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Willow River Elementary

Q: Is Willow River Elementary a good school?

Willow River Elementary ranks 442 nd of 872 Minnesota elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-6

442^nd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 872 Minnesota Elementary Schools

Better than 49% of Minnesota elementary schools

Summary

Willow River Elementary is a public elementary school serving 224 students in grades PK-6 in Willow River, Minnesota. The school is part of the Willow River Public School District, which is ranked 222 out of 446 districts in the state and has a 3-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Willow River Elementary has shown inconsistent performance on the MCA-III assessments, with proficiency rates fluctuating between 2-star and 3-star ratings. In 2024-2025, the school's proficiency rates in Math (45.74%) and Reading (48.84%) are slightly above the state averages, but still below the top-performing schools in Minnesota. The school's performance is particularly strong in 3rd grade Math, but it struggles in 4th and 6th grade Math. The school has a relatively high percentage of students from low socioeconomic backgrounds (44.2% in 2023-2024), which likely presents significant challenges.

When compared to nearby elementary schools, Barnum Elementary outperforms Willow River Elementary in both Math and Reading proficiency rates, while East Central Elementary and Moose Lake Elementary have similar performance profiles. Finlayson Elementary is a smaller school with lower overall performance compared to Willow River. Overall, Willow River Elementary appears to be a middle-performing school within its local context, facing challenges related to student socioeconomic status and inconsistent academic achievement over time.

231

Students ?

11.5

Student/teacher ratio ?

$12,165

Per pupil spending ?

44.2%

Free/discounted lunch ?

8142 Pine St
Willow River, MN 55795-0066

(218) 372-3131

District: Willow River Public School District

Students who attend Willow River Elementary usually attend:

High:

Willow River Secondary

Racial breakdown:

White:

89.6%

American Indian:

4.8%

Two or more races:

3.0%

See top rated Minnesota elementary schools

Compare Willow River Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 39th percentile in 2015 → 49th in 2025

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 10 percentile points since 2015

✓Small classes — about 12 students per teacher

Worth a look

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

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school47%

District avg42%

Minnesota avg47%

442^nd of 872

Minnesota public elementary schools ?

Bottom 49%▲ up 10 pts since 2015

From bottom 39% (2015) to bottom 49% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Minnesota Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

222^nd of 446Willow River 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
2025	53.5	442 of 872	49.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	54.0	441 of 881	49.9%	★★★☆☆
2023	64.0	319 of 845	62.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	44.3	547 of 858	36.2%	★★☆☆☆
2021	46.3	555 of 869	36.1%	★★☆☆☆
2019	75.1	188 of 870	78.4%	★★★★☆
2018	59.4	390 of 847	54.0%	★★★☆☆
2017	70.1	263 of 853	69.2%	★★★☆☆
2016	56.4	447 of 848	47.3%	★★☆☆☆
2015	50.2	511 of 840	39.2%	★★☆☆☆
2014	39.5	593 of 826	28.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	47.5	518 of 824	37.1%	★★☆☆☆
2012	57.0	442 of 820	46.1%	★★☆☆☆
2011	48.8	523 of 814	35.7%	★★☆☆☆
2010	57.7	418 of 803	47.9%	★★☆☆☆
2009	42.4	312 of 434	28.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	35.9	621 of 781	20.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	37.9	618 of 777	20.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	48.6	477 of 756	36.9%	★★☆☆☆
2005	31.9	558 of 685	18.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2004	47.8	422 of 676	37.6%	★★☆☆☆
2003	54.2	372 of 674	44.8%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2025	44.8	482 of 799	39.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	50.9	445 of 809	45.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	56.3	379 of 787	51.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	42.5	521 of 799	34.8%	★★☆☆☆
2021	52.1	434 of 783	44.6%	★★☆☆☆
2019	80.5	101 of 787	87.2%	★★★★☆
2018	67.2	262 of 774	66.1%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2025	49.0	394 of 764	48.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	65.0	248 of 793	68.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	77.8	112 of 774	85.5%	★★★★☆
2022	52.7	323 of 663	51.3%	★★★☆☆
2021	68.7	176 of 683	74.2%	★★★★☆
2019	92.8	11 of 740	98.5%	★★★★★
2018	64.5	243 of 728	66.6%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2025	57.6	374 of 812	53.9%	★★★☆☆
2024	55.1	407 of 826	50.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	66.0	274 of 799	65.7%	★★★☆☆
2022	38.8	566 of 808	30.0%	★★☆☆☆
2021	29.4	601 of 784	23.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	64.4	312 of 798	60.9%	★★★☆☆
2018	47.4	487 of 779	37.5%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2024	53.4	231 of 572	59.6%	★★★☆☆
2021	18.5	375 of 417	10.1%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2025	30.9	561 of 714	21.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	33.9	530 of 730	27.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	37.4	485 of 712	31.9%	★★☆☆☆
2022	22.9	634 of 725	12.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	23.5	629 of 710	11.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	59.9	279 of 722	61.4%	★★★☆☆
2018	40.9	472 of 712	33.7%	★★☆☆☆

