Summary:
The Pine River-Backus School District in Minnesota is home to two high schools: Pine River-Backus High School and Pine River-Backus ALP. While the main high school serves 377 students, the alternative learning program (ALP) has a much smaller enrollment of 49 students. Both schools have a highly homogeneous student population, with over 90% of students identifying as White.
The data reveals a concerning trend at Pine River-Backus High School, where the school's statewide ranking has declined from 145th in 2021-2022 to 373rd in 2023-2024, accompanied by a drop in its SchoolDigger rating from 3 stars to 1 star. The school's academic performance, as measured by test scores, is generally below the state averages across all subjects and grade levels, and its graduation rate of 84.3% is lower than the state average. In contrast, the Pine River-Backus ALP is struggling even more, with significantly lower test scores, a very low 4-year graduation rate of 27.7%, and a relatively high dropout rate of 5.5%.
The high rates of free and reduced-price lunch recipients at both schools (over 60%) indicate that a significant portion of the student population comes from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, which likely plays a role in the schools' academic performance and other outcomes. Addressing the declining performance, lack of diversity, and socioeconomic disparities within the Pine River-Backus School District should be a priority for school administrators and policymakers to ensure that all students have access to a high-quality education.
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