Pillager Senior High School

Q: Is Pillager Senior High School a good school?

Pillager Senior High School ranks 227 th of 480 Minnesota high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Summary:

Pillager Senior High School is a public high school serving 360 students in grades 9-12 in the small town of Pillager, Minnesota. The school is part of the Pillager Public School District, which is ranked 172 out of 463 districts in the state and has a 3-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Pillager Senior High School has a significantly higher percentage of white students (91.67%) compared to the state average, and its four-year graduation rates have declined in recent years, dropping from 93.2% in 2017-2018 to 87.5% in 2021-2022. The school's test scores on the MCA-III assessments are generally on par with or slightly below the state averages, with some notable exceptions, such as a higher 10th-grade reading proficiency rate in 2022-2023. The school has performed well for certain student subgroups, such as low socioeconomic status students, but its performance for white students has been more mixed, ranking in the bottom quartile in 2023-2024.

Compared to nearby schools, Pillager Senior High School generally performs on par with or slightly better than Staples-Motley Senior High, but lags behind the larger Brainerd Senior High in terms of overall state rankings and test scores. The school has also seen a significant increase in the percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, from 33.15% in 2021-2022 to 42.78% in 2022-2023, indicating growing economic challenges in the community.

Detail:

Public 9-12

323 E 2nd St S
Pillager, MN 56473-8888

(218) 746-2117

District: Pillager Public School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
227^th of 480 Minnesota High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $12,067

Feeder schools for Pillager Senior High School:

Elementary:	Pillager Elementary
Middle:	Pillager Middle School

Student/teacher ratio: 15.4

Number of students: 360

Racial breakdown:

White:

91.7%

Hispanic:

3.3%

Two or more races:

3.1%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 42.8%

See top rated Minnesota high schools

Compare Pillager Senior High School to nearby high schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Pillager Senior High School ranks better than 52.7% of high schools in Minnesota. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 56.3. (See more...)

The Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR) measures the percentage of Pillager Senior High School freshmen who graduate within four years, adjusting for students who transfer in or out.

The high school dropout rate measures the percentage of students who do not complete their high school education.

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (91.7%), Hispanic (3.3%), two or more races (3.1%). (See more...)

Compare Details 42.8% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Pillager Senior High School is 15.4. (See more...)

Compare Pillager Senior High School employs 23.2 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Pillager Senior High School is $12,067.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Pillager Senior High School:

SchoolDigger ranks Pillager Senior High School 227^th of 480 Minnesota public high schools. (See Pillager Senior High School in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Special Education students:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Male students:

White students:

Pillager Public School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Pillager Public School District 172^nd of 463 Minnesota school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Pillager Senior High School

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Rank History for all students at Pillager Senior High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MN State Percentile
2004	59.08	269^th	433	37.9%
2005	53.98	312^th	452	31.0%
2006	20.88	367^th	450	18.4%
2007	53.75	265^th	463	42.8%
2008	54.11	279^th	460	39.3%
2009	57.73	136^th	234	41.9%
2010	72.10	138^th	540	74.4%
2011	72.48	136^th	545	75.0%
2012	71.79	157^th	539	70.9%
2013	69.25	164^th	534	69.3%
2014	78.57	88^th	483	81.8%
2015	68.78	162^nd	504	67.9%
2016	79.86	78^th	489	84.0%
2017	71.72	144^th	489	70.6%
2018	56.00	262^nd	494	47.0%
2019	64.91	188^th	492	61.8%
2021	71.79	113^th	428	73.6%
2022	77.69	88^th	472	81.4%
2023	81.56	68^th	476	85.7%
2024	56.30	227^th	480	52.7%

See the entire list of Minnesota High School Rankings!

Rank History for Special Education students at Pillager Senior High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MN State Percentile
2018	32.39	141^st	195	27.7%
2019	36.08	148^th	220	32.7%
2021	16.46	156^th	173	9.8%
2022	62.07	67^th	214	68.7%
2023	63.15	64^th	216	70.4%
2024	50.56	103^rd	221	53.4%

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

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Pillager Senior High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MN State Percentile
2018	51.03	196^th	374	47.6%
2019	72.24	97^th	370	73.8%
2021	71.25	53^rd	270	80.4%
2022	80.44	38^th	312	87.8%
2023	92.03	17^th	393	95.7%
2024	67.66	106^th	389	72.8%

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

Rank History for Female students at Pillager Senior High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MN State Percentile
2018	58.11	190^th	395	51.9%
2019	64.61	142^nd	401	64.6%
2021	63.94	125^th	339	63.1%
2022	67.19	122^nd	388	68.6%
2023	80.98	54^th	396	86.4%
2024	46.32	234^th	403	41.9%

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

Rank History for Male students at Pillager Senior High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MN State Percentile
2018	38.70	286^th	398	28.1%
2019	57.68	186^th	411	54.7%
2021	68.06	101^st	351	71.2%
2022	78.33	65^th	403	83.9%
2023	74.80	75^th	398	81.2%
2024	53.48	199^th	405	50.9%

