- Enrollment
- 756
- Students per teacher
- 15.8:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Merrill, WI
Prairie River Middle
Federal NCES profile for Prairie River Middle, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 33/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 550921001506
👥 S:T ratio 54
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 49
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Prairie River Middle earns 33/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 74% of Wisconsin schools.
- #3 of 3
- elementary schools in Merrill · Resource Index
- 33
- Resource Index · Typical
- 11.5:1
- small classes for Wisconsin
- 35.1%
- free-lunch eligible
Prairie River Middle has class sizes smaller than 74% of Wisconsin schools. Computed live against every Wisconsin school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Prairie River Middle ranks #3 of 3 elementary schools in Merrill, WI.
School address
District: Merrill Area School District · Wisconsin
NCES ID 550921001506 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-52 students YoY
Prairie River Middle shrank from 593 students in 2022-23 to 541 in 2023-24 (-8.8%).
Teacher FTE lost 44.8 → 35.8 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-52 students YoY 550921001506 · Merrill, WI Elementary · MID · TRAD
507 enr · 11.5:1 · 35.1% lunch · RII 33
Nearest enrollment peer: Merrill High (756 students)
Prairie River Middle shrank from 593 students in 2022-23 to 541 in 2023-24 (-8.8%). Teacher FTE lost 44.8 → 35.8 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Wisconsin schools → · Find another →
Prairie River Middle in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Merrill High
Merrill High
756 students
- Bridges Virtua
Bridges Virtual Academy
674 students
- This school
Prairie River Middle
507 students
- Kate Goodrich
Kate Goodrich Elementary
337 students
- Washington Ele 257
Washington Elementary
257 students
- Pine River Sch 124
Pine River School for Young Learners (Prsyl)
124 students
What this shows Prairie River Middle reports 507 students on the CCD universe file.
How Prairie River Middle compares
Prairie River Middle is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Wisconsin and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Wisconsin | Wisconsin avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 11.5:1 | ▼ 20% | 14.4:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 35.1% | ▼ 9% | 38.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 507 | top 21% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
11.5:1
Leaner classes than 79% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
507
Bigger than 63% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
35.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 9% below the Wisconsin average of 38.5%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
11.5:1
students per teacher
- 20% below state mean
Top 26% in Wisconsin - lower ratio than 74% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
40.0%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$13,547
per pupil, district-wide
- below Wisconsin avg of $15,645
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 254 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
71
in-school suspensions + 45 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 14.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 22.9 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 87.8%
Two or More 5.9%
Hispanic or Latino 4.1%
African American 0.8%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.8%
Asian 0.6%
Largest group: White at 87.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 22.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 22.4, Prairie River Middle is less mixed than the Wisconsin school average of 35.7.
Programs
District finance for Merrill Area School District reports $13,547 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Prairie River Middle Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Merrill High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Bridges Virtual Academy | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Kate Goodrich Elementary | Smaller | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Washington Elementary | Smaller | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Pine River School for Young Learners (Prsyl) | Smaller | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Prairie River Middle's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 674
- Students per teacher
- 16.9:1
- Resource Index
- 53/100
- Enrollment
- 337
- Students per teacher
- 10.5:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 257
- Students per teacher
- 13.5:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 124
- Students per teacher
- 17.7:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
Similar elementary schools in Merrill
2 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Nationwide elementary schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~507 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~11.5:1)
Frequently asked questions about Prairie River Middle
How many students attend Prairie River Middle?
Prairie River Middle has 507 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Merrill, WI. CCD year-over-year: 593 (2022-23) → 541 (2023-24), down 52.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Prairie River Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Prairie River Middle is 11.5:1, which is 20% lower than the Wisconsin average of 14.4:1 and 27% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Prairie River Middle?
35.1% of students at Prairie River Middle are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Wisconsin average of 38.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Prairie River Middle?
The largest demographic group at Prairie River Middle is White at 87.8% of enrollment, in Merrill, WI.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Prairie River Middle?
Prairie River Middle has a Resource Investment Index of 33/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Prairie River Middle rank among elementary schools in Merrill?
By Resource Investment Index, Prairie River Middle ranks #3 of 3 elementary schools in Merrill, WI. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Merrill on the city page.
What other schools are in Merrill Area School District?
Besides Prairie River Middle, Merrill Area School District also operates Merrill High (756 students), Bridges Virtual Academy (674 students), and Kate Goodrich Elementary (337 students). See the Merrill Area School District district page for the complete list.