Northland Pines Elementary-eagle River, Eagle River WI

Original Research by School Decision on Northland Pines Elementary-eagle River

Northland Pines Elementary-Eagle River is a regular public school serving pre-kindergarten through sixth grade in Eagle River, the county seat of Vilas County in northern Wisconsin. The town is small, with a compact downtown and a built environment shaped by the surrounding lakes and forests. It is known as a recreation destination for snowmobiling, hockey, and water sports, and the economy draws heavily on tourism, seasonal housing, and a local hospital. The school itself sits on Pleasure Island Road, a name that hints at the area’s vacation character.

On the state’s Forward assessments for the 2024-25 school year, the school’s results show a pattern that varies by grade and subject. In mathematics, the strongest performance came in third grade, where a solid majority of students met or exceeded the state’s proficiency standard. Fourth-grade math was moderately strong. Fifth-grade math fell to around the midpoint, and sixth-grade math recovered somewhat but remained below the levels seen in the earlier grades. In English language arts, third grade again stood out, with a clear majority proficient. Fourth-grade ELA dropped to just under half, while fifth and sixth grades each landed around the halfway mark. Science, tested only in fourth grade, showed just under half proficient. Social studies, also tested in fourth grade, was a relative bright spot, with a clear majority reaching proficiency.

When viewed against the five other school districts in Vilas County, Northland Pines Elementary-Eagle River sits above the midpoint on a combined proficiency index that averages results across all tested subjects and grades. The school’s overall performance places it in the upper half of the local districts, though there is a range of outcomes across the county.

The student body is moderately sized for an elementary school that serves a wide grade span. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. The student population is predominantly white, with a small share of Hispanic students and very small shares of Black, Native American, and multiracial students. Because the school serves only through sixth grade, there is no graduation rate to report, and data on special education and English learner enrollment were not available in the current records.

The housing market in Eagle River reflects its draw as a vacation and retirement destination. Home values are somewhat above the state average and have been rising at a moderate pace. Mortgage rates and unemployment have been stable at levels typical of the broader national economy. The community is not experiencing rapid suburban growth; its development is tied to seasonal and retirement housing demand.

A parent considering this school should weigh the academic picture: early grades show stronger proficiency, while the middle elementary years and early middle school (through sixth grade) show more mixed results, particularly in fifth-grade math and fourth-grade reading. The school’s overall standing relative to other Vilas County districts is favorable, but the grade-by-grade pattern may warrant a closer conversation with the school about how it supports literacy and math as students move through the upper elementary grades. The setting is a small, outdoor-recreation-oriented town with a tourism-driven economy, and the school reflects that community’s demographic and economic character.

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Academic performance

How students perform on state tests, by grade, set against the district.

Math

Grade 372%

School 72% · District 67% · ▲ 5 pts above district

▲ 15 pts above state median

Grade 462%

School 62% · District 64% · ▼ 2 pts below district

▲ 8 pts above state median

Grade 546%

School 46% · District 45% · ▲ 1 pts above district

▼ 5 pts below state median

Grade 652%

School 52% · District 51% · ▲ 1 pts above district

▼ 1 pts below state median

English language arts

Grade 359%

School 59% · District 54% · ▲ 4 pts above district

▲ 6 pts above state median

Grade 443%

School 43% · District 44% · ▼ 2 pts below district

▼ 10 pts below state median

Grade 551%

School 51% · District 50% · ▲ 1 pts above district

even with state median

Grade 654%

School 54% · District 53% · ▲ 1 pts above district

▲ 1 pts above state median

Science

Grade 449%

School 49% · District 57% · ▼ 7 pts below district

▼ 2 pts below state median

Social studies

Grade 471%

School 71% · District 73% · ▼ 3 pts below district

▲ 6 pts above state median

This schoolNorthland Pines School District, same grade

Graduation rate (ACGR) reflects the federally published Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate for the most recent year available. We refresh this data annually at the close of each academic year in June. The federal source publishes a banded rate (for example, "90-94%") instead of an exact number for cohorts small enough to risk identifying individual students. The state distribution chart, where shown, plots every school in the state with a published rate or band; schools whose rate is federally suppressed are excluded. Where the federal source publishes a band rather than an exact rate, the school is placed within its band using a stable, ID-derived offset, so its position is consistent across visits.

Proficiency by household income

English language arts

Grade 3Lower-income56%Higher-income60%4 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income33%Higher-income50%17 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income52%Higher-income49%3 pp gap

Grade 6Lower-income62%Higher-income49%13 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 3Lower-income63%Higher-income77%14 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income52%Higher-income71%19 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income34%Higher-income58%24 pp gap

Grade 6Lower-income42%Higher-income59%17 pp gap