Prairie Creek Community School

Q: Is Prairie Creek Community School a good school?

Prairie Creek Community School ranks 191 st of 881 Minnesota elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Summary:

Prairie Creek Community School is a public charter elementary school in Northfield, Minnesota, serving 177 students from kindergarten to 5th grade. This high-performing school consistently outperforms the state average in academic proficiency, with particularly strong results in 4th-grade Math.

Prairie Creek Community School has maintained a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger for several years, indicating a consistently high level of academic achievement. The school's performance has improved over time, with its statewide ranking rising from 512 out of 826 Minnesota elementary schools in 2013-2014 to 191 out of 881 in 2023-2024. In the 2023-2024 school year, Prairie Creek's proficiency rates were 62.92% in Math, 65.91% in Reading, and 50% in Science, compared to the state averages of 45.47%, 49.85%, and 39.56%, respectively. The school's performance is especially noteworthy for its male and special education students, ranking 159 out of 826 and 77 out of 524 Minnesota elementary schools, respectively.

When compared to nearby public schools, such as Bridgewater Elementary, Randolph Elementary, and Farmington Elementary, Prairie Creek Community School generally outperforms them in academic proficiency rates, particularly in Math and Reading. However, some nearby schools, such as Spring Creek Elementary and Greenvale Park Elementary, also demonstrate strong academic performance, with proficiency rates comparable to or even exceeding those of Prairie Creek Community School.

Detail:

Public, Charter K-5

27695 Denmark Ave
Northfield, MN 55057-8888

(507) 645-9640

District: Prairie Creek Community School

SchoolDigger Rank:
191^st of 881 Minnesota Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $11,947

Student/teacher ratio: 12.2

Number of students: 179

Racial breakdown:

White:

87.2%

Hispanic:

5.6%

Two or more races:

5.0%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 16.8%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Prairie Creek Community School ranks better than 78.3% of elementary schools in Minnesota. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 75.62. (See more...)

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (87.2%), Hispanic (5.6%), two or more races (5%). (See more...)

Compare Details 16.8% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Prairie Creek Community School is 12.2. (See more...)

Compare Prairie Creek Community School employs 14.5 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Prairie Creek Community School is $11,947.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Prairie Creek Community School:

SchoolDigger ranks Prairie Creek Community School 191^st of 881 Minnesota public elementary schools. (See Prairie Creek Community School in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Special Education students:

Female students:

Male students:

White students:

Prairie Creek Community School:

SchoolDigger ranks Prairie Creek Community School 63^rd of 463 Minnesota school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

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Rank History for Prairie Creek Community School

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Rank History for all students at Prairie Creek Community School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MN State Percentile
2003	67.03	215^th	674	68.1%
2004	61.98	274^th	676	59.5%
2005	59.94	303^rd	685	55.8%
2006	67.08	235^th	756	68.9%
2007	61.45	321^st	777	58.7%
2008	56.05	412^th	781	47.2%
2010	48.91	540^th	803	32.8%
2011	60.92	377^th	814	53.7%
2012	38.63	625^th	820	23.8%
2013	59.86	375^th	824	54.5%
2014	49.60	512^th	826	38.0%
2015	66.09	305^th	840	63.7%
2016	66.86	297^th	848	65.0%
2017	68.37	292^nd	853	65.8%
2018	67.96	281^st	847	66.8%
2019	77.68	166^th	870	80.9%
2021	75.58	185^th	869	78.7%
2022	76.03	176^th	858	79.5%
2023	79.95	142^nd	845	83.2%
2024	75.62	191^st	881	78.3%

See the entire list of Minnesota Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Special Education students at Prairie Creek Community School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MN State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	77.65	77^th	524	85.3%
2024	48.33	292^nd	572	49.0%

See the entire list of Best Minnesota Elementary Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Female students at Prairie Creek Community School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MN State Percentile
2018	69.17	239^th	774	69.1%
2019	79.77	109^th	787	86.1%
2021	67.49	250^th	783	68.1%
2022	63.89	309^th	799	61.3%
2023	76.28	164^th	787	79.2%
2024	69.33	242^nd	809	70.1%

