Northern Lights Community School

Summary:

Northern Lights Community School is a public charter high school located in Warba, Minnesota, serving grades 6-12 with a total enrollment of 82 students, the majority of whom come from low-income families.

Despite the school's small size, it faces significant challenges. Northern Lights Community School consistently ranks among the lowest-performing high schools in Minnesota, with proficiency rates on state assessments that are well below the state average across all subject areas and grade levels. The school also has a high dropout rate, ranging from 7.6% to 20% over the past five years, and a lower-than-average graduation rate, fluctuating between 73.3% and 81.8% during the same period. These struggles are particularly concerning given that over 80% of the school's students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a high proportion of low-income students who may face additional barriers to academic success.

When compared to nearby schools, such as Nashwauk Secondary and Hill City Senior High, Northern Lights Community School performs significantly worse across various metrics, including academic achievement, graduation rates, and dropout rates. This suggests that the school's challenges may be unique and require a comprehensive review of its educational strategies and support systems to address the needs of its predominantly low-income student population and improve student outcomes.

Detail:

Public, Charter 6-12

305 Bridge St
Warba, MN 55793-2829

(218) 492-4400

District: Northern Lights Community School

SchoolDigger Rank:
472^nd of 480 Minnesota High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $21,176

Student/teacher ratio: 8.8

Number of students: 84

Racial breakdown:

White:

82.1%

African American:

8.3%

Two or more races:

7.1%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 71.4%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Northern Lights Community School ranks worse than 99.4% of middle schools in Minnesota. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 3.24. (See more...)

Compare Details Northern Lights Community School ranks worse than 98.3% of high schools in Minnesota. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 4.28. (See more...)

The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at Northern Lights Community School who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.

The high school dropout rate measures the percentage of students who do not complete their high school education.

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (82.1%), African American (8.3%), two or more races (7.1%). (See more...)

Compare Details 71.4% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Northern Lights Community School is 8.8. (See more...)

Compare Northern Lights Community School employs 9.4 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Northern Lights Community School is $21,176.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Northern Lights Community School:

SchoolDigger ranks Northern Lights Community School 542^nd of 545 Minnesota public middle schools. (See Northern Lights Community School in the ranking list.)

Middle School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

White students:

SchoolDigger ranks Northern Lights Community School 472^nd of 480 Minnesota public high schools. (See Northern Lights Community School in the ranking list.)

Northern Lights Community School:

SchoolDigger ranks Northern Lights Community School 461^st of 463 Minnesota school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Northern Lights Community School

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Rank History for all middle school students at Northern Lights Community School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	MN State Percentile
2010	1.74	440^th	454	3.1%
2012	0.43	466^th	469	0.6%
2016	7.53	467^th	508	8.1%
2018	13.69	450^th	518	13.1%
2022	15.41	454^th	520	12.7%
2023	13.75	469^th	529	11.3%
2024	3.24	542^nd	545	0.6%

See the entire list of Minnesota High School Rankings!

Rank History for middle school Low Socio Economic Status students at Northern Lights Community School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	MN State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	23.33	371^st	459	19.2%

See the entire list of Best Minnesota High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for middle school Male students at Northern Lights Community School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	MN State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	6.84	442^nd	464	4.7%

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

Rank History for middle school White students at Northern Lights Community School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	MN State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	11.79	409^th	436	6.2%
2024	0.77	438^th	440	0.5%

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

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

Rank History for Northern Lights Community School

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Rank History for all high school students at Northern Lights Community School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MN State Percentile
2006	16.77	374^th	450	16.9%
2007	7.26	437^th	463	5.6%
2008	13.51	394^th	460	14.3%
2010	22.81	400^th	540	25.9%
2011	23.42	404^th	545	25.9%
2012	8.25	466^th	539	13.5%
2013	8.91	447^th	534	16.3%
2014	22.25	385^th	483	20.3%
2015	21.87	398^th	504	21.0%
2016	12.76	404^th	489	17.4%
2017	7.83	427^th	489	12.7%
2018	7.95	436^th	494	11.7%
2022	9.19	428^th	472	9.3%
2024	4.28	472^nd	480	1.7%

See the entire list of Minnesota High School Rankings!

