Guest, Sign inJoin

Post to Pine River

We’ll email a one-tap link to publish your post. No password, and nothing is public until you click it.
Already a member? Sign in
B−
Schools in Pine River · Merrill Area School District

Pine River’s public schools outscore 53% of Wisconsin districts

The grade covers the public school district serving Pine River, 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.

K–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
1
1,981 students on the public path
In brief

Pine River’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 855 Wisconsin towns with household incomes within a quarter of Pine River’s, its schools beat 43%, lower 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 ↓

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’s grade

B− Test scoresC+ Graduation

B−: better than 53% of Wisconsin school districts. 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 (855)Better than 43%
Towns in Lincoln County (16)Better than 50%
C+BA fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 1,288 test results and a graduating class of 251 could put Pine River anywhere from C+ to B. The tests are from spring 2022, when 87% of Pine River’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 Pine River, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
K–2Kate Goodrich Elementaryin MerrillB+
3–4Washington Elementaryin MerrillA−
5–8Prairie River Middlein MerrillC+
9–12Merrill Highin MerrillC

Pine River’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

Pine River vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Pine RiverB−Merrill Area
ScottB−Merrill Area
MerrillB−Merrill Area
Schley—Merrill Area
TexasC+Wausau
Ackley—Antigo

3 of the 5 neighbors share Merrill Area with Pine River, so their letters differ mainly through other districts.

Every school in Pine River

5 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 Pine Riverby address
Pine River School for Young Learners (PRSYL)
Prekindergarten · Grades PK · Merrill
124 students21:1Rate it →
Also serving Pine Riverin other towns
Kate Goodrich Elementary
Elementary · Grades K–2 · Merrill
B+
337 students13:1Rate it →
Washington Elementary
Elementary · Grades 3–4 · Merrill
A−
257 students15:1Rate it →
Prairie River Middle
Middle · Grades 5–8 · Merrill
C+
507 students13:1Rate it →
Merrill High
High · Grades 9–12 · Merrill
C
756 students16:1Rate it →

Questions about Pine River’s schools

Are Pine River’s schools good?

They sit near the middle of Wisconsin: the public schools Pine River children attend outscore 53% of Wisconsin’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B− Schools grade. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 43%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Pine River in?

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

Where do Pine River kids go to high school?

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

What is Pine River’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 Pine River spend per student?

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

Parents talk

What Pine River families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Pine River → 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.