See the entire list of Best Minnesota Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Prairie Creek Community School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MN State Percentile
2018	64.31	301^st	779	61.4%
2019	76.32	157^th	798	80.3%
2021	76.57	142^nd	784	81.9%
2022	82.84	91^st	808	88.7%
2023	78.99	139^th	799	82.6%
2024	76.88	159^th	826	80.8%

See the entire list of Best Minnesota Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for White students at Prairie Creek Community School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MN State Percentile
2018	57.17	305^th	712	57.2%
2019	65.78	226^th	722	68.7%
2021	52.33	328^th	710	53.8%
2022	59.74	279^th	725	61.5%
2023	63.37	232^nd	712	67.4%
2024	49.83	371^st	730	49.2%

See the entire list of Best Minnesota Elementary Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Minnesota Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Data source: Minnesota Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 3)

50%

Reviews:

by a parent
Tuesday, November 10, 2015

This school isn't as wonderful as its made out to be. Close Quote

Enrollment information for Prairie Creek Community School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
2002	93	0	8	0	1	n/a	n/a	102
2003	93	0	8	0	1	n/a	n/a	102
2004	99	2	7	0	0	n/a	n/a	108
2005	103	0	7	0	0	n/a	n/a	110
2006	101	2	9	0	0	n/a	n/a	112
2007	106	2	11	0	0	n/a	n/a	119
2008	108	2	8	2	0	n/a	n/a	120
2009	111	1	6	1	0	n/a	n/a	119
2010	158	4	12	3	0	n/a	n/a	177
2011	163	4	7	4	0	0	0	178
2012	163	2	6	5	0	0	4	180
2013	165	0	3	4	1	3	4	180
2014	164	2	3	5	0	2	6	182
2015	161	2	2	5	0	1	10	181
2016	156	2	4	4	0	0	14	180
2017	155	6	5	3	0	0	11	180
2018	157	4	4	4	0	0	11	180
2019	154	5	3	4	0	0	13	179
2020	155	3	3	7	0	0	11	179
2021	150	3	4	8	0	0	15	180
2022	145	4	5	10	0	0	14	178
2023	147	1	5	13	0	0	11	177
2024	156	0	4	10	0	0	9	179

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Prairie Creek Community School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2002	102	7.6	13.4	4.9
2003	102	7.6	13.4	4.9
2004	108	7.4	14.6	4.6
2005	110	7.6	14.5	9.1
2006	112	7.5	14.9	8
2007	119	7.0	17.0	5.9
2008	120	8.0	15.0	13.3
2009	119	9.3	12.8	9.2
2010	177	10.7	16.5	16.9
2011	178	12.1	14.6	23
2012	180	11.1	16.0	17.8
2013	180	11.1	16.0	13.9
2014	182	14.0	12.9	12.6
2015	181	14.0	12.9	14.4
2016	180	13.0	13.8	16.7
2017	180	13.5	13.2	15.6
2018	180	13.8	12.9	16.1
2019	179	13.9	12.8	14
2020	179	13.9	12.8	12.3
2021	180	13.7	13.0	12.8
2022	178	14.2	12.5	3.9
2023	177	14.2	12.4	15.3
2024	179	14.5	12.2	16.8

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Prairie Creek Community School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2002	102	7.6	13.4	4.9
2003	102	7.6	13.4	4.9
2004	108	7.4	14.6	4.6
2005	110	7.6	14.5	9.1
2006	112	7.5	14.9	8
2007	119	7.0	17.0	5.9
2008	120	8.0	15.0	13.3
2009	119	9.3	12.8	9.2
2010	177	10.7	16.5	16.9
2011	178	12.1	14.6	23
2012	180	11.1	16.0	17.8
2013	180	11.1	16.0	13.9
2014	182	14.0	12.9	12.6
2015	181	14.0	12.9	14.4
2016	180	13.0	13.8	16.7
2017	180	13.5	13.2	15.6
2018	180	13.8	12.9	16.1
2019	179	13.9	12.8	14
2020	179	13.9	12.8	12.3
2021	180	13.7	13.0	12.8
2022	178	14.2	12.5	3.9
2023	177	14.2	12.4	15.3
2024	179	14.5	12.2	16.8

