With A+ schools, amazing teachers and supportive communities, your little Einstein will be in great hands. Whether you prefer big school action, small school connections or something in between, the schools in Williams County are sure to meet your needs.
Are your kiddos hands-on learners, no problem! Williams County offers plenty of opportunities for experiential learning, from museums and historical sites to the new Williston Basin Career and Technical Education (CTE) Center opening in fall of 2024! Students can follow pathways programs that lead directly into the workforce or continue their education right here at Williston State College with a variety of career and technical programs to choose from.
Are you an old dog hoping to learn some new tricks? Even adults can benefit continuing education programs to help make your best life right here in Williams County!
Image cr: Williston Basin School District #7
K-12
School-aged kids in Williams County can attend one of six public school districts. Each district handles its own enrollment, so it is best to use the online search tool below to find which district you live in. Each district offers kindergarten through high school, with a variety of clubs, organizations, and sports to get involved in. There are two also private schools located in Williams County: Williston Trinity Christian School (PreK – 12) and St. Joseph's Catholic School (PreK – 6) and homeschooling is also an option.
Here in North Dakota, we casually categorize the size of our schools as either a “Class A School,” or “Class B School.” Just to be clear, this has nothing to do with how good of an education you get! It’s a naming convention that originated from the school’s sports programs – Class A schools (larger) play in a different division for sports than Class B (smaller) schools. Williston Basin SD #7 is the largest district, and a “Class A” school, while Eight Mile SD #6 (Trenton), Nesson Public SD #2 (Ray), Divide County SD #1, and Tioga SD #15 fall into the “Class B” category. Grenora SD #99 is a smaller school district, and actually plays its high school sports in Montana in a co-op with Westby, MT (Westby-Grenora Thunder).
Questions about busing? Make sure to reach out to the school district you are moving into prior to starting school so that you're in the know about how your student can get to and from school. Buses aren't always guaranteed, but there are third-party options available.
Williston State College
Williston State College offers Associate in Arts and Associate in Science degrees (two-year) that can be transferred to most four-year colleges and universities. In addition, they offer Associate in Applied Science degrees in several focus areas – including Accounting, Business Management, Technology, Nursing, Diesel & Petroleum Technology, Agriculture, and more!
For those that want a four-year degree without leaving the area, the college offers Bachelor degree programs in partnership with several state colleges and universities (Dickinson State, Minot State, University of North Dakota, North Dakota State University, University of Mary). Many of the programs offer courses both on campus and virtually.
And that’s not all – in what may be considered the deal of a lifetime, the college offers generous scholarships, some of which fully cover tuition and fees! Click here for more information on scholarship options.
Continuing & Adult Education
Williams County is where the learning never stops – no matter how old you get! Williston State College is home to the Region 1 Adult Learning Center – which provides services for adults on GED Prep, English Language Learning, College Prep, Job Readiness Skills, Study Skills and more. The college also offers several career technical education (CTE) certification programs.
We’re also home to the TrainND Northwest Workforce Training Center, with programs and certifications for Commercial Drivers License, Certified Nurse Assistant, crane operation, technician training, drone operation and well control.
Image: The outdoor yard at TrainND Northwest, which hosts mobile equipment, commercial vehicles, a range of crane types, a workover rig, and field safety training equipment.