Discovery Elementary School

Summary:

Discovery Elementary School is a public elementary school serving grades PK-5 in the Grand Forks 1 school district, with a student population of 557 as of the 2022-2023 school year. The school has a predominantly White student body, with smaller percentages of other racial groups.

Discovery Elementary consistently outperforms the Grand Forks 1 district and the state of North Dakota in standardized test scores, with 65% of students proficient or better in mathematics and 62% in reading, compared to lower district and state averages. The school has also ranked among the top 10% of elementary schools in North Dakota. While Discovery Elementary has seen an increase in chronic absenteeism in recent years, its rates remain significantly lower than nearby schools in the district. The school maintains a relatively low student-teacher ratio, which may contribute to its academic success.

Compared to nearby schools, Discovery Elementary serves a more affluent student population, with a lower percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch. This suggests that factors beyond just the school district, such as community support and parental involvement, may play a significant role in the school's strong academic performance. Interestingly, Thompson Elementary School, which is in a different district, also consistently ranks among the top elementary schools in North Dakota, indicating that there may be other factors at play in a school's success.

Detail:

Public PK, KG-5

3300 43rd Ave S
Grand Forks, ND 58201

(701) 787-4359

District: Grand Forks 1

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

Per Pupil Expenditures: $13,207

Students who attend Discovery Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	South Middle School
High:	Red River High School

Student/teacher ratio: 12.5

Number of students: 571

Racial breakdown:

White:

74.3%

African American:

8.8%

Two or more races:

7.5%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 11.2%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Discovery Elementary School ranks better than 90% of elementary schools in North Dakota. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 93.04. (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 Discovery Elementary School has the largest elementary school student body size in the Grand Forks 1 School District. Racial makeup is: White (74.3%), African American (8.8%), two or more races (7.5%). (See more...)

Compare Details 11.2% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. This is the lowest percentage in the Grand Forks 1 School District. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Discovery Elementary School is 12.5. 9 elementary schools in the Grand Forks 1 School District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)

Compare Discovery Elementary School employs 45.4 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Discovery Elementary School is $13,207. 9 elementary schools in the Grand Forks 1 School District spend more per student.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Discovery Elementary School:

SchoolDigger ranks Discovery Elementary School 5^th of 50 North Dakota public elementary schools. (See Discovery Elementary School in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

White students:

Grand Forks 1:

SchoolDigger ranks Grand Forks 1 6^th of 20 North Dakota school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Discovery Elementary School

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Rank History for all students at Discovery Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	ND State Percentile
2018	72.34	18^th	46	60.9%
2019	73.36	16^th	42	61.9%
2021	79.62	9^th	39	76.9%
2022	78.33	11^th	47	76.6%
2023	85.45	6^th	48	87.5%
2024	93.04	5^th	50	90.0%

See the entire list of North Dakota Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for White students at Discovery Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	ND State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2018	64.23	10^th	22	54.5%
2024	93.13	2^nd	18	88.9%

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 Discovery Elementary School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
2016	340	13	12	9	2	2	1	379
2017	404	26	14	19	6	7	6	482
2018	415	25	16	14	13	2	10	495
2019	388	22	19	26	3	0	32	490
2020	400	26	24	30	9	1	39	529
2021	387	26	22	23	7	1	37	503
2022	397	33	23	23	4	0	38	518
2023	417	42	26	25	3	0	44	557
2024	424	50	23	25	6	0	43	571

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 Discovery Elementary School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2016	379	26.0	14.5	11.3
2017	482	33.1	14.5	13.3
2018	495	34.8	14.2	12.7
2019	490	31.8	15.3	10.8
2020	529	36.0	14.6	14.4
2021	503	37.2	13.4	8.9
2022	518	39.2	13.2	4.8
2023	557	43.4	12.8	12.7
2024	571	45.4	12.5	11.2

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 Discovery Elementary School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2016	379	26.0	14.5	11.3
2017	482	33.1	14.5	13.3
2018	495	34.8	14.2	12.7
2019	490	31.8	15.3	10.8
2020	529	36.0	14.6	14.4
2021	503	37.2	13.4	8.9
2022	518	39.2	13.2	4.8
2023	557	43.4	12.8	12.7
2024	571	45.4	12.5	11.2

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 Discovery Elementary School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$339 (3.0%)	$10,821 (97.0%)	$11,160
2020	$731 (6.0%)	$11,498 (94.0%)	$12,229
2021	$747 (5.6%)	$12,615 (94.4%)	$13,362
2022	$1,409 (10.7%)	$11,798 (89.3%)	$13,207

Data source: North Dakota Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Discovery 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 16^th of 42 Elementary schools	Ranks 6^th of 48 Elementary schools	25.6%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
All Grades Mathematics (Discovery Elementary School)	52	54	2%
All Grades Mathematics (Grand Forks 1)	46	40	6%
All Grades Mathematics (North Dakota)	45	39	6%
All Grades Reading (Discovery Elementary School)	57	56	1%
All Grades Reading (Grand Forks 1)	49	48	1%
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	490	557	13.7%
African American	22	42	90.9%
American Indian	3	3
Asian	19	26	36.8%
Hispanic	26	25	3.8%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	388	417	7.5%
Two or More Races	32	44	37.5%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	10.8%	12.7%	1.9%