Rank History for high school Low Socio Economic Status students at Northern Lights Community School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MN State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2018	12.88	326^th	374	12.8%
2022	27.65	238^th	312	23.7%

See the entire list of Best Minnesota High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for high school White students at Northern Lights Community School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MN State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2018	2.84	398^th	414	3.9%
2022	1.09	400^th	401	0.2%

See the entire list of Best Minnesota High 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

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Enrollment information for Northern Lights Community School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
2006	76	3	0	0	2	n/a	n/a	81
2007	99	4	0	0	6	n/a	n/a	109
2008	77	9	0	0	8	n/a	n/a	94
2009	93	8	2	1	3	n/a	n/a	107
2010	85	3	0	0	9	n/a	n/a	97
2011	82	0	0	3	4	0	7	96
2012	87	2	0	4	10	0	8	111
2013	78	1	0	3	16	0	7	105
2014	75	1	0	4	7	0	5	92
2015	61	0	0	2	16	0	9	88
2016	74	0	0	2	12	0	16	104
2017	80	0	0	4	6	0	16	106
2018	85	0	0	3	1	0	14	103
2019	77	0	0	2	0	0	13	92
2020	78	0	0	3	1	0	13	95
2021	78	1	0	2	1	0	10	92
2022	80	1	0	0	1	0	7	89
2023	73	3	0	0	1	0	5	82
2024	69	7	0	0	2	0	6	84

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 Northern Lights Community School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2006	81	5.4	15.0	35.8
2007	109	7.6	14.3	48.6
2008	94	7.6	12.4	46.8
2009	107	6.0	17.8	66.4
2010	97	7.9	12.2	71.1
2011	96	7.5	12.7	75
2012	111	8.4	13.1	80.2
2013	105	9.8	10.7	79
2014	92	9.5	9.6	83.7
2015	88	10.0	8.8	80.7
2016	104	10.0	10.4	78.8
2017	106	10.4	10.1	66
2018	103	10.9	9.3	69.9
2019	92	10.4	8.8	75
2020	95	10.5	9.0	78.9
2021	92	10.7	8.5	76.1
2022	89	12.3	7.2	77.5
2023	82	11.3	7.2	82.9
2024	84	9.4	8.8	71.4

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 Northern Lights Community School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2006	81	5.4	15.0	35.8
2007	109	7.6	14.3	48.6
2008	94	7.6	12.4	46.8
2009	107	6.0	17.8	66.4
2010	97	7.9	12.2	71.1
2011	96	7.5	12.7	75
2012	111	8.4	13.1	80.2
2013	105	9.8	10.7	79
2014	92	9.5	9.6	83.7
2015	88	10.0	8.8	80.7
2016	104	10.0	10.4	78.8
2017	106	10.4	10.1	66
2018	103	10.9	9.3	69.9
2019	92	10.4	8.8	75
2020	95	10.5	9.0	78.9
2021	92	10.7	8.5	76.1
2022	89	12.3	7.2	77.5
2023	82	11.3	7.2	82.9
2024	84	9.4	8.8	71.4

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 Northern Lights Community School

Year	Total Expenditures Per Pupil
2019	$21,176

Data source: Minnesota Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Northern Lights 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.

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	92	82	10.9%
African American	0	3
American Indian	0	1
Asian	0	0
Hispanic	2	0	100%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	77	73	5.2%
Two or More Races	13	5	61.5%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	75%	82.9%	7.9%

