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Pillager Senior High School

Q: Is Pillager Senior High School a good school?

Pillager Senior High School ranks 174 th of 473 Minnesota high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 9-12

174^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 473 Minnesota High Schools

Better than 63% of Minnesota high schools

Summary

Pillager Senior High School is a public high school serving grades 9–12 with 370 students in the small central Minnesota town of Pillager, part of the Pillager Public School District, and it ranked 174th of 473 Minnesota high schools in 2025–2026 — the 63rd percentile, or 3 stars.

Completion outcomes are the school's clearest strength. Its 95.6% graduation rate in 2024–2025 is the highest among nearby schools and well above the state's 84.9%, and its 1.0% dropout rate is tied with Brainerd Senior High for the lowest nearby and far below the state's 4.2%. Those figures mark a real turnaround: graduation rose from 81.9% in 2020–21, while the dropout rate fell from 8.2%. Science is the standout academic subject, with 40.6% proficiency in 2025–26 — above the state's 25.5% and higher than Staples-Motley Senior High, Brainerd Senior High, and the Independent School District (Isd) 181 Learning Center. Reading, at 45.9%, is also the best among those nearby schools, though still slightly below the state's 48.6%.

Math is the consistent weak spot: 27.7% proficiency in 2025–26, below the district's 45.5% and the state's 44.9%, and below Brainerd's 35.6%, though above Staples-Motley's 25.0%. The school's overall rank has swung widely — from 86th percentile in 2022–23 down to 44th in 2024–25 and back to 63rd — so the rebound looks promising but not yet proven. One notable strength: among 377 Minnesota schools, Pillager ranks 26th (93rd percentile, 5 stars) for how well it serves low-income students, and 75th percentile with 4 stars for special education students.

370

Students ?

17.1

Student/teacher ratio ?

$12,067

Per pupil spending ?

32.2%

Free/discounted lunch ?

323 E 2nd St S
Pillager, MN 56473-8888

(218) 746-2117

District: Pillager Public School District

Feeder schools for Pillager Senior High School:

Elementary:	Pillager Elementary
Middle:	Pillager Middle School

Racial breakdown:

White:

91.6%

Hispanic:

3.2%

Two or more races:

2.7%

See top rated Minnesota high schools

Compare Pillager Senior High School to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 84th percentile in 2016 → 63rd in 2026

Strengths

✓96% graduate in 4 years — above the Minnesota average (85%)

✓Above the Minnesota median (63rd percentile)

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 21 percentile points since 2016

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

!Math scores 17 pts below the Minnesota average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school38%

District avg45%

Minnesota avg43%

174^th of 473

Minnesota public high schools ?

Top 37%▼ down 21 pts since 2016

From top 16% (2016) to top 37% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Minnesota High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

146^th of 458Pillager Public School District among Minnesota districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	64.5	174 of 473	63.2%	★★★☆☆
2025	50.9	251 of 450	44.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	56.3	227 of 480	52.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	81.6	68 of 476	85.7%	★★★★☆
2022	77.7	88 of 472	81.4%	★★★★☆
2021	71.8	113 of 428	73.6%	★★★★☆
2019	64.9	188 of 492	61.8%	★★★☆☆
2018	56.0	262 of 494	47.0%	★★☆☆☆
2017	71.7	144 of 489	70.6%	★★★★☆
2016	79.9	78 of 489	84.0%	★★★★☆
2015	68.8	162 of 504	67.9%	★★★☆☆
2014	78.6	88 of 483	81.8%	★★★★☆
2013	69.2	164 of 534	69.3%	★★★☆☆
2012	71.8	157 of 539	70.9%	★★★★☆
2011	72.5	136 of 545	75.0%	★★★★☆
2010	72.1	138 of 540	74.4%	★★★★☆
2009	57.7	136 of 234	41.9%	★★☆☆☆
2008	54.1	279 of 460	39.3%	★★☆☆☆
2007	53.7	265 of 463	42.8%	★★☆☆☆
2006	20.9	367 of 450	18.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2005	54.0	312 of 452	31.0%	★★☆☆☆
2004	59.1	269 of 433	37.9%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	43.7	238 of 398	40.2%	★★☆☆☆
2025	44.1	223 of 358	37.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	46.3	234 of 403	41.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	81.0	54 of 396	86.4%	★★★★☆
2022	67.2	122 of 388	68.6%	★★★☆☆
2021	63.9	125 of 339	63.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	64.6	142 of 401	64.6%	★★★☆☆
2018	58.1	190 of 395	51.9%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	89.4	26 of 377	93.1%	★★★★★
2025	49.5	169 of 333	49.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	67.7	106 of 389	72.8%	★★★★☆
2023	92.0	17 of 393	95.7%	★★★★★
2022	80.4	38 of 312	87.8%	★★★★☆
2021	71.2	53 of 270	80.4%	★★★★☆
2019	72.2	97 of 370	73.8%	★★★★☆
2018	51.0	196 of 374	47.6%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	67.0	113 of 395	71.4%	★★★★☆
2025	46.1	221 of 377	41.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	53.5	199 of 405	50.9%	★★★☆☆
2023	74.8	75 of 398	81.2%	★★★★☆
2022	78.3	65 of 403	83.9%	★★★★☆
2021	68.1	101 of 351	71.2%	★★★★☆
2019	57.7	186 of 411	54.7%	★★★☆☆
2018	38.7	286 of 398	28.1%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	65.2	56 of 224	75.0%	★★★★☆
2025	21.1	165 of 178	7.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	50.6	103 of 221	53.4%	★★★☆☆
2023	63.1	64 of 216	70.4%	★★★★☆
2022	62.1	67 of 214	68.7%	★★★☆☆
2021	16.5	156 of 173	9.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	36.1	148 of 220	32.7%	★★☆☆☆
2018	32.4	141 of 195	27.7%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	41.3	257 of 394	34.8%	★★☆☆☆
2025	31.5	291 of 376	22.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	35.3	291 of 402	27.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	67.4	111 of 398	72.1%	★★★★☆
2022	62.3	148 of 401	63.1%	★★★☆☆
2021	62.1	138 of 364	62.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	53.2	217 of 412	47.3%	★★☆☆☆
2018	39.9	297 of 414	28.3%	★☆☆☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)93rd percentile+30 vs school

