Schools in Zip Code 54452

ZIP code 54452 covers six schools in Merrill, Wisconsin — all part of the Merrill Area School District — spanning grades PK through 12 and enrolling 2,562 students total, with the district as a whole sitting mid-pack statewide at rank 213 of 432 (51st percentile, 3 stars). The mix includes two elementary schools (Kate Goodrich Elementary, K–2, and Washington Elementary, 3–4), one middle school (Prairie River Middle, 5–8), two high schools (Merrill High, 9–12, and Merrill Adult Diploma Academy, 11–12), and one alternative school (Bridges Virtual Academy, PK–12).

The strongest reported outcomes come from Bridges Virtual Academy, which posts a 97.9% graduation rate, just 1.2% chronic absenteeism, the lowest free/reduced lunch rate (10.83%) and the lowest per-student spending ($6,124), plus ELA, social studies and science scores well above the state — though its math results are mixed, with 5th grade math at 30.77% versus 51.81% statewide. Washington Elementary performs at or above state in several subjects despite a 55.64% free/reduced lunch rate, and its rank rose to the 52nd percentile. Merrill High graduates 95.4% of students with a 0.5% dropout rate, but chronic absenteeism is 22.6%, well above the district's 14.6% and the state's 17.3%.

The clearest concern is Prairie River Middle, at the 23rd percentile with 20.3% chronic absenteeism and most test scores below state, despite high spending ($16,943) and a low student-teacher ratio (13.3). Merrill Adult Diploma Academy, with just 31 students in grades 11–12, reports a 43.4% graduation rate and 30.0% chronic absenteeism, but serves a very different population than a comprehensive high school. Notably, spending and class size do not predict results here: the lowest-spending school has the strongest outcomes.