Is Pioneer Elementary a good school?

Yes. Pioneer Elementary ranks in the top 6.5% of Minnesota elementary schools.

How many students attend Pioneer Elementary?

In the 2022-23 school year, 610 students attended Pioneer Elementary.

What is the racial makeup of Pioneer Elementary?

Students at Pioneer Elementary are 93% White, 4% Two or more races, 1% Hispanic.

What schools do graduates of Pioneer Elementary attend?

Students who attend Pioneer Elementary usually go on to attend: High : Healy Secondary

Pioneer Elementary

Summary:

Pioneer Elementary is a public elementary school located in Pierz, Minnesota, serving grades PK-6 with a total enrollment of 610 students. The school consistently ranks among the top elementary schools in the state, with students outperforming their peers in Math and Reading assessments.

Pioneer Elementary's academic performance is particularly impressive, with proficiency rates in MCA-III Math and Reading assessments significantly higher than the state averages. In the 2023-2024 school year, the school's Math and Reading proficiency rates were 79.33% and 70.12%, respectively, compared to the state averages of 45.47% and 49.85%. This strong academic performance is consistent across all grade levels, with the school's students consistently ranking between the 57th and 202nd out of 881 schools in Minnesota over the past 10 years.

While Pioneer Elementary's academic excellence is noteworthy, the school's student population is predominantly white, with only a small percentage of students from minority racial/ethnic backgrounds. Additionally, the school has a relatively low percentage of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a higher socioeconomic status among the student population. These demographic factors may contribute to the school's strong academic performance, as research has shown a correlation between socioeconomic status and educational outcomes. When compared to nearby schools, such as Rice Elementary, Lincoln Elementary, and Royalton Elementary, Pioneer Elementary consistently outperforms them academically and has a higher ranking and rating from SchoolDigger.

Detail:

Public PK, KG-6

66 Kamnic St
Pierz, MN 56364-4004

(320) 468-6458

District: Pierz Public School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
57^th of 881 Minnesota Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $9,977

Students who attend Pioneer Elementary usually attend:

High:

Healy Secondary

Student/teacher ratio: 13.6

Number of students: 610

Racial breakdown:

White:

93.1%

Two or more races:

3.9%

Hispanic:

1.5%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 43.1%

See top rated Minnesota elementary schools

Compare Pioneer Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Pioneer Elementary ranks better than 93.5% of elementary schools in Minnesota. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 88.95. (See more...)

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (93.1%), two or more races (3.9%), Hispanic (1.5%). (See more...)

Compare Details 43.1% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Pioneer Elementary is 13.6. (See more...)

Compare Pioneer Elementary employs 44.6 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Pioneer Elementary is $9,977.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Pioneer Elementary:

SchoolDigger ranks Pioneer Elementary 57^th of 881 Minnesota public elementary schools. (See Pioneer Elementary in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Special Education students:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Male students:

White students:

Pierz Public School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Pierz Public School District 39^th of 463 Minnesota school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Pioneer Elementary

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Rank History for all students at Pioneer Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MN State Percentile
2003	63.73	259^th	674	61.6%
2004	69.62	192^nd	676	71.6%
2005	63.89	250^th	685	63.5%
2006	51.53	447^th	756	40.9%
2007	53.22	446^th	777	42.6%
2008	42.34	571^st	781	26.9%
2009	49.83	264^th	434	39.2%
2010	62.24	345^th	803	57.0%
2011	58.25	409^th	814	49.8%
2012	73.12	186^th	820	77.3%
2013	58.92	388^th	824	52.9%
2014	64.02	333^rd	826	59.7%
2015	72.93	216^th	840	74.3%
2016	71.93	232^nd	848	72.6%
2017	75.38	190^th	853	77.7%
2018	76.13	172^nd	847	79.7%
2019	74.93	191^st	870	78.0%
2021	74.31	202^nd	869	76.8%
2022	82.18	118^th	858	86.2%
2023	86.58	76^th	845	91.0%
2024	88.95	57^th	881	93.5%

See the entire list of Minnesota Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Special Education students at Pioneer Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MN State Percentile
2018	27.30	355^th	463	23.3%
2019	47.22	296^th	515	42.5%
2021	57.72	152^nd	417	63.5%
2022	53.83	207^th	500	58.6%
2023	62.43	157^th	524	70.0%
2024	78.99	75^th	572	86.9%

