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Very Good

#80 of 451 schools in ND

Top 18% in state

Turtle Lake-mercer Elementary School

Elementary School · TURTLE LAKE-MERCER 72

PO Box 160, Turtle Lake, ND 58575

Enrollment

106

Student-Teacher

10.6:1

Score

7.8

Grades

Pre-K – 6th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

North Dakota schools

#80 of 451

In Turtle Lake

#2 of 2

public schools

In district

#2 of 2

TURTLE LAKE-MERCER 72

School environment

9.1 / 10

Excellent

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Turtle Lake-mercer Elementary School

7.8/10

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

Current school2024 Review details

Turtle Lake-mercer High School

8.0/10

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

Nearby school0.0 mi Open profile

Underwood Elementary School

4.6/10

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

Nearby school12.4 mi Open profile

About Turtle Lake-mercer Elementary School

Turtle Lake-mercer Elementary School is a public elementary school in Turtle Lake, ND, part of TURTLE LAKE-MERCER 72. Turtle Lake-mercer Elementary School serves approximately 106 students, and covers grades Pre-K-6th, and has a 10.6:1 student-teacher ratio. Turtle Lake-mercer Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.8 out of 10 and ranks #80 of 451 schools in ND.

Structured state assessment records for Turtle Lake-mercer Elementary School show 58% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 53% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

How it compares1.7 pts above ND schools
  • This school 7.8 · Very Good
  • ND avg 6.1

What Parents Should Know

At 106 students, Turtle Lake-mercer Elementary School is on the smaller side. That usually buys more individual attention and teachers who know every kid by name, with the trade-off of fewer electives and extracurriculars than a larger school can staff. Ask what activities it actually offers.

Turtle Lake-mercer Elementary School 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 Progress7.8Very Good50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-2.63 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2022
TrendDeclining
Academics7.1Very Good30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency47% (2022 EdFacts)
Reading/ELA Proficiency42% (2022 EdFacts)
Overall Proficiency45% (2022 EdFacts, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)44% (model expectation from 2022 EdFacts)
vs. Expected+0.7 pts
Adjusted Percentile57th
Resources & Environment9.1Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio10.6:1
Per-Pupil Spending$17,766
Chronic Absenteeism9.4%

Turtle Lake-mercer Elementary School — Students at Turtle Lake-mercer Elementary School 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

24.5%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores ND EDFACTS (2021-22)

Math Proficiency 57.9% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 52.5% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
School
State
N/A

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

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

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

2009
Math
84.5%
ELA
74.5%
2010
Math
74.5%
ELA
74.5%
2011
Math
74.5%
ELA
74.5%
2012
Math
84.5%
ELA
64.5%
2013
Math
74.5%
ELA
74.5%
2014
Math
24.5%
ELA
34.5%
2015
Math
24.5%
ELA
34.5%
2016
Math
34.5%
ELA
34.5%
2017
Math
44.5%
ELA
44.5%
2018
Math
67%
ELA
47%
2019
Math
67%
ELA
47%
2020*
Math
54.5%
ELA
44.5%
2021*
Math
54.5%
ELA
44.5%
2022
Math
47%
ELA
42%

* 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: 7.8/10.

How Turtle Lake-mercer Elementary School Compares

See how Turtle Lake-mercer Elementary School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
7.8/10
83th percentile in ND
Academic
7.1/10
Very Good
Growth
7.8/10
Very Good
Environment
9.1/10
Excellent

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
25%
Teaching Staff
11:1 student-teacher ratio
10 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
9.4%

Location

PO Box 160, Turtle Lake, ND 58575

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Turtle Lake-mercer Elementary School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. WILTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (rated 8.6/10, 25.5 miles away, in nearby Wilton), which scores slightly higher. Another option is WASHBURN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (rated 8.2/10, 16.9 miles away, in nearby Washburn), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, CENTER-STANTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (rated 5.2/10, 33.6 miles away, in nearby Center), a more accessible option. For more schools in Turtle Lake, see our Turtle Lake schools guide .

Nearby Schools

11 within 33.6 mi
School Distance Rating
TURTLE LAKE-MERCER HIGH SCHOOL Turtle Lake 0.0 mi 8.0
UNDERWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Underwood 12.4 mi 4.6
UNDERWOOD HIGH SCHOOL Underwood 12.4 mi 4.2
WASHBURN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Washburn 16.9 mi 8.2
WASHBURN HIGH SCHOOL Washburn 16.9 mi 7.4
WILTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Wilton 25.5 mi 8.6
WILTON HIGH SCHOOL Wilton 25.5 mi 8.3
MAX ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Max 28.2 mi 4.7
MAX HIGH SCHOOL Max 28.2 mi 5.5
CENTER-STANTON HIGH SCHOOL Center 33.5 mi 6.6
CENTER-STANTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Center 33.6 mi 5.2

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 58575 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$78,618

Median Home Value

$170,400

Median Rent

$779/mo

Population

904

College Educated

21%

Homeownership

85.5%

Poverty Rate

11%

Median Age

49

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
LEEDS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Leeds, ND 7.8
NAPOLEON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Napoleon, ND 7.8
PRAIRIE ROSE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Bismarck, ND 7.7
APPLE CREEK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Bismarck, ND 7.6
ROOSEVELT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Bismarck, ND 7.6
HANKINSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Hankinson, ND 7.5

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Turtle Lake-mercer Elementary School

What grades does Turtle Lake-mercer Elementary School serve?

Turtle Lake-mercer Elementary School serves students in grades Pre-K through 6th.

How many students attend Turtle Lake-mercer Elementary School?

Turtle Lake-mercer Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 106 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Turtle Lake-mercer Elementary School?

The student-teacher ratio at Turtle Lake-mercer Elementary School is 10.6:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Turtle Lake-mercer Elementary School rank in ND?

Turtle Lake-mercer Elementary School ranks #80 of 451 schools in ND.

What is Turtle Lake-mercer Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?

Turtle Lake-mercer Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.8 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 Turtle Lake-mercer Elementary School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Turtle Lake-mercer Elementary School has 58% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 53% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

Is Turtle Lake-mercer Elementary School a charter school?

No, Turtle Lake-mercer Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Turtle Lake-mercer Elementary School a Title I school?

No, Turtle Lake-mercer Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Turtle Lake-mercer Elementary School?

24.5% of students at Turtle Lake-mercer Elementary 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.

Explore More Schools

All schools in Turtle Lake, ND Schools in ND TURTLE LAKE-MERCER 72 District 11 nearby schools
11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
33 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
40 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 6th
Enrollment
106
Student-Teacher Ratio
10.6:1
Teachers (FTE)
10
Free/Reduced Lunch
24.5%
Type
regular
Setting
Remote Rural
County
McLean County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
9.4%
Phone
(701) 448-2365

Resources & Links

School Website ↗ Google Maps & Reviews ↗ GreatSchools Profile ↗ Niche Reviews ↗ Official NCES Data ↗

District

TURTLE LAKE-MERCER 72
District Enrollment
192
Schools in District
2
Per-Pupil Spending
$17,766
District Rank
#2 of 2

Other Schools in This District

TURTLE LAKE-MERCER HIGH SCHOOL 8.0

How we rate schools

A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.

See how we rate
Data sources
NCES CCDSY 2022-23ND EDFACTS2021-22NCES EdFacts2019–2022Census ACS2019-2023MySchoolScout Rankings2024 Full details →

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