- Enrollment
- 1,681
- Students per teacher
- 23.7:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Buffalo, MN
Northwinds Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Northwinds Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 39/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 270720004186
👥 S:T ratio 38
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 48
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Northwinds Elementary earns 39/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Minnesota median. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most Minnesota schools.
- #2 of 4
- elementary schools in Buffalo · Resource Index
- 39
- Resource Index · Typical
- 15.5:1
- students per teacher
- 20.4%
- free-lunch eligible
Northwinds Elementary has class sizes near the Minnesota median. Computed live against every Minnesota school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Northwinds Elementary ranks #2 of 4 elementary schools in Buffalo, MN.
School address
District: Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose Schools · Minnesota
NCES ID 270720004186 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-29 students YoY
Northwinds Elementary shrank from 437 students in 2022-23 to 408 in 2023-24 (-6.6%).
Teacher FTE added 27.4 → 28.7 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-29 students YoY 270720004186 · Buffalo, MN Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
419 enr · 15.5:1 · 20.4% lunch · RII 39
Nearest enrollment peer: Buffalo Senior High (1,681 students)
Northwinds Elementary shrank from 437 students in 2022-23 to 408 in 2023-24 (-6.6%). Teacher FTE added 27.4 → 28.7 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Minnesota schools → · Find another →
Northwinds Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Buffalo Senior
Buffalo Senior High
1,681 students
- Buffalo Commun
Buffalo Community Middle
1,160 students
- This school 419
Northwinds Elementary
419 students
- Tatanka Elemen 393
Tatanka Elementary Stem School
393 students
- Hanover Elemen 368
Hanover Elementary
368 students
- Montrose Eleme 363
Montrose Elementary School of Innov
363 students
What this shows Northwinds Elementary reports 419 students on the CCD universe file.
How Northwinds Elementary compares
Northwinds Elementary 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 | 15.5:1 | ▼ 2% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 20.4% | ▼ 52% | 42.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 419 | top 34% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.5:1
Leaner classes than 42% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
419
Bigger than 50% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
20.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 52% below the Minnesota average of 42.8%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
15.5:1
students per teacher
- 2% below state mean
Top 58% in Minnesota - lower ratio than 42% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
21.0%
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
$13,682
per pupil, district-wide
- below Minnesota avg of $15,919
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
5
in-school suspensions + 11 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 3.8 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 94.0%
Hispanic or Latino 2.4%
African American 1.7%
Two or More 1.4%
Asian 0.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: White at 94.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 11.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 11.5, Northwinds Elementary is less mixed than the Minnesota school average of 42.8.
Programs
District finance for Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose Schools reports $13,682 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Northwinds Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo Senior High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Buffalo Community Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Tatanka Elementary Stem School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Hanover Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Montrose Elementary School of Innov | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Northwinds Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,160
- Students per teacher
- 22.7:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 393
- Students per teacher
- 13.1:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 368
- Students per teacher
- 16.7:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 363
- Students per teacher
- 14.5:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
Nationwide elementary 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 (~419 students)
Frequently asked questions about Northwinds Elementary
How many students attend Northwinds Elementary?
Northwinds Elementary has 419 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Buffalo, MN. CCD year-over-year: 437 (2022-23) → 408 (2023-24), down 29.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Northwinds Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Northwinds Elementary is 15.5:1, which is 2% lower than the Minnesota average of 15.8:1 and 1% 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 Northwinds Elementary?
20.4% of students at Northwinds Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Minnesota average of 42.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Northwinds Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Northwinds Elementary is White at 94.0% of enrollment, in Buffalo, MN.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Northwinds Elementary?
Northwinds Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 39/100 (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 Northwinds Elementary rank among elementary schools in Buffalo?
By Resource Investment Index, Northwinds Elementary ranks #2 of 4 elementary schools in Buffalo, MN. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Buffalo on the city page.
What other schools are in Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose Schools?
Besides Northwinds Elementary, Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose Schools also operates Buffalo Senior High (1,681 students), Buffalo Community Middle (1,160 students), and Tatanka Elementary Stem School (393 students). See the Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose Schools district page for the complete list.