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Excellent

#40 of 1,992 schools in MN

Top 2% in state

Prairie Creek Community School

Elementary School · PRAIRIE CREEK COMMUNITY SCHOOL

27695 DENMARK AVE, Northfield, MN 55057

Charter

Enrollment

179

Student-Teacher

12.8:1

Score

8.8

Grades

Kindergarten – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Minnesota schools

#40 of 1,992

In Northfield

#1 of 9

public schools

Academic growth

9.1 / 10

Excellent

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Prairie Creek Community School

8.8/10

Elementary School in Northfield · grades Kindergarten – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Northfield Montessori

Nearby

5.4 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Greenvale Park Elementary

7.7/10

5.5 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Prairie Creek Community School

Prairie Creek Community School is a public elementary school in Northfield, MN, part of PRAIRIE CREEK COMMUNITY SCHOOL. Prairie Creek Community School serves approximately 179 students, and covers grades Kindergarten-5th, and has a 12.8:1 student-teacher ratio. Prairie Creek Community School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.8 out of 10 and ranks #40 of 1,992 schools in MN.

Structured state assessment records for Prairie Creek Community School show 61% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 73% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

How it compares2.4 pts above MN schools
  • This school 8.8 · Excellent
  • MN avg 6.4

What Parents Should Know

At 179 students, Prairie Creek Community School is on the smaller side. That usually buys more individual attention and teachers who know every kid by name, with the trade-off of fewer electives and extracurriculars than a larger school can staff. Ask what activities it actually offers.

Prairie Creek Community School is a charter school: publicly funded, but run with more independence than a traditional district school. Many charters are built around a specific model or focus, so it's worth understanding this one's mission, how enrollment works, and how it differs from the district schools nearby.

Prairie Creek Community School sits in a rural area, which can mean longer drives for some families. Rural schools are often community anchors with smaller classes, but check transportation, after-school options, and access to specialized services before you commit.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress9.1Excellent50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-0.2 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2022
TrendStable
Academics8.5Excellent30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency57% (2022 EdFacts)
Reading/ELA Proficiency72% (2022 EdFacts)
Overall Proficiency65% (2022 EdFacts, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)60% (model expectation from 2022 EdFacts)
vs. Expected+4.8 pts
Adjusted Percentile77th
Resources & Environment8.4Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio12.8:1
Per-Pupil Spending$12,486
Chronic Absenteeism7.8%

Prairie Creek Community School — Students at Prairie Creek Community School score 64% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 60%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

16.8%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores MN EDFACTS (2021-22)

Math Proficiency 60.9% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 73.1% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
School
State
N/A

Based on 28 test records from MN state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

→ Stable

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2009
Math
67%
ELA
82%
2010
Math
57%
ELA
87%
2011
Math
47%
ELA
82%
2012
Math
62%
ELA
67%
2013
Math
52%
ELA
62%
2014
Math
67%
ELA
67%
2015
Math
67%
ELA
72%
2016
Math
67%
ELA
72%
2017
Math
62%
ELA
72%
2018
Math
72%
ELA
72%
2019
Math
72%
ELA
72%
2020*
Math
52%
ELA
72%
2021*
Math
52%
ELA
72%
2022
Math
57%
ELA
72%

* 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: 9.1/10.

How Prairie Creek Community School Compares

See how Prairie Creek Community School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
8.8/10
98th percentile in MN
Academic
8.5/10
Excellent
Growth
9.1/10
Excellent
Environment
8.4/10
Excellent

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
17%
Teaching Staff
13:1 student-teacher ratio
14 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
7.8%

