Original Research by School Decision on May-port Cg High School
May-Port CG High School is a small public high school in Mayville, North Dakota, serving grades nine through twelve as part of the May-Port CG 14 district. The district draws from Mayville, Portland, Clifford, and Galesburg, a cluster of rural communities in the Red River Valley. Mayville itself is the largest city in Traill County, an agricultural town anchored by Mayville State University. The university sits a short walk from downtown, giving Mayville a blend of small-town residential texture and college-town activity that is unusual for a place of its size. The surrounding area is prime farmland along the Goose River, and the town has been experiencing gradual population decline rather than growth, with no major new housing developments publicly reported in recent years.
The school is small, with an enrollment that fits comfortably in a single building. Its student body is overwhelmingly white, with small representation from American Indian, Hispanic, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, and multiracial students. The share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch is modest, well below what many rural schools see, which likely reflects the relatively stable economic conditions of the area rather than deep community-wide affluence. Data on special education enrollment and English learner populations was not reported, so those demographics remain unknown here. A parent wanting to understand how the school serves students with disabilities or language-learning needs would need to ask the school directly.
State assessment results from the most recent school year show a mixed academic picture. In English language arts, roughly two-fifths of students reached proficiency, which is a moderate result for a school this size. Mathematics proficiency was considerably lower, with under a fifth of students meeting the benchmark. Science landed between the two, with about a quarter proficient. Only one year of data is available, so there is no trend to examine. Whether these numbers reflect a temporary dip or a longer-standing pattern is something a family would want to explore with school leadership. The math result in particular stands out as an area a parent may want to look into further with the school.
No graduation rate, course access, staffing, attendance, or discipline data was provided, which limits the picture of what the daily academic experience looks like. The school's program offerings were not available either, so whether it provides Advanced Placement courses, dual-credit options through Mayville State University, or career and technical education pathways cannot be confirmed from the data at hand. Given the proximity to a university and the small size of the school, dual-credit opportunities would be a natural question to raise with the district. Civil rights data was also absent, so there is no available information on disparities in discipline or access by student subgroup.
Housing in Mayville is affordable compared with both state and national benchmarks. The typical home value sits well below the North Dakota statewide figure and roughly half the national level, with a price-to-income ratio that suggests homeownership is within reach for many local families. Rental data was not available. The broader economic context includes a national unemployment rate holding steady in the low fours, and mortgage rates in the mid-six range, both of which shape what a family moving into the area might face financially.
Mayville's civic life centers on Island Park, the MayPort Community Center, which hosts hockey and community events, and the Mayville Water Park. The Mayville Golf Club offers a nine-hole course. The town has no public transit, and a library was not mentioned in available sources, so families should expect to rely on personal vehicles and may need to look to neighboring communities for some services. The school campuses appear to sit within the community rather than on separated sites, which fits the compact geography of the town.
For a family considering May-Port CG High School, the picture is one of a small, community-embedded school in an affordable rural college town. The academic results raise real questions, particularly in math, and several important data points are missing. The town's connection to Mayville State University and its location in a quiet agricultural region are genuine draws for some families. The missing information on programs, graduation, and student support means a prospective parent should treat this overview as a starting point and bring specific questions to the school and district.
See more original research from School Decision →