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

Rank History for White students at Pillager Senior High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MN State Percentile
2018	39.90	297^th	414	28.3%
2019	53.20	217^th	412	47.3%
2021	62.13	138^th	364	62.1%
2022	62.31	148^th	401	63.1%
2023	67.38	111^th	398	72.1%
2024	35.31	291^st	402	27.6%

See the entire list of Best Minnesota High 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 Pillager Senior High School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
1988	210	2	2	0	0	n/a	n/a	214
1989	210	0	2	0	0	n/a	n/a	212
1990	217	0	2	1	0	n/a	n/a	220
1991	214	0	2	2	2	n/a	n/a	220
1992	231	0	0	3	2	n/a	n/a	236
1993	233	0	1	1	2	n/a	n/a	237
1994	240	0	1	4	1	n/a	n/a	246
1995	273	1	1	3	4	n/a	n/a	282
1996	273	1	1	3	4	n/a	n/a	282
1997	270	0	2	2	12	n/a	n/a	286
1998	289	0	2	3	9	n/a	n/a	303
1999	287	1	2	1	12	n/a	n/a	303
2000	291	0	1	0	9	n/a	n/a	301
2001	313	0	2	0	6	n/a	n/a	321
2002	383	0	5	0	3	n/a	n/a	391
2003	383	0	5	0	3	n/a	n/a	391
2004	395	0	2	0	2	n/a	n/a	399
2005	377	0	5	4	4	n/a	n/a	390
2006	371	1	0	2	1	n/a	n/a	375
2007	392	2	0	3	0	n/a	n/a	397
2008	360	1	2	1	1	n/a	n/a	365
2009	362	2	1	3	1	n/a	n/a	369
2010	359	2	0	4	1	n/a	n/a	366
2011	367	3	1	6	1	0	4	382
2012	364	3	1	7	2	0	5	382
2013	355	3	0	8	1	0	4	371
2014	359	4	0	10	0	0	6	379
2015	240	1	0	5	1	0	3	250
2016	257	2	0	2	0	0	5	266
2017	264	2	1	6	2	0	6	281
2018	277	2	3	9	1	0	5	297
2019	300	2	1	8	1	0	6	318
2020	314	1	0	9	1	0	5	330
2021	319	2	0	11	1	0	7	340
2022	340	4	1	12	1	0	7	365
2023	330	4	2	12	1	0	11	360

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 Pillager Senior High School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	214	12.3	17.3	25.2
1989	212	11.7	18.1	25.5
1990	220	12.3	17.8	17.3
1991	220	14.0	15.7	20.5
1992	236	14.2	16.6	15.3
1993	237	12.8	18.5	16.5
1994	246	13.9	17.7	22.8
1995	282	9.3	30.3	30.1
1996	282	9.3	30.3	30.1
1997	286	18.6	15.4	24.5
1998	303	n/a	0.0	22.8
1999	303	23.1	13.1	23.1
2000	301	20.9	14.4	40.2
2001	321	19.5	16.5	41.1
2002	391	21.9	17.9	44.2
2003	391	21.9	17.9	44.2
2004	399	21.5	18.6	46.4
2005	390	20.7	18.8	46.4
2006	375	21.7	17.3	45.3
2007	397	26.3	15.1	46.9
2008	365	25.3	14.4	43.6
2009	369	25.3	14.6	50.9
2010	366	24.6	14.8	52.5
2011	382	24.8	15.4	55
2012	382	24.4	15.6	52.6
2013	371	24.8	14.9	52.6
2014	379	24.0	15.7	47.2
2015	250	17.0	14.7	44.4
2016	266	15.0	17.7	39.8
2017	281	15.2	18.4	35.2
2018	297	16.8	17.6	37
2019	318	18.1	17.5	36.2
2020	330	20.8	15.8	33
2021	340	20.5	16.5	35.9
2022	365	21.6	16.8	33.2
2023	360	23.2	15.4	42.8

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 Pillager Senior High School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	214	12.3	17.3	25.2
1989	212	11.7	18.1	25.5
1990	220	12.3	17.8	17.3
1991	220	14.0	15.7	20.5
1992	236	14.2	16.6	15.3
1993	237	12.8	18.5	16.5
1994	246	13.9	17.7	22.8
1995	282	9.3	30.3	30.1
1996	282	9.3	30.3	30.1
1997	286	18.6	15.4	24.5
1998	303	n/a	0.0	22.8
1999	303	23.1	13.1	23.1
2000	301	20.9	14.4	40.2
2001	321	19.5	16.5	41.1
2002	391	21.9	17.9	44.2
2003	391	21.9	17.9	44.2
2004	399	21.5	18.6	46.4
2005	390	20.7	18.8	46.4
2006	375	21.7	17.3	45.3
2007	397	26.3	15.1	46.9
2008	365	25.3	14.4	43.6
2009	369	25.3	14.6	50.9
2010	366	24.6	14.8	52.5
2011	382	24.8	15.4	55
2012	382	24.4	15.6	52.6
2013	371	24.8	14.9	52.6
2014	379	24.0	15.7	47.2
2015	250	17.0	14.7	44.4
2016	266	15.0	17.7	39.8
2017	281	15.2	18.4	35.2
2018	297	16.8	17.6	37
2019	318	18.1	17.5	36.2
2020	330	20.8	15.8	33
2021	340	20.5	16.5	35.9
2022	365	21.6	16.8	33.2
2023	360	23.2	15.4	42.8

