Mission:

Students will be self-reliant people of sound character who have highly developed academic, communication and life skills to succeed in their own lives while contributing to the well being of their communities.

About Us:

Fargo Public Schools (FPS) is a public school district in Fargo, North Dakota. The District operates in three comprehensive high schools, three middle schools, and sixteen elementary schools. FPS also operates an alternative high school and an early childhood education center for children with special needs. Student enrollment in FPS for the 2016-17 school year was approximately 11,200.

Governance and Funding

The Fargo Public Schools is governed by a nine-member Board of Education, whose members may serve an unlimited number of four-year terms. Board members oversee the District’s annual operating budget, which was $158 million during the 2016-17 fiscal year. 

Staff

The school system employs more than 1,800 permanent employees. Included in that number are approximately 975 teachers of which 64% hold a master’s degree or higher. Specialists are placed in all District elementary buildings, to deliver instruction in visual arts, library/media services, music, and physical education.

Curriculum

In 2016 the Fargo Public Schools was recertified as an accredited school district by AdvancED. The District's curriculum and education delivery is guided by a Strategic Plan developed in 2015, which focuses on seven strategic initiatives: student achievement and growth, STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics), positive school culture, co-curricular activities, community outreach and communication, equitable resources and planning, and continuous improvement and accountability.

The District offers high school students more than 220 courses within 28 curriculum areas. Advanced Placement (AP) courses include biology, calculus, chemistry, history, and physics, in addition to language and the arts. Career & Technical Education curriculum in the Fargo Public Schools includes automotive, business, construction, graphic arts, health, information technologies, industry, and manufacturing, with access to agriculture and aviation through the Cass County Career and Technical Education Consortium.

Through its special education department, the District serves over 1,400 children with special needs, ages 3-21.

Configuration

The District educates its students through a city-wide grade-level configuration of grade K-5 elementary schools, grade 6-8 middle schools, and grade 9-12 high schools. The District’s elementary and middle school buildings constructed and/or remodeled after 1994 utilize the shared “pod” or “team center” concept, which assigns groups of students and teachers together for interconnected teaching and learning using common resources. 

Activities

The District offers, on average, more than 55 co-curricular activities at each of the comprehensive high schools. This includes athletics, forensics, clubs, music, technology, community service, honor societies, and the performing arts. Many directly relate to or include academic coursework.