Divide County

Divide County is located in northwestern North Dakota along the Canadian border, forming part of the state’s far northern tier of prairie counties. Created in 1910 during the region’s early-20th-century settlement and railroad-era county organization, it reflects a broader pattern of small, agriculture-centered jurisdictions on the northern Great Plains. Divide County is small in population, with only a few thousand residents spread across a large rural area; its communities are widely spaced and local services are concentrated in a handful of towns. The county seat is Crosby, which serves as the primary center for government, schools, and commerce. Land use is dominated by cultivated fields and pasture on gently rolling plains, and the local economy centers on farming and ranching, supplemented by oil and gas activity associated with the Williston Basin. The county’s cultural landscape is shaped by small-town civic institutions and regional ties to both North Dakota and southern Saskatchewan.

Divide County is a rural county in northwestern North Dakota along the Canada–U.S. border, with Crosby as the county seat. The county’s demographic profile is summarized below using the most recent U.S. Census Bureau county-level releases.

Population Size

According to the U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts for Divide County, North Dakota, Divide County had a population of 2,207 (April 1, 2020 decennial census).

Age & Gender

The U.S. Census Bureau’s data.census.gov platform provides detailed county age and sex distributions from the American Community Survey (ACS). Exact county-level age-group shares and the male/female breakdown should be taken directly from ACS tables for Divide County (e.g., sex by age), as those values vary by release year and are updated on a rolling basis.

Racial & Ethnic Composition

County-level race and Hispanic/Latino origin counts and percentages are available from the U.S. Census Bureau via QuickFacts (Divide County) and in more detail through data.census.gov (Decennial Census and ACS). These sources provide the standard federal categories (e.g., White; American Indian and Alaska Native; Asian; Black or African American; Two or More Races) and Hispanic or Latino origin (of any race).

Household & Housing Data

Housing units, household counts, average household size, owner/renter occupancy, and related housing characteristics are published for Divide County by the U.S. Census Bureau in QuickFacts (Divide County) and in ACS housing/household tables accessed via data.census.gov.

Local Government Reference

For local government information and planning resources, visit the Divide County official website.

Divide County, in far northwestern North Dakota, is sparsely populated and largely rural, so longer distances between homes and fewer providers can constrain wired broadband buildout and increase reliance on mobile and satellite connectivity for digital communication.

Direct, county-level email usage statistics are not generally published; email adoption is typically inferred from proxy indicators such as household internet/broadband subscriptions, device access, and age structure. The most consistent local measures come from the U.S. Census Bureau (data.census.gov), including American Community Survey indicators on broadband subscriptions and computer ownership, which track the practical ability to access email at home.

Age distribution matters because older populations tend to have lower adoption of some online communication tools; Divide County’s age profile can be referenced via U.S. Census Bureau county profile tables. Gender distribution is available in the same sources but is generally a weaker predictor of email access than age and connectivity.

Infrastructure limitations are reflected in rural broadband coverage challenges documented in the NTIA broadband resources and state-level context from the State of North Dakota website.

Divide County is located in far northwestern North Dakota along the Canadian border. It is predominantly rural, characterized by agricultural land use and low population density, with small communities (including the county seat, Crosby) separated by long distances. This settlement pattern and the county’s large geographic area relative to its population affect mobile connectivity by increasing the cost and complexity of building dense cellular networks and by making coverage more dependent on a limited number of towers and backhaul routes.

Key distinction: network availability vs. household adoption

Network availability describes where mobile networks (voice/data) are advertised to work and what technologies (4G/5G) are deployed geographically.
Household adoption describes whether residents subscribe to mobile service, own smartphones, and use mobile data in daily life. County-level adoption statistics are often limited; in many cases, the best available sources are state-level, multi-county, or modeled estimates rather than direct measurements for Divide County.

