The Dickinson Press

EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES IN THE "SUNSHINE STATE"
North Dakota Ranks Ahead of Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin

NORTH DAKOTA is committed to progress in education. It believes in efficiency, in thoroughness and in the broad outlook that marks the education of the future. If it is true that education is the key to the future of any state, then North Dakota gives promise of great achievement.

The facts of education in North Dakota are of interest to outsiders, and they deserve consideration by every loyal citizen within the borders of the state.

Mr. N. C. MacDonald, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, has furnished some interesting figures concerning North Dakota and its educational activities.

PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

According to the last printed report from the office of the State Superintendent, for the school year ending June 30, 1915, there were 5,309 schools in the state, with an enrollment of 151,647 pupils, and an average daily attendance of 104,999. In these schools were employed during the year 8,093 teachers. The average salary per month for all teachers was $59.84, and the whole amount paid out for the year for teachers' salaries was $3,695,229.59. The grand total of warrants issued for the support of these schools during the year, including the amount outstanding at the beginning of the year, was $8,304,818.69, and the total income for the year, including cash on hand at the beginning of the year, was $10,115,050.26.

The state tuition income, which is practically all derived from the federal land grants, for the last year was $1,105,124.25. This represents an increase of over 100 per cent for the last ten-year period.

HIGH SCHOOLS.

At the close of the last school year there were 138 state high schools, with an enrollment of 8,742 students. In addition to this number there were 2,010 doing high school work in the graded consolidated schools.

There are now 401 consolidated schools in this state, which gives an increase of 252 per cent in five years. Of this number 61 are classified as state high schools and 124 as state graded consolidated schools. Last year there were enrolled in the consolidated schools 24,210 farm children, which gives an increase of 330 per cent for the five years preceding. Of the total number enrolled 2,455 did high school work, giving an increase here of 445 per cent during this five-year period. At the present time North Dakota stands second in the number of consolidated schools and in proportion to its population it heads the list. No other state in the Union can show a like growth during the same period, and it speaks volumes for the enterprise and good judgment of the people of the state.

NORTH DAKOTA'S RANK.

According to the Russell Sage Foundation, that recently ranked the public schools of all the states on ten points of efficiency, North Dakota ranked as number eighteen. When it is remembered that in this ranking she was ahead of the states of Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin, though standing thirty-seventh in population, it is an enviable record for a state so young, and it promises much for the future.

HIGHER INSTITUTIONS OF LEARNING.

In addition to our educational resources in the field of public schools, we have those as represented by our higher institutions of learning. These institutions are eight in number and represent practically every phase of higher education. The enrollment last year was 6,413. These higher institutions, like the public schools, have also an income which is derived from the federal land grant. For the last biennial period this income was $375,242.12. During the last two years there was spent upon these institutions the total sum of $1,953,744.15.

At the last general election an additional normal school was provided for by an amendment to the constitution. Thus North Dakota amply provides for the higher education of her youth.