Location

27695 DENMARK AVE, Northfield, MN 55057

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Prairie Creek Community School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Great Oaks Academy - Grammar (rated 8.5/10, 6.4 miles away, in nearby Farmington), with a comparable rating. Another option is BRIDGEWATER ELEMENTARY (rated 8.3/10, 7.5 miles away), with a comparable rating. Additionally, Spring Creek Elementary (rated 8.2/10, 7.2 miles away), with a comparable rating. For more schools in Northfield, see our Northfield schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 7.6 mi
School Distance Rating
NORTHFIELD MONTESSORI Northfield 5.4 mi
GREENVALE PARK ELEMENTARY Northfield 5.5 mi 7.7
Northfield Community Education Cntr Northfield 5.5 mi 6.3
ROBERT BOECKMAN MIDDLE SCHOOL Farmington 6.0 mi 5.0
ST DOMINIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Northfield 6.0 mi 6.9
FARMINGTON ELEMENTARY Farmington 5.9 mi 4.3
NORTHFIELD AREA LEARNING CENTER Northfield 6.3 mi 4.5
Great Oaks Academy - Grammar Farmington 6.4 mi 8.5
LEVI P. DODGE MIDDLE SCHOOL Farmington 6.8 mi 5.5
RIVERVIEW ELEMENTARY Farmington 6.9 mi 4.8
Spring Creek Elementary Northfield 7.2 mi 8.2
NORTHFIELD SENIOR HIGH Northfield 7.2 mi 7.0
BRIDGEWATER ELEMENTARY Northfield 7.5 mi 8.3
ARCADIA CHARTER SCHOOL Northfield 7.6 mi 8.1
FARMINGTON HIGH SCHOOL Farmington 7.4 mi 5.0
NORTHFIELD MIDDLE Northfield 7.8 mi 7.1
GLORY ACADEMY Lakeville 6.1 mi 6.0
AKIN ROAD ELEMENTARY Farmington 8.3 mi 5.7
MEADOWVIEW ELEMENTARY Farmington 8.2 mi 6.2
KENNEDY ELEMENTARY Lakeville 7.6 mi 5.7

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 55057 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$97,521

Median Home Value

$338,800

Median Rent

$1,042/mo

Population

25,458

College Educated

48.9%

Homeownership

74.6%

Avg Commute

19.9 min

Poverty Rate

6.4%

Median Age

32.7

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
CHRISTIAN HERITAGE ACADEMY Lakeville, MN 8.8
CORNERSTONE MONTESSORI ELEMENTARY Saint Paul, MN 8.8
ROCHESTER ARTS & SCIENCES ACADEMY Rochester, MN 8.8
Saint Cloud Math and Science Academ Saint Cloud, MN 8.8
WIN-E-MAC ELEMENTARY Erskine, MN 8.8
Howe Elementary Minneapolis, MN 8.9

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Prairie Creek Community School

What grades does Prairie Creek Community School serve?

Prairie Creek Community School serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.

How many students attend Prairie Creek Community School?

Prairie Creek Community School has an enrollment of approximately 179 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Prairie Creek Community School?

The student-teacher ratio at Prairie Creek Community School is 12.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Prairie Creek Community School rank in MN?

Prairie Creek Community School ranks #40 of 1,992 schools in MN.

What is Prairie Creek Community School's MySchoolScout rating?

Prairie Creek Community School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.8 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Prairie Creek Community School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Prairie Creek Community School has 61% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 73% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

Is Prairie Creek Community School a charter school?

Yes, Prairie Creek Community School is a charter school. Charter schools are publicly funded but independently operated, often with more flexibility in curriculum and teaching methods.

Is Prairie Creek Community School a Title I school?

No, Prairie Creek Community School is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Prairie Creek Community School?

16.8% of students at Prairie Creek Community School qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
15 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
29 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Enrollment
179
Student-Teacher Ratio
12.8:1
Teachers (FTE)
14
Free/Reduced Lunch
16.8%
Type
regular
Setting
Distant Rural
County
Dakota County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
7.8%

District

PRAIRIE CREEK COMMUNITY SCHOOL
District Enrollment
179
Schools in District
1
Per-Pupil Spending
$12,486
District Rank
#1 of 1

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