Public elementary and secondary schools in Fargo are part of Fargo Public School District #1. A superintendent is appointed by a nine-member, nonpartisan school board. The district offers special education classes to students with special needs. Advanced placement classes are available to high-performing high school students. Career and technical education classes at the high school level allow students to receive instruction in fields that pertain to specific careers or interests.
The following is a summary of data regarding Fargo public schools as of the 2002–2003 school year.
Total enrollment: 11,095
Number of facilities
elementary schools: 14
middle schools: 3
senior high schools: 3
Student/teacher ratio: 21.6:1
Teacher salaries average: $39,029
Funding per pupil: $6,795
Six parochial schools are operated by the Catholic and Lutheran churches in Fargo.
Public Schools Information: Fargo Public Schools, 415 4th Street North, Fargo, ND 58102; telephone (701)446-1000
The Fargo-Moorhead community is served by three universities as well as several vocational schools. North Dakota State University in Fargo, with an enrollment of nearly 12,000 students, awards baccalaureate, master's, and doctorate degrees in a wide range of disciplines; colleges within the university are humanities and social sciences, agriculture, engineering and architecture, home economics, pharmacy, science and mathematics, and teacher education. Located on the university campus is Tri-College University, a consortium of area colleges and universities that allows students to take classes at Concordia College and Minnesota State University Moorhead at no extra charge. Cardinal Meunch Seminary trains young men for the priesthood. Aakers College is a private, two-year degree granting institution. Concordia College, Moorhead State University, and Moorhead Technical College are located in Moorhead.
The Fargo Public Library maintains holdings of more than 133,000 volumes, more than 250 magazine and newspaper subscriptions, and compact discs, films, DVDs, and audio-and videotapes. The library maintains computers with Internet access and various software applications that are available to the public. Children's services include story time and a summer reading program. The library operates one branch library and a bookmobile in addition to the main branch. Online research databases may be accessed through the library's Internet website. The North Dakota State University Library houses about 402,807 books, 5,090 periodical and subscription titles, and CD-ROMs, audio- and videotapes, and maps. Special collections include bonanza farming, the North Dakota Biography Index, North Dakota Pioneer Reminiscences, and the North Dakota Historical Manuscript, Photograph and Book Collection; the library is also a depository for federal and state documents. Specialized libraries in the city are affiliated with hospitals, fraternal societies, and religious organizations.
The Northern Crop Science Laboratory on the North Dakota State University campus is a division of the Agricultural Research Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Government and university scientists conduct cooperative research on barley, hard red spring wheat, durum wheat, flax, sunflowers, and sugar beets; the goal is to expand and retain profitable production of these crops through the use of the most advanced equipment and research techniques.
Public Library Information: Fargo Public Library, 102 North Third Street, Fargo, ND 58102; telephone (701) 241-1472