(CSi)  The Top School Districts in North Dakota have been named by Backgroundchecks.org has listed the top school districts in North Dakota.

Criteria that went into the to the ranking includes… student performance (math and reading test scores), dropout rates, school funding, and area poverty rates. Data was collected from a total of 9,577 school districts.

The information states that “North Dakota’s best school district is Northwood School District No. 129, a system of one elementary and one high school serving the small town of less than 1,000, Northwood, ND.”

Also U.S. News & World Report,  awarded Northwood High School with a bronze medal, placing it among the best public high schools in the nation.

The balance of  the top five in order:   Mohall-Lansford-Sherwood, Wyndmere, Central Valley, and Kindred.

Area schools rankings include:  Valley City was ranked 8th, Edgeley ranked 9th, Ellendale ranked 13th, New Rockford-Sheyenne ranked 14th, Harvey ranked 20th, Jamestown ranked 23rd, and Oakes ranked 26th.