Washington Elementary

Washington Elementary, a small primary school in Merrill, Wisconsin, run under Merrill Area School District, teaches 257 students, covering grades 3 through 4. Compared to the state average of about 323 students per school, that is 20% smaller than typical.

Merrill Area School District comprises 7 schools with combined enrollment of 2,686 students; Washington Elementary is among them.

Looking at the student body, Washington Elementary records that nearly all students (86%) are White. Beyond that, the school lists 9% multiracial, 4% Hispanic.

On the income-and-resources front, The school employs 18 full-time-equivalent teachers, for a student-teacher ratio near 14.6:1. That tracks the state average closely. Around 56% of the student body qualifies for free or reduced-price meals, often used as a Title I proxy. That share is above Lincoln County's rate of about 40%.

After controlling for student poverty, Washington Elementary sits in the middle band of the BeatsExpectations distribution. Schools with this campus's student mix typically land near 43.5%; this one delivers 54.8%.

In the area at large, community-level numbers for Lincoln County indicate the typical household earns roughly $68,164 per year, 20% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the poverty rate sits near 7%. Across Lincoln County's 12 public schools (combined enrollment of about 3,880 students), Washington Elementary is one campus in the mix.

Bridges Virtual Academy is the nearest neighboring public school, about 0.4 miles from this campus. Counting just inside five miles, 6 other public schools cluster around Washington Elementary.

Washington Elementary operates from a small-town location.

Looking at the recent track record. Looking back 7 years, enrollment at Washington Elementary has decreased 12%, going from 291 students in 2018 to 257 in 2025. The White share of enrollment shrank from 90% to 86% over that span. Class-load math has loosened: from 12.2:1 in 2018 to 14.6:1 in 2025.

In the discussion threads here, the page collects discussion, questions, and updates around pickup logistics, teacher feedback, and after-school programs. Members of the school community can share what they know.