Merrill Area School District

Merrill, Wisconsin — 7 schools

2,907
Total Enrollment
7
Schools
$14,829
Per-Pupil Spending
Elementary, High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Merrill Area School District operates 7 public schools serving 2,907 students, placing it among the smaller districts in Wisconsin. The school portfolio breaks down into 3 elementary, 2 high, 2 other schools, giving families a clear picture of grade-band coverage before they move, rent, or enrol. Aggregated across those campuses, enrollment totals 2,686 pupils using the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2022-23 release, and the district is geographically located in Lincoln County County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $14,829 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, which aggregates every revenue and spending line reported under federal accounting standards. The funding mix is 39.3% local, 48.5% state, and 12.2% federal — a breakdown that matters because districts leaning heavily on local revenue are more exposed to property-tax swings, while higher federal shares typically track Title I concentration. Average teacher compensation clocks in at $70,975 per NCES F-33, a signal of the district's ability to recruit and retain staff against neighbouring districts. The district's equity score — 31/100, ranked #320 of 403 in Wisconsin against a state average of 50 — measures how evenly funding reaches schools within its boundaries.

Academic infrastructure includes 1 of 7 schools offering Advanced Placement (11 AP courses district-wide), a 274.9:1 student-counselor ratio, above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 24.5% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 84.0% White, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 1.2% African American across the district's schools.

Merrill High accounts for 28.1% of all Merrill Area School District student enrollment

That concentration — well above the 8.4% national median for largest-entity share — means Merrill Area School District-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. Grade band: high. A single dominant campus often anchors a district's program offerings and staffing patterns; the share helps explain why district-wide averages may not reflect the typical neighbourhood-school experience. When one entity dominates a region's footprint, its programmatic and budget decisions effectively set policy for a majority of the affected population.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

Merrill Area School District school enrollment varies 24× across entities

Merrill Area School District school enrollment ranges from 31 students (lowest) to 756 students (highest), a spread of 725 students. That spread reflects typical mixed-portfolio variation between specialty programs and large neighbourhood schools. Per-school staffing ratios, programme availability, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same district based on enrollment shape.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

Merrill Area School District student-counselor ratio is 275:1 — near the typical range (US average ~408) — within the typical range for U.S. public districts

student-counselor ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE counselors against total enrollment — districts that contract intervention or social-emotional staff outside the counselor classification may be under-counted Variation between sub-units within Merrill Area School District is typically wider than the Merrill Area School District-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

Merrill Area School District chronic absenteeism rate is 24.5% — near the typical range (US average ~28) — aligned with the national post-pandemic baseline of roughly 28% chronic absenteeism

chronic absenteeism rate is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: a student is chronically absent if they miss ≥10% of enrolled days for any reason — illness, family obligations, or disengagement Variation between sub-units within Merrill Area School District is typically wider than the Merrill Area School District-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22 NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

12.2%
Federal
48.5%
State
39.3%
Local

Funding Equity

31
Equity Score
320 / 403
State Rank
50
State Average

This district scores below average on funding equity. High reliance on local revenue or lower spending may contribute.

Local Rent Costs

Fair Market Rents in Lincoln County county, where this district is located.

$741
Studio/mo
$747
1 BR/mo
$973
2 BR/mo
$1,353
3 BR/mo
$1,417
4 BR/mo

Average Teacher Salary

$70,975
Average annual teacher salary

Source: NCES CCD F-33 (Finance Survey).

Teacher salary data from NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 7 schools in Merrill Area School District.

White 84.0%
Hispanic or Latino 5.0%
African American 1.2%
Asian 0.6%
Multiracial 8.0%
Other 1.3%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

1 / 7
Schools with AP
11 AP courses total
274.9:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
24.5%
Chronically Absent

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22.

Schools in Merrill Area School District

School Enrollment
Merrill High
756
Bridges Virtual Academy
Charter
674
Prairie River Middle
507
Kate Goodrich Elementary
337
Washington Elementary
257
Pine River School for Young Learners (Prsyl)
124
Merrill Adult Diploma Academy
Charter
31

Nearby Districts in Wisconsin

Top districts in the same state — compare side-by-side for enrollment, spending, and demographics.

Milwaukee School District
67,500 students · 156 schools · $19,598/pupil
Compare vs Merrill Area School District →
Kenosha School District
19,069 students · 43 schools · $15,612/pupil
Compare vs Merrill Area School District →
Racine Unified School District
16,182 students · 26 schools · $19,548/pupil
Compare vs Merrill Area School District →

Compare Merrill Area School District

See how this district compares to others in enrollment, spending, demographics, and academic resources.

Compare vs Milwaukee School District →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Merrill Area School District?

Merrill Area School District has 7 schools, including 2 high, 2 other, 3 elementary. Total enrollment is 2,907 students.

How much does Merrill Area School District spend per student?

Merrill Area School District spends $14,829 per student. The district has an equity score of 31/100, ranking #320 in Wisconsin.

What is the average teacher salary in Merrill Area School District?

The average teacher salary in Merrill Area School District is $70,975 per year, according to the NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

What is the average rent near Merrill Area School District?

The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Lincoln County County is $N/A/month (2026). This affects housing affordability for families in the district.

What is the demographic composition of Merrill Area School District?

Merrill Area School District students are 84.0% White, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 1.2% African American, 0.6% Asian, averaged across 7 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Merrill Area School District?

Merrill Area School District has an equity score of 31/100, ranking #320 out of 403 districts in Wisconsin. This score measures resource distribution fairness across schools in the district.

Federal data Last updated 2026 Free public data

Coverage

50 states + DC

Full national footprint

Update cadence

Quarterly

Refreshed within 30 days of upstream release

Source agency

Federal

Authoritative data, no third-party aggregation

Page reliability score 94.0%
Industry baseline

Composite score weighing source authority, update freshness, and methodological transparency. 1.0 = full federal-source coverage with documented methodology and recent update.