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Pine River DepotPhoto: McGhiever · CC BY-SA 4.0
C+
Schools in Pine River Township · Pine River-Backus Public School District

Pine River Township’s public schools score below 63% of Minnesota districts on tests and graduation

On the state math tests, 31% of Pine River Township’s students scored proficient, below the Minnesota average (45%). The grade covers the public school district serving Pine River Township, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Minnesota, not nationally.

K–12Where will my kid go?

From Minnesota state tests taken in spring 2022, when 100% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
45%
▼ 6 pts vs MN 51%
2021–22
Math proficiency
31%
▼ 14 pts vs MN 45%
2021–22
Graduate on time
80–84%
▼ 1–3 pts vs MN 83%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$14.3K
▼ 17% vs MN $17.1K
FY2024
Students per teacher
13.8
MN 14.8 · smaller classes
Schools in town
1
849 students on the public path
In brief

Pine River Township’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 784 Minnesota towns with household incomes within a quarter of Pine River Township’s, its schools beat 23%, lower than their 37% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 45% of tested students were proficient in reading and 31% in math, against 51% and 45% statewide; 100% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

80–84% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 83% across Minnesota (the state reports Pine River Township’s rate as a range). Districts ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $14,258 per student, against $17,091 across Minnesota (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

One elementary school, then one middle school

From grade 7 the district’s path is Pine River-Backus High School. See the path ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Pine River Township’s grade

C Test scoresC Graduation

C+: better than 37% of Minnesota school districts. Both inputs trail the Minnesota average; graduation is the closer of the two to typical.

Minnesota school districts we grade (502)Better than 37%
Lower resultsHigher results
Minnesota towns with similar household incomes (784)Better than 23%
Towns in Cass County (49)Better than 57%
CB−A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 419 test results and a graduating class of 75 could put Pine River Township anywhere from C to B−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 100% of Pine River Township’s students in the tested grades sat them (418 in math, 420 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Pine River Township, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
PK–6Pine River-Backus Elementaryin Pine RiverC+
7–12Pine River-Backus High Schoolin Pine RiverC

Pine River Township’s public schools are run by Pine River-Backus Public School District. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

The district

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Pine River-Backus Public School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 3 schools · 906 students · 13.8 per teacher (MN 14.8)
$14,258MN $17,091 · FY2024
C+
Test scores · 2021–22

Well below the state in reading

Reading45%
State average 51.1% · 420 students tested
Math31%
State average 44.8% · 418 students tested

Pine River Township vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Minnesota towns that share Pine River Township’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Pine River TownshipC+Pine River-Backus Public
Pine River (city)—Pine River-Backus Public
Powers—Pine River-Backus Public PK–12 · Walker-Hackensack-Akeley PK–12
Barclay—Pine River-Backus Public
Bull Moose—Pine River-Backus Public
Walden—Pine River-Backus Public

All 5 neighbors share Pine River-Backus Public with Pine River Township, so their letters differ mainly through other districts.

Every school in Pine River Township

3 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Minnesota’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

Also serving Pine River Townshipin other towns
Pine River-Backus Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–6 · Pine River
C+
478 students13:1Rate it →
Pine River-Backus High School
High · Grades 7–12 · Pine River
C
371 students14:1Rate it →
Other district programsby referral or application
Pine River-Backus ALP
High · Grades 9–12 · Pine River
C−
Alternative Education
57 students24:1Rate it →

Questions about Pine River Township’s schools

Are Pine River Township’s schools good?

On Minnesota’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Pine River Township children attend score below 63% of Minnesota’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C+ Schools grade. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 23%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Pine River Township in?

Pine River-Backus Public School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 906 students in 3 schools (2024–25).

What is Pine River Township’s graduation rate?

80–84% of the class of 2023 in Pine River-Backus Public School District graduated in four years, against 83% across Minnesota.

How much does Pine River Township spend per student?

$14,258 in Pine River-Backus Public School District (FY2024), against $17,091 across Minnesota. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Pine River Township families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Pine River Township → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Minnesota. Stars are from neighbors.