Public schools in Northfield, MN
13 open public schools with an address in Northfield, operated by 3 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
13
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
4,145
13 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
12:1
Minnesota median 13.6:1
Charter schools
2
0 virtual
An overview of Northfield public schools
The federal directory lists 13 public schools in Northfield, MN: 5 elementary, 2 middle, 4 high, 2 combined or other. The 13 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 4,145 students, an average of 319 per school. The largest campus is Northfield Senior High (1,283 students), and the largest elementary school is Bridgewater Elementary (564).
Northfield Public School District operates the most schools here (11), plus 2 charter, service, or other agencies. City names come from school mailing addresses, which often differ from district or municipal boundaries.
Across schools that reported staffing, the median student–teacher ratio is 12:1, lower than the statewide school median of 13.6:1. A ratio counts classroom-teacher FTE against total enrollment, so specialized programs and part-time staffing can move it; ask schools for actual class sizes by grade.
School choice options include 2 charter schools. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 4 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 1 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 0 of 4 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 29% of students in reporting schools were eligible for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. This describes the community served; it is not a quality signal, and community-eligibility schools can report differently.
School districts and agencies serving Northfield
Elementary schools in Northfield
5| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big 9 Online Elementary Northfield Public School District | KG–05 | 0 | — | |
| Bridgewater Elementary Northfield Public School District | KG–05 | 564 | 14.1:1 | |
| Greenvale Park Elementary Northfield Public School District | PK–05 | 488 | 11.8:1 | |
| Prairie Creek Community School Prairie Creek Community School · Charter | KG–05 | 180 | 12:1 | |
| Spring Creek Elementary Northfield Public School District | PK–05 | 445 | 11.9:1 |
Middle schools in Northfield
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big 9 Online Middle School Northfield Public School District | 06–08 | 0 | — | |
| Northfield Middle Northfield Public School District | 06–08 | 845 | 19:1 |
High schools in Northfield
4| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arcadia Charter School Arcadia Charter School · Charter | 06–12 | 116 | 11.9:1 | |
| Big 9 Online High School Northfield Public School District | 09–12 | 0 | — | |
| Northfield Area Learning Center Northfield Public School District · Alternative School | 06–12 | 107 | 19.4:1 | |
| Northfield Senior High Northfield Public School District | 09–12 | 1,283 | 21:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Northfield
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northfield Community Education Cntr Northfield Public School District | PK–PK | 117 | 7:1 | |
| Out of State Care and Treatment Northfield Public School District · Alternative School | KG–12 | 0 | — |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White74.6%
- Hispanic16%
- Black2.3%
- Asian1.5%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.2%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0%
- Multiracial5.4%
Enrollment-weighted across 9 Northfield schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (4,145 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Northfield
How many public schools are in Northfield, MN?
The current NCES directory lists 13 open public schools with a location address in Northfield: 5 elementary, 2 middle, 4 high, 2 combined or other. Together they reported 4,145 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Northfield?
Schools with an address in Northfield belong to 3 education agencies, led by Northfield Public School District (11 schools), Arcadia Charter School (1 school), Prairie Creek Community School (1 school). A mailing city is not an attendance boundary; confirm the district for a specific address.
What is the largest public high school in Northfield?
Northfield Senior High reported the largest high-school enrollment in Northfield, with 1,283 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Northfield?
Yes. 2 of the 13 public schools in Northfield are identified as charter schools in the NCES directory, including Arcadia Charter School, Prairie Creek Community School. Charter schools are public and tuition-free, but admission usually uses an application or lottery.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Northfield schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Northfield public schools is 12:1, lower than the Minnesota school median of 13.6:1. The ratio divides enrollment by classroom-teacher FTE; it is not an average class size.
Does living in Northfield guarantee a seat at a specific school?
No. Assignment depends on the district's attendance boundaries, programs, and enrollment rules, which can split a city or cross city lines. Use the district profile and its official boundary or school-locator tool to confirm the assigned school for an exact address.
Nearby Minnesota cities
Sources: NCES Common Core of Data 2025–26 preliminary directory (schools, grades, addresses, charter status) and 2024–25 nonfiscal files (enrollment, teachers, race/ethnicity, meal eligibility); Civil Rights Data Collection 2021–22 (AP and computer science). Cities are grouped by school mailing address. Methodology · All Minnesota cities