Northwinds Elementary School (Ranked Top 10% for 2025-26)

1111 7th Ave Nw
Buffalo, MN 55313

( shown in map)

10/

Top 10%

Serving 408 students in grades Kindergarten-5, Northwinds Elementary School ranks in the top 10% of all schools in Minnesota for overall test scores (math proficiency is top 10%, and reading proficiency is top 10%).

The percentage of students achieving is 69% (which is higher than the Minnesota state average of 46%). The percentage of students achieving is 67% (which is higher than the Minnesota state average of 51%).

The student-teacher ratio of 14:1 is higher than the Minnesota state level of 13:1.

Minority enrollment is 7% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is lower than the Minnesota state average of 39% (majority Black).

Quick Facts (2025-26)

Grades: Kindergarten-5
Enrollment: 408 students
Student-Teacher Ratio: 14:1
Minority Enrollment: 7%
: Top 10% in MN
: 69% (Top 10%)
: 67% (Top 10%)
: 75-79% (Top 5%)
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), MN Dept. of Education

Top Rankings

Northwinds Elementary School ranks among the top 20% of public schools in Minnesota for:

School Overview

Northwinds Elementary School's student population of 408 students has declined by 21% over five school years.

The teacher population of 29 teachers has declined by 9% over five school years.

Grades Offered

Grades Kindergarten-5
(No virtual instruction)

View Data

Distribution of Students By Grade Trends
Grade	Northwinds Elementary School
Kind	64
1	66
2	65
3	67
4	80
5	66

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Total Students

408 students

View Data

Total Students Trends Over Years (2007-2023)
Year	Northwinds Elementary School
2023	437
2022	423
2021	438
2020	519
2019	519
2018	514
2017	514
2016	543
2015	573
2014	560
2013	593
2012	636
2011	622
2010	619
2009	579
2008	571
2007	556

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Gender %

Total Classroom Teachers

29 teachers

View Data

Total Classroom Teachers Trends Over Years (2007-2023)
Year	Northwinds Elementary School
2023	27
2022	28
2021	25
2020	32
2019	32
2018	30
2017	30
2016	31
2015	32
2014	32
2013	30
2012	33
2011	31
2010	31
2009	29
2008	31
2007	26

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Year Founded

1905

School Calendar

Last Day of School

Mon. May 25, 2026

School Motto

The Place to Dream, Believe and Achieve

School Rankings

Northwinds Elementary School ranks within the top 10% of all 1,773 schools in Minnesota (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data).

The of Northwinds Elementary School is 0.13, which is less than the diversity score at state average of 0.59. The school's diversity has stayed relatively flat over five school years.

This School

State Level (MN)

#130 out of 1773 schools
(Top 10%)

View Data

Overall School Rank Trends Over Years (2012-2023)
Year	Northwinds Elementary School
2023	#130
2022	#123
2021	#95
2019	#157
2018	#178
2017	#101
2016	#64
2015	#187
2014	#148
2013	#208
2012	#299

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69%

46%

View Data

Math Proficiency Comparison Over Years (2012-2023)
Year	Northwinds Elementary School	Minnesota	Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose Schools
2023	69%	46%	52%
2022	71%	45%	55%
2021	72%	45%	52%
2019	76%	56%	65%
2018	80%	58%	67%
2017	83%	59%	68%
2016	83%	60%	68%
2015	82%	61%	67%
2014	83%	61%	66%
2013	76%	61%	67%
2012	77%	62%	69%

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67%

51%

View Data

Reading and Language Arts Proficiency Comparison Over Years (2011-2022)
Year	Northwinds Elementary School	Minnesota	Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose Schools
2022	67%	51%	55%
2021	67%	53%	56%
2019	72%	59%	65%
2018	71%	60%	67%
2017	75%	61%	66%
2016	79%	60%	65%
2015	71%	60%	63%
2014	71%	59%	63%
2013	70%	58%	62%
2012	84%	76%	81%
2011	87%	74%	78%

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75-79%

41%

View Data

Science Proficiency Comparison Over Years (2021-2022)
Year	Northwinds Elementary School	Minnesota	Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose Schools
2022	77%	41%	44%
2021	74%	45%	52%

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Student-Teacher Ratio

14:1

13:1

View Data

Student-Teacher Ratio Comparison Over Years (2007-2023)
Year	Northwinds Elementary School	Minnesota	Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose Schools
2023	16:1	14:1	19:1
2022	15:1	14:1	19:1
2021	18:1	14:1	20:1
2020	16:1	14:1	18:1
2019	16:1	14:1	18:1
2018	17:1	16:1	18:1
2017	17:1	14:1	18:1
2016	18:1	16:1	18:1
2015	18:1	16:1	18:1
2014	18:1	15:1	19:1
2013	20:1	15:1	19:1
2012	19:1	15:1	19:1
2011	20:1	15:1	19:1
2010	20:1	15:1	20:1
2009	20:1	15:1	19:1
2008	19:1	15:1	18:1
2007	21:1	16:1	18:1

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American Indian

View Data

American Indian Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2007-2009)
Year	Northwinds Elementary School	Minnesota	Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose Schools
2009	1%	2%	1%
2007	1%	2%	1%

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Asian

n/a

View Data

Asian Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2007-2012)
Year	Northwinds Elementary School	Minnesota	Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose Schools
2012	1%	7%	2%
2011	1%	6%	2%
2010	1%	6%	2%
2009	1%	6%	2%
2008	1%	6%	2%
2007	1%	6%	1%

