Average
#959 of 1,992 schools in MN
Top 48% in state
Pine River-backus Elementary
Elementary School · PINE RIVER-BACKUS SCHOOL DISTRICT
P.O. BOX 610, Pine River, MN 56474
Enrollment
477
Student-Teacher
12.2:1
Score
6.3
Grades
Pre-K – 6th
Enrollment
477
Student-Teacher
12.2:1
Score
6.3
Grades
Pre-K – 6th
Data vintage
2022-23
Data vintage2022-23
How this school compares
Minnesota schools
#959 of 1,992
In Pine River
#2 of 3
public schools
In district
#2 of 3
PINE RIVER-BACKUS SCHOOL DISTRICT
School environment
8.5 / 10
Excellent
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Pine River-backus Elementary
Elementary School in Pine River · grades Pre-K – 6th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.
Pine River-backus High School
0.1 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.
Pine River-backus Alp
0.2 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.
About Pine River-backus Elementary
Pine River-backus Elementary is a public elementary school in Pine River, MN, part of PINE RIVER-BACKUS SCHOOL DISTRICT. Pine River-backus Elementary serves approximately 477 students, and covers grades Pre-K-6th, and has a 12.2:1 student-teacher ratio. Pine River-backus Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.3 out of 10 and ranks #959 of 1,992 schools in MN.
Structured state assessment records for Pine River-backus Elementary show 51% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 57% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
- This school 6.3 · Average
- MN avg 6.4
What Parents Should Know
Pine River-backus Elementary sits in a rural area, which can mean longer drives for some families. Rural schools are often community anchors with smaller classes, but check transportation, after-school options, and access to specialized services before you commit.
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Pine River-backus Elementary — Students at Pine River-backus Elementary score 40% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 31%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
68.6%
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: 5.0/10.
How Pine River-backus Elementary Compares
See how Pine River-backus Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Location
P.O. BOX 610, Pine River, MN 56474
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Pine River-backus Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. PILLAGER ELEMENTARY (rated 8.4/10, 27.8 miles away, in nearby Pillager), which scores notably higher. Another option is EAGLE VIEW ELEMENTARY (rated 7.8/10, 11.0 miles away, in nearby Pequot Lakes), which scores notably higher. Additionally, NISSWA ELEMENTARY (rated 7.7/10, 15.3 miles away, in nearby Nisswa), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Pine River, see our Pine River schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 26.9 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| PINE RIVER-BACKUS HIGH SCHOOL Pine River | 0.1 mi | 7.1 |
| Pine River-Backus ALP Pine River | 0.2 mi | 5.6 |
| FOOTHILLS CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Backus | 8.5 mi | 6.4 |
| PEQUOT LAKES SENIOR HIGH Pequot Lakes | 9.7 mi | 5.7 |
| PEQUOT LAKES MIDDLE Pequot Lakes | 9.7 mi | 5.7 |
| EAGLE VIEW ELEMENTARY Pequot Lakes | 11.0 mi | 7.8 |
| NISSWA ELEMENTARY Nisswa | 15.3 mi | 7.7 |
| Crosslake Community Seat Based Crosslake | 14.6 mi | 5.3 |
| Crosslake Community 6-12 Online Crosslake | 14.6 mi | 5.5 |
| Crosslake Community K-5 Online Crosslake | 14.6 mi | — |
| IMMANUEL LUTHERAN SCHOOL Walker | 23.2 mi | — |
| Up North Learning Center Walker | 24.9 mi | — |
| Central Lakes Adventure School Pillager | 26.9 mi | 6.3 |
| BRAINERD EARLY CHILDHOOD SP. ED. Baxter | 27.0 mi | 6.0 |
| PILLAGER ELEMENTARY Pillager | 27.8 mi | 8.4 |
| Pillager Senior High School Pillager | 27.8 mi | 7.0 |
| Pillager Middle School Pillager | 27.8 mi | 5.2 |
| LAKE REGION CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Baxter | 26.9 mi | 3.3 |
| WALKER-HACKENSACK-AKELEY SEC. Walker | 26.9 mi | 7.0 |
| W.H.A. ELEMENTARY Walker | 26.9 mi | 6.5 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 56474 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$55,741
Median Home Value
$220,500
Median Rent
$870/mo
Population
4,471
College Educated
21.9%
Homeownership
78.7%
Avg Commute
23.6 min
Poverty Rate
11.6%
Median Age
46.7
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| HAMILTON ELEMENTARY Coon Rapids, MN | 6.3 |
| ISANTI PRIMARY SCHOOL Isanti, MN | 6.3 |
| Las Estrellas Elementary Minneapolis, MN | 6.3 |
| Montrose Elementary School of Innov Montrose, MN | 6.3 |
| NORTH TRAIL ELEMENTARY Farmington, MN | 6.3 |
| PARK ELEMENTARY Le Sueur, MN | 6.3 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Pine River-backus Elementary
What grades does Pine River-backus Elementary serve?
Pine River-backus Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 6th.
How many students attend Pine River-backus Elementary?
Pine River-backus Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 477 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Pine River-backus Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Pine River-backus Elementary is 12.2:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Pine River-backus Elementary rank in MN?
Pine River-backus Elementary ranks #959 of 1,992 schools in MN.
What is Pine River-backus Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Pine River-backus Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.3 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 Pine River-backus Elementary?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Pine River-backus Elementary has 51% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 57% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Is Pine River-backus Elementary a charter school?
No, Pine River-backus Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Pine River-backus Elementary a Title I school?
No, Pine River-backus Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Pine River-backus Elementary?
68.6% of students at Pine River-backus 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 – 6th
- Enrollment
- 477
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 12.2:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 39
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 68.6%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Remote Rural
- County
- Cass County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 14.7%
- Phone
- (218) 587-4447
Resources & Links
District
PINE RIVER-BACKUS SCHOOL DISTRICT- District Enrollment
- 879
- Schools in District
- 4
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $13,348
- District Rank
- #2 of 3
Other Schools in This District
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