Special Education (2026)75th percentile+12 vs school

Male (2026)71st percentile+8 vs school

Female (2026)40th percentile-23 vs school

White (2026)35th percentile-28 vs school

By subject vs Minnesota (2025-2026) ?

Reading46%-3 vs state

Science41%+15 vs state

Math28%-17 vs state

★

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Schools Near Pillager Senior High School

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

School	Students/Teachers	Ranking (2026)	Ranking (2025)	MCA-IV Reading (2026)	MCA-IV Science (2026)	MCA-III Math (2026)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Pillager Senior High School	Public	9-12	323 E 2nd St S	Pillager	56473	Cass County	Pillager Public School District	No	No	No	No	(218) 746-2117	370	22	17.1	32.2%	339 (91.6%)	7 (1.9%)	12 (3.2%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (2.7%)	64.5	174^th of 473 public high schools	63.2%	50.9	251^st of 450 public high schools	44.2%	77	45.9	45.9	40.6	40.6	27.7	27.7	$12,067
Freshwater Pillager Alternative Learning Center	Public	7-12	323 E 2nd St	Pillager	56482	Wadena County	Freshwater Education District	No	(n/a)	(n/a)	(n/a)	(218) 631-3505	0																	(n/a)
F.E.D. Pillager Credit Recovery	Public	9-12	323 E 2nd St	Pillager	56482	Wadena County	Freshwater Education District	No	(n/a)	(n/a)	(n/a)	(218) 631-3505	0																	(n/a)
Brainerd Senior High	Public	9-12	702 S 5th St	Brainerd	56401	Crow Wing County	Brainerd Public School District	No	No	No	No	(218) 454-6200	1,805	90	19.9	31.5%	1,612 (89.3%)	24 (1.3%)	45 (2.5%)	17 (0.9%)	21 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	86 (4.8%)	60.3	199^th of 473 public high schools	57.9%	58.8	209^th of 450 public high schools	53.6%	10	38.6	38.6	36.3	36.3	35.6	35.6	$11,859
Brainerd Online School	Public	9-12	702 S 5th St	Brainerd	56401	Crow Wing County	Brainerd Public School District	No	No	No	No	(218) 454-6273	0				0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()							(n/a)
Independent School District (Isd) 181 Learning Center	Public	8-12	311 10th Ave NE	Brainerd	56401	Crow Wing County	Brainerd Public School District	No	No	No	No	(218) 454-5400	166	11	14.8	52.4%	140 (84.3%)	1 (0.6%)	10 (6.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (3.6%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (5.4%)	12.8	422^nd of 473 public high schools	10.8%	11.1	412^th of 450 public high schools	8.4%	10	17.4	17.4	16.7	16.7	5.5	5.5	$13,935
Staples-Motley Senior High	Public	9-12	401 Centennial Dr	Staples	56479	Wadena County	Staples-Motley School District	No	No	No	No	(218) 894-2431	309	19	16.3	38.2%	275 (89.0%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (3.2%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (2.3%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (5.5%)	53.1	238^th of 473 public high schools	49.7%	63.1	178^th of 450 public high schools	60.4%	60	41.7	41.7	32.9	32.9	25.0	25.0	$13,669
FED Staples-Motley Credit Recovery	Public	9-12	401 Centennial Dr	Staples	56479	Wadena County	Freshwater Education District	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(218) 631-3505	0				0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()							(n/a)
Freshwater Staples Alternative Learning Center	Public	7-12	1830 Airport Rd	Staples	56482	Wadena County	Freshwater Education District	No	(n/a)	(n/a)	(n/a)	(218) 631-3505	0																	(n/a)

Frequently Asked Questions about Pillager Senior High School

What district is Pillager Senior High School in?

