The top reported proficiency rate is 77% in Social studies. The lowest is 62% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Rocky Branch Elementary
Rocky Branch Elementary is a regular public school in River Falls serving students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. It is one of five elementary schools in the River Falls School District, which also includes a middle school and a high school. The school draws from a community that is both a college town and a commuter suburb of the Twin Cities. The University of Wisconsin-River Falls sits near the downtown core, and a large share of residents leave daily for jobs in Minnesota, giving the city a blend of small-town character and metropolitan connectivity.
The student body is predominantly white, with smaller shares identifying as two or more races, Hispanic, and Black or Asian. Just over a quarter of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a rate that is modest compared to many Wisconsin districts. The school has a regular public school designation and is not a charter or magnet.
State testing results from the most recent school year show that in math, a solid majority of students met the proficient or advanced benchmark in each tested grade, with performance strengthening from third grade through fifth. In English language arts, proficiency rates are lower than in math but still reach a comfortable majority in grades four and five, with third grade close behind. Science and social studies are tested only in fourth grade, and on both subjects the school posted strong results, with social studies showing a notably high share of students reaching proficiency. Participation rates on all tests were near universal, so the results reflect nearly the entire enrolled cohort.
The school’s overall proficiency index, which averages performance across tested subjects and grades, places it below the midpoint among the six districts in Pierce County. That means while Rocky Branch’s results are respectable in absolute terms, several neighboring districts show higher combined performance.
Because the school serves only through fifth grade, there is no graduation rate or chronic absenteeism data to report. The state does not test younger elementary grades, so the picture is limited to grades three through five, but within those years the trend is steady and positive.
The housing market in the area reflects the region’s desirability. Home values and rents in River Falls are above the state average by a meaningful margin, though still below top-tier metro-area suburbs. The typical monthly mortgage payment substantially exceeds rent, making homeownership a stretch for many households. The national price-to-income ratio signals that housing is generally expensive relative to earnings, and this local market aligns with that pattern.
In late 2024, voters in the River Falls School District approved a referendum to fund facility improvements across the district, including classroom additions at the high school and middle school and safety and accessibility upgrades at elementary schools. The district structured the referendum so that the property tax mill rate would not increase, because prior debt was retiring. This means the school and its peers will see capital improvements without an added local tax burden.
Rocky Branch Elementary sits in a community where the downtown is active, the Kinnickinnic River runs through the business district, and the university brings a young population and a range of civic amenities. The city has many parks, trails, and outdoor recreational options. The commuter pattern toward the Twin Cities shapes daily life for many families, and the school serves a population that is relatively stable economically.
For a parent considering this school, the core takeaway is a solid, conventional elementary program with above-average participation and performance that trends upward across the elementary grades, set in a community that blends small-town life with easy access to a major metro area. The proficiency profile is slightly below the county’s top performers but still strong enough to be a comfortable starting point for most families. The lack of data on special education and English learner populations means a parent with specific needs there may want to ask the school directly about supports and staffing.
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