Schools Near Northern Lights 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 6th Grade	MCA-III Math 7th Grade	MCA-III Math 8th Grade	MCA-III Math 11th Grade	MCA-III Math All Grades	MCA-III Reading 6th Grade	MCA-III Reading 7th Grade	MCA-III Reading 8th Grade	MCA-III Reading 10th Grade	MCA-III Reading All Grades	MCA-III Science 8th Grade	MCA-III Science End of Course	MCA-III Science All Grades	Total
Northern Lights Community School	Public, Charter	6-12	305 Bridge St	Warba	55793	Itasca County	Northern Lights Community School	Yes	No	No	Yes	(218) 492-4400	84	9	8.8	71.4%	69 (82.1%)	7 (8.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (2.4%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (7.1%)	4.3	472^nd of 480 public high schools	1.7%					(n/a)	0.0		0.0	0.0	0.0	10.0		9.1	12.5	18.2	0.0		0.0	$21,176
Greenway Senior High	Public	9-12	308 Roosevelt Ave	Coleraine	55722	Itasca County	Greenway Public School District	No	No	No	No	(218) 245-1287	298	21	14.1	50.7%	229 (76.8%)	2 (0.7%)	11 (3.7%)	0 (0.0%)	24 (8.1%)	0 (0.0%)	32 (10.7%)	50.2	257^th of 480 public high schools	46.5%		53.6	232^nd of 476 public high schools	51.3%	25				22.5	22.5				42.0	42.0		44.8	44.8	$17,824
Grand Rapids Area Learning Center	Public	8-12	601 SW 7th St	Grand Rapids	55744	Itasca County	Grand Rapids Public School District	No	No	No	No	(218) 327-5750	127	5	26.4	72.4%	100 (78.7%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (13.4%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (7.1%)	9.7	437^th of 480 public high schools	9.0%		8.6	433^rd of 476 public high schools	9.0%	4				6.1	6.1				25.0	25.0		3.7	3.7	$11,995
Infinity: Minnesota Digital Academy	Public	9-12	601 SW 7th St	Grand Rapids	55744	Itasca County	Infinity: Minnesota Digital Academy	No	No	No	No	(800) 624-4072	0	7	.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Grand Rapids Senior High	Public	9-12	800 Conifer Dr NW	Grand Rapids	55744	Itasca County	Grand Rapids Public School District	No	No	No	No	(218) 327-5760	1,114	55	20.2	39.8%	965 (86.6%)	3 (0.3%)	21 (1.9%)	4 (0.4%)	80 (7.2%)	0 (0.0%)	41 (3.7%)	60.9	204^th of 480 public high schools	57.5%		75.6	96^th of 476 public high schools	79.8%	108				40.6	40.6				47.1	47.1		39.6	39.6	$13,413
Nashwauk Secondary	Public	7-12	400 2nd St	Nashwauk	55769	Itasca County	Nashwauk-Keewatin School District	No	No	No	No	(218) 885-1280	249	17	15.0	55.8%	214 (85.9%)	1 (0.4%)	4 (1.6%)	2 (0.8%)	3 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (10.0%)	34.6	337^th of 480 public high schools	29.8%		47.2	266^th of 476 public high schools	44.1%	71		34.4	56.1	18.5	39.0		50.0	31.7	37.8	39.1	24.4	32.4	28.0	$15,831
Nashwauk-Keewatin Alp	Public	9-12	400 2nd St	Nashwauk	55769	Itasca County	Nashwauk-Keewatin School District	No	No	No	No	(218) 885-1280	0				0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)														$16,753
Hill City Senior High	Public	9-12	500 Ione Ave	Hill City	55748	Aitkin County	Hill City Public School District	No	No	No	No	(218) 697-2394	73	7	9.7	58.9%	58 (79.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (5.5%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (15.1%)	38.1	321^st of 480 public high schools	33.1%		37.8	325^th of 476 public high schools	31.7%	4				22.2	22.2				50.0	50.0		18.8	18.8	$17,871

Frequently Asked Questions about Northern Lights Community School

Is Northern Lights Community School a good school?

Northern Lights Community School ranks in the bottom 1.7% of Minnesota high schools.

What is the racial makeup of Northern Lights Community School?

Students at Northern Lights Community School are 82% White, 8% African American, 7% Two or more races, 2% American Indian.

What district is Northern Lights Community School in?

Northern Lights Community School

How many students attend Northern Lights Community School?

In the 2023-24 school year, 84 students attended Northern Lights 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.