Pillager Public School District

Is Pillager Senior High School a good school?

Pillager Senior High School ranks 174^th of 473 Minnesota high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Pillager Senior High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 370 students attended Pillager Senior High School.

What is the racial makeup of Pillager Senior High School?

Students at Pillager Senior High School are 92% White, 3% Hispanic, 3% Two or more races, 2% African American.

What schools feed into Pillager Senior High School?

Pillager Senior High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Pillager Elementary
Middle : Pillager Middle School

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Latest Minnesota data All new data »

2024–25 through 2025–26 MCA-III & MCA-IV test scoresNewSep 30, 2026

2024–25 dropout rates & graduation ratesJun 13, 2026

2024–25 MCA-III test scoresAug 29, 2025

2023–24 dropout rates & graduation ratesMay 8, 2025

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Minnesota Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				MCA-IV Reading (2026)		MCA-IV Science (2026)		MCA-III Math (2026)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients (2025)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	MCA-IV Reading 10th Grade	MCA-IV Reading All Grades	MCA-IV Science End of Course	MCA-IV Science All Grades	MCA-III Math 11th Grade	MCA-III Math All Grades	Total
Pillager Senior High School	Public	9-12	323 E 2nd St S	Pillager	56473	Cass County	Pillager Public School District	No	No	No	No	(218) 746-2117	370	22	17.1	32.2%	339 (91.6%)	7 (1.9%)	12 (3.2%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (2.7%)	64.5	174^th of 473 public high schools	63.2%		50.9	251^st of 450 public high schools	44.2%	77	45.9	45.9	40.6	40.6	27.7	27.7	$12,067
Freshwater Pillager Alternative Learning Center	Public	7-12	323 E 2nd St	Pillager	56482	Wadena County	Freshwater Education District	No	(n/a)	(n/a)	(n/a)	(218) 631-3505	0																		(n/a)
F.E.D. Pillager Credit Recovery	Public	9-12	323 E 2nd St	Pillager	56482	Wadena County	Freshwater Education District	No	(n/a)	(n/a)	(n/a)	(218) 631-3505	0																		(n/a)
Brainerd Senior High	Public	9-12	702 S 5th St	Brainerd	56401	Crow Wing County	Brainerd Public School District	No	No	No	No	(218) 454-6200	1,805	90	19.9	31.5%	1,612 (89.3%)	24 (1.3%)	45 (2.5%)	17 (0.9%)	21 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	86 (4.8%)	60.3	199^th of 473 public high schools	57.9%		58.8	209^th of 450 public high schools	53.6%	10	38.6	38.6	36.3	36.3	35.6	35.6	$11,859
Brainerd Online School	Public	9-12	702 S 5th St	Brainerd	56401	Crow Wing County	Brainerd Public School District	No	No	No	No	(218) 454-6273	0				0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Independent School District (Isd) 181 Learning Center	Public	8-12	311 10th Ave NE	Brainerd	56401	Crow Wing County	Brainerd Public School District	No	No	No	No	(218) 454-5400	166	11	14.8	52.4%	140 (84.3%)	1 (0.6%)	10 (6.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (3.6%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (5.4%)	12.8	422^nd of 473 public high schools	10.8%		11.1	412^th of 450 public high schools	8.4%	10	17.4	17.4	16.7	16.7	5.5	5.5	$13,935
Staples-Motley Senior High	Public	9-12	401 Centennial Dr	Staples	56479	Wadena County	Staples-Motley School District	No	No	No	No	(218) 894-2431	309	19	16.3	38.2%	275 (89.0%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (3.2%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (2.3%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (5.5%)	53.1	238^th of 473 public high schools	49.7%		63.1	178^th of 450 public high schools	60.4%	60	41.7	41.7	32.9	32.9	25.0	25.0	$13,669
FED Staples-Motley Credit Recovery	Public	9-12	401 Centennial Dr	Staples	56479	Wadena County	Freshwater Education District	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(218) 631-3505	0				0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Freshwater Staples Alternative Learning Center	Public	7-12	1830 Airport Rd	Staples	56482	Wadena County	Freshwater Education District	No	(n/a)	(n/a)	(n/a)	(218) 631-3505	0																		(n/a)