The top reported proficiency rate is 88% in Math. The lowest is 81% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Lien Elementary
Lien Elementary is the youngest-grades building in the Amery School District, serving students from preschool through third grade. It sits on a school campus along Minneapolis Avenue, separated from the historic downtown core of Amery, a small Polk County city situated along the Apple River. The community is car-dependent, with most errands requiring a drive, though the Stower State Trail offers a pedestrian and bicycle connection. Amery's economy blends manufacturing, education and healthcare, and retail trade; the Amery Regional Medical Center and the school district itself are among the larger local employers. The city has experienced slow, steady population growth and has adopted a comprehensive plan guiding future residential development while aiming to preserve its small-town character.
The student body is large for a school serving only the early elementary grades. The enrollment is overwhelmingly white, with a very small share of students who are Hispanic and even smaller shares from other racial backgrounds. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a meaningful level of economic diversity within the school. Data on the share of students with individualized education programs or who are English learners was not available.
Academically, Lien Elementary posts strong results within its tested grade. Third graders take the Wisconsin Forward exam, and the school’s proficiency rates in both math and English language arts are well above the district average and place Lien in the top quartile of schools relative to districts across Polk County. Participation in the assessment was complete, so the results reflect nearly the entire third-grade class. Because the school only covers through third grade, no graduation rate applies, and state testing does not cover the pre-kindergarten through second grade years where the majority of students are enrolled. Parents considering the school should note that the third-grade cohort tested was relatively small.
The school building itself has seen significant recent investment. A district referendum funded facility upgrades completed in 2023 and 2024, including a new wing for four-year-old kindergarten and kindergarten classrooms, security upgrades, and a remodeled space for the Clubhouse Childcare program, which serves infants through fifth grade. These capital improvements mean the physical learning environment is modern and purpose-built for the youngest students.
For families, Lien Elementary provides a focused early elementary experience with strong academic outcomes in its only tested grade. The school is the entry point in a district that has invested heavily in its facilities. The community is small and car-oriented, with a mix of lakeside recreation, a historic downtown strip, and a modest employment base. A parent considering this school will want to understand how the experience at Lien connects to the upper elementary grades at Amery Intermediate School and through to the high school, as well as what special education and English learner support levels look like, since those figures were not available in the data examined here.
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