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Prairie Creek Community School

Year	Total Expenditures Per Pupil
2019	$11,947

Data source: Minnesota Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Prairie Creek Community School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Rank Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Ranks 166^th of 870 Elementary schools	Ranks 142^nd of 845 Elementary schools	2.3%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
3rd Grade Math (Prairie Creek Community School)	90	70	20%
3rd Grade Math (Prairie Creek Community School)	90	70	20%
3rd Grade Math (Minnesota)	65.6	59.1	6.5%
3rd Grade Reading (Prairie Creek Community School)	63.3	83.3	20%
3rd Grade Reading (Prairie Creek Community School)	63.3	83.3	20%
3rd Grade Reading (Minnesota)	54.6	47.4	7.2%
4th Grade Math (Prairie Creek Community School)	73.3	56.7	16.7%
4th Grade Math (Prairie Creek Community School)	73.3	56.7	16.7%
4th Grade Math (Minnesota)	63.9	57.1	6.8%
4th Grade Reading (Prairie Creek Community School)	73.3	63.3	10%
4th Grade Reading (Prairie Creek Community School)	73.3	63.3	10%
4th Grade Reading (Minnesota)	55.4	48.4	7.1%
5th Grade Math (Prairie Creek Community School)	46.4	55.2	8.7%
5th Grade Math (Prairie Creek Community School)	46.4	55.2	8.7%
5th Grade Math (Minnesota)	52	44.4	7.6%
5th Grade Reading (Prairie Creek Community School)	75	72.4	2.6%
5th Grade Reading (Prairie Creek Community School)	75	72.4	2.6%
5th Grade Reading (Minnesota)	65.8	58.7	7%
5th Grade Science (Prairie Creek Community School)	85.7	69	16.7%
5th Grade Science (Prairie Creek Community School)	85.7	69	16.7%
5th Grade Science (Minnesota)	54.9	48.4	6.5%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	179	177	1.1%
African American	5	1	80%
American Indian	0	0
Asian	3	5	66.7%
Hispanic	4	13	225%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	154	147	4.5%
Two or More Races	13	11	15.4%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	14%	15.3%	1.3%

