Average
#1482 of 1,992 schools in MN
Challenger Elementary
Elementary School · THIEF RIVER FALLS SCHOOL DISTRICT
601 COUNTY RD 61, Thief River Falls, MN 56701
Enrollment
781
Student-Teacher
13.7:1
Score
5.3
Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
781
Student-Teacher
13.7:1
Score
5.3
Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Data vintage
2022-23
Data vintage2022-23
How this school compares
Minnesota schools
#1,482 of 1,992
In Thief River Falls
#2 of 3
public schools
In district
#2 of 3
THIEF RIVER FALLS SCHOOL DISTRICT
Academic performance
7.5 / 10
Very Good
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Challenger Elementary
Elementary School in Thief River Falls · grades Pre-K – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.
Franklin Middle
1.4 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.
Northwest Area Learning Center
1.4 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.
About Challenger Elementary
Challenger Elementary is a public elementary school in Thief River Falls, MN, part of THIEF RIVER FALLS SCHOOL DISTRICT. Challenger Elementary serves approximately 781 students, and covers grades Pre-K-5th, and has a 13.7:1 student-teacher ratio. Challenger Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.3 out of 10 and ranks #1,482 of 1,992 schools in MN.
Structured state assessment records for Challenger Elementary show 66% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 60% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
- This school 5.3 · Average
- MN avg 6.4
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Challenger Elementary — Students at Challenger Elementary score 50% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 45%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
43.8%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores MN EDFACTS (2021-22)
Based on 28 test records from MN state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
↓ DecliningAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
* 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 Challenger Elementary Compares
See how Challenger Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Location
601 COUNTY RD 61, Thief River Falls, MN 56701
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Challenger Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. VIKING ELEMENTARY (rated 9.5/10, 13.9 miles away, in nearby Viking), which scores notably higher. Another option is WIN-E-MAC ELEMENTARY (rated 8.8/10, 30.8 miles away, in nearby Erskine), which scores notably higher. Additionally, J.A. HUGHES ELEMENTARY (rated 8.5/10, 15.3 miles away, in nearby Red Lake Falls), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Thief River Falls, see our Thief River Falls schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 29.6 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| FRANKLIN MIDDLE Thief River Falls | 1.4 mi | 5.1 |
| NORTHWEST AREA LEARNING CENTER Thief River Falls | 1.4 mi | — |
| LINCOLN SENIOR HIGH Thief River Falls | 1.6 mi | 6.1 |
| ST BERNARD'S SCHOOL Thief River Falls | 1.7 mi | 6.7 |
| ST JOHN LUTHERAN SCHOOL Thief River Falls | 1.6 mi | — |
| Red Lake County Central Elementary Plummer | 14.2 mi | 6.4 |
| J.A. HUGHES ELEMENTARY Red Lake Falls | 15.3 mi | 8.5 |
| LAFAYETTE SECONDARY Red Lake Falls | 15.7 mi | 8.5 |
| VIKING ELEMENTARY Viking | 13.9 mi | 9.5 |
| NEWFOLDEN ELEMENTARY Newfolden | 19.5 mi | 7.2 |
| MARSHALL COUNTY CENTRAL HIGH Newfolden | 19.6 mi | 7.8 |
| GOODRIDGE ELEMENTARY Goodridge | 17.1 mi | 6.8 |
| GOODRIDGE SECONDARY Goodridge | 17.1 mi | 6.2 |
| RLCC Elementary at Oklee Oklee | 22.9 mi | — |
| Red Lake County Central High School Oklee | 22.9 mi | 8.2 |
| WIN-E-MAC ELEMENTARY Erskine | 30.8 mi | 8.8 |
| WIN-E-MAC SECONDARY Erskine | 30.8 mi | 6.7 |
| HIGHLAND ELEMENTARY Crookston | 29.1 mi | 6.6 |
| CROOKSTON SECONDARY Crookston | 29.0 mi | 6.0 |
| WASHINGTON ELEMENTARY Crookston | 29.6 mi | 6.8 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 56701 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$73,243
Median Home Value
$189,700
Median Rent
$897/mo
Population
12,814
College Educated
19.9%
Homeownership
70.1%
Avg Commute
13.1 min
Poverty Rate
9.6%
Median Age
40.1
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| ADAMS MAGNET ELEMENTARY Saint Paul, MN | 5.3 |
| PINE HILL ELEMENTARY Cottage Grove, MN | 5.3 |
| SOUTHVIEW ELEMENTARY Waconia, MN | 5.3 |
| LINCOLN CENTER ELEMENTARY South Saint Paul, MN | 5.2 |
| OAK HILL COMMUNITY ELEMENTARY Saint Cloud, MN | 5.2 |
| Pinewood Elementary Mounds View, MN | 5.2 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Challenger Elementary
What grades does Challenger Elementary serve?
Challenger Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend Challenger Elementary?
Challenger Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 781 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Challenger Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Challenger Elementary is 13.7:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Challenger Elementary rank in MN?
Challenger Elementary ranks #1,482 of 1,992 schools in MN.
What is Challenger Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Challenger Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.3 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 Challenger Elementary?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Challenger Elementary has 66% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 60% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Is Challenger Elementary a charter school?
No, Challenger Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Challenger Elementary a Title I school?
No, Challenger Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Challenger Elementary?
43.8% of students at Challenger Elementary qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
Neighborhood Context
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Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 5th
- Enrollment
- 781
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 13.7:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 57
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 43.8%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Remote Town
- County
- Pennington County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 18.1%
- Phone
- (218) 681-2345
Resources & Links
District
THIEF RIVER FALLS SCHOOL DISTRICT- District Enrollment
- 1,811
- Schools in District
- 5
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $12,994
- District Rank
- #2 of 3
Other Schools in This District
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