Average
#982 of 1,986 schools in MN
Top 49% in state
Northside Elementary
Elementary School · BENSON PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT
1800 NEVADA AVE, Benson, MN 56215
Enrollment
383
Student-Teacher
19.1:1
Score
6.4
Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
383
Student-Teacher
19.1:1
Score
6.4
Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Benson
#1 of 2
public schools
Minnesota elementary schools
#609 of 962
In district
#1 of 2
BENSON PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT
Academic performance
7.7 / 10
Very strong
About Northside Elementary
Nortside Elementary is a regular public school located in the remote rural area of Benson, Minnesota. The school serves students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade and has an enrollment of 383 students. With a student-to-teacher ratio of 19.1:1 and 20 full-time equivalent teachers, Nortside Elementary aims to provide personalized attention to each child.
According to MySchoolScout’s rating system, the school scores a 5.4 out of 10 overall, placing it at #1010 out of 2027 schools in Minnesota. Academically, Nortside Elementary receives a score of 6.4/10, with 52% of students proficient or above in ELA and reading, and 54% proficient or above in math. These scores suggest that while the school has room for improvement, it is focused on student development and growth.
Nestled in a rural setting, Nortside Elementary benefits from a close-knit community where teachers, parents, and students work together to support each child’s educational journey.
What Parents Should Know
Located in a rural area, Northside Elementary may involve longer commutes for some families. Rural schools often serve as community anchors and may have smaller class sizes, but parents should consider transportation logistics, after-school program availability, and access to specialized services.
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
Data not available for this school
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Northside Elementary — Students at Northside Elementary score 50% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 41%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
50.4%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores MN EDFACTS (2021-22)
Based on 6 test records from MN state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
↓ DecliningAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 6.7/10.
How Northside Elementary Compares
See how Northside Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has declined from 59% (2019) to 52% (2022). Reading/ELA proficiency has declined from 56% (2019) to 47% (2022).
Location
1800 NEVADA AVE, Benson, MN 56215
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Northside Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. HANCOCK ELEMENTARY (rated 8.2/10, 15.2 miles away, in nearby Hancock), which scores notably higher. Another option is RAMSEY ELEMENTARY (rated 7.6/10, 25.5 miles away, in nearby Montevideo), which scores notably higher. Additionally, MURDOCK ELEMENTARY (rated 7.4/10, 12.2 miles away, in nearby Murdock), which scores slightly higher. For more schools in Benson, see our Benson schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 26.7 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| BENSON SECONDARY Benson | 0.4 mi | 6.2 |
| BENSON AREA LEARNING CENTER Benson | 0.4 mi | — |
| Heartland Girls Ranch Benson | 1.1 mi | — |
| LAKE COUNTRY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Starbuck | 15.8 mi | — |
| MURDOCK ELEMENTARY Murdock | 12.2 mi | 7.4 |
| HANCOCK ELEMENTARY Hancock | 15.2 mi | 8.2 |
| HANCOCK SEC. Hancock | 15.2 mi | 7.2 |
| GLACIAL HILLS ELEMENTARY Starbuck | 20.5 mi | 4.2 |
| Minnewaska Area WIN Academy Starbuck | 20.5 mi | 7.0 |
| KERKHOVEN SECONDARY Kerkhoven | 16.3 mi | 3.1 |
| MINNEWASKA SECONDARY Glenwood | 22.3 mi | 6.4 |
| Minnewaska Area Intermediate School Glenwood | 22.3 mi | 7.1 |
| MINNEWASKA AREA JUNIOR HIGH Glenwood | 22.3 mi | 6.3 |
| RAMSEY ELEMENTARY Montevideo | 25.5 mi | 7.6 |
| SWWC ELC - Montevideo Montevideo | 25.8 mi | — |
| Hawks Nest Early Childhood Center Montevideo | 26.1 mi | — |
| MN River Valley ALC-Seatbased Montevideo | 26.1 mi | 6.3 |
| Sanford Elementary School Montevideo | 26.6 mi | 6.5 |
| MONTEVIDEO MIDDLE Montevideo | 26.7 mi | 6.2 |
| MONTEVIDEO SENIOR HIGH Montevideo | 26.7 mi | 5.8 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 56215 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$58,198
Median Home Value
$161,400
Median Rent
$940/mo
Population
4,701
College Educated
27.1%
Homeownership
69.5%
Avg Commute
19.3 min
Poverty Rate
8.9%
Median Age
43.3
Community Profile
The community surrounding Northside Elementary has a median household income of $58,198. It is an area where 27% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $161,400, with a median rent of $940/month. The local poverty rate of 8.9% is relatively low. Residents enjoy a short average commute of 19 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| ASCENSION CATHOLIC SCHOOL Minneapolis, MN | 6.4 |
| CAMBRIDGE PRIMARY SCHOOL Cambridge, MN | 6.4 |
| CHRISTA MCAULIFFE ELEMENTARY Hastings, MN | 6.4 |
| HINCKLEY ELEMENTARY Hinckley, MN | 6.4 |
| JJ HILL MONTESSORI Saint Paul, MN | 6.4 |
| Laurentian Elementary Eveleth, MN | 6.4 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Northside Elementary
What grades does Northside Elementary serve?
Northside Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend Northside Elementary?
Northside Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 383 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Northside Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Northside Elementary is 19.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Northside Elementary rank in MN?
Northside Elementary is ranked #982 out of 1,986 schools in MN.
What is Northside Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Northside Elementary has a composite rating of 6.4 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Northside Elementary?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Northside Elementary has 54.3% math proficiency and 51.7% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is Northside Elementary a charter school?
No, Northside Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Northside Elementary a Title I school?
No, Northside Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Northside Elementary?
50.4% of students at Northside Elementary qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
Explore More Schools
Neighborhood Context
- City Safety
- Average (263/100K)
FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Benson). Data >1 year old.
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 5th
- Enrollment
- 383
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 19.1:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 20
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 50.4%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Remote Rural
- County
- Swift County
- Phone
- (320) 843-2710
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
BENSON PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT- District Enrollment
- 774
- Schools in District
- 4
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $14,644
- District Rank
- #1 of 2
Other Schools in This District
How We Rate Schools
Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.
Read our full methodologyRelated reading
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