C−

Park River Area Public School District 8

Public school districtGrades PK–12Regional · 19 towns

Serves Park River, Kensington Township, Fertile Township, Dundee Township, Adams, Pisek, Silvesta Township, Tiber Township, Ops Township, Rushford Township, Prairie Centre Township, Shepherd Township, Golden Township, Norton Township, Dewey Township, Adams Township, Vesta Township, Latona Township and Vernon Township, and parts of Glenwood Township, Lampton Township, Cleveland Township, Medford Township, Kinloss Township, Eden Township and Perth Township.

Students

470

Schools

Spent per student

$12,372

ND $16,642

Students per teacher

10:1

Free or reduced lunch

29%

Debt

$7.5M

fiscal 2024

The gist

What stands out about Park River Area Public School District 8

School Grade C−: better than 24% of Illinois districts
Reading / language arts 11 pts below the state
Spends 26% less per student than the ND average
10 students per teacher
Debt of $7.5M, about $16,045 per student

Where would my kid go?

The school path for Coleta.

PK–22 elementary schoolsSterling Community Unit District 5

3–52 elementary schoolsSterling Community Unit District 5

6–8Challand Middle SchoolSterling Community Unit District 5

9–12Sterling High SchoolSterling Community Unit District 5

Test scores vs. ND

2020–21

Math proficiency34%

State average 38.2%

Reading / language arts31%

State average 42.3%

Graduation rate (4-year)90%

State average 86.6% · small group: the state reports 80–100%

Where the money goes

fiscal 2024

$12,372 per student · 26% below ND

Spending

Classroom instruction 60%Support & administration 31%Other 9%

Paid for by

Local (mostly property tax) 34%State 54%Federal 11%

U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances.

Enrollment over time

454’20

474’21

484’22

475’23

470’24

Up 3.5% since 2020.

Students

White 90%Hispanic 5%Two or more races 3%Asian 1%American Indian/Alaska Native <1%

Schools in the district

2 public schools.

Park River Area Elementary School

Elementary · Grades PK–6 · Park River

C−

275 students9:1

Park River Area High School

High · Grades 7–12 · Park River

C+

195 students13:1

Towns served

Park River 1,458Kensington Township 206Fertile Township 135Dundee Township 124Adams 121Pisek 91 Silvesta Township 79 Tiber Township 71 Ops Township 63 Rushford Township 55 Prairie Centre Township 50 Shepherd Township 49 Golden Township 47 Norton Township 45 Dewey Township 22 Adams Township 18 Vesta Township 11 Latona Township 5 Vernon Township 3

Nearby districts

Compare spending and schools next door.

Valley-Edinburg Public School District 118Crystal Township, Elora Township, Gardar Township

$18,038per student

Dakota Prairie Public School District 1Dahlen Township, Elkmount Township, Sarnia Township

$20,837per student

Edmore Public School District 2Highland Center Township, Lawton Township, Newland Township

$78,389per student

Grafton Public School District 18Farmington Township, Grafton Township, Walsh Centre Township

$12,077per student

District facts: U.S. Department of Education (NCES directory and district boundaries) and the U.S. Census Bureau school finance survey. Test scores and graduation: EDFacts via the Urban Institute Education Data Portal. Neighbor ratings are opinions.