Original Research by School Decision on Parshall Elementary School
Parshall Elementary School sits in the heart of a small rural town on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation in Mountrail County, North Dakota. The town is closely identified with the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation, and its population is majority Native American with a sizable White minority. Publicly reported sources describe a community shaped by both agriculture and the oil industry, the latter tied to the nearby Parshall Oil Field whose discovery helped launch the North Dakota oil boom. The town retains a compact, small-town layout centered on a Main Street commercial corridor, with homes, civic buildings, and schools all sitting close together rather than on separated campuses. Amenities are modest but real: restaurants, a golf course, an outdoor swimming pool, the Paul Broste Rock Museum, a public library, and proximity to Lake Sakakawea for boating and fishing. No public transit serves the community, which is typical for a place of this size.
The school itself is a regular public school serving pre-kindergarten through fifth grade, part of Parshall Public School District 3. Its enrollment is small, consistent with the town's population. The student body is predominantly American Indian or Alaska Native, with a smaller White cohort and a handful of students identifying as Hispanic, Black, or multiracial. A substantial majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the modest economic conditions of the surrounding community. Data on students with individualized education programs and English learners was not available, so those population sizes remain unknown here.
Academically, the most recent state assessment results come from North Dakota's A-PLUS assessment in the current school year. The state changed both the assessment name and the proficiency cut scores for this cycle, which means year-over-year trend comparisons are not reliable, and the data carries a single-year snapshot rather than a trend line. Across the tested grades, proficiency in math landed in a low range for most grade levels, with third grade toward the lower end and eighth grade showing a somewhat higher band. In English language arts, results were also generally low across grades, though eighth grade stood out with a relatively stronger range. Science was tested in two grades and also came in low. School-wide summary rates, where reported, placed all three subjects well below what most schools in the state would aim for.
Participation rates on the assessments were solid, with most grades testing at or near full participation, though a couple of grades dipped modestly below that. Still, the participation levels suggest the results reflect most enrolled students rather than a thin slice.
A few things a parent might want to look into further. The assessment system changed this year, so comparing these results to prior years directly would be misleading; asking the school how it is interpreting the new baseline could be useful. The low proficiency bands across subjects and grades are consistent across the data, and a parent may want to understand what instructional supports or interventions the school has in place, particularly in early grades where foundational skills are being built. Because IEP and English learner figures were not available in the data, families whose children receive those services may want to ask the school directly about the staffing and programs supporting them.
The town's economic context is mixed for families. The oil industry provides employment and has at times driven population growth, though recent estimates suggest that growth may have stabilized or slightly reversed. The cost of living is low relative to national averages, and housing is inexpensive by most standards, which can make the area accessible for families. At the same time, the town's small size means limited retail, healthcare, and entertainment options compared to larger communities. The school district recently built a new high school, publicly described as state-of-the-art, indicating recent public investment in facilities. We looked for district-level changes such as curriculum updates, referendums, or property-tax shifts that would affect families and found none reported.
Parshall Elementary is a small, community-anchored school serving a predominantly Native American student population in a rural reservation town tied to the oil economy. Its recent academic results are low across subjects, measured under a freshly changed state assessment. Families considering the school will likely want to talk directly with staff about the instructional plan, support services, and how the school is working with its specific student population.
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