PRAIRIE CREEK COMMUNITY SCHOOL

www.prairiecreek.org/

Charter School 177 Students

Elementary School K - 5th

School Overview

Prairie Creek Community School is a progressive, tuition-free public charter school located in Northfield, Minnesota, serving students in grades K-5. Founded on the principles of child-centered, experiential learning, the school emphasizes an integrated curriculum that encourages students to connect classroom concepts with the real world. By focusing on multi-age classrooms and a strong sense of community, Prairie Creek aims to foster a deep love of learning, critical thinking, and social responsibility in its students.

The school is well-regarded for its unique educational philosophy, which prioritizes the "whole child" by balancing academic rigor with social-emotional development. Its approach often involves project-based learning, outdoor exploration, and a collaborative environment where students are encouraged to take ownership of their education. As a community-driven institution, it maintains high levels of parental involvement and works to create a supportive, inclusive atmosphere that reflects the small-town, close-knit values of the Northfield area.

177

Total Students

14.2

Full-Time Teachers

12.5

Student/Teacher Ratio

18.1%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for PRAIRIE CREEK COMMUNITY SCHOOL
Demographic	Student Count
White	147
Hispanic	13
Black	1
Asian	5
Two or More	11

White
147 (83.1 %)
Hispanic
13 (7.3 %)
Two or More
11 (6.2 %)
Asian
5 (2.8 %)
Black
1 (0.6 %)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Elementary School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Charter School
Virtual Instruction:	No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	PRAIRIE CREEK COMMUNITY SCHOOL
Phone:	(507)645-9640
Website:	http://www.prairiecreek.org/
Grade Range:	K - 5th
Total Students:	177
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	14.2
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	12.5
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes participating without using any Provision or the CEO
Qualified Free Lunch:	23
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	9

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Kindergarten 30

Grade 1 29

Grade 2 28

Grade 3 30

Grade 4 30

Grade 5 30