Top Rankings
Merrill Area School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Wisconsin for:
Category
Attribute
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2026-27 school year, there are 3 public elementary schools serving 1,781 students in Merrill Area School District. This district's average elementary testing ranking is 5/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public elementary schools in Wisconsin.
Public Elementary Schools in Merrill Area School District have an average math proficiency score of 39% (versus the Wisconsin public elementary school average of 42%), and reading proficiency score of 39% (versus the 38% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 16% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Wisconsin public elementary school average of 36% (majority Hispanic and Black).
Overview
This School District
This State (WI)
# Schools
7 Schools
1,573 Schools
# Students
2,692 Students
533,782 Students
# Teachers
176 Teachers
40,532 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
15:1
15:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Merrill Area School District, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 442 school districts in Wisconsin (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 70% has decreased from 91% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#243 out of 447 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
37%
40%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
39%
38%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
43%
44%
Graduation Rate
70%
90.5%
Chronically Absent Students
(2022-23)18.1%
24%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.26
0.56
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
1%
4%
% Hispanic
5%
15%
% Black
1%
10%
% White
86%
64%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
7%
6%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $16,740 in this school district is less than the state median of $19,507. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $16,493 is less than the state median of $18,878. The school district spending/student has grown by 11% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$45 MM
$15,725 MM
Spending
$44 MM
$15,218 MM
Revenue / Student
$16,740
$19,507
Spending / Student
$16,493
$18,878
Best Merrill Area School District Public Elementary Schools (2026-27)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Kate Goodrich Elementary School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 40-44% )
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
505 W 10th St
Merrill, WI 54452
(715) 536-5233
Merrill, WI 54452
(715) 536-5233
Gr: K-2 | 337 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 14%
Rank: #22.
Washington Elementary School
(Math: 52% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
1900 E 6th St
Merrill, WI 54452
(715) 536-2373
Merrill, WI 54452
(715) 536-2373
Gr: 3-4 | 257 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 14%
Rank: #33.
Prairie River Middle School
(Math: 34% | Reading: 38%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
106 N Polk St
Merrill, WI 54452
(715) 536-9593
Merrill, WI 54452
(715) 536-9593
Gr: 5-8 | 507 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 12%
Recent Articles
How Much Choice Do High School Students Have?
Learn how graduation requirements, prerequisites, electives, staffing, scheduling conflicts, AP courses, dual enrollment, and career pathways determine how much control high school students have over schedules each year.
Does Your Child Need More Recess?
Explore whether your child may benefit more from recess than another academic period, including research on attention, learning, physical activity, stress, social development, and school-day balance today.
Combined Grade Classrooms, What Parents Should Know
Learn how combined-grade classrooms work, why public schools use them, potential benefits and challenges, and the questions parents should ask before enrolling their child in one today.
