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Below Average

#1854 of 2,105 schools in WI

Merrill Elementary

Elementary School · Beloit School District

1635 Nelson Ave, Beloit, WI 53511

Enrollment

270

Student-Teacher

11.7:1

Score

4.3

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Wisconsin schools

#1,854 of 2,105

In Beloit

#14 of 17

public schools

In district

#9 of 12

Beloit School District

School environment

8.0 / 10

Excellent

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Merrill Elementary

4.3/10

Elementary School in Beloit · grades Pre-K – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

The Lincoln Academy

6.7/10

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

Todd Elementary

5.2/10

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

About Merrill Elementary

Merrill Elementary is a public elementary school in Beloit, WI, part of Beloit School District. Merrill Elementary serves approximately 270 students, and covers grades Pre-K-5th, and has a 11.7:1 student-teacher ratio. Merrill Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.3 out of 10 and ranks #1,854 of 2,105 schools in WI.

Structured state assessment records for Merrill Elementary show 20% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 16% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it compares0.3 pts below district
  • This school 4.3 · Below Average
  • District avg 4.6
  • WI avg 6.8

What Parents Should Know

31% of students at Merrill Elementary were chronically absent in the 2022-23 school year, above the national average. Chronic absenteeism means missing 15 or more school days, and at high rates it drags on classroom pacing for everyone. Ask what the school does to help families get kids to class consistently.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress4.1Below Average50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-2.65 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics2.3Needs Improvement30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency5.4% (2025 FORWARD)
Reading/ELA Proficiency3.2% (2025 FORWARD)
Math vs. State Avg-48.9 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-48 pts
Overall Proficiency4% (2025 FORWARD, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)22% (model expectation from 2025 FORWARD)
vs. Expected-17.3 pts
Adjusted Percentile7th
Resources & Environment8.0Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio11.7:1
Per-Pupil Spending$17,667
Chronic Absenteeism30.7%

Merrill Elementary — Students at Merrill Elementary score 4% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 22%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

85.6%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores WI FORWARD (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 20.4% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
53.0% (2025 FORWARD)
ELA Proficiency 16.0% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
50.9% (2025 FORWARD)

Based on 34 test records from WI state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

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

2009
Math
47%
ELA
52%
2010
Math
62%
ELA
67%
2011
Math
17%
ELA
7.5%
2012
Math
42%
ELA
17%
2013
Math
27%
ELA
7.5%
2014
Math
17%
ELA
32%
2015
Math
15%
ELA
15%
2016
Math
24.5%
ELA
5%
2017
Math
15%
ELA
15%
2018
Math
24.5%
ELA
15%
2019
Math
24.5%
ELA
15%
2020*
Math
5%
ELA
5%
2021*
Math
5%
ELA
5%
2022
Math
5%
ELA
5%
2025
Math
5.4%
ELA
3.2%

* 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: 4.1/10.

How Merrill Elementary Compares

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

Overall Score
4.3/10
12th percentile in WI
Academic
2.3/10
Needs Improvement
Growth
4.1/10
Below Average
Environment
8.0/10
Excellent

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
86%
Teaching Staff
12:1 student-teacher ratio
23 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
30.7%

Location

1635 Nelson Ave, Beloit, WI 53511

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Merrill Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. OUR LADY OF THE ASSUMPTION SCHOOL (rated 7.8/10, 1.2 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Clark Elementary School (rated 5.8/10, 2.3 miles away, in nearby South Beloit), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Converse Elementary (rated 5.3/10, 2.1 miles away), which scores slightly higher. For more schools in Beloit, see our Beloit schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 2.2 mi
School Distance Rating
The Lincoln Academy Beloit 0.6 mi 6.7
Todd Elementary Beloit 0.9 mi 5.2
Robinson Elementary Beloit 1.0 mi 4.1
Memorial High Beloit 0.9 mi 3.4
Beloit Virtual School Beloit 0.9 mi 6.6
Aldrich Intermediate Beloit 1.3 mi 5.1
OUR LADY OF THE ASSUMPTION SCHOOL Beloit 1.2 mi 7.8
Fran Fruzen Intermediate Beloit 1.5 mi 5.9
Hackett Elementary Beloit 1.7 mi 4.4
Clark Elementary School South Beloit 2.3 mi 5.8
Turner High Beloit 2.6 mi 5.3
Turner Middle Beloit 2.6 mi 5.7
South Beloit Jr High School South Beloit 2.5 mi 4.8
Blackhawk Elementary School South Beloit 2.5 mi 4.3
Powers Elementary Beloit 2.6 mi 4.8
Gaston Elementary Beloit 2.1 mi 4.3
Riverview Elementary School South Beloit 2.4 mi 3.9
Converse Elementary Beloit 2.1 mi 5.3
Beloit Early Learning Beloit 2.2 mi 2.9
Beloit Learning Academy Beloit 2.2 mi 5.7

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 53511 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$65,305

Median Home Value

$160,000

Median Rent

$995/mo

Population

48,305

College Educated

19.3%

Homeownership

65.1%

Avg Commute

23.3 min

Poverty Rate

14.3%

Median Age

36.9

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Clarke Street Elementary Milwaukee, WI 4.3
Cooper Elementary Sheboygan, WI 4.3
Gaston Elementary Beloit, WI 4.3
IMMANUEL LUTHERAN SCHOOL Greenville, WI 4.3
Riley Dual Language Montessori School Milwaukee, WI 4.3
Southport Elementary Kenosha, WI 4.3

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Merrill Elementary

What grades does Merrill Elementary serve?

Merrill Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.

How many students attend Merrill Elementary?

Merrill Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 270 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Merrill Elementary?

The student-teacher ratio at Merrill Elementary is 11.7:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Merrill Elementary rank in WI?

Merrill Elementary ranks #1,854 of 2,105 schools in WI.

What is Merrill Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

Merrill Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.3 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 Merrill Elementary?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Merrill Elementary has 20% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 16% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Merrill Elementary a charter school?

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

Is Merrill Elementary a Title I school?

No, Merrill Elementary is not currently a Title I school.

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

85.6% of students at Merrill 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
34 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
46 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
270
Student-Teacher Ratio
11.7:1
Teachers (FTE)
23
Free/Reduced Lunch
85.6%
Type
regular
Setting
Small City
County
Rock County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
30.7%

District

Beloit School District
District Enrollment
5,098
Schools in District
12
Per-Pupil Spending
$17,667
District Rank
#9 of 12

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