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Hispanic

12%

View Data

Hispanic Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2007-2023)
Year	Northwinds Elementary School	Minnesota	Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose Schools
2023	3%	11%	5%
2022	2%	10%	5%
2021	2%	10%	4%
2020	1%	9%	4%
2019	1%	9%	4%
2018	2%	9%	5%
2017	2%	9%	5%
2016	1%	9%	4%
2013	1%	8%	4%
2012	1%	7%	3%
2011	1%	7%	3%
2010	1%	7%	3%
2009	1%	6%	3%
2008	1%	6%	3%
2007	1%	6%	2%

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Black

12%

View Data

Black Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2009-2023)
Year	Northwinds Elementary School	Minnesota	Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose Schools
2023	1%	12%	2%
2022	2%	12%	2%
2021	3%	11%	2%
2020	2%	11%	1%
2019	2%	11%	1%
2014	1%	10%	1%
2013	2%	9%	1%
2012	1%	9%	1%
2011	1%	9%	1%
2010	2%	10%	2%
2009	1%	10%	2%

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White

93%

61%

View Data

White Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2007-2023)
Year	Northwinds Elementary School	Minnesota	Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose Schools
2023	93%	62%	88%
2022	93%	63%	89%
2021	93%	64%	89%
2020	95%	66%	91%
2019	95%	66%	91%
2018	95%	67%	91%
2017	95%	67%	91%
2016	95%	68%	92%
2015	96%	69%	92%
2014	96%	71%	92%
2013	94%	72%	91%
2012	95%	73%	92%
2011	95%	74%	92%
2010	96%	75%	92%
2009	96%	76%	92%
2008	96%	76%	92%
2007	95%	77%	94%

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Hawaiian

n/a

Two or more races

View Data

Two or More Races Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2013-2023)
Year	Northwinds Elementary School	Minnesota	Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose Schools
2023	3%	6%	3%
2022	3%	6%	3%
2021	2%	6%	3%
2020	2%	5%	3%
2019	2%	5%	3%
2018	3%	4%	3%
2017	3%	4%	3%
2016	4%	4%	2%
2015	4%	4%	2%
2014	3%	3%	2%
2013	3%	3%	2%

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All Ethnic Groups

0.13

0.59

View Data

Diversity Score Comparison Over Years (2007-2023)
Year	Northwinds Elementary School	Minnesota	Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose Schools
2023	0.13	0.59	0.22
2022	0.13	0.58	0.21
2021	0.13	0.57	0.20
2020	0.10	0.54	0.18
2019	0.10	0.54	0.18
2018	0.10	0.53	0.17
2017	0.10	0.53	0.17
2016	0.10	0.52	0.16
2015	0.08	0.51	0.15
2014	0.08	0.48	0.16
2013	0.12	0.47	0.16
2012	0.10	0.45	0.15
2011	0.10	0.44	0.16
2010	0.08	0.42	0.15
2009	0.08	0.41	0.14
2008	0.08	0.41	0.14
2007	0.09	0.40	0.12

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Eligible for

24%

36%

View Data

Free Lunch Eligibility Comparison Over Years (2007-2023)
Year	Northwinds Elementary School	Minnesota	Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose Schools
2023	20%	35%	21%
2022	9%	26%	12%
2021	11%	26%	12%
2020	15%	28%	15%
2019	15%	28%	15%
2018	13%	30%	15%
2017	13%	30%	15%
2016	12%	31%	15%
2015	14%	31%	17%
2014	14%	31%	18%
2013	19%	31%	19%
2012	18%	30%	19%
2011	18%	29%	18%
2010	16%	28%	17%
2009	14%	25%	14%
2008	12%	24%	12%
2007	10%	23%	12%

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Eligible for

View Data

Reduced-Price Lunch Eligibility Comparison Over Years (2007-2023)
Year	Northwinds Elementary School	Minnesota	Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose Schools
2023	7%	8%	8%
2022	6%	6%	5%
2021	6%	6%	5%
2020	8%	8%	7%
2019	8%	8%	7%
2018	7%	8%	7%
2017	7%	8%	7%
2016	10%	7%	9%
2015	10%	7%	8%
2014	10%	7%	8%
2013	9%	7%	9%
2012	9%	7%	9%
2011	12%	8%	11%
2010	9%	8%	9%
2009	9%	8%	9%
2008	8%	8%	9%
2007	6%	7%	7%

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School Statewide Testing

School District Name

Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose Schools

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), MN Dept. of Education

Profile last updated: 02/09/2025

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is Northwinds Elementary School's ranking?

Northwinds Elementary School is ranked #130 out of 1,773 schools, which ranks it among the top 10% of public schools in Minnesota.

What schools are Northwinds Elementary School often compared to?

Northwinds Elementary Schoolis often viewed alongside schools like Discovery Elementary School, Tatanka Elementary Stem School by visitors of our site.

What percent of students have achieved state testing proficiency in math and reading?

69% of students have achieved math proficiency (compared to the 46% MN state average), while 67% of students have achieved reading proficiency (compared to the 51% MN state average).

How many students attend Northwinds Elementary School?

408 students attend Northwinds Elementary School.

What is the racial composition of the student body?

93% of Northwinds Elementary School students are White, 3% of students are Hispanic, 2% of students are Two or more races, 1% of students are American Indian, and 1% of students are Black.

What is the student-teacher ratio of Northwinds Elementary School?

Northwinds Elementary School has a student ration of 14:1, which is higher than the Minnesota state average of 13:1.

What grades does Northwinds Elementary School offer ?

Northwinds Elementary School offers enrollment in grades Kindergarten-5 (No virtual instruction).

What school district is Northwinds Elementary School part of?

Northwinds Elementary School is part of Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose Schools.