Mobile penetration or access indicators (county-level availability and adoption limits)

• County-level mobile subscription (penetration) measures are not consistently published as a direct “mobile penetration rate” for Divide County in the way they are for countries or some large metros. For the U.S., mobile subscription statistics are typically available at state or national levels, while county-level indicators more often focus on broadband access and coverage.
• Household connectivity indicators commonly used as proxies for adoption include:
  • The share of households with a cellular data plan, smartphone-only internet access, or any broadband subscription. These measures are generally available through U.S. Census survey products, but county-level estimates can have larger margins of error in sparsely populated counties.
  • Relevant sources include the U.S. Census Bureau’s internet subscription tables (American Community Survey). County-level tables can be accessed via Census.gov data tables (search terms often include “internet subscription,” “cellular data plan,” and “Divide County, North Dakota”).
• Program and mapping sources that separate coverage from adoption
  • The FCC’s broadband maps provide modeled availability for mobile broadband and do not represent subscription rates. See the FCC National Broadband Map.
  • North Dakota statewide broadband planning resources focus on deployment and availability; adoption discussions are commonly presented at a broader geography than individual counties. See the North Dakota broadband office.

Limitation: Publicly available, consistently comparable county-level “mobile penetration” metrics are limited; the most defensible county-specific indicators generally come from Census internet-subscription estimates (adoption) and FCC modeled coverage (availability), which measure different concepts.

Mobile internet usage patterns (4G/5G availability and practical implications)

Network availability (coverage and technologies)

• 4G LTE: In rural North Dakota counties such as Divide, 4G LTE is typically the baseline mobile broadband technology and the primary layer for wide-area coverage. The most authoritative public availability reference is carrier-reported coverage as compiled in the FCC map. Use the FCC National Broadband Map to view mobile broadband coverage by provider and technology.
• 5G: 5G availability in rural counties often concentrates along highways and in/near population clusters, with large areas relying primarily on LTE. The FCC map also includes 5G coverage layers where providers report them; this is the most standardized public source for 5G availability. See FCC mobile broadband availability.
• Roaming and edge-of-coverage behavior: In low-density areas, service quality can vary significantly with distance from towers, terrain micro-variations, and indoor building materials. These affect real-world performance even where coverage is reported as available, but publicly comparable, county-specific performance datasets are more limited than availability layers.

Actual household adoption and usage (data limitations at county scale)

• Mobile-only internet use (smartphone dependence): Rural counties sometimes show higher reliance on mobile data in places where fixed broadband options are limited or expensive; however, county-specific confirmation requires Census internet-subscription tables and associated margins of error. County estimates can be retrieved via Census.gov.
• Usage intensity (streaming, telework, hotspot use): County-level statistics for mobile data consumption are generally not published in a standardized public dataset. Where fixed broadband is sparse, mobile hotspots may substitute for home internet, but public quantification is usually available only at broader geographic levels.

Common device types (smartphones vs. other devices)

• Smartphones are the dominant consumer mobile device type in the U.S., including rural areas, and are the primary endpoint for mobile broadband use (apps, messaging, navigation, video).
• Other connected devices relevant in rural counties include:
  • Mobile hotspots and fixed wireless gateways using cellular networks, used as home-internet substitutes where fixed broadband is limited. Public datasets typically measure the household’s subscription type rather than the specific hardware model.
  • Tablets and laptops using tethering/hotspots, particularly where households use a cellular plan as their main connection.
  • IoT/M2M devices associated with agriculture and logistics (equipment telemetry, asset tracking) exist across rural regions, but public county-level device counts are not generally reported.

Adoption measurement note: The Census primarily captures subscription and device access at the household level (for example, whether the household has a cellular data plan or uses a smartphone for internet), not a complete inventory of device types. County-level results and uncertainty can be accessed through Census.gov.

Demographic and geographic factors influencing mobile usage in Divide County

• Low population density and dispersed settlements: Fewer users per square mile reduces the economic incentive for dense tower placement, often leading to larger coverage footprints per site and more variable indoor coverage. Availability layers show where service is reported; adoption depends on affordability and alternatives.
• Distance from services and reliance on road corridors: In rural counties, connectivity quality can be markedly better near towns and along major roads where infrastructure is concentrated, and weaker in more remote farm and ranch areas.
• Cross-border and regional dynamics: Proximity to the Canadian border and regional travel patterns can affect roaming considerations and network planning near the border, but publicly available county-level adoption effects are not typically quantified.
• Age structure and household composition: Older populations and smaller household sizes can influence smartphone adoption rates and usage intensity. County-level demographic context can be drawn from the U.S. Census Bureau’s county profiles and ACS estimates via Census.gov.
• Economic base (agriculture and resource-linked activity): Work patterns influence the importance of coverage outside town centers (fields, worksites, highways). Public, county-specific measures of workplace mobile dependency are limited; these relationships are generally described qualitatively in rural broadband planning documents.

