Home > Minnesota > Pennington County > Thief River Falls

Challenger Elementary School

601 County Rd 61
Thief River Falls, MN 56701

( shown in map)

Top 50%

ces.trfschools.org

Serving 781 students in grades Prekindergarten-5, Challenger Elementary School ranks in the top 50% of all schools in Minnesota for overall test scores (math proficiency is top 30%, and reading proficiency is top 30%).

The percentage of students achieving is 54% (which is higher than the Minnesota state average of 46%). The percentage of students achieving is 50% (which is lower than the Minnesota state average of 51%).

The student-teacher ratio of 13:1 is equal to the Minnesota state level of 13:1.

Minority enrollment is 19% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is lower than the Minnesota state average of 39% (majority Black and Hispanic).

Quick Facts (2025-26)

Grades: Prekindergarten-5
Enrollment: 781 students
Student-Teacher Ratio: 13:1
Minority Enrollment: 19%
: Top 50% in MN
: 54% (Top 30%)
: 50% (Top 50%)
: 45-49% (Top 50%)
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), MN Dept. of Education

School Overview

Challenger Elementary School's student population of 781 students has declined by 15% over five school years.

The teacher population of 58 teachers has declined by 6% over five school years.

Grades Offered

Grades Prekindergarten-5
(No virtual instruction)

View Data

Distribution of Students By Grade Trends
Grade	Challenger Elementary School
Pre-K	37
Kind	123
1	108
2	119
3	129
4	129
5	136

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Total Students

781 students

View Data

Total Students Trends Over Years (1996-2023)
Year	Challenger Elementary School
2023	783
2022	822
2021	831
2020	927
2019	927
2018	926
2017	926
2016	930
2015	895
2014	915
2013	872
2012	868
2011	882
2010	915
2009	913
2008	875
2007	893
2006	874
2005	850
2004	877
2003	864
2002	863
2001	852
2000	825
1999	915
1998	909
1997	937
1996	963

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Gender %

Total Classroom Teachers

58 teachers

View Data

Total Classroom Teachers Trends Over Years (1999-2023)
Year	Challenger Elementary School
2023	58
2022	62
2021	63
2020	62
2019	62
2018	63
2017	63
2016	63
2015	60
2014	62
2013	60
2012	61
2011	60
2010	58
2009	60
2008	55
2007	54
2006	51
2005	57
2004	59
2003	63
2002	64
2001	65
2000	70
1999	72

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Year Founded

1994

School Calendar

View School Calendar

School Motto

Creating our future the Prowler Way.

School Mascot

Prowlers

School Rankings

Challenger Elementary School ranks within the top 50% of all 1,773 schools in Minnesota (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data).

The of Challenger Elementary School is 0.33, which is less than the diversity score at state average of 0.59. The school's diversity has stayed relatively flat over five school years.

This School

State Level (MN)

#586 out of 1773 schools
(Top 50%)

View Data

Overall School Rank Trends Over Years (2012-2023)
Year	Challenger Elementary School
2023	#586
2022	#681
2021	#966
2019	#644
2018	#634
2017	#717
2016	#673
2015	#730
2014	#715
2013	#625
2012	#487

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54%

46%

View Data

Math Proficiency Comparison Over Years (2012-2023)
Year	Challenger Elementary School	Minnesota	Thief River Falls School District
2023	54%	46%	42%
2022	50%	45%	41%
2021	46%	45%	39%
2019	64%	56%	58%
2018	67%	58%	60%
2017	65%	59%	58%
2016	68%	60%	60%
2015	66%	61%	59%
2014	70%	61%	58%
2013	72%	61%	59%
2012	84%	62%	69%

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50%

51%

View Data

Reading and Language Arts Proficiency Comparison Over Years (2011-2022)
Year	Challenger Elementary School	Minnesota	Thief River Falls School District
2022	50%	51%	48%
2021	48%	53%	47%
2019	58%	59%	60%
2018	57%	60%	60%
2017	58%	61%	59%
2016	57%	60%	56%
2015	57%	60%	57%
2014	55%	59%	55%
2013	55%	58%	54%
2012	75%	76%	74%
2011	80%	74%	75%

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45-49%

41%

View Data

Science Proficiency Comparison Over Years (2021-2022)
Year	Challenger Elementary School	Minnesota	Thief River Falls School District
2022	47%	41%	32%
2021	52%	45%	38%

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Student-Teacher Ratio

13:1

View Data

Student-Teacher Ratio Comparison Over Years (1999-2023)
Year	Challenger Elementary School	Minnesota	Thief River Falls School District
2023	14:1	14:1	15:1
2022	13:1	14:1	14:1
2021	13:1	14:1	14:1
2020	15:1	14:1	15:1
2019	15:1	14:1	15:1
2018	15:1	16:1	15:1
2017	15:1	14:1	15:1
2016	15:1	16:1	15:1
2015	15:1	16:1	14:1
2014	15:1	15:1	14:1
2013	15:1	15:1	15:1
2012	14:1	15:1	15:1
2011	15:1	15:1	15:1
2010	16:1	15:1	15:1
2009	15:1	15:1	15:1
2008	16:1	15:1	15:1
2007	17:1	16:1	16:1
2006	17:1	16:1	16:1
2005	15:1	16:1	15:1
2004	15:1	16:1	15:1
2003	14:1	16:1	15:1
2002	13:1	16:1	15:1
2001	13:1	16:1	15:1
2000	12:1	16:1	13:1
1999	13:1	15:1	13:1

