- Enrollment
- 31
- Students per teacher
- 15.5:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Cloquet, MN
Northern Lights Academy
Federal NCES profile for Northern Lights Academy, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 37/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 270044205073
👥 S:T ratio 81
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Northern Lights Academy earns 37/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 95% of Minnesota schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Minnesota schools.
- #2 of 6
- schools in Cloquet · Resource Index
- 37
- Resource Index · Typical
- 4.7:1
- small classes for Minnesota
- 62.5%
- free-lunch eligible
Northern Lights Academy has class sizes smaller than 95% of Minnesota schools. Computed live against every Minnesota school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Northern Lights Academy ranks #2 of 6 schools in Cloquet, MN.
School address
District: Northern Lights Academy Cooperative · Minnesota
NCES ID 270044205073 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-4 students YoY
Northern Lights Academy shrank from 16 students in 2022-23 to 12 in 2023-24 (-25.0%).
Teacher FTE added 3.2 → 4.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-4 students YoY 270044205073 · Cloquet, MN Other · SMALL · TRAD
14 enr · 4.7:1 · 62.5% lunch · RII 37
Nearest enrollment peer: Nla-Carlton (31 students)
Northern Lights Academy shrank from 16 students in 2022-23 to 12 in 2023-24 (-25.0%). Teacher FTE added 3.2 → 4.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Minnesota schools → · Find another →
Northern Lights Academy in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Nla-Carlton
Nla-Carlton
31 students
- This school
Northern Lights Academy
14 students
- Northern Light 5
Northern Lights Academy Cooperative
5 students
What this shows Northern Lights Academy reports 14 students on the CCD universe file.
How Northern Lights Academy compares
Northern Lights Academy is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Minnesota and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Minnesota | Minnesota avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 4.7:1 | ▼ 70% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 62.5% | ▲ 46% | 42.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 14 | top 91% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
4.7:1
Leaner classes than 99% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
14
Bigger than 2% of US schools by enrollment, a small campus.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
62.5%
free-lunch eligible
- 46% above the Minnesota average of 42.8%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
4.7:1
students per teacher
- 70% below state mean
Top 5% in Minnesota - lower ratio than 95% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
78.6%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$45,571
per pupil, district-wide
- above Minnesota avg of $15,919
Well above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting substantially higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 7 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 50.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 8 expulsions.
Student demographics
White 35.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 21.4%
Two or More 21.4%
African American 14.3%
Hispanic or Latino 7.1%
Largest group: White at 35.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 75.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 75.5, Northern Lights Academy is more mixed than the Minnesota school average of 42.8.
Programs
District finance for Northern Lights Academy Cooperative reports $45,571 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Northern Lights Academy Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nla-Carlton | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Northern Lights Academy Cooperative | Smaller | No free-lunch data | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Northern Lights Academy's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 5
- Students per teacher
- 5:1
- Resource Index
- 53/100
Nationwide other schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~14 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~4.7:1)
Frequently asked questions about Northern Lights Academy
How many students attend Northern Lights Academy?
Northern Lights Academy has 14 students enrolled. It is a special-education school in Cloquet, MN. CCD year-over-year: 16 (2022-23) → 12 (2023-24), down 4.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Northern Lights Academy?
The student-teacher ratio at Northern Lights Academy is 4.7:1, which is 70% lower than the Minnesota average of 15.8:1 and 70% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Northern Lights Academy?
62.5% of students at Northern Lights Academy are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Minnesota average of 42.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Northern Lights Academy?
The largest demographic group at Northern Lights Academy is White at 35.7% of enrollment, in Cloquet, MN. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 75.5/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Northern Lights Academy?
Northern Lights Academy has a Resource Investment Index of 37/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Northern Lights Academy rank among schools in Cloquet?
By Resource Investment Index, Northern Lights Academy ranks #2 of 6 schools in Cloquet, MN. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Cloquet on the city page.
What other schools are in Northern Lights Academy Cooperative?
Besides Northern Lights Academy, Northern Lights Academy Cooperative also operates Nla-Carlton (31 students) and Northern Lights Academy Cooperative (5 students). See the Northern Lights Academy Cooperative district page for the complete list.