North Dakota Magnet Schools
Magnet schools are free public schools that allow kids to narrow in on a specific learning track, such as anĀ International Baccalaureate programĀ or the performing arts. At a magnet school, all the subjects are taught through the lenses of that specific track. Unfortunately, there are no freestanding public magnet schools currently in operation in North Dakota. There may be magnet programs in traditional public schools, and the law allows for independent magnet schools, so stay tuned in the future!
North Dakota Private Schools
Families in North Dakota can also consider private schools, nonpublic schools that charge tuition. In North Dakota,Ā 8.7% of all K-12 studentsĀ attend a private school. Private schools may offer a uniqueĀ curriculum, smaller class sizes, or a faith-based tradition.Ā There are more thanĀ 50Ā private schoolsĀ across the state of North Dakota.Ā These schools come in all shapes and forms, from religious schools to schools designed for children with special needs. Today, one ofĀ theĀ top-rankedĀ private schools in North Dakota isĀ Oak Grove Lutheran School, which started as a high school for girls back in 1906.
The average tuition for private schools in the state is $7,223Ā for elementary schools andĀ $9,740Ā for high schools. Unfortunately, there are no state-run scholarship options in North Dakota at present, but private scholarships may be available.Ā Also,Ā since 2018, the federal government allows parents to save for K-12 private school tuition usingĀ tax-preferred 529 savings accounts.
Learn more atĀ Private School Review: North Dakota.
North Dakota Online Learning
Donāt overlook online learning, which offers a uniquely flexible learning environment that meets a variety of family needs. Whether your child wants to accelerate his or her learning or needs a quieter environment in which to focus, you may be interested in giving virtual school a try.
While there is not currently a free full-time option for North Dakota students statewide, elementary through high school students may enroll in part-time or full-time courses through theĀ North Dakota Center for Distance EducationĀ for a fee. Families can enroll in courses at any time throughout the year, and most courses do not have a set deadline. The Center for Distance Education offers hundreds of different courses, includingĀ Advanced Placement courses and career and technical courses. The organization does not supply free technology or wifi to families, so students must have access to these at home.
Besides the North Dakota Center for Distance Education, students can also consider other paid online school options, likeĀ George Washington University Online High School,Ā The Keystone School,Ā Excel High School, andĀ K12 Private Academy.
Additionally, some North Dakota districts offer blended or online programs, such asĀ Mandan Virtual Academy, Roughrider 9-12 Virtual Academy, Yellowstone Virtual Academy, Fargo Virtual Academy, andĀ Minot Public Schoolsā Virtual Academy. In some cases, out-of-district students can transfer in through an agreement with the studentās home district.
To read more about online learning in North Dakota, check out the Digital Learning Collaborativeās state profile.Opens PDF in new tab
North Dakota Homeschooling
Homeschooling is another school choice in North Dakota. Homeschooling is the process of parents educating students at home; all 50 states allow it.
In North Dakota,Ā 3.6% of all K-12 studentsĀ are homeschooled.
Homeschooling Requirements:
Notice of your intent to homeschool is required at least 14 days prior to starting or within 14 days of moving and annually after that. Also, it is recommended that you formally withdraw from your public school so your student is not marked truant.
The state requires homeschooling parents toĀ teach specific subjects (like reading, math, and physical education) and also requires standardized testing in certain grades.Ā If you are interested in participating in sports or activities at your local public school, contact your district to ask about their policies ā in some cases, homeschoolers may be eligible.Ā In the case that you decide to return to public school, you may submit record-keeping documentation to the superintendent of your school.
If you are looking for a highly customizable and flexible education for your child and think homeschooling could fit the bill, check outĀ a greatĀ how-to about homeschooling in North Dakota. You may also want to check out theĀ North Dakota Home School Association.
North Dakota Microschools and Mix-and-Match Learning
Today, some North Dakota families are blending school options to come up with new ways to personalize education. MicroschoolsĀ are one of these ways. A microschool refers to students gathering together in a small group ā with adult supervision ā to learn, explore, and socialize. Microschools can take a variety of shapes and legal forms, from homeschoolers coming together at an enrichment center to a private school committed to small classrooms. What microschools share in common is a commitment to small-group learning and close-knit relationships, along with an emphasis on children as individual learners.
Example of innovative, microschool-style learning in North Dakota:
Northern Cass School DistrictĀ has reimagined itself over the past five years as it has committed to creating a more personalized learning experience: āMiddle school learners participate in studios where educators coach 6-week learner-centered high-engagement projects. This past fall, one studio was built around a Farm to Fork concept to teach about agricultural careers and to experience the world of food production by going out and exploring the real world.ā A microschool program is also being piloted in high schools.
Remember, microschooling is more a mentality than a specific legal distinction in most cases. Often, a family participates in a microschool while legally homeschooling, or being enrolled in a private or online school.
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