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American Indian

View Data

American Indian Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1996-2023)
Year	Challenger Elementary School	Minnesota	Thief River Falls School District
2023	2%	2%	4%
2022	2%	2%	3%
2021	3%	2%	3%
2020	3%	2%	3%
2019	3%	2%	3%
2018	3%	2%	3%
2017	3%	2%	3%
2016	2%	2%	2%
2015	2%	2%	2%
2014	3%	2%	2%
2013	4%	2%	3%
2012	3%	2%	2%
2011	3%	2%	3%
2010	5%	2%	5%
2009	4%	2%	4%
2008	4%	3%	4%
2007	3%	2%	3%
2006	2%	2%	3%
2005	2%	3%	2%
2004	2%	3%	3%
2003	2%	3%	2%
2002	2%	2%	2%
2001	3%	2%	2%
2000	1%	2%	2%
1999	2%	2%	2%
1998	3%	2%	2%
1997	2%	2%	2%
1996	1%	2%	2%

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Asian

View Data

Asian Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1996-2023)
Year	Challenger Elementary School	Minnesota	Thief River Falls School District
2023	1%	7%	1%
2022	1%	7%	1%
2021	1%	7%	1%
2020	1%	7%	1%
2019	1%	7%	1%
2018	1%	7%	1%
2017	1%	7%	1%
2016	1%	7%	1%
2015	1%	6%
2014	2%	6%	1%
2013	1%	6%	1%
2012	1%	7%	1%
2011	1%	6%	1%
2010	1%	6%	1%
2009	1%	6%	1%
2006	1%	6%	1%
1998	1%	4%	1%
1997	1%	4%	1%
1996	1%	4%	1%

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Hispanic

12%

View Data

Hispanic Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1995-2023)
Year	Challenger Elementary School	Minnesota	Thief River Falls School District
2023	8%	11%	7%
2022	9%	10%	7%
2021	8%	10%	7%
2020	7%	9%	7%
2019	7%	9%	7%
2018	7%	9%	7%
2017	7%	9%	7%
2016	7%	9%	7%
2015	7%	9%	7%
2014	7%	8%	7%
2013	6%	8%	6%
2012	7%	7%	6%
2011	6%	7%	5%
2010	5%	7%	4%
2009	4%	6%	4%
2008	6%	6%	4%
2007	6%	6%	4%
2006	5%	5%	4%
2005	4%	5%	3%
2004	4%	4%	3%
2003	3%	4%	3%
2002	2%	4%	2%
2001	2%	3%	1%
2000	2%	3%	2%
1999	2%	3%	1%
1998	3%	2%	1%
1996	1%	2%	1%
1995	1%	2%	1%

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Black

12%

View Data

Black Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1996-2021)
Year	Challenger Elementary School	Minnesota	Thief River Falls School District
2021	1%	11%	1%
2020	2%	11%	1%
2019	2%	11%	1%
2018	1%	11%	1%
2017	1%	11%	1%
2016	1%	10%	1%
2015	1%	10%	1%
2014	2%	10%	2%
2013	3%	9%	2%
2012	3%	9%	3%
2011	3%	9%	3%
2010	3%	10%	3%
2009	3%	10%	2%
2008	3%	9%	2%
2007	2%	9%	2%
2006	2%	8%	1%
2005	2%	8%	1%
2004	1%	8%	1%
2002	1%	7%	1%
1998	1%	6%	1%
1996	1%	5%	1%

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White

81%

61%

View Data

White Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1996-2023)
Year	Challenger Elementary School	Minnesota	Thief River Falls School District
2023	83%	62%	82%
2022	83%	63%	83%
2021	81%	64%	82%
2020	81%	66%	83%
2019	81%	66%	83%
2018	84%	67%	85%
2017	84%	67%	85%
2016	85%	68%	86%
2015	86%	69%	87%
2014	85%	71%	87%
2013	85%	72%	87%
2012	85%	73%	87%
2011	85%	74%	86%
2010	86%	75%	87%
2009	88%	76%	89%
2008	87%	76%	89%
2007	89%	77%	90%
2006	90%	79%	91%
2005	92%	79%	93%
2004	93%	80%	93%
2003	95%	81%	94%
2002	95%	82%	94%
2001	95%	83%	96%
2000	97%	84%	95%
1999	96%	85%	95%
1998	92%	86%	95%
1997	97%	87%	97%
1996	96%	87%	95%

