Hill City Middle School

Summary:

Hill City Middle School is a public middle school in Hill City, Minnesota, serving 67 students in grades 5-8, and is part of the Hill City Public School District, which is ranked 332 out of 463 districts in the state.

Despite being located in Hill City, Hill City Middle School has a significantly higher percentage of white students (88.06%) compared to the state average, as well as a higher percentage of Native American students (1.49%) and students of two or more races (7.46%). Academically, the school consistently ranks in the bottom quartile of Minnesota middle schools, maintaining a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger. In the 2023-2024 school year, only 24.62% of students were proficient or better in math, compared to the state average of 45.47%. This concerning trend of declining proficiency rates in both math and reading has been observed over the past several years.

Nearby schools, such as Robert J. Elkington Middle School and Middle Area Learning Center, which are part of the Grand Rapids Public School District, significantly outperform Hill City Middle School on academic measures. For instance, Robert J. Elkington Middle School has a math proficiency rate of 39.47%, compared to Hill City's 24.62%. Additionally, Hill City Middle School serves a population with significant socioeconomic challenges, with a high percentage of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 47.54% to 65.67% in recent years.

Detail:

Public 5-8

500 Ione Ave
Hill City, MN 55748-9628

(218) 697-2394

District: Hill City Public School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
414^th of 545 Minnesota Middle Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $14,215

Students who attend Hill City Middle School usually attend:

High:

Hill City Senior High

Feeder schools for Hill City Middle School:

Elementary:

Hill City Elementary

Student/teacher ratio: 12.8

Number of students: 67

Racial breakdown:

White:

88.1%

Two or more races:

7.5%

Hispanic:

3.0%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 65.7%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Hill City Middle School ranks worse than 76% of middle schools in Minnesota. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 28.59. (See more...)

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (88.1%), two or more races (7.5%), Hispanic (3%). (See more...)

Compare Details 65.7% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Hill City Middle School is 12.8. (See more...)

Compare Hill City Middle School employs 5.2 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Hill City Middle School is $14,215.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Hill City Middle School:

SchoolDigger ranks Hill City Middle School 414^th of 545 Minnesota public middle schools. (See Hill City Middle School in the ranking list.)

Middle School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Female students:

White students:

Hill City Public School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Hill City Public School District 332^nd of 463 Minnesota school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Hill City Middle School

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Rank History for all students at Hill City Middle School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	MN State Percentile
2015	26.65	408^th	516	20.9%
2016	24.63	413^th	508	18.7%
2017	30.07	388^th	523	25.8%
2018	46.07	318^th	518	38.6%
2019	33.76	376^th	533	29.5%
2021	16.49	444^th	521	14.8%
2022	22.50	413^th	520	20.6%
2023	25.19	411^th	529	22.3%
2024	28.59	414^th	545	24.0%

See the entire list of Minnesota Middle School Rankings!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Hill City Middle School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	MN State Percentile
2018	55.54	172^nd	401	57.1%
2019	14.17	376^th	415	9.4%
2023	24.60	365^th	459	20.5%

See the entire list of Best Minnesota Middle Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Hill City Middle School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	MN State Percentile
2018	55.48	213^th	436	51.1%
2019	19.20	379^th	439	13.7%
2022	26.51	360^th	467	22.9%
2024	20.53	395^th	474	16.7%

See the entire list of Best Minnesota Middle Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Hill City Middle School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	MN State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2018	36.88	318^th	438	27.4%
2019	7.24	425^th	454	6.4%

See the entire list of Best Minnesota Middle Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for White students at Hill City Middle School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	MN State Percentile
2018	31.02	332^nd	428	22.4%
2019	23.65	364^th	428	15.0%
2021	7.21	412^th	422	2.4%
2022	10.63	418^th	438	4.6%
2023	10.56	416^th	436	4.6%
2024	9.46	425^th	440	3.4%

See the entire list of Best Minnesota Middle Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Minnesota Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Data source: Minnesota Department of Education

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Enrollment information for Hill City Middle School

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Year	White	African American	Hispanic	American Indian	Two or More Races	Total
2014	67	0	2	4	0	73
2015	75	0	1	5	3	84
2016	86	0	1	4	7	98
2017	86	0	0	2	6	94
2018	78	0	1	2	8	89
2019	67	0	2	2	7	78
2020	56	0	4	6	4	70
2021	59	2	2	5	1	69
2022	54	0	2	2	3	61
2023	59	0	2	1	5	67

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Hill City Middle School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2014	73	6.0	12.1	67.1
2015	84	7.0	12.0	63.1
2016	98	7.0	14.0	67.3
2017	94	6.2	15.0	66
2018	89	6.6	13.4	56.2
2019	78	5.6	13.9	64.1
2020	70	6.2	11.1	62.9
2021	69	3.5	19.5	49.3
2022	61	4.8	12.5	47.5
2023	67	5.2	12.8	65.7

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Hill City Middle School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2014	73	6.0	12.1	67.1
2015	84	7.0	12.0	63.1
2016	98	7.0	14.0	67.3
2017	94	6.2	15.0	66
2018	89	6.6	13.4	56.2
2019	78	5.6	13.9	64.1
2020	70	6.2	11.1	62.9
2021	69	3.5	19.5	49.3
2022	61	4.8	12.5	47.5
2023	67	5.2	12.8	65.7