Schools Near Prairie Creek Community School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				MCA-III Math (2024)					MCA-III Reading (2024)					MCA-III Science (2024)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	MCA-III Math 3rd Grade	MCA-III Math 4th Grade	MCA-III Math 5th Grade	MCA-III Math 6th Grade	MCA-III Math All Grades	MCA-III Reading 3rd Grade	MCA-III Reading 4th Grade	MCA-III Reading 5th Grade	MCA-III Reading 6th Grade	MCA-III Reading All Grades	MCA-III Science 5th Grade	MCA-III Science All Grades	Total
Prairie Creek Community School	Public, Charter	K-5	27695 Denmark Ave	Northfield	55057	Rice County	Prairie Creek Community School	Yes	No	No	No	(507) 645-9640	179	15	12.2	16.8%	156 (87.2%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (5.6%)	4 (2.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (5.0%)	75.6	191^st of 881 public elementary schools	78.3%		79.9	142^nd of 845 public elementary schools	83.2%	49	62.1	76.7	50.0		62.9	71.4	63.3	63.3		65.9	50.0	50.0	$11,947
Northfield Community Education Center	Public	PK	700 Lincoln Parkway	Northfield	55057	Rice County	Northfield Public School District	No	No	No	No	(507) 664-3649	92	17	5.3	48.9%	66 (71.7%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (23.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (4.3%)								(n/a)													$66,594
School Readiness Plus	Public	PK-K	700 Lincoln Parkway	Northfield	55057	Rice County	Northfield Public School District	No	No	No	No	(507) 645-1232	0				0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)													$3,325
Greenvale Park Elementary	Public	K-5	500 Lincoln Pkwy	Northfield	55057	Rice County	Northfield Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(507) 645-3500	482	40	12.0	34.6%	305 (63.3%)	17 (3.5%)	116 (24.1%)	10 (2.1%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	33 (6.8%)	76.5	174^th of 881 public elementary schools	80.2%		81.8	118^th of 845 public elementary schools	86.0%	56	58.0	70.9	69.9		66.3	54.3	61.6	74.0		62.9	52.1	52.1	$16,548
Farmington Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	500 Maple St	Farmington	55024	Dakota County	Farmington Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(651) 463-9000	545	36	14.9	44.8%	374 (68.6%)	37 (6.8%)	61 (11.2%)	24 (4.4%)	3 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	46 (8.4%)	48.2	512^th of 881 public elementary schools	41.9%		39.8	578^th of 845 public elementary schools	31.6%	66	55.4	41.2	46.2		47.9	46.4	42.7	53.8		48.2	37.4	37.4	$10,470
Big 9 Online Elementary	Public	K-5	201 Orchard St S	Northfield	55057	Rice County	Northfield Public School District	No	No	No	No	(507) 645-1201	0	2	6.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Great Oaks Academy - Grammar	Public, Charter	K-5	115 Elm St	Farmington	55024	Dakota County	Great Oaks Academy Charter School	Yes	No	No	No	(651) 615-0499	385	26	14.8	20.3%	344 (89.4%)	12 (3.1%)	13 (3.4%)	4 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (3.1%)	70.2	255^th of 881 public elementary schools	71.1%		76.7	184^th of 845 public elementary schools	78.2%	71	72.5	55.6	59.6		64.0	48.6	51.1	66.0		54.3	56.5	56.5
Randolph Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	29101 Dawson Ave	Randolph	55065	Dakota County	Randolph Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(507) 263-2151	461	31	15.0	22.1%	439 (95.2%)	4 (0.9%)	10 (2.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (1.7%)	45	544^th of 881 public elementary schools	38.3%		51.6	463^rd of 845 public elementary schools	45.2%	81	64.2	56.7	20.9	34.3	43.6	45.5	31.7	50.8	50.7	45.0	36.9	36.9	$10,241
Riverview Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	4100 208th St West	Farmington	55024	Dakota County	Farmington Public School District	No	No	No	No	(651) 460-1600	585	46	12.7	19.1%	468 (80.0%)	23 (3.9%)	47 (8.0%)	11 (1.9%)	3 (0.5%)	1 (0.2%)	32 (5.5%)	46.2	537^th of 881 public elementary schools	39.0%		34.2	606^th of 845 public elementary schools	28.3%	69	60.8	41.7	35.9		46.2	49.5	35.8	56.3		47.0	37.9	37.9	$10,858
Spring Creek Elementary	Public	K-5	1400 Maple St	Northfield	55057	Rice County	Northfield Public School District	No	No	No	No	(507) 645-3470	462	36	12.8	31.0%	374 (81.0%)	6 (1.3%)	57 (12.3%)	4 (0.9%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (4.3%)	83	112^th of 881 public elementary schools	87.3%		78.2	161^st of 845 public elementary schools	80.9%	49	83.1	76.5	60.9		72.3	67.7	66.3	69.6		67.9	51.1	51.1	$13,516

Frequently Asked Questions about Prairie Creek Community School

Is Prairie Creek Community School a good school?

Prairie Creek Community School ranks 191^st of 881 Minnesota elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Prairie Creek Community School?

Students at Prairie Creek Community School are 87% White, 6% Hispanic, 5% Two or more races, 2% Asian.

What district is Prairie Creek Community School in?

Prairie Creek Community School

How many students attend Prairie Creek Community School?

In the 2023-24 school year, 179 students attended Prairie Creek Community School.

Rate Prairie Creek Community School!

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Minnesota Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.