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 Pillager Senior High School

Year	Total Expenditures Per Pupil
2019	$12,067

Data source: Minnesota Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Pillager Senior High 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 188^th of 492 High schools	Ranks 68^th of 476 High schools	23.9%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
10th Grade Reading (Pillager Senior High School)	64.6	62.9	1.7%
10th Grade Reading (Pillager Public School District)	64.6	62.9	1.7%
10th Grade Reading (Minnesota)	60.4	51.7	8.7%
11th Grade Math (Pillager Senior High School)	24.2	40.9	16.6%
11th Grade Math (Pillager Public School District)	24.2	40.9	16.6%
11th Grade Math (Minnesota)	45	36	9%
End of Course Science (Pillager Senior High School)	72.5	51.8	20.7%
End of Course Science (Pillager Public School District)	72.5	51.8	20.7%
End of Course Science (Minnesota)	54.4	41.8	12.5%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	318	360	13.2%
African American	2	4	100%
American Indian	1	1
Asian	1	2	100%
Hispanic	8	12	50%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	300	330	10%
Two or More Races	6	11	83.3%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	36.2%	42.8%	6.6%

Schools Near Pillager Senior High 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 11th Grade	MCA-III Math All Grades	MCA-III Reading 10th Grade	MCA-III Reading All Grades	MCA-III Science End of Course	MCA-III Science All Grades	Total
Pillager Senior High School	Public	9-12	323 E 2nd St S	Pillager	56473	Cass County	Pillager Public School District	No	No	No	No	(218) 746-2117	360	23	15.4	42.8%	330 (91.7%)	4 (1.1%)	12 (3.3%)	2 (0.6%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (3.1%)	56.3	227^th of 480 public high schools	52.7%		81.6	68^th of 476 public high schools	85.7%	159	29.3	29.3	50.6	50.6	38.2	38.2	$12,067
Central Lakes Adventure School	Public, Charter	7-12	12763 County Rd 1	Pillager	56473	Cass County	Central Lakes Adventure School	Yes	No	No	Yes	(218) 746-3875	38	5	7.5	86.8%	32 (84.2%)	1 (2.6%)	2 (5.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (2.6%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (5.3%)	11.3	429^th of 480 public high schools	10.6%					(n/a)	0.0	0.0		10.0	18.2	13.3	$16,007
Brainerd Senior High	Public	9-12	702 S 5th St	Brainerd	56401	Crow Wing County	Brainerd Public School District	No	No	No	No	(218) 454-6200	1,842	86	21.3	35.3%	1,663 (90.3%)	16 (0.9%)	50 (2.7%)	14 (0.8%)	22 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	77 (4.2%)	73.4	116^th of 480 public high schools	75.8%		86.2	47^th of 476 public high schools	90.1%	69	40.6	40.6	60.3	60.3	44.9	44.9	$11,859
Brainerd Online School	Public, Virtual	9-12	702 S 5th St	Brainerd	56401	Crow Wing County	Brainerd Public School District	No	No	Yes	No	(218) 454-6273	0				0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Independent School District (Isd) 181 Learning Center	Public	8-12	311 10th Ave NE	Brainerd	56401	Crow Wing County	Brainerd Public School District	No	No	No	No	(218) 454-5400	157	11	14.0	65.0%	127 (80.9%)	3 (1.9%)	5 (3.2%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (5.7%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (8.3%)	25.3	370^th of 480 public high schools	22.9%		14.7	406^th of 476 public high schools	14.7%	36	5.3	5.3	34.8	34.8	50.0	50.0	$13,935
Staples-Motley Senior High	Public	9-12	401 Centennial Dr	Staples	56479	Wadena County	Staples-Motley School District	No	No	No	No	(218) 894-2431	335	19	17.9	36.1%	298 (89.0%)	1 (0.3%)	19 (5.7%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (3.9%)	66.4	168^th of 480 public high schools	65.0%		61.7	185^th of 476 public high schools	61.1%	17	35.3	35.3	47.8	47.8	50.0	50.0	$13,669

Pillager Senior High School

Pillager Senior High School:

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Pillager Public School District:

What do you think?

Rank History for Pillager Senior High School

Rank History for all students at Pillager Senior High School

Rank History for Special Education students at Pillager Senior High School

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Pillager Senior High School

Rank History for Female students at Pillager Senior High School

Rank History for Male students at Pillager Senior High School

Rank History for White students at Pillager Senior High School

Enrollment information for Pillager Senior High School

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Pillager Senior High School

Student/Teacher Ratio Pillager Senior High School

Per Pupil Expenditures for Pillager Senior High School

Impact of COVID-19 on Pillager Senior High School

Rankings

Test Scores

Student Body

Schools Near Pillager Senior High School

Pillager Senior High School

Central Lakes Adventure School

Brainerd Senior High

Brainerd Online School

Independent School District (Isd) 181 Learning Center

Staples-Motley Senior High

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