Original Research by School Decision on Victor Solheim Elementary School
Victor Solheim Elementary sits on Munich Drive in Bismarck, serving kindergarten through fifth grade as part of Bismarck Public School District 1. It is a regular public school in a district that publicly reported itself as the largest in North Dakota, one that has been managing steady enrollment growth through a bond referendum and facility upgrades, including the rebuilt Roosevelt Elementary that opened in fall 2024. Solheim itself draws a sizable enrollment for an elementary building, with fairly even distribution across the six grade levels.
The student body is predominantly white, with American Indian and Alaska Native students forming the next largest group, followed by students of two or more races and a smaller Hispanic population. The share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch is relatively low, suggesting a generally middle-class enrollment base compared with many public elementary schools. Data on English learners and special education populations was not available in the provided materials, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about those supports.
State assessment results come from the ND A-PLUS test, which is a new assessment with changed cut scores, meaning results are not directly comparable to prior years and no multi-year trend can be read from this data. What the current year shows is a school with solid math performance across the tested grades, with proficiency landing in the upper range in third and fifth grade and dipping to a mid-range in fourth grade. Reading results tell a more uneven story. Third and fifth grade landed near the midpoint, while fourth grade proficiency was notably lower. Science, tested only in fourth grade, sat below the midpoint. Participation was high across all tests. A parent weighing this school might look into how the school addresses the fourth-grade reading dip and whether that reflects a cohort issue or a broader pattern.
Because Solheim serves only kindergarten through fifth grade, there is no graduation rate, no AP or dual-credit data, and no high school course access to speak of. Those metrics simply do not apply here. The provided data also did not include discipline records, staffing ratios, attendance figures, or Title I status, so those pieces of the picture are absent rather than negative.
Bismarck itself is the state capital and the economic anchor of south-central North Dakota. State government is the dominant employer, with two major hospital systems downtown and energy, government services, and manufacturing contributing to the local economy. The city has grown steadily, with publicly reported recognition as one of the faster-growing small cities in the country. The Missouri River forms the western edge of town, and the capitol complex sits just north of the compact downtown core, which has small storefronts and restaurants along its streets. Kirkwood Mall is in the city center rather than out in the suburbs, which concentrates some commercial activity downtown. The broader built environment beyond the core is auto-oriented, with Interstate 94 shaping the city's layout. Families at Solheim are in a midsize capital-city setting with access to trails, parks, the Dakota Zoo, the Heritage Center and State Museum, and nearby state historic sites along the river.
Housing in the school's zip code sits above the state benchmark and close to the national figure, reflecting the capital-city premium. Rents are moderate relative to local incomes, while buying requires a more substantial income to cover the mortgage at current rates. Home values have been appreciating at a pace above the national rate, which tracks with the city's growth story. For families already in or moving to Bismarck, Solheim offers a larger-than-typical elementary environment with decent math outcomes, a comparatively low-poverty peer group, and the resources of a growing district behind it. The reading results, particularly in fourth grade, are the area a parent would want to understand better before enrolling.
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