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Very Good

#632 of 1,992 schools in MN

Top 32% in state

Willow River Elementary

Elementary School · WILLOW RIVER PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

8142 PINE ST, Willow River, MN 55795

Enrollment

224

Student-Teacher

11.8:1

Score

7.0

Grades

Pre-K – 6th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Minnesota schools

#632 of 1,992

In Willow River

#1 of 2

public schools

In district

#1 of 2

WILLOW RIVER PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

School environment

8.9 / 10

Excellent

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Willow River Elementary

7.0/10

Elementary School in Willow River · grades Pre-K – 6th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Willow River Secondary

6.4/10

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

Moose Lake Elementary

6.4/10

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

About Willow River Elementary

Willow River Elementary is a public elementary school in Willow River, MN, part of WILLOW RIVER PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT. Willow River Elementary serves approximately 224 students, and covers grades Pre-K-6th, and has a 11.8:1 student-teacher ratio. Willow River Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.0 out of 10 and ranks #632 of 1,992 schools in MN.

Structured state assessment records for Willow River Elementary show 57% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 63% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

How it compares0.6 pts above MN schools
  • This school 7.0 · Very Good
  • MN avg 6.4

What Parents Should Know

Willow River 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 metrics
Student Progress6.7Average50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-1.26 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2022
TrendDeclining
Academics6.4Average30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency42% (2022 EdFacts)
Reading/ELA Proficiency47% (2022 EdFacts)
Overall Proficiency45% (2022 EdFacts, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)44% (model expectation from 2022 EdFacts)
vs. Expected+0.2 pts
Adjusted Percentile49th
Resources & Environment8.9Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio11.8:1
Per-Pupil Spending$14,797
Chronic Absenteeism17.4%

Willow River Elementary — Students at Willow River Elementary score 44% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 44%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

44.2%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores MN EDFACTS (2021-22)

Math Proficiency 57.4% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 62.7% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
School
State
N/A

Based on 28 test records from MN state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

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

2009
Math
77%
ELA
72%
2010
Math
57%
ELA
72%
2011
Math
67%
ELA
77%
2012
Math
62%
ELA
47%
2013
Math
52%
ELA
52%
2014
Math
62%
ELA
62%
2015
Math
57%
ELA
62%
2016
Math
67%
ELA
72%
2017
Math
62%
ELA
67%
2018
Math
67%
ELA
72%
2019
Math
67%
ELA
72%
2020*
Math
32%
ELA
52%
2021*
Math
32%
ELA
52%
2022
Math
42%
ELA
47%

* 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: 6.7/10.

How Willow River Elementary Compares

See how Willow River Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
7.0/10
68th percentile in MN
Academic
6.4/10
Average
Growth
6.7/10
Average
Environment
8.9/10
Excellent

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
44%
Teaching Staff
12:1 student-teacher ratio
19 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
17.4%

Location

8142 PINE ST, Willow River, MN 55795

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Willow River Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. BARNUM ELEMENTARY (rated 8.4/10, 14.6 miles away, in nearby Barnum), which scores notably higher. Another option is FINLAYSON ELEMENTARY (rated 8.0/10, 9.1 miles away, in nearby Finlayson), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, EAST CENTRAL ELEMENTARY (rated 7.9/10, 9.6 miles away, in nearby Finlayson), which scores slightly higher. For more schools in Willow River, see our Willow River schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 30.1 mi
School Distance Rating
WILLOW RIVER SECONDARY Willow River 0.0 mi 6.4
MOOSE LAKE ELEMENTARY Moose Lake 8.4 mi 6.4
MOOSE LAKE SECONDARY Moose Lake 8.4 mi 6.9
EAST CENTRAL ELEMENTARY Finlayson 9.6 mi 7.9
EAST CENTRAL SENIOR SECONDARY Finlayson 9.6 mi 4.7
CROSSROADS AREA LEARNING CENTER Finlayson 9.6 mi 5.3
MCF-MOOSE LAKE/WILLOW RIVER Moose Lake 9.1 mi
FINLAYSON ELEMENTARY Finlayson 9.1 mi 8.0
BARNUM ELEMENTARY Barnum 14.6 mi 8.4
BARNUM SECONDARY Barnum 14.9 mi 7.2
Pine County Transition Program Hinckley 21.6 mi
HINCKLEY-FINLAYSON SECONDARY Hinckley 21.6 mi 5.3
Empower Learning Center Hinckley 21.6 mi
HINCKLEY ELEMENTARY Hinckley 21.7 mi 4.3
CROMWELL-WRIGHT SECONDARY Cromwell 24.9 mi 7.5
CROMWELL-WRIGHT ELEMENTARY Cromwell 24.9 mi 6.5
Fond du Lac Ojibwe School Cloquet 31.1 mi
PINE CITY ELEMENTARY Pine City 35.0 mi 4.8
EARLY CHILDHOOD Pine City 35.0 mi
SOUTH TERRACE ELEMENTARY Carlton 30.1 mi 6.3

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 55795 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$69,485

Median Home Value

$223,900

Median Rent

$785/mo

Population

1,876

College Educated

13.8%

Homeownership

86.3%

Avg Commute

36.6 min

Poverty Rate

7.4%

Median Age

43.3

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
ADRIAN ELEMENTARY Adrian, MN 7.0
NEW DISCOVERIES MONTESSORI ACADEMY Hutchinson, MN 7.0
ROTHSAY ELEMENTARY Rothsay, MN 7.0
ST JOSEPH CATHOLIC SCHOOL Waconia, MN 7.0
ST PIUS X SCHOOL Rochester, MN 7.0
WATERVILLE ELEMENTARY Waterville, MN 7.0

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Willow River Elementary

What grades does Willow River Elementary serve?

Willow River Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 6th.

How many students attend Willow River Elementary?

Willow River Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 224 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Willow River Elementary?

The student-teacher ratio at Willow River Elementary is 11.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Willow River Elementary rank in MN?

Willow River Elementary ranks #632 of 1,992 schools in MN.

What is Willow River Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

Willow River Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.0 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 Willow River Elementary?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Willow River Elementary has 57% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 63% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

Is Willow River Elementary a charter school?

No, Willow River Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Willow River Elementary a Title I school?

No, Willow River Elementary is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Willow River Elementary?

44.2% of students at Willow River 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.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
24 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
42 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 6th
Enrollment
224
Student-Teacher Ratio
11.8:1
Teachers (FTE)
19
Free/Reduced Lunch
44.2%
Type
regular
Setting
Remote Rural
County
Pine County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
17.4%

District

WILLOW RIVER PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT
District Enrollment
415
Schools in District
2
Per-Pupil Spending
$14,797
District Rank
#1 of 2

Other Schools in This District

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