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#2363 of 3,813 schools in IL

Merrill Elem School

Elementary School · Rock Falls ESD 13

600 4th Ave, Rock Falls, IL 61071

Enrollment

239

Student-Teacher

11.9:1

Score

5.7

Grades

3rd – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Illinois schools

#2,363 of 3,813

In Rock Falls

#5 of 7

public schools

In district

#3 of 4

Rock Falls ESD 13

School environment

9.1 / 10

Excellent

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Merrill Elem School

5.7/10

Elementary School in Rock Falls · grades 3rd – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

St Andrew Catholic Elementary School

7.2/10

0.6 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Rock Falls Township High School

6.3/10

0.7 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Merrill Elem School

Merrill Elem School is a public elementary school in Rock Falls, IL, part of Rock Falls ESD 13. Merrill Elem School serves approximately 239 students, and covers grades 3rd-5th, and has a 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio. Merrill Elem School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.7 out of 10 and ranks #2,363 of 3,813 schools in IL.

Structured state assessment records for Merrill Elem School show 40% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2021) and 39% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

How it compares0.7 pts below district
  • This school 5.7 · Average
  • District avg 6.4
  • IL avg 6.2

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress3.4Needs Improvement50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-6.1 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2022
TrendDeclining
Academics7.4Very Good30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency22% (2021 EdFacts)
Reading/ELA Proficiency22% (2022 EdFacts)
Overall Proficiency22% (2022 EdFacts, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)14% (model expectation from 2022 EdFacts)
vs. Expected+8.0 pts
Adjusted Percentile62th
Resources & Environment9.1Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio11.9:1
Per-Pupil Spending$18,477
Chronic Absenteeism15.1%

Merrill Elem School — Students at Merrill Elem School score 22% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 14%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

77%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores IL EDFACTS (2021-22)

Math Proficiency 40.2% (multi-year average, 2009-2021)
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 39.4% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
School
State
N/A

Based on 27 test records from IL state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2009
Math
94%
ELA
83%
2010
Math
93%
ELA
79%
2011
Math
91%
ELA
75%
2012
Math
41%
ELA
50%
2013
Math
49%
ELA
48%
2014
Math
12%
ELA
21%
2015
Math
21%
ELA
29%
2016
Math
17%
ELA
28%
2017
Math
21%
ELA
23%
2018
Math
20%
ELA
25%
2019
Math
20%
ELA
25%
2020*
Math
22%
ELA
22%
2021*
Math
22%
ELA
22%
2022
ELA
22%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 3.4/10.

How Merrill Elem School Compares

See how Merrill Elem School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
5.7/10
38th percentile in IL
Academic
7.4/10
Very Good
Growth
3.4/10
Needs Improvement
Environment
9.1/10
Excellent

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
77%
Teaching Staff
12:1 student-teacher ratio
20 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
15.1%

Location

600 4th Ave, Rock Falls, IL 61071

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Merrill Elem School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Chadwick-Milledgeville Elem Sch (rated 8.5/10, 13.8 miles away, in nearby Milledgeville), which scores notably higher. Another option is East Coloma - Nelson Elem Sch (rated 8.0/10, 1.4 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, ST ANDREW CATHOLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (rated 7.2/10, 0.6 miles away), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Rock Falls, see our Rock Falls schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 11.5 mi
School Distance Rating
ST ANDREW CATHOLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Rock Falls 0.6 mi 7.2
Rock Falls Township High School Rock Falls 0.7 mi 6.3
Dillon Elementary School Rock Falls 1.0 mi 7.1
Rock Falls Middle School Rock Falls 1.0 mi 7.3
Lincoln Elem School Sterling 1.6 mi 4.3
Sterling High School Sterling 1.8 mi 6.5
Jefferson Elem School Sterling 1.8 mi 5.4
Challand Middle School Sterling 1.8 mi 3.6
East Coloma - Nelson Elem Sch Rock Falls 1.4 mi 8.0
Washington Elem School Sterling 1.9 mi 5.2
CHRIST LUTHERAN SCHOOL Sterling 2.3 mi 6.8
NEWMAN CENTRAL CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL Sterling 2.4 mi 5.8
Franklin Elem School Sterling 2.5 mi 5.3
Riverdale PreSchool Center Rock Falls 2.2 mi 5.0
Montmorency CCSD #145 Rock Falls 3.9 mi 5.6
Tampico Elem School Tampico 11.3 mi 5.2
Chadwick-Milledgeville Elem Sch Milledgeville 13.8 mi 8.5
Chadwick-Milledgeville Jr HS Milledgeville 13.8 mi 7.9
Jefferson Elem School Dixon 11.4 mi 2.9
Dixon High School Dixon 11.5 mi 4.8

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 61071 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$57,909

Median Home Value

$104,900

Median Rent

$752/mo

Population

13,482

College Educated

17.1%

Homeownership

74.9%

Avg Commute

18.2 min

Poverty Rate

16.7%

Median Age

43.6

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Aldridge Elem School Chicago, IL 5.7
Clark G R Elem School Chicago, IL 5.7
DeSoto Elementary School De Soto, IL 5.7
Elizabeth Graham Elem School Springfield, IL 5.7
Finkl Elem School Chicago, IL 5.7
Fisher Grade School Fisher, IL 5.7

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Merrill Elem School

What grades does Merrill Elem School serve?

Merrill Elem School serves students in grades 3rd through 5th.

How many students attend Merrill Elem School?

Merrill Elem School has an enrollment of approximately 239 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Merrill Elem School?

The student-teacher ratio at Merrill Elem School is 11.9:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Merrill Elem School rank in IL?

Merrill Elem School ranks #2,363 of 3,813 schools in IL.

What is Merrill Elem School's MySchoolScout rating?

Merrill Elem School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.7 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Merrill Elem School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Merrill Elem School has 40% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2021) and 39% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

Is Merrill Elem School a charter school?

No, Merrill Elem School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Merrill Elem School a Title I school?

No, Merrill Elem School is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Merrill Elem School?

77.0% of students at Merrill Elem School qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
74 Very Walkable
Bike Score
55 Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
3rd – 5th
Enrollment
239
Student-Teacher Ratio
11.9:1
Teachers (FTE)
20
Free/Reduced Lunch
77.0%
Type
regular
Setting
Distant Town
County
Whiteside County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
15.1%

District

Rock Falls ESD 13
District Enrollment
882
Schools in District
4
Per-Pupil Spending
$18,477
District Rank
#3 of 4

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