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Pine River-Backus High School

Public Grades 7-12

370^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 473 Minnesota High Schools

Better than 22% of Minnesota high schools

Summary

Pine River-Backus High School is a public school in Pine River, a small town in northern Minnesota, serving grades 7–12 with 371 students as part of the Pine River-Backus School District. About 56.06% of its students were eligible for free or reduced-price lunch in 2024–2025 — a much higher share than the state or nearby Pequot Lakes — while its student-teacher ratio of 14.2 is relatively favorable compared with surrounding schools.

By state rankings, the school is currently below average: in 2025–2026 it placed 370th of 473 Minnesota high schools, the 22nd percentile with 1 star, down from the 71st percentile with 4 stars in 2020–2021. Test proficiency in 2025–2026 was 23.0% in math, 33.9% in reading, and 11.6% in science, all below district and state averages. Science is the clearest weakness and has slid from 30.58% in 2022–2023 to 11.6%. One bright spot: in 2024–2025 the school reported a 96.4% graduation rate and a 0.0% dropout rate, both above state averages — though graduation was 78.8% the year before, so these results vary year to year.

Among nearby schools, Pequot Lakes Senior High is the regional benchmark, ranked in the 86th percentile with 31.9% math, 60.8% reading, and 52.4% science proficiency and far lower poverty. Crosslake Community 6-12 Online posts lower math (7.9%) and science (7.7%) proficiency, a 64.2% graduation rate, and a 13.6% dropout rate, though slightly higher all-grade reading. Pine River-Backus ALP, the district's alternative program, has a 52.6% graduation rate with most test data suppressed by the state. Every reported student subgroup at the school ranks at the 29th percentile or lower statewide.

371

Students ?

14.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$11,954

Per pupil spending ?

56.1%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

All students in Minnesota receive free school meals.

810 1st St N
Pine River, MN 56474-8888

(218) 587-4425

District: Pine River-Backus School District

Feeder schools for Pine River-Backus High School:

Elementary:

Pine River-Backus Elementary

Racial breakdown:

White:

93.3%

Two or more races:

3.0%

Hispanic:

1.6%

See top rated Minnesota high schools

Compare Pine River-Backus High School to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 54th percentile in 2016 → 22nd in 2026

Strengths

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

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Minnesota average (24% vs 43% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (22nd percentile)

!Ranking has slipped — down 32 percentile points since 2016

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school24%

District avg35%

Minnesota avg43%

Middle school

369^th of 546

Minnesota public middle schools ?

Bottom 32%▲ up 8 pts since 2016

From bottom 25% (2016) to bottom 32% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Minnesota Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

High school

370^th of 473

Minnesota public high schools ?

Bottom 22%▼ down 32 pts since 2016

From top 46% (2016) to bottom 22% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Minnesota High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

307^th of 458Pine River-Backus 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)

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	34.6	369 of 546	32.4%	★★☆☆☆
2025	34.4	367 of 519	29.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	37.3	351 of 545	35.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	43.4	308 of 529	41.8%	★★☆☆☆
2022	41.9	314 of 520	39.6%	★★☆☆☆
2021	26.5	401 of 521	23.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	54.2	248 of 533	53.5%	★★★☆☆
2018	46.6	312 of 518	39.8%	★★☆☆☆
2017	44.9	310 of 523	40.7%	★★☆☆☆
2016	32.2	382 of 508	24.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	48.1	275 of 516	46.7%	★★☆☆☆
2014	43.9	303 of 490	38.2%	★★☆☆☆
2013	32.4	366 of 488	25.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	40.1	332 of 469	29.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	29.4	387 of 478	19.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	42.7	308 of 454	32.2%	★★☆☆☆
2008	51.7	238 of 409	41.8%	★★☆☆☆
2007	55.4	202 of 403	49.9%	★★★☆☆
2006	56.6	207 of 406	49.0%	★★☆☆☆
2005	63.7	167 of 396	57.8%	★★★☆☆
2004	34.6	308 of 387	20.4%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	33.2	330 of 467	29.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	33.3	313 of 450	30.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	41.3	292 of 474	38.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	34.8	323 of 455	29.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	36.8	318 of 467	31.9%	★★☆☆☆
2021	26.7	345 of 443	22.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	49.9	239 of 439	45.6%	★★☆☆☆
2018	44.9	269 of 436	38.3%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	35.5	321 of 458	29.9%	★★☆☆☆
2025	34.9	299 of 432	30.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	39.2	299 of 473	36.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	49.9	211 of 459	54.0%	★★★☆☆
2022	48.2	201 of 404	50.2%	★★★☆☆
2021	30.4	301 of 399	24.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	66.3	112 of 415	73.0%	★★★★☆
2018	58.9	150 of 401	62.6%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	30.9	352 of 483	27.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	31.0	331 of 452	26.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	29.9	354 of 479	26.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	47.7	244 of 464	47.4%	★★☆☆☆
2022	41.3	286 of 476	39.9%	★★☆☆☆
2021	24.2	348 of 437	20.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	53.9	217 of 454	52.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	43.2	281 of 438	35.8%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	28.0	239 of 296	19.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	41.3	178 of 307	42.0%	★★☆☆☆
2022	59.3	93 of 288	67.7%	★★★☆☆
2021	51.7	109 of 260	58.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	49.9	143 of 282	49.3%	★★☆☆☆
2018	70.0	53 of 253	79.1%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	18.7	386 of 435	11.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	16.3	382 of 415	8.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	19.2	389 of 440	11.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	27.9	350 of 436	19.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	25.6	353 of 438	19.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	12.0	397 of 422	5.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	31.7	326 of 428	23.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	23.4	356 of 428	16.8%	★☆☆☆☆