Authoritative sources for Divide County (recommended references)

• Modeled mobile network availability (4G/5G by provider): FCC National Broadband Map (coverage availability, not adoption).
• Household adoption proxies (internet subscription types, cellular data plans, device-based access): Census.gov (ACS internet subscription tables; county estimates may have higher uncertainty in low-population areas).
• State broadband planning and deployment context: North Dakota broadband office (statewide initiatives, mapping, and planning context).
• Local context and geography: Divide County, North Dakota official website (county services, communities, and local context relevant to infrastructure planning).

Data limitations specific to county-level mobile analysis

• Availability and adoption measure different things and are published by different entities using different methods: FCC maps model advertised availability; Census surveys estimate household adoption/subscription.
• Sparse-population survey uncertainty: ACS county estimates for small, rural counties can have larger margins of error, requiring careful interpretation when comparing categories such as “cellular data plan” vs. “wired broadband.”
• Performance vs. availability: Public, standardized county-level performance metrics (e.g., median mobile download speeds) are less consistently available than coverage layers; performance varies with location, device, spectrum bands, and congestion even where coverage is reported.

Divide County is a sparsely populated, rural county in northwestern North Dakota along the Canadian border, with Crosby as the county seat and local economies tied to agriculture and regional energy activity in the broader Williston Basin area. Low population density, long travel distances, and cold-season weather tend to increase reliance on digital channels for news, community updates, and maintaining social ties, while broadband and mobile coverage constraints can shape platform and usage intensity.

User statistics (penetration / active use)

• County-specific social media penetration: No reputable, regularly updated public dataset reports platform-by-platform or “active user” social media penetration specifically for Divide County.
• Best-available proxy (U.S. adults): National surveys provide the most reliable benchmark for likely local usage patterns:
  • 69% of U.S. adults use at least one social media site, according to the Pew Research Center’s “Social Media and Technology 2024”.
  • Urban–rural differences are present but not extreme for overall use; rural adults generally report slightly lower adoption for some platforms in Pew cross-tabs over time, consistent with infrastructure and demographic differences.

Age group trends (who uses social media most)

Based on the Pew Research Center (2024) national age gradients (commonly used as rural-county proxies when local data are unavailable):

• Highest usage: Adults 18–29 and 30–49 show the highest rates of use across multiple platforms.
• Middle usage: Adults 50–64 show moderate adoption, often concentrated in Facebook and YouTube.
• Lowest usage: Adults 65+ have the lowest overall use, though major platforms (notably Facebook and YouTube) still reach substantial shares.

Gender breakdown

County-level gender splits are not published in a standard public source. National survey findings indicate:

• Women are more likely than men to use Pinterest and somewhat more likely to use Facebook in many Pew survey waves.
• Men are more likely than women to use Reddit and are often slightly more represented in some discussion- and forum-oriented spaces. These patterns are summarized in the Pew Research Center (2024) platform-by-demographic tables.

Most-used platforms (percentages where available)

Reliable platform percentages are available at the U.S. adult level (not county-specific). From Pew Research Center (2024):

• YouTube: 83% of U.S. adults
• Facebook: 68%
• Instagram: 47%
• Pinterest: 35%
• TikTok: 33%
• LinkedIn: 30%
• WhatsApp: 29%
• X (formerly Twitter): 22%
• Reddit: 22%
• Nextdoor: 13%

For a rural county like Divide, platform mix commonly skews toward Facebook (community groups, local announcements) and YouTube (how-to, entertainment, news clips), reflecting national rural-leaning usage patterns and practical utility.

