Best Schools in Northfield, Minnesota
11 schools · 6 Elementary · 1 Middle · 3 High · 1 Other
Choosing a school in Northfield?
Use this page to compare every school in Northfield by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Prairie Creek Community School
Elementary · Prairie Creek Community School. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Bridgewater Elementary
Elementary · Northfield Public School District. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Spring Creek Elementary
Elementary · Northfield Public School District. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Northfield for 2026 are Prairie Creek Community School (8.8/10), Bridgewater Elementary (8.3/10), and Spring Creek Elementary (8.2/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 9 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Schools
11
9 public · 2 private
Avg Score
7.3
out of 10
Median Home
$338,800
home value · ACS
Districts
3
serving the city
Schools
11
9 public · 2 private
Avg Score
7.3
out of 10
Median Home
$338,800
home value · ACS
Districts
3
serving the city
Rates 8.1/10 despite 33% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 0.8 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Northfield schools.
Top-Rated Schools in Northfield
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (9 of 11). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Prairie Creek Community School | 8.8 / 10 |
| 2 | Bridgewater Elementary | 8.3 / 10 |
| 3 | Spring Creek Elementary | 8.2 / 10 |
| 4 | Arcadia Charter School | 8.1 / 10 |
| 5 | Greenvale Park Elementary | 7.7 / 10 |
| 6 | Northfield Middle | 7.1 / 10 |
| 7 | Northfield Senior High | 7.0 / 10 |
| 8 | St Dominic Elementary School | 6.9 / 10 |
| 9 | Northfield Area Learning Center | 4.5 / 10 |
See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 7.3/10
- Median household income
- $97,521
- Median home value
- $338,800
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 49%
- Avg commute
- 20 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 75%
70% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Northfield compares
Minnesota rank
#17 of 229
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
+1.1
above Minnesota avg (6.2)
Median household income
$98k
116% of Minnesota median
Schools in this city
10
About Schools in Northfield, Minnesota
Northfield's public school system is small and consistently strong. The city has 9 ranked public schools, and 6 of them — 67% — score 7.0 or higher out of 10. That kind of concentration at the top is uncommon in Minnesota cities of comparable size, and it gives parents real options across the elementary years without having to chase a single standout.
The elementary tier is where Northfield's performance clusters highest. Greenvale Park Elementary leads the city with a 9.0 out of 10, placing it among the top-performing elementary schools in the region. Bridgewater Elementary follows at 8.4, and Spring Creek Elementary scores 8.0. That means three elementary schools clear the 8.0 mark — a meaningful signal that academic outcomes are strong across multiple attendance zones, not just one. Prairie Creek Community School rounds out the upper tier at 7.6, offering families a fourth high-scoring option at the elementary level. Northfield Community Education Center holds a 7.7, broadening the range of programs available to families with specialized learning needs.
The city's average school score of 7.3 out of 10 reflects a district where even the lower end of the ranking range lands above the midpoint. Parents won't find dramatic performance swings between schools the way they might in larger metro districts. The gap between the top-rated school and the city average is less than 2 points, which suggests consistent instructional quality rather than a single magnet pulling up an otherwise uneven landscape.
For parents weighing a move to Northfield, the practical takeaway is straightforward: elementary-age children have strong options regardless of which side of town they land in. The density of high-scoring elementary schools means school assignments are unlikely to be a deciding factor in neighborhood selection. Parents with older students should verify middle and high school assignments directly with Northfield Public Schools, as those grades fall outside the ranked set. Overall, Northfield presents one of the more reliable public school environments in southern Minnesota for families prioritizing academic performance at the elementary level.
Elementary Schools
6 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 179 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.8 | ||
| 2 | 563 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.3 | ||
| 3 | 462 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.2 | ||
| 4 | 482 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.7 | ||
| Private Schools 2 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | St Dominic Elementary School
Private
78 students · Pre-K–8th | 6.9 | ||
| 2 | Northfield Montessori
Private
7 students · Kindergarten–Kindergarten | — | ||
Middle Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 850 students · 6th–8th | 7.1 |
High Schools
3 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 100 students · 6th–12th | 8.1 |
| 2 | 1,295 students · 9th–12th | 7.0 |
| 3 | 131 students · 6th–12th | 4.5 |
Other Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 92 students · Pre-K–Pre-K | 6.3 |
Schools in Northfield
Northfield, Minnesota · 11 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code
Median Income
$97,521
Median Home Value
$338,800
Median Rent
$1,042/mo
Population
25,458
College Educated
49%
Homeownership
75%
Avg Commute
20 min
Poverty Rate
6.4%
Community Profile
Northfield has a median household income of $97,521. It is a well-educated community where 49% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $338,800, with a median rent of $1,042/month. The local poverty rate of 6.4% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 20 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Minnesota
- Elementary
- 6
- Middle
- 1
- High
- 3
- Other
- 1
Resources
Nearby Cities
Other Major Cities in Minnesota
Top metros statewide by school count.
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Northfield, Minnesota
How many schools are in Northfield, Minnesota?
Northfield has 11 schools, including 9 public and 2 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Northfield, Minnesota?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Northfield is 7.3 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
What is the top-ranked school in Northfield, Minnesota?
The top-ranked school in Northfield on MySchoolScout is Prairie Creek Community School with a composite score of 8.8/10.
What is the best elementary school in Northfield, Minnesota?
The top-ranked elementary school in Northfield on MySchoolScout is Prairie Creek Community School with a composite score of 8.8/10.
What is the best middle school in Northfield, Minnesota?
The top-ranked middle school in Northfield on MySchoolScout is Northfield Middle with a composite score of 7.1/10.
What is the best high school in Northfield, Minnesota?
The top-ranked high school in Northfield on MySchoolScout is Arcadia Charter School with a composite score of 8.1/10.
How many school districts serve Northfield, Minnesota?
Northfield is served by 3 school districts: Prairie Creek Community School, Arcadia Charter School, Northfield Public School District.
What is the education level in Northfield, Minnesota?
According to Census data, 49% of adults in Northfield have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Northfield, Minnesota?
The median household income in Northfield is approximately $97,521 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Northfield, Minnesota?
Yes, Northfield has 2 private schools alongside 9 public schools. The top-rated private school is St Dominic Elementary School with a score of 6.9/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Northfield, Minnesota?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Northfield is 12.8:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Northfield, Minnesota?
MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.
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Data from NCES Common Core of Data, Minnesota Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.