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)

Special Education (2024)60th percentile+10 vs school

Male (2025)54th percentile+5 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)48th percentile~ school

Female (2025)40th percentile-10 vs school

White (2025)21st percentile-28 vs school

By subject vs Minnesota (2024-2025) ?

Reading49%~ state avg

Math46%~ state avg

★

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Schools Near Willow River Elementary

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				MCA-III Math (2025)					MCA-III Reading (2025)					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	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	MCA-III Math 3rd Grade	MCA-III Math 4th Grade	MCA-III Math 5th Grade	MCA-III Math 6th Grade	MCA-III Math All Grades	MCA-III Reading 3rd Grade	MCA-III Reading 4th Grade	MCA-III Reading 5th Grade	MCA-III Reading 6th Grade	MCA-III Reading All Grades	Total
Willow River Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	8142 Pine St	Willow River	55795	Pine County	Willow River Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(218) 372-3131	231	20	11.5	44.2%	207 (89.6%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (2.6%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (4.8%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (3.0%)	53.5	442^nd of 872 public elementary schools	49.3%		54	441^st of 881 public elementary schools	49.9%	1	64.0	38.2	46.9	39.5	45.7	48.0	26.5	62.5	57.9	48.8	$12,165
Moose Lake Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	4812 County Rd 10	Moose Lake	55767	Carlton County	Moose Lake Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(218) 485-4834	285	24	12.0	39.3%	252 (88.4%)	5 (1.8%)	8 (2.8%)	3 (1.1%)	5 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (4.2%)	47.3	502^nd of 872 public elementary schools	42.4%		54	442^nd of 881 public elementary schools	49.8%	60	48.9	47.8	31.0	33.3	40.9	35.4	37.0	69.1	61.1	49.4	$11,820
Finlayson Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	2159 Hwy 18	Finlayson	55735	Pine County	Hinckley-Finlayson School District	No	No	No	Yes	(320) 233-7611	58	6	10.1	51.7%	47 (81.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (5.2%)	2 (3.4%)	1 (1.7%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (8.6%)								(n/a)				30.0	50.0				50.0	48.4	$12,831
East Central Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	61085 State Highway 23	Finlayson	55735	Pine County	East Central School District	No	No	No	Yes	(320) 245-6013	391	28	14.0	49.4%	296 (75.7%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (5.1%)	4 (1.0%)	39 (10.0%)	0 (0.0%)	32 (8.2%)	47.4	500^th of 872 public elementary schools	42.7%		54.7	437^th of 881 public elementary schools	50.4%	63	55.1	51.1	39.7	37.0	45.5	40.0	33.3	60.3	41.3	44.7	$12,261
East Central Early Childhood	Public	PK-K	61085 State Highway 23	Finlayson	55735	Pine County	East Central School District	No	No	No	No	(320) 245-6013	0				0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Barnum Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	3813 E North St	Barnum	55707	Carlton County	Barnum Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(218) 389-6976	348	26	13.4	32.5%	305 (87.6%)	4 (1.1%)	5 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	33 (9.5%)	54.8	425^th of 872 public elementary schools	51.3%		71.8	237^th of 881 public elementary schools	73.1%	188	55.6	46.3	38.2	44.4	45.7	37.8	36.6	63.0	65.2	51.6	$11,858

Frequently Asked Questions about Willow River Elementary

What is the racial makeup of Willow River Elementary?

Students at Willow River Elementary are 90% White, 5% American Indian, 3% Two or more races, 3% Hispanic.

What district is Willow River Elementary in?

Willow River Public School District

What schools do graduates of Willow River Elementary attend?

Students who attend Willow River Elementary usually go on to attend:

High : Willow River Secondary

Is Willow River Elementary a good school?

Willow River Elementary ranks 442^nd of 872 Minnesota elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Willow River Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 231 students attended Willow River Elementary.

Rate Willow River Elementary!

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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.