Behavioral trends (engagement patterns / preferences)

• Community information use (Facebook-heavy): Rural areas frequently rely on Facebook for local event promotion, school and municipal updates, buy/sell activity, and informal mutual-aid coordination; this aligns with Facebook’s broad reach among older and middle-aged adults in Pew data.
• Video as a primary format (YouTube dominance): YouTube’s very high penetration nationally supports heavy use for entertainment, tutorials, agriculture/mechanics content, and news-adjacent viewing; it is also less dependent on maintaining an active social graph.
• Short-form video concentration among younger adults: TikTok and Instagram usage is most concentrated among younger age cohorts per Pew, with engagement patterns characterized by frequent sessions and algorithmic discovery rather than local-network posting.
• Messaging as a complement to public posting: WhatsApp use is sizable nationally; however, in many U.S. rural contexts, private messaging (including platform DMs and SMS) functions as a parallel channel for coordination, especially where public posting is less frequent.
• Platform preference by purpose:
  • Local/community updates: Facebook (pages/groups)
  • Entertainment and how-to: YouTube
  • Lifestyle and peer sharing: Instagram
  • Trends/short clips: TikTok
  • News and real-time commentary: X (lower overall reach)
  • Topic forums: Reddit (lower reach, more interest-driven)

Sources for the national benchmark statistics are primarily the Pew Research Center’s Social Media and Technology 2024 report, which is widely cited for U.S. platform penetration and demographic usage patterns.

Divide County, North Dakota family-related public records are primarily managed through state and county offices. Birth and death records (vital records) are created and filed under the state vital records system and are generally accessed through the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services Vital Records unit (North Dakota HHS Vital Records). Local registration functions and some verification services may be handled through the county auditor/recorder’s office (Divide County Auditor). Adoption records are maintained under state court and vital records processes and are not available as open public records.

Associate-related records commonly used for relationship and identity verification include marriage licenses and divorce decrees. Marriage records are typically issued/recorded at the county level through the auditor/recorder (Divide County Auditor). Divorce records and related family court case files are maintained by the Divide County Clerk of Court within the North Dakota State Court system (Divide County Clerk of Court).

Public database access varies: North Dakota courts provide online case search for many docket entries via the statewide portal (North Dakota Courts Public Search), while certified vital records are generally ordered through state vital records rather than open databases.

Privacy restrictions apply widely: birth, death, and adoption records are typically restricted to eligible requesters; court records may be partially public but can include sealed, confidential, or redacted information.

Types of records available

Marriage records

• Marriage license and marriage certificate/return: Issued by the county recorder and completed after the ceremony when the officiant returns the executed license. These county records document that a legal marriage license was issued and that the marriage was solemnized and recorded.
• State marriage record (vital record): North Dakota maintains marriage records at the state level through the Department of Health and Human Services, Vital Records.

Divorce records

• Divorce decree (judgment): The final court order dissolving a marriage, filed in the district court for the county where the case was heard.
• Divorce case file: The broader court file may include pleadings, findings, orders, and related documents. Availability varies by document type and confidentiality rules.

Annulment records

• Annulment judgment/decree: A court order declaring a marriage void or voidable, filed in the district court and maintained as a civil case record similar to divorce matters.

Where records are filed and how they can be accessed

Divide County marriage records (county level)

• Filed/maintained by: Divide County Recorder (marriage licenses and recorded marriage returns).
• Access: Requests are commonly handled through the recorder’s office for certified or informational copies (depending on eligibility under state law). Older records may also be available through state and archival sources.

North Dakota marriage records (state level)

• Filed/maintained by: North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Vital Records.
• Access: Vital Records issues certified copies to eligible requesters under North Dakota law.

Divide County divorce and annulment records (court level)

• Filed/maintained by: North Dakota District Court serving Divide County (part of the Northwest Judicial District). Divorce and annulment judgments and case files are court records.
• Access:
  • Judgments/decrees are obtained from the district court clerk’s office (certified copies available through the court).
  • Case information and some documents may be viewable through North Dakota Courts’ online systems where permitted; sealed or confidential documents are excluded.

Relevant references:

• North Dakota Courts (public access and case information): https://www.ndcourts.gov/
• N.D. HHS Vital Records (marriage records): https://www.hhs.nd.gov/vital

Typical information included in these records

Marriage license / recorded marriage return

Common data elements include:

• Full names of the parties
• Date and place of marriage (and/or date license issued)
• Ages and/or dates of birth (as recorded at the time)
• Residences at the time of application
• Officiant name/title and certification of solemnization
• Witnesses (where recorded)
• License number and recording information (book/page or instrument number)

Divorce decree (judgment)

Common data elements include:

• Court name, county, and case number
• Names of the parties
• Date of judgment and date filed/entered
• Findings and orders dissolving the marriage
• Orders on property division, debts, and name changes
• Orders regarding parenting responsibilities, parenting time, and child support (when applicable)
• Spousal support (alimony) provisions (when applicable)

Annulment judgment

Common data elements include:

• Court name, county, and case number
• Names of the parties
• Date of judgment and date filed/entered
• Legal determination that the marriage is void/voidable and related relief ordered by the court

Privacy or legal restrictions

Marriage records

• Certified copies of North Dakota vital records (including marriage records held by the state) are subject to statutory access restrictions; eligibility requirements apply to who may obtain certified copies.
• County recorder records may be accessible as recorded documents, but issuance of certified copies and identity/eligibility requirements are governed by state law and office practice.