Schools Near Discovery 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
Discovery Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	3300 43rd Ave S	Grand Forks	58201	Grand Forks County	Grand Forks 1	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(701) 787-4359	571	45	12.5	11.2%	424 (74.3%)	50 (8.8%)	25 (4.4%)	23 (4.0%)	6 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	43 (7.5%)	93	5^th of 50 public elementary schools	90.0%		85.4	6^th of 48 public elementary schools	87.5%	1	65.0	62.0	$13,207	$1,409	$11,798
Century Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	3351 17th Ave S	Grand Forks	58201	Grand Forks County	Grand Forks 1	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(701) 746-2440	433	36	12.0	49.9%	207 (47.8%)	63 (14.5%)	50 (11.5%)	25 (5.8%)	22 (5.1%)	4 (0.9%)	62 (14.3%)								(n/a)			$15,230	$1,871	$13,359
J Nelson Kelly Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	3000 Cherry St	Grand Forks	58201	Grand Forks County	Grand Forks 1	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	No	(701) 746-2265	494	37	13.2	16.2%	393 (79.6%)	14 (2.8%)	33 (6.7%)	8 (1.6%)	11 (2.2%)	0 (0.0%)	35 (7.1%)	97.6	3^rd of 50 public elementary schools	94.0%		97.4	2^nd of 48 public elementary schools	95.8%	1	68.0	71.0	$12,918	$1,414	$11,504
Viking Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	809 22nd Ave S	Grand Forks	58201	Grand Forks County	Grand Forks 1	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(701) 746-2300	294	27	10.7	36.1%	203 (69.0%)	13 (4.4%)	28 (9.5%)	9 (3.1%)	8 (2.7%)	0 (0.0%)	33 (11.2%)								(n/a)			$13,837	$2,105	$11,732
Ben Franklin Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1016 S 20th St	Grand Forks	58201	Grand Forks County	Grand Forks 1	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(701) 746-2250	339	30	11.2	37.8%	243 (71.7%)	19 (5.6%)	31 (9.1%)	7 (2.1%)	7 (2.1%)	0 (0.0%)	32 (9.4%)								(n/a)			$14,956	$1,975	$12,981
Lewis And Clark Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1100 13th Ave S	Grand Forks	58201	Grand Forks County	Grand Forks 1	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(701) 746-2285	178	21	8.5	42.1%	122 (68.5%)	3 (1.7%)	24 (13.5%)	1 (0.6%)	5 (2.8%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (12.9%)								(n/a)			$17,713	$2,503	$15,211
Lake Agassiz Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	605 Stanford Rd	Grand Forks	58203	Grand Forks County	Grand Forks 1	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(701) 746-2275	384	35	11.0	60.2%	170 (44.3%)	55 (14.3%)	65 (16.9%)	13 (3.4%)	37 (9.6%)	0 (0.0%)	44 (11.5%)								(n/a)			$15,343	$2,535	$12,808
Winship Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1412 5th Ave N	Grand Forks	58203	Grand Forks County	Grand Forks 1	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(701) 746-2325	217	24	9.1	65.9%	97 (44.7%)	26 (12.0%)	38 (17.5%)	29 (13.4%)	7 (3.2%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (9.2%)								(n/a)			$15,333	$2,359	$12,974
Phoenix Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	351 4th Ave S	Grand Forks	58201	Grand Forks County	Grand Forks 1	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(701) 746-2240	228	26	8.6	47.4%	154 (67.5%)	17 (7.5%)	24 (10.5%)	1 (0.4%)	14 (6.1%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (7.9%)								(n/a)			$18,714	$2,829	$15,884
Wilder Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1009 N 3rd St	Grand Forks	58203	Grand Forks County	Grand Forks 1	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	Yes	(701) 746-2320	179	20	9.0	62.0%	98 (54.7%)	9 (5.0%)	36 (20.1%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (8.4%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (11.7%)								(n/a)			$16,065	$2,254	$13,810

Frequently Asked Questions about Discovery Elementary School

Is Discovery Elementary School a good school?

Yes. Discovery Elementary School ranks in the top 10.0% of North Dakota elementary schools.

What is the racial makeup of Discovery Elementary School?

Students at Discovery Elementary School are 74% White, 9% African American, 8% Two or more races, 4% Hispanic, 4% Asian, 1% American Indian.

How many students attend Discovery Elementary School?

In the 2023-24 school year, 571 students attended Discovery Elementary School.

What schools do graduates of Discovery Elementary School attend?

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

Middle : South Middle School
High : Red River High School

What district is Discovery Elementary School in?

Grand Forks 1

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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.