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Hill City Middle School

Year	Total Expenditures Per Pupil
2019	$14,215

Data source: Minnesota Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Hill City Middle School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Rank Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Ranks 376^th of 533 Middle schools	Ranks 411^th of 529 Middle schools	7.1%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
5th Grade Math (Hill City Middle School)	29.4	30	0.6%
5th Grade Math (Hill City Public School District)	29.4	30	0.6%
5th Grade Math (Minnesota)	52	44.4	7.6%
5th Grade Reading (Hill City Middle School)	58.8	42.1	16.7%
5th Grade Reading (Hill City Public School District)	58.8	42.1	16.7%
5th Grade Reading (Minnesota)	65.8	58.7	7%
5th Grade Science (Hill City Middle School)	17.7	15	2.7%
5th Grade Science (Hill City Public School District)	17.7	15	2.7%
5th Grade Science (Minnesota)	54.9	48.4	6.5%
6th Grade Math (Hill City Middle School)	47.1	35.7	11.4%
6th Grade Math (Hill City Public School District)	47.1	35.7	11.4%
6th Grade Math (Minnesota)	50.5	39.7	10.8%
6th Grade Reading (Hill City Middle School)	76.5	42.9	33.6%
6th Grade Reading (Hill City Public School District)	76.5	42.9	33.6%
6th Grade Reading (Minnesota)	62.8	53.4	9.4%
7th Grade Math (Hill City Middle School)	50	33.3	16.7%
7th Grade Math (Hill City Public School District)	50	33.3	16.7%
7th Grade Math (Minnesota)	52.1	39.7	12.4%
7th Grade Reading (Hill City Middle School)	37.5	22.2	15.3%
7th Grade Reading (Hill City Public School District)	37.5	22.2	15.3%
7th Grade Reading (Minnesota)	57.5	45.2	12.3%
8th Grade Math (Hill City Middle School)	30.4	16.7	13.8%
8th Grade Math (Hill City Public School District)	30.4	16.7	13.8%
8th Grade Math (Minnesota)	55.2	40.3	14.9%
8th Grade Reading (Hill City Middle School)	37.5	5.9	31.6%
8th Grade Reading (Hill City Public School District)	37.5	5.9	31.6%
8th Grade Reading (Minnesota)	57.7	44.8	12.9%
8th Grade Science (Hill City Middle School)	9.1	5.6	3.5%
8th Grade Science (Hill City Public School District)	9.1	5.6	3.5%
8th Grade Science (Minnesota)	43	27.6	15.4%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	78	67	14.1%
African American	0	0
American Indian	2	1	50%
Asian	0	0
Hispanic	2	2
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	67	59	11.9%
Two or More Races	7	5	28.6%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	64.1%	65.7%	1.6%

Schools Near Hill City Middle School

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				MCA-III Math (2024)					MCA-III Reading (2024)					MCA-III Science (2024)			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 (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	MCA-III Math 5th Grade	MCA-III Math 6th Grade	MCA-III Math 7th Grade	MCA-III Math 8th Grade	MCA-III Math All Grades	MCA-III Reading 5th Grade	MCA-III Reading 6th Grade	MCA-III Reading 7th Grade	MCA-III Reading 8th Grade	MCA-III Reading All Grades	MCA-III Science 5th Grade	MCA-III Science 8th Grade	MCA-III Science All Grades	Total
Hill City Middle School	Public	5-8	500 Ione Ave	Hill City	55748	Aitkin County	Hill City Public School District	No	No	No	No	(218) 697-2394	67	5	12.8	65.7%	59 (88.1%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (3.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.5%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (7.5%)	28.6	414^th of 545 public middle schools	24.0%		25.2	411^th of 529 public middle schools	22.3%	3	23.1	23.8	33.3	18.8	24.6	46.2	33.3	40.0	31.3	36.9	7.7	6.3	6.9	$14,215
Robert J. Elkington Middle School	Public	6-8	1000 NE 8th Ave	Grand Rapids	55744	Itasca County	Grand Rapids Public School District	No	No	No	No	(218) 327-5800	747	41	18.2	44.7%	630 (84.3%)	5 (0.7%)	18 (2.4%)	4 (0.5%)	62 (8.3%)	1 (0.1%)	27 (3.6%)	65.6	163^rd of 545 public middle schools	70.1%		69.3	136^th of 529 public middle schools	74.3%	27		44.5	40.9	32.8	39.5		63.5	55.6	46.8	55.4		26.6	26.6	$11,531
Middle Area Learning Center	Public	5-8	1000 NE 8th Ave	Grand Rapids	55744	Itasca County	Grand Rapids Public School District	No	No	No	No	(218) 327-5800	53	1	63.8	64.2%	44 (83.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.9%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (9.4%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (5.7%)								(n/a)			5.9		4.2			0.0		0.0

Frequently Asked Questions about Hill City Middle School

What high school do graduates of Hill City Middle School attend?

Students who attend Hill City Middle School usually go on to attend Hill City Senior High

What is the racial makeup of Hill City Middle School?

Students at Hill City Middle School are 88% White, 7% Two or more races, 3% Hispanic, 1% American Indian.

Is Hill City Middle School a good school?

Hill City Middle School ranks in the bottom 24.0% of Minnesota middle schools.

How many students attend Hill City Middle School?

In the 2022-23 school year, 67 students attended Hill City Middle School.

What district is Hill City Middle School in?

Hill City Public School District

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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.

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