Divorce and annulment records

• Divorce and annulment judgments are generally public court records unless specifically sealed.
• Certain information within case files may be restricted by court rule or statute, including:
  • Confidential or sealed filings and exhibits
  • Protected personal identifiers (e.g., full Social Security numbers, financial account numbers)
  • Records involving minors or sensitive proceedings where the court restricts access
• North Dakota court access and confidentiality are governed by court rules and applicable statutes, and courts may seal or restrict documents by order.

Divide County is in northwestern North Dakota along the Canadian border, centered on the city of Crosby and characterized by small towns, agricultural land use, and long travel distances between services. The county has a small, older-than-average population profile typical of rural Great Plains counties, with community life often organized around school districts, local government, health services, and agriculture/energy-adjacent businesses.

Education Indicators

• Public schools (count and names)

  • Divide County is served primarily by two public school districts:
    • Crosby Public School District (Crosby)
    • Divide County School District (district serving smaller communities in the county)
  • Commonly listed school sites in the county include Crosby Elementary School and Crosby High School (Crosby). School naming/configuration can change with consolidations and grade-sharing; the most authoritative current directory is the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction school/district information (North Dakota DPI).

• Student–teacher ratios and graduation rates

  • County-level student–teacher ratios and graduation rates are not consistently published as a single consolidated “county metric” because reporting is district- and school-based. The most current district/school report cards typically include:
    • Student–teacher (or student–staff) measures
    • 4-year cohort graduation rates (high school)
  • The most recent official graduation rate reporting is available via the state’s ND Insights / Report Card system (North Dakota education data and report cards).
  • Proxy context: Rural North Dakota districts often operate with small graduating classes, so year-to-year graduation-rate swings can reflect very small cohort sizes.

• Adult education levels (highest attainment)

  • The most recent standardized county estimates come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year tables (Educational Attainment). Divide County’s adult attainment pattern is generally consistent with rural North Dakota: a high share with a high school diploma or some college/associate credentials and a smaller share with a bachelor’s degree or higher than the U.S. average.
  • Authoritative county estimates are available through ACS profiles for Divide County on data.census.gov (search “Divide County, North Dakota educational attainment”).

• Notable programs (STEM, vocational training, AP)

  • District-level program availability varies by staffing and enrollment. In rural North Dakota, commonly documented offerings include:
    • Career and Technical Education (CTE) pathways (often including ag education, business/marketing, and skilled trades exposure)
    • Dual credit / concurrent enrollment partnerships where available (often coordinated through regional higher education providers)
    • Advanced Placement (AP) offerings are less common in very small high schools; schools may instead use dual-credit courses as the primary advanced option
  • Program specifics are most reliably documented in district course catalogs and the ND DPI CTE information pages (North Dakota CTE).

• School safety measures and counseling resources

  • North Dakota public schools generally follow state requirements and district policies covering emergency operations plans, visitor protocols, staff training, and coordination with local law enforcement; details are typically posted in district handbooks and board policies rather than in county datasets.
  • Student support commonly includes school counseling services (often shared across grade bands in smaller districts) and access to regional behavioral health supports. State-level reference resources are provided through ND DPI student services guidance (ND DPI student services resources).
  • Countywide counts of counselors, social workers, and psychologists are not typically published in a single consolidated public table for the county; district staffing reports are the usual source.

Employment and Economic Conditions

• Unemployment rate (most recent year available)

  • The most comparable official unemployment measure is produced by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) and state labor market information. Divide County generally records low unemployment relative to national averages, with year-to-year volatility influenced by small labor force size and energy/ag cycles.
  • The most recent annual and monthly rates are available from BLS LAUS and North Dakota labor market information (Job Service North Dakota LMI).

