Pine River-Backus School District

401 Murray Ave
Pine River, MN 56474-0610
(District boundaries shown in map)
5/
10
Bottom 50%
For the 2025 school year, there are 3 public middle schools serving 352 students in Pine River-Backus School District. This district's average middle testing ranking is 4/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public middle schools in Minnesota.
Public Middle Schools in Pine River-Backus School District have an average math proficiency score of 27% (versus the Minnesota public middle school average of 40%), and reading proficiency score of 42% (versus the 49% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 7% of the student body (majority Asian and Hispanic), which is less than the Minnesota public middle school average of 38% (majority Black and Hispanic).

Overview

This School District
This State (MN)
# Schools
5 Schools
1,003 Schools
# Students
879 Students
272,988 Students
# Teachers
70 Teachers
17,811 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
13:1
13:1

Student By Grade

District Rank

Pine River-Backus School District, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 520 school districts in Minnesota (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 87% has increased from 85-89% over five school years.
This School District
State Average (MN)
#309 out of 525 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
34%
46%
45%
51%
42%
41%
87%
84%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.15
0.59
% American Indian
1%
2%
% Asian
1%
7%
% Hispanic
1%
11%
% Black
1%
12%
% White
92%
62%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
4%
6%
All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $14,639 in this school district is less than the state median of $17,854. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $14,299 is less than the state median of $18,580. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
This School District
This State (MN)
Total Revenue
$13 MM
$15,547 MM
Spending
$13 MM
$16,179 MM
Revenue / Student
$14,639
$17,854
Spending / Student
$14,299
$18,580

Best Pine River-Backus School District Public Middle Schools (2025)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Pine River-backus High School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
810 1st St N
Pine River, MN 56474
(218) 587-4425
Gr: 7-12 | 352 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 7%
Rank: n/an/a
Pine River-backus Midlevel Alp
Alternative School
1000 1st St N
Pine River, MN 56474
(218) 587-3131
Gr: 7-8
Rank: n/an/a
Prb Pequot Lakes Midlevel Alc
Alternative School
30805 Olson St
Pine River, MN 56474
(218) 568-9358
Gr: 6-8

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Quick Facts (2025)

  • District size: 5 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 879 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 13:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 8%
  • : 87% (Top 30% in MN)
  • : Bottom 50%
  • : 34% (Btm 50%)
  • : 45% (Btm 50%)
  • : 42% (Top 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), MN Dept. of Education

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