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Merrill Wisconsin Downtown2 West Westside WIS64Photo: Royalbroil · CC BY-SA 3.0
B−
Schools in Merrill · Merrill Area School District

Merrill’s public schools outscore 53% of Wisconsin districts

The grade covers the public school district serving Merrill, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Wisconsin, not nationally.

#213of 362 Wisconsin townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Wisconsin state tests taken in spring 2022, when 87% 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
39%
▲ 1 pts vs WI 38%
2021–22
Math proficiency
40%
▲ 1 pts vs WI 39%
2021–22
Graduate on time
94%
▲ 4 pts vs WI 90%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$13.9K
▼ 15% vs WI $16.5K
FY2024
Students per teacher
15.4
WI 13.6 · larger classes
Schools in town
8
1,857 students on the public path
In brief

Merrill’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 543 Wisconsin towns with household incomes within a quarter of Merrill’s, its schools beat 76%, higher than their 53% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state on both counts

Reading proficiency is 39% and math 40% in spring 2022, against 38% and 39% statewide; 94% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 90%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $13,948 per student, against $16,459 across Wisconsin (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

One elementary school, then one elementary, one middle and one high school

From grade 3 the district’s path is Washington Elementary, then Prairie River Middle, then Merrill High. Enrollment is down 12% since 2020–21. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

Merrill Adult Diploma Academy, St. John Lutheran School (private), Trinity Lutheran School (private) and St. Francis Xavier Catholic School (private) are in town. Bridges Virtual Academy, an online school, is based here too; it isn’t counted as a local school. Every school ↓

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 Merrill’s grade

B− Test scoresC+ Graduation

B−: better than 53% of Wisconsin school districts, #213 of 362 Wisconsin towns. Test scores and graduation are both above the Wisconsin average; test scores are the stronger of the two.

Wisconsin school districts we grade (441)Better than 53%
Lower resultsHigher results
Wisconsin towns with similar household incomes (543)Better than 76%
C+BA fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 1,288 test results and a graduating class of 251 could put Merrill anywhere from C+ to B. The tests are from spring 2022, when 87% of Merrill’s students in the tested grades sat them (1,288 in math, 1,289 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
K–2Kate Goodrich ElementaryMerrill Area School DistrictB+
3–4Washington ElementaryMerrill Area School DistrictA−
5–8Prairie River MiddleMerrill Area School DistrictC+
9–12Merrill HighMerrill Area School DistrictC

Merrill’s public schools are run by Merrill Area School District, which also serves Birch, Corning, Harding and Merrill and others. 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.

Merrill Area School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 7 schools · 2,686 students, down 12% since 2020–21 · 15.4 per teacher (WI 13.6)
$13,948WI $16,459 · FY2024
B−
Test scores · 2021–22

Close to the state in reading

Reading39%
State average 38.1% · 1289 students tested
Math40%
State average 38.7% · 1288 students tested

Merrill vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Wisconsin towns that share Merrill’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
MerrillB−Merrill Area
ScottB−Merrill Area
Pine RiverB−Merrill Area

All 2 neighbors share Merrill Area with Merrill, so their letters differ mainly through other districts.

Every school in Merrill

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

District schools in Merrillby address
Kate Goodrich Elementary
Elementary · Grades K–2
B+
337 students13:1Rate it →
Washington Elementary
Elementary · Grades 3–4
A−
257 students15:1Rate it →
Prairie River Middle
Middle · Grades 5–8
C+
507 students13:1Rate it →
Merrill High
High · Grades 9–12
C
756 students16:1Rate it →
Charter schoolsfree, open by application
Merrill Adult Diploma Academy
High · Grades 11–12
CharterAlternative Education
31 students31:1Rate it →
Online schools based in Merrillnot counted as local schools
Bridges Virtual Academy
Grades PK–12
CharterOnline
674 students17:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
St. John Lutheran School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
Private · Religious
194 students20:1Rate it →
Trinity Lutheran School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
Private · Religious
170 students17:1Rate it →
St. Francis Xavier Catholic School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
Private · Catholic
116 students12:1Rate it →

Questions about Merrill’s schools

Are Merrill’s schools good?

They sit near the middle of Wisconsin: the public schools Merrill children attend outscore 53% of Wisconsin’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B− Schools grade, #213 of 362 Wisconsin towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 76%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Merrill in?

Merrill Area School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 2,686 students in 7 schools (2024–25).

Where do Merrill kids go to high school?

Merrill High, with 756 students; its own test results earn a C.

What is Merrill’s graduation rate?

94% of the class of 2023 in Merrill Area School District graduated in four years, against 90% across Wisconsin.

How much does Merrill spend per student?

$13,948 in Merrill Area School District (FY2024), against $16,459 across Wisconsin. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Merrill?

Yes: St. John Lutheran School (religious, grades PK–8, 194 students), Trinity Lutheran School (religious, grades PK–8, 170 students) and St. Francis Xavier Catholic School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 116 students). Merrill also has 1 charter school, free and open by application.

Parents talk

What Merrill families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Merrill → 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 Wisconsin. Stars are from neighbors.