• Major industries and employment sectors

  • Divide County’s employment base is typically concentrated in:
    • Agriculture (crop and livestock) and related services
    • Public administration and education (schools, county/city government)
    • Health care and social assistance (clinics, long-term care, EMS-related roles)
    • Retail trade and accommodation/food services (small-town service economy)
    • Construction and transportation/warehousing (often tied to regional projects and freight)
  • Industry composition can be verified using ACS “Industry by Occupation” and workforce tables via data.census.gov.

• Common occupations and workforce breakdown

  • Occupational patterns in Divide County commonly reflect rural service and production needs:
    • Management, business, and administrative support
    • Education, training, and library occupations
    • Healthcare support and practitioner roles
    • Sales and office
    • Transportation and material moving
    • Construction and extraction (to the extent supported by local/regional activity)
    • Farming, fishing, and forestry
  • County occupational shares are available through ACS occupation tables on data.census.gov.

• Commuting patterns and mean commute time

  • Divide County exhibits a predominantly drive-alone commuting pattern, typical of rural counties, with limited public transit and long distances between residences and job sites.
  • Mean commute time is best sourced from ACS commuting tables (Travel Time to Work; Means of Transportation to Work) on data.census.gov. Rural North Dakota counties commonly show moderate average commute times but with a long tail for workers traveling to regional hubs or job sites.

• Local employment versus out-of-county work

  • A meaningful share of residents in sparsely populated counties often work outside the county (to larger trade centers or regional employers), while local jobs are concentrated in schools, healthcare, local government, and essential services.
  • The most direct measure comes from the Census “county-to-county commuting flows” and LEHD Origin-Destination Employment Statistics; the standard reference portal is Census OnTheMap (LEHD/LODES).

Housing and Real Estate

• Homeownership rate and rental share

  • Divide County’s housing tenure is typically owner-occupied dominant, consistent with rural North Dakota, with a smaller rental market concentrated in Crosby and any multifamily/older housing stock.
  • The most recent official homeownership and renter shares are provided by ACS “Tenure” tables on data.census.gov.

• Median property values and recent trends

  • Median owner-occupied home value is available from ACS “Selected Housing Characteristics” and “Housing Value” tables on data.census.gov.
  • Trend context: In small rural counties, median value trends can move unevenly due to low sales volume; appreciation often tracks regional demand, interest-rate conditions, and the availability/condition of existing stock more than large-scale new construction.

• Typical rent prices

  • Gross rent medians are reported in ACS “Gross Rent” tables on data.census.gov.
  • Market structure note: Divide County’s rental supply is typically limited, with rents influenced by small-unit availability, seasonality, and the condition/age of units.

• Types of housing

  • Housing stock is predominantly:
    • Single-family detached homes in towns (notably Crosby)
    • Farmsteads and rural lots/acreages outside town boundaries
    • Limited multifamily housing (small apartment buildings/duplexes) in town
  • ACS “Structure Type” tables provide the county distribution by unit type (ACS housing structure tables).

• Neighborhood characteristics (proximity to schools or amenities)

  • In Crosby, typical neighborhood patterns place many residences within relatively short driving distance of:
    • Schools, city offices, parks, and local retail/services
  • Outside incorporated areas, housing is dispersed, and amenities typically require travel to Crosby or regional trade centers. Parcel-level proximity varies; county assessor and GIS resources are the primary authoritative sources for parcel context (often hosted through county government portals).

• Property tax overview (average rate and typical homeowner cost)

  • North Dakota property taxes are administered locally with state rules; effective rates vary by city, school district, and other levies. County-specific typical bills are best referenced through:
    • County auditor/treasurer statements and local mill levy information
    • Statewide comparative summaries from the North Dakota Office of State Tax Commissioner (ND Tax Commissioner)
  • A single “average rate” for the county is not as meaningful as taxable value × local mill levies, and typical homeowner cost depends heavily on home value and taxing jurisdiction.

Data note (availability and consistency): The most current, comparable county-level percentages/medians for attainment, commuting, tenure, home value, and rent are produced by the ACS 5-year program; district-level education outcomes (student–teacher measures, graduation rates, and program availability) are most accurately obtained from North Dakota’s school report card and district publications rather than county aggregates.