Elementary school (grades K-5) · Northfield, MN
Prairie Creek Community School
Federal NCES profile for Prairie Creek Community School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 56/100.
The verdict
Prairie Creek Community School earns 56/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Minnesota median.
- #2 of 5
- elementary schools in Northfield · Resource Index
- 56
- Resource Index · Higher
- 12.9:1
- students per teacher
- 9.6%
- free-lunch eligible
Prairie Creek Community School has class sizes near the Minnesota median. Computed live against every Minnesota school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Prairie Creek Community School ranks #2 of 5 elementary schools in Northfield, MN.
School address
NCES ID 270021203273 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+2 students YoY
Prairie Creek Community School held near 179 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+2 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 14.2 → 14.6 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+2 students YoY 270021203273 · Northfield, MN Elementary · SMALL · CHARTER
180 enr · 12.9:1 · 9.6% lunch · RII 56
Nearest enrollment peer: Buena Vista Elementary (180 students)
Prairie Creek Community School held near 179 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+2 headcount). Teacher FTE added 14.2 → 14.6 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Minnesota schools → · Find another →
How Prairie Creek Community School compares
Prairie Creek Community School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Minnesota and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Minnesota | Minnesota avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 12.9:1 | ▼ 18% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 9.6% | ▼ 78% | 42.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 180 | top 59% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
Equity indicators methodology
Student demographics
Largest group: White at 86.1% of enrollment.
Simpson diversity index - at 25.1, Prairie Creek Community School is less mixed than the Minnesota school average of 42.8.
Programs
District finance for Prairie Creek Community School reports $12,486 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
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 (~180 students)
Frequently asked questions about Prairie Creek Community School
How many students attend Prairie Creek Community School?
Prairie Creek Community School has 180 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Northfield, MN. CCD year-over-year: 177 (2022-23) → 179 (2023-24), nearly flat (+2).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Prairie Creek Community School?
The student-teacher ratio at Prairie Creek Community School is 12.9:1, which is 18% lower than the Minnesota average of 15.8:1 and 18% 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 Prairie Creek Community School?
9.6% of students at Prairie Creek Community School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Minnesota average of 42.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Prairie Creek Community School?
The largest demographic group at Prairie Creek Community School is White at 86.1% of enrollment, in Northfield, MN.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Prairie Creek Community School?
Prairie Creek Community School has a Resource Investment Index of 56/100 (higher 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 Prairie Creek Community School rank among elementary schools in Northfield?
By Resource Investment Index, Prairie Creek Community School ranks #2 of 5 elementary schools in Northfield, 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 Northfield on the city page.
What other schools are in Prairie Creek Community School?
None; Prairie Creek Community School is a single-school charter district, and Prairie Creek Community School is its only campus.