High school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	25.1	370 of 473	21.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	24.7	362 of 450	19.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	25.2	373 of 480	22.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	50.3	249 of 476	47.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	68.6	145 of 472	69.3%	★★★☆☆
2021	69.9	125 of 428	70.8%	★★★★☆
2019	66.5	177 of 492	64.0%	★★★☆☆
2018	70.5	155 of 494	68.6%	★★★☆☆
2017	76.6	102 of 489	79.1%	★★★★☆
2016	60.5	224 of 489	54.2%	★★★☆☆
2015	58.1	242 of 504	52.0%	★★★☆☆
2014	58.2	242 of 483	49.9%	★★★☆☆
2013	55.5	283 of 534	47.0%	★★☆☆☆
2012	61.1	262 of 539	51.4%	★★★☆☆
2011	55.2	305 of 545	44.0%	★★☆☆☆
2010	59.5	263 of 540	51.3%	★★★☆☆
2008	52.6	284 of 460	38.3%	★★☆☆☆
2007	40.0	337 of 463	27.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	56.6	250 of 450	44.4%	★★☆☆☆
2005	41.1	355 of 452	21.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2004	49.2	319 of 433	26.3%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	17.1	340 of 398	14.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	19.8	298 of 358	16.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	25.8	314 of 403	22.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	53.8	192 of 396	51.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	67.5	120 of 388	69.1%	★★★☆☆
2021	64.3	123 of 339	63.7%	★★★☆☆
2019	51.2	231 of 401	42.4%	★★☆☆☆
2018	69.3	126 of 395	68.1%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	32.3	269 of 377	28.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	27.6	260 of 333	21.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	22.4	333 of 389	14.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	60.2	139 of 393	64.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	88.8	12 of 312	96.2%	★★★★★
2021	94.4	5 of 270	98.1%	★★★★★
2019	59.6	146 of 370	60.5%	★★★☆☆
2018	90.2	16 of 374	95.7%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	26.0	317 of 395	19.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	20.6	322 of 377	14.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	16.3	361 of 405	10.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	36.4	273 of 398	31.4%	★★☆☆☆
2022	56.9	172 of 403	57.3%	★★★☆☆
2021	70.3	94 of 351	73.2%	★★★★☆
2019	66.4	139 of 411	66.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	54.7	206 of 398	48.2%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	27.0	179 of 224	20.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	21.5	187 of 221	15.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	52.5	98 of 216	54.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	60.0	72 of 214	66.4%	★★★☆☆
2019	52.4	96 of 220	56.4%	★★★☆☆
2018	64.5	52 of 195	73.3%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	14.1	357 of 394	9.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	10.7	351 of 376	6.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	12.1	366 of 402	9.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	31.6	305 of 398	23.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	49.3	231 of 401	42.4%	★★☆☆☆
2021	54.6	181 of 364	50.3%	★★★☆☆
2019	45.1	267 of 412	35.2%	★★☆☆☆
2018	56.5	202 of 414	51.2%	★★★☆☆

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)

Middle school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)30th percentile-3 vs school

Female (2026)29th percentile-3 vs school

Male (2026)27th percentile-5 vs school

Special Education (2026)19th percentile-13 vs school

White (2026)11th percentile-21 vs school

High school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)29th percentile+7 vs school

Special Education (2026)20th percentile~ school

Male (2026)20th percentile~ school

Female (2026)15th percentile-7 vs school

White (2026)9th percentile-12 vs school

By subject vs Minnesota (2025-2026) ?