See the entire list of Best Minnesota Elementary Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Pioneer Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MN State Percentile
2018	82.33	57^th	728	92.2%
2019	82.87	58^th	740	92.2%
2021	86.39	44^th	683	93.6%
2022	85.26	45^th	663	93.2%
2023	91.14	23^rd	774	97.0%
2024	92.90	10^th	793	98.7%

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

Rank History for Female students at Pioneer Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MN State Percentile
2018	70.12	227^th	774	70.7%
2019	68.86	240^th	787	69.5%
2021	68.25	240^th	783	69.3%
2022	82.96	88^th	799	89.0%
2023	85.82	65^th	787	91.7%
2024	85.39	75^th	809	90.7%

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

Rank History for Male students at Pioneer Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MN State Percentile
2018	74.88	176^th	779	77.4%
2019	76.50	151^st	798	81.1%
2021	74.55	162^nd	784	79.3%
2022	76.48	159^th	808	80.3%
2023	83.13	94^th	799	88.2%
2024	87.35	56^th	826	93.2%

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

Rank History for White students at Pioneer Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MN State Percentile
2018	57.22	303^rd	712	57.4%
2019	55.87	328^th	722	54.6%
2021	56.79	291^st	710	59.0%
2022	68.91	191^st	725	73.7%
2023	74.59	141^st	712	80.2%
2024	78.55	113^th	730	84.5%

See the entire list of Best Minnesota Elementary 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 Pioneer Elementary

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
1988	284	0	3	0	5	n/a	n/a	0	292
1989	284	0	5	0	5	n/a	n/a	0	294
1990	323	1	4	0	4	n/a	n/a	0	332
1991	316	0	0	0	4	n/a	n/a	0	320
1992	395	1	0	0	3	n/a	n/a	0	399
1993	396	0	0	1	0	n/a	n/a	0	397
1994	411	0	1	1	2	n/a	n/a	0	415
1995	419	0	1	6	1	n/a	n/a	0	427
1996	419	0	1	6	1	n/a	n/a	0	427
1997	416	0	1	6	1	n/a	n/a	0	424
1998	423	0	1	7	1	n/a	n/a	11	443
1999	418	0	0	6	2	n/a	n/a	0	426
2000	427	0	0	6	4	n/a	n/a	0	437
2001	426	0	0	4	2	n/a	n/a	0	432
2002	442	1	1	0	3	n/a	n/a	0	447
2003	442	1	1	0	3	n/a	n/a	0	447
2004	447	1	2	1	2	n/a	n/a	0	453
2005	454	1	2	1	2	n/a	n/a	0	460
2006	495	3	2	2	4	n/a	n/a	0	506
2007	502	2	1	6	6	n/a	n/a	0	517
2008	493	2	1	5	4	n/a	n/a	0	505
2009	499	2	1	3	2	n/a	n/a	0	507
2010	503	3	2	2	4	n/a	n/a	0	514
2011	506	4	0	4	2	1	1	0	518
2012	507	4	0	4	1	1	2	0	519
2013	527	4	1	10	0	1	3	0	546
2014	531	1	0	11	0	0	3	0	546
2015	558	3	0	9	0	0	5	0	575
2016	556	2	0	9	0	0	5	0	572
2017	588	1	1	18	0	0	7	0	615
2018	591	2	1	13	0	0	5	0	612
2019	582	1	1	10	2	0	7	0	603
2020	591	3	1	13	3	0	11	0	622
2021	580	4	1	11	4	0	12	0	612
2022	581	3	1	10	3	0	19	0	617
2023	568	4	1	9	4	0	24	0	610

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 Pioneer Elementary

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	292	25.0	11.6	40.4
1989	294	21.7	13.5	38.1
1990	332	27.1	12.2	38.6
1991	320	27.6	11.5	34.1
1992	399	27.4	14.5	36.6
1993	397	28.0	14.2	41.6
1994	415	25.7	16.1	35.9
1995	427	32.4	13.2	36.1
1996	427	32.4	13.2	36.1
1997	424	30.9	13.7	36.6
1998	443	n/a	0.0	34.3
1999	426	34.0	12.5	24.2
2000	437	34.5	12.7	45.8
2001	432	33.0	13.1	46.8
2002	447	33.9	13.2	47.4
2003	447	33.9	13.2	47.4
2004	453	33.1	13.7	47
2005	460	31.8	14.5	46.3
2006	506	32.0	15.8	44.9
2007	517	31.0	16.7	49.7
2008	505	30.9	16.3	45.3
2009	507	33.6	15.1	49.1
2010	514	35.4	14.5	48.4
2011	518	35.3	14.6	49.6
2012	519	35.6	14.5	47.4
2013	546	35.6	15.3	45.8
2014	546	35.7	15.2	44.1
2015	575	38.0	15.1	45.2
2016	572	37.0	15.4	43.2
2017	615	38.2	16.0	44.9
2018	612	39.4	15.5	41.8
2019	603	39.1	15.3	40.6
2020	622	40.1	15.4	39.1
2021	612	40.5	15.0	27.5
2022	617	44.0	14.0	25.9
2023	610	44.6	13.6	43.1

