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B−

Merrill Area School District

Public school districtGrades PK–12Regional · 10 towns

Serves Merrill, Merrill, Pine River, Scott, Schley, Corning, Russell, Rock Falls, Birch and Harding, and parts of Harrison.

Merrill’s School Grade B− better than 53% of Wisconsin school districts

Students
2,686
Schools
7
Spent per student
$13,948
WI $16,459
Students per teacher
15:1
Free or reduced lunch
37%
The gist

What stands out about Merrill Area School District

  • Its letter, B−: results better than 53% of Wisconsin districts
  • Spends 15% less per student than the WI average
  • 15 students per teacher
  • Enrollment down 12.5% since 2020–21
The School Grade

What this district adds to its towns’ grade

B−: better than 53% of the 441 Wisconsin school districts we grade. Each town’s School Grade weighs its districts by the students they test; spending and class size are shown but don’t count.

Test scoresReading and math close to the state, 2021–22
B−
GraduationFour-year graduation above the state, class of 2023
C+
The towns it serves, and their School Grades
B−Merrill 9,389B−Merrill 2,856B−Pine River 1,845B−Scott 1,371Schley 953Corning 830Russell 704Rock Falls 619Birch 570Harding 364

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where would my kid go?

The school path for Merrill. Grade by grade →

K–2Kate Goodrich ElementaryThis district
3–4Washington ElementaryThis district
5–8Prairie River MiddleThis district
9–12Merrill HighThis district

Test scores vs. WI

2021–22 · class of 2023
Math proficiency40%
State average 38.7% · 1,288 students tested
Reading / language arts39%
State average 38.1% · 1,289 students tested
Graduation rate (4-year)94%
State average 90.5% · 251 in the class

87% of students in the tested grades sat the 2022 tests.

Reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express and the Urban Institute); the newest year for each measure.

Where the money goes

fiscal 2024
$13,948 per student · 15% below WI
Spending
Classroom instruction 54%Support & administration 45%Other 1%
Paid for by
Local (mostly property tax) 35%State 54%Federal 11%

Fiscal 2022–24 includes federal pandemic relief (ESSER).

U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances.

Enrollment over time
3,068’20
3,056’21
2,907’22
2,798’23
2,686’24

Down 12.5% since 2020–21.

Students
White 86%Two or more races 6%Hispanic 5%Black 1%Asian <1%American Indian/Alaska Native <1%Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander <1%

Schools in the district

7 public schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Wisconsin’s other public schools.

Bridges Virtual Academy
Other · Grades PK–12 · Merrill
674 students17:1
Pine River School for Young Learners (PRSYL)
Prekindergarten · Grades PK · Merrill
124 students21:1
Kate Goodrich Elementary
Elementary · Grades K–2 · Merrill
B+
337 students13:1
Washington Elementary
Elementary · Grades 3–4 · Merrill
A−
257 students15:1
Prairie River Middle
Middle · Grades 5–8 · Merrill
C+
507 students13:1
Merrill High
High · Grades 9–12 · Merrill
C
756 students16:1
Merrill Adult Diploma Academy
High · Grades 11–12 · Merrill
31 students31:1

Nearby districts

Compare spending and schools next door.

Tomahawk School DistrictBradley, King, Skanawan
$15,177per student
Antigo School DistrictAckley, Summit, Vilas
$17,507per student
Athens School DistrictHalsey, Hamburg
$13,678per student
Rhinelander School DistrictCrescent, Parrish
$17,351per student

District facts: U.S. Department of Education (NCES school directory 2024–25 and district boundaries) and the U.S. Census Bureau’s school finance survey. Test scores and graduation: state results reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express and the Urban Institute). The letters are our own summary, graded within Wisconsin.