C+
Average
63/100

Challenger Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 🏫 Elementary
📍 601 COUNTY RD 61, Thief River Falls, MN 56701
Overall
C+
63/100 · the blend of everything below
Achievement
B
0.0 grade levels below the U.S. average · 59th percentile in Minnesota
Growth
C
Students gain 0.72 grade levels a year (U.S. average 1.0) · 32nd percentile
Resources
A
Class size, funding, school size and type

Each score is graded separately against Minnesota schools. A school can be strong at moving students forward (growth) without having the highest test scores, or the reverse. How we score schools

63
Repit Score
out of 100
781
Students
enrolled
13.6:1
Student:Teacher
ratio
$16K
Per Student
spending

What Goes Into This Rating

FactorWeightScoreBasis
📚 Achievement (reading & math, grades 3–8)40%59/1000.0 grade levels below the national average, 2022–25 (Stanford SEDA)
📈 Growth (how fast students learn)45%32/100Students gain 0.72 grade levels per school year in 2022–25 (national average ≈ 1.0) and gained 1.18 in 2009–19; 15th percentile in Minnesota (recent period weighted 70%)
🏫 Resources (class size, funding, size, type)15%87/100Inputs from NCES school and district data

Students served: 33% students directly certified for free meals (their families receive SNAP or similar aid). Compared with Minnesota schools serving a similar share of low-income students, this school’s reading and math results are +8 points better than expected. (Context only; not part of the score.)

The overall Repit Score ranks this blend against every rated school in Minnesota. Schools are compared within their state because each state sets its own tests and proficiency bar. How we rate schools

Test Scores & Graduation

📖 Reading proficiency58% (+5 pts vs. state avg 53%)
Students scoring proficient on the state test, 2018–19
➗ Math proficiency64% (+17 pts vs. state avg 47%)
Students scoring proficient on the state test, 2018–19

Source: U.S. Department of Education EDFacts via the Urban Institute Education Data Portal. Federal reporting rounds small schools to ranges; we show the midpoint. Proficiency standards differ by state, so compare schools within the same state.

How Student Groups Do Here

Share of each group of students scoring proficient on the Minnesota state test (2018–19), compared with the same group of students across the state. Differences between groups are shown as reported; they reflect many factors inside and outside school.

StudentsReadingMathvs. same group statewideRank in state for this group
White62%70%reading -7 pts, math -3 pts37th percentile (list)
Hispanic30%30%reading -5 pts, math -4 pts39th percentile (list)
Multiracial55%35%reading -1 pts, math -21 pts26th percentile (list)
Low-income47%47%reading +8 pts, math +7 pts60th percentile (list)

Source: U.S. Department of Education EDFacts via the Urban Institute. Groups with fewer than 20 tested students are not shown. Results are achievement (proficiency), not growth; growth by group is not published for individual schools.

School Information

Address 601 COUNTY RD 61
City Thief River Falls
ZIP Code 56701
District 2738850
NCES School ID 273885002451
Data Year 2024-25

Community Context for 56701

Understanding the community around Challenger Elementary helps evaluate the school environment and neighborhood.

💰 Income & Economy

Median Household Income $71,781
Per Capita Income $37,664
Poverty Rate 7.0%
Households Earning $100K+ 32.7%

🎓 Education Level

Bachelor's Degree or Higher 20.5%
High School or Higher 95.3%

🏠 Housing

Median Home Value $174,200
Median Rent $937
Owner-Occupied 71.3%
Renter-Occupied 28.7%
View full data for ZIP 56701 →

Thinking about moving into this school’s area? See what homes and rents actually cost in ZIP 56701 — values, rent, and how it compares to nearby ZIPs. Free, no signup. See 56701 housing costs →

Student Demographics

Enrollment and demographic breakdown for Challenger Elementary.

👫 Gender Distribution

Male 54.3%
Female 45.7%

🌎 Race & Ethnicity

White 81.4%
Hispanic/Latino 8.7%
Two or More Races 7.2%
Black 1.0%
Asian 0.6%
American Indian 1.0%

📋 Enrollment Summary

Total Enrollment 781
Teachers (FTE) 57.6
Student:Teacher Ratio 13.6:1

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Repit School Score for Challenger Elementary?
Challenger Elementary has a Repit School Score of 63 out of 100, earning a grade of C+. The score is based mainly on reading and math proficiency compared with other schools in the state, with class size and funding counting for a smaller share.
How many students attend Challenger Elementary?
Challenger Elementary has 781 students enrolled for the 2024-25 school year. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.6:1.
What grades does Challenger Elementary serve?
Challenger Elementary serves grades Pre-K – 05 and is classified as a Elementary. This is a public school.
How much funding does Challenger Elementary receive per student?
Challenger Elementary receives $15,894 in per-pupil spending from its district. This is above the national average.
🏠 Rental Market Around Challenger Elementary in 56701 ▼
Avg Home Value
$193,203
Avg Monthly Rent
$1,260
1-Year Change
-3.6%
% Renters
28.7%

Other Schools in 56701

View all schools and real estate data for 56701 →

About Repit School Scores

Parents choosing a school deserve to see what it actually delivers. Since October 2026 the Repit School Score is built mainly on results:

  • Academics (largest share) — the share of students scoring proficient in reading and math on the state test, ranked against schools of the same level in the same state.
  • Graduation (high schools) — the four-year adjusted cohort graduation rate. Only regular diplomas count; GEDs and certificates of attendance do not.
  • Resources (smaller share) — class size, per-pupil funding, school size and type.

Scores compare schools within their own state, because every state writes its own tests and sets its own proficiency bar. Full methodology

Data sources: NCES CCD 2024-25, U.S. Dept. of Education EDFacts (test results & graduation) | Last updated: October 2026