17th Ave NW
Backus, MN 56435

The school is just OK. They spend money on sports and salaries. The facility is constantly upgraded while the bullying and student support decreases. The teachers scream for more money (while adequate teachers) aren’t producing positive productive students. In my opinion the school (while heralded as a great community champion), is like the town- run by people who like certain families (and their children.) If your child is on the fringes, they may or may not do week- it is literally a coin flip here. If you don’t mind gambling on your child and families future- this is a fine choice. I, personally, would look into private options or home school.

Parents BEWARE... I was a very active parent volunteer. The good: The school is a very nice updated & modern facility. The sports program all though limited is very good. Most teachers are mostly good to excellent in the elementary school (K-12 is all one building) The bad: Elementary school HAD some wonderful teachers & still have a handful of wonderful teachers. The principle is selectively getting rid of the (old school) teachers & bringing in her new (i mean fresh out of college) teachers strictly because of money & intimidation factor (opinion). Don't get me wrong, to bring in SOME inexperience teachers is good, but not all, I mean over 8 teachers in the past 2 yrs. in elementary alone. The new teacher s classrooms are very chaotic, no discipline. We are now classified as a Title I. Less than a handful of gifted student programs but plenty of money & programs for challenged children which isn't a terribly bad thing, but moneys should be better divided equally into multiple levels. Bullying is a problem. They talk the talk, but not walk the walk. Bottom line is if you have an average to above average child, please do your own research before you choose Pine River/Backus.