Reading34%-15 vs state

Math23%-22 vs state

Science12%-14 vs state

★

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Schools Near Pine River-Backus High School

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

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/reduced lunch (2024-25)	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 6th Grade	MCA-IV Reading 7th Grade	MCA-IV Reading 8th Grade	MCA-IV Reading 10th Grade	MCA-IV Reading All Grades	MCA-IV Science 8th Grade	MCA-IV Science End of Course	MCA-IV Science All Grades	MCA-III Math 6th Grade	MCA-III Math 7th Grade	MCA-III Math 8th Grade	MCA-III Math 11th Grade	MCA-III Math All Grades	Total
Pine River-Backus High School	Public	7-12	810 1st St N	Pine River	56474	Cass County	Pine River-Backus School District	No	No	No	No	(218) 587-4425	371	26	14.2	56.1%	346 (93.3%)	1 (0.3%)	6 (1.6%)	5 (1.3%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (3.0%)	25.1	370^th of 473 public high schools	21.8%		24.7	362^nd of 450 public high schools	19.6%	8		44.0	36.8	23.1	33.9	9.1	14.3	11.6		24.0	19.4	27.3	23.0	$11,954
Pine River-Backus ALP	Public	9-12	1000 1st St N	Pine River	56474	Cass County	Pine River-Backus School District	No	No	No	No	(218) 587-3131	57	2	23.8	57.9%	53 (93.0%)	2 (3.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.8%)								(n/a)														$18,186
F.E.D. Pequot Lakes Credit Recovery	Public	9-12	30805 Olson St	Pequot Lakes	56482	Crow Wing County	Freshwater Education District	No	(n/a)	(n/a)	(n/a)	(218) 631-3505	0			—															(n/a)
Pequot Lakes Senior High	Public	9-12	30805 Olson St	Pequot Lakes	56472	Crow Wing County	Pequot Lakes Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(218) 568-9210	599	39	15.3	29.9%	569 (95.0%)	8 (1.3%)	10 (1.7%)	4 (0.7%)	3 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (0.8%)	81.3	66^th of 473 public high schools	86.0%		74	108^th of 450 public high schools	76.0%	42				60.8	60.8		52.4	52.4				31.9	31.9	$3,311
Crosslake Community 6-12 Online	Public, Virtual, Charter	6-12	35808 County Road 66	Crosslake	56442	Crow Wing County	Crosslake Community Charter School	Yes	No	Yes	No	(218) 537-3628	311	18	17.3	49.5%	277 (89.1%)	5 (1.6%)	6 (1.9%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (2.6%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (4.8%)	16.3	409^th of 473 public high schools	13.5%		19.9	380^th of 450 public high schools	15.6%	29	33.3	37.5	50.0	23.8	35.4	6.3	10.0	7.7	0.0	6.7	12.5	10.0	7.9	$13,277

Frequently Asked Questions about Pine River-Backus High School

What district is Pine River-Backus High School in?

Pine River-Backus School District

What is the racial makeup of Pine River-Backus High School?

Students at Pine River-Backus High School are 93% White, 3% Two or more races, 2% Hispanic, 1% Asian.

What schools feed into Pine River-Backus High School?

Pine River-Backus High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Pine River-Backus Elementary

How many students attend Pine River-Backus High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 371 students attended Pine River-Backus High School.

Is Pine River-Backus High School a good school?

Pine River-Backus High School ranks in the bottom 21.8% of Minnesota high schools.

Rate Pine River-Backus High School!

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Latest Minnesota data All new data »

2019–20 through 2025–26 immunization rates (updated)NewOct 19, 2026

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

2024–25 dropout rates & graduation ratesJun 13, 2026

2024–25 MCA-III test scoresAug 29, 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.