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 Pioneer Elementary

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	292	25.0	11.6	40.4
1989	294	21.7	13.5	38.1
1990	332	27.1	12.2	38.6
1991	320	27.6	11.5	34.1
1992	399	27.4	14.5	36.6
1993	397	28.0	14.2	41.6
1994	415	25.7	16.1	35.9
1995	427	32.4	13.2	36.1
1996	427	32.4	13.2	36.1
1997	424	30.9	13.7	36.6
1998	443	n/a	0.0	34.3
1999	426	34.0	12.5	24.2
2000	437	34.5	12.7	45.8
2001	432	33.0	13.1	46.8
2002	447	33.9	13.2	47.4
2003	447	33.9	13.2	47.4
2004	453	33.1	13.7	47
2005	460	31.8	14.5	46.3
2006	506	32.0	15.8	44.9
2007	517	31.0	16.7	49.7
2008	505	30.9	16.3	45.3
2009	507	33.6	15.1	49.1
2010	514	35.4	14.5	48.4
2011	518	35.3	14.6	49.6
2012	519	35.6	14.5	47.4
2013	546	35.6	15.3	45.8
2014	546	35.7	15.2	44.1
2015	575	38.0	15.1	45.2
2016	572	37.0	15.4	43.2
2017	615	38.2	16.0	44.9
2018	612	39.4	15.5	41.8
2019	603	39.1	15.3	40.6
2020	622	40.1	15.4	39.1
2021	612	40.5	15.0	27.5
2022	617	44.0	14.0	25.9
2023	610	44.6	13.6	43.1

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 Pioneer Elementary

Year	Total Expenditures Per Pupil
2019	$9,977

Data source: Minnesota Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Pioneer Elementary

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 191^st of 870 Elementary schools	Ranks 76^th of 845 Elementary schools	13%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
3rd Grade Math (Pioneer Elementary)	82	77.3	4.7%
3rd Grade Math (Pierz Public School District)	82	77.3	4.7%
3rd Grade Math (Minnesota)	65.6	59.1	6.5%
3rd Grade Reading (Pioneer Elementary)	69.7	62.9	6.8%
3rd Grade Reading (Pierz Public School District)	69.7	62.9	6.8%
3rd Grade Reading (Minnesota)	54.6	47.4	7.2%
4th Grade Math (Pioneer Elementary)	68.2	80.3	12.1%
4th Grade Math (Pierz Public School District)	68.2	80.3	12.1%
4th Grade Math (Minnesota)	63.9	57.1	6.8%
4th Grade Reading (Pioneer Elementary)	55.7	68.8	13.2%
4th Grade Reading (Pierz Public School District)	55.7	68.8	13.2%
4th Grade Reading (Minnesota)	55.4	48.4	7.1%
5th Grade Math (Pioneer Elementary)	73.5	80.9	7.4%
5th Grade Math (Pierz Public School District)	73.5	80.9	7.4%
5th Grade Math (Minnesota)	52	44.4	7.6%
5th Grade Reading (Pioneer Elementary)	77.6	82.4	4.8%
5th Grade Reading (Pierz Public School District)	77.6	82.4	4.8%
5th Grade Reading (Minnesota)	65.8	58.7	7%
5th Grade Science (Pioneer Elementary)	70.1	53.7	16.4%
5th Grade Science (Pierz Public School District)	70.1	53.7	16.4%
5th Grade Science (Minnesota)	54.9	48.4	6.5%
6th Grade Math (Pioneer Elementary)	52.9	59.8	6.9%
6th Grade Math (Pierz Public School District)	52.9	59.8	6.9%
6th Grade Math (Minnesota)	50.5	39.7	10.8%
6th Grade Reading (Pioneer Elementary)	65.7	66.3	0.6%
6th Grade Reading (Pierz Public School District)	65.7	66.3	0.6%
6th Grade Reading (Minnesota)	62.8	53.4	9.4%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	603	610	1.2%
African American	1	4	300%
American Indian	2	4	100%
Asian	1	1
Hispanic	10	9	10%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	582	568	2.4%
Two or More Races	7	24	242.9%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	40.6%	43.1%	2.5%