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Hawaiian

n/a

Two or more races

View Data

Two or More Races Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2013-2023)
Year	Challenger Elementary School	Minnesota	Thief River Falls School District
2023	6%	6%	6%
2022	5%	6%	6%
2021	6%	6%	6%
2020	6%	5%	5%
2019	6%	5%	5%
2018	4%	4%	3%
2017	4%	4%	3%
2016	4%	4%	3%
2015	3%	4%	3%
2014	1%	3%	1%
2013	1%	3%	1%

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All Ethnic Groups

0.33

0.59

View Data

Diversity Score Comparison Over Years (1996-2023)
Year	Challenger Elementary School	Minnesota	Thief River Falls School District
2023	0.30	0.59	0.32
2022	0.30	0.58	0.30
2021	0.34	0.57	0.32
2020	0.34	0.54	0.30
2019	0.34	0.54	0.30
2018	0.29	0.53	0.26
2017	0.29	0.53	0.26
2016	0.27	0.52	0.25
2015	0.26	0.51	0.23
2014	0.28	0.48	0.25
2013	0.27	0.47	0.23
2012	0.28	0.45	0.24
2011	0.27	0.44	0.25
2010	0.26	0.42	0.24
2009	0.22	0.41	0.21
2008	0.23	0.41	0.20
2007	0.21	0.40	0.19
2006	0.18	0.37	0.17
2005	0.15	0.37	0.14
2004	0.13	0.35	0.14
2003	0.10	0.34	0.12
2002	0.10	0.32	0.11
2001	0.10	0.31	0.09
2000	0.08	0.29	0.09
1999	0.10	0.28	0.08
1998	0.14	0.26	0.10
1997	0.07	0.24	0.06
1996	0.07	0.23	0.08

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Eligible for

36%

View Data

Free Lunch Eligibility Comparison Over Years (1996-2023)
Year	Challenger Elementary School	Minnesota	Thief River Falls School District
2023	32%	35%	29%
2022	23%	26%	22%
2021	27%	26%	23%
2020	28%	28%	25%
2019	28%	28%	25%
2018	26%	30%	22%
2017	26%	30%	22%
2016	30%	31%	25%
2015	28%	31%	24%
2014	32%	31%	25%
2013	33%	31%	27%
2012	35%	30%	28%
2011	33%	29%	27%
2010	30%	28%	24%
2009	22%	25%	19%
2008	23%	24%	20%
2007	25%	23%	20%
2006	25%	23%	21%
2005	24%	22%	19%
2004	24%	21%	19%
2003	23%	20%	19%
2002	20%	19%	17%
2001	21%	18%	16%
2000	24%	18%	18%
1999	24%	19%	19%
1998	27%	19%	19%
1997	22%	19%	17%
1996	23%	19%	18%

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Eligible for

View Data

Reduced-Price Lunch Eligibility Comparison Over Years (2003-2023)
Year	Challenger Elementary School	Minnesota	Thief River Falls School District
2023	9%	8%	9%
2022	10%	6%	7%
2021	8%	6%	7%
2020	10%	8%	10%
2019	10%	8%	10%
2018	13%	8%	12%
2017	13%	8%	12%
2016	8%	7%	8%
2015	9%	7%	10%
2014	10%	7%	10%
2013	9%	7%	10%
2012	10%	7%	10%
2011	10%	8%	10%
2010	12%	8%	12%
2009	15%	8%	14%
2008	15%	8%	13%
2007	12%	7%	10%
2006	12%	7%	10%
2005	11%	7%	10%
2004	11%	7%	10%
2003	12%	7%	9%

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School Statewide Testing

View Education Department Test Scores

School District Name

Thief River Falls School District

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), MN Dept. of Education

School Notes

School Mascot: Prowlers

Profile last updated: 02/09/2025

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Challenger Elementary School's ranking?

Challenger Elementary School is ranked #586 out of 1,773 schools, which ranks it among the top 50% of public schools in Minnesota.

What percent of students have achieved state testing proficiency in math and reading?

54% of students have achieved math proficiency (compared to the 46% MN state average), while 50% of students have achieved reading proficiency (compared to the 51% MN state average).

How many students attend Challenger Elementary School?

781 students attend Challenger Elementary School.

What is the racial composition of the student body?

81% of Challenger Elementary School students are White, 9% of students are Hispanic, 7% of students are Two or more races, 1% of students are American Indian, 1% of students are Asian, and 1% of students are Black.

What is the student-teacher ratio of Challenger Elementary School?

Challenger Elementary School has a student ration of 13:1, which is equal to the Minnesota state average of 13:1.

What grades does Challenger Elementary School offer ?

Challenger Elementary School offers enrollment in grades Prekindergarten-5 (No virtual instruction).

What school district is Challenger Elementary School part of?

Challenger Elementary School is part of Thief River Falls School District.

School Reviews

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Quick Facts (2025-26)

Grades: Prekindergarten-5
Enrollment: 781 students
Student-Teacher Ratio: 13:1
Minority Enrollment: 19%
: Top 50%
: 54% (Top 30%)
: 50% (Top 50%)
: 45-49% (Top 50%)
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), MN Dept. of Education