Schools Near Pioneer Elementary

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 3rd Grade	MCA-III Math 4th Grade	MCA-III Math 5th Grade	MCA-III Math 6th Grade	MCA-III Math All Grades	MCA-III Reading 3rd Grade	MCA-III Reading 4th Grade	MCA-III Reading 5th Grade	MCA-III Reading 6th Grade	MCA-III Reading All Grades	MCA-III Science 5th Grade	MCA-III Science All Grades	Total
Pioneer Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	66 Kamnic St	Pierz	56364	Morrison County	Pierz Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(320) 468-6458	610	45	13.6	43.1%	568 (93.1%)	4 (0.7%)	9 (1.5%)	1 (0.2%)	4 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	24 (3.9%)	88.9	57^th of 881 public elementary schools	93.5%		86.6	76^th of 845 public elementary schools	91.0%	19	83.1	77.7	80.5	75.8	79.3	63.9	64.7	83.1	71.2	70.1	55.3	55.3	$9,977
WIN-Elementary School	Public	K-5	15770 18th Street NE	Little Falls	56345	Morrison County	Mid-State Education District	No	No	No	No	(320) 631-2500	7	2	3.4		4 (57.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (42.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)					10.0
Lindbergh Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	101 9th St SE	Little Falls	56345	Morrison County	Little Falls Community Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(320) 616-3200	503	34	14.5	58.3%	442 (87.9%)	14 (2.8%)	19 (3.8%)	2 (0.4%)	7 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (3.8%)	52.4	461^st of 881 public elementary schools	47.7%		55.6	416^th of 845 public elementary schools	50.8%	45	56.6	66.7	44.2		56.9	37.4	43.6	52.0		44.1	41.6	41.6	$11,279
Lincoln Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	300 6th St SW	Little Falls	56345	Morrison County	Little Falls Community Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(320) 616-6200	440	33	13.3	54.3%	402 (91.4%)	8 (1.8%)	10 (2.3%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (3.6%)	45.3	542^nd of 881 public elementary schools	38.5%		15.7	717^th of 845 public elementary schools	15.1%	175	57.7	60.0	36.8		51.5	38.5	36.7	56.1		43.8	31.6	31.6	$12,056
Royalton Public Schools Early Child	Public	PK-K	120 S Hawthorn St	Royalton	56373	Morrison County	Royalton Public School District	No	No	No	No	(320) 584-4248	0	2	.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)													$2,288
Royalton Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	119 N Driftwood	Royalton	56373	Morrison County	Royalton Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(320) 584-4163	409	29	14.2	33.5%	382 (93.4%)	1 (0.2%)	14 (3.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (2.9%)	68.4	275^th of 881 public elementary schools	68.8%		71.3	238^th of 845 public elementary schools	71.8%	37	64.9	63.1	57.1		62.1	55.4	61.5	55.4		57.4	42.9	42.9	$9,941
Rice Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	200 NE 3rd Ave	Rice	56367	Benton County	Sauk Rapids-Rice Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(320) 393-2177	372	29	13.0	37.4%	339 (91.1%)	5 (1.3%)	14 (3.8%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (3.5%)	59.4	381^st of 881 public elementary schools	56.8%		48.3	500^th of 845 public elementary schools	40.8%	119	57.9	64.5	29.8		51.1	41.4	58.1	62.1		53.9	50.9	50.9	$12,304

Pioneer Elementary

Pioneer Elementary:

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Pierz Public School District:

What do you think?

Rank History for Pioneer Elementary

Rank History for all students at Pioneer Elementary

Rank History for Special Education students at Pioneer Elementary

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Pioneer Elementary

Rank History for Female students at Pioneer Elementary

Rank History for Male students at Pioneer Elementary

Rank History for White students at Pioneer Elementary

Enrollment information for Pioneer Elementary

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Pioneer Elementary

Student/Teacher Ratio Pioneer Elementary

Per Pupil Expenditures for Pioneer Elementary

Impact of COVID-19 on Pioneer Elementary

Rankings

Test Scores

Student Body

Schools Near Pioneer Elementary