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Northside Elementary

Q: Is Northside Elementary a good school?

Northside Elementary ranks 487 th of 869 Minnesota elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

487^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 869 Minnesota Elementary Schools

Better than 44% of Minnesota elementary schools

Summary

Northside Elementary is a PK–5 school in Benson, MN, serving 391 students as part of Benson Public School District, which ranks 309th of 458 Minnesota districts (33rd percentile, 2 stars). In 2025–2026, the school ranked 487th of 869 Minnesota schools, placing it at the 44th percentile with 2 stars. Its percentile has ranged from 30 to 49, and it improved from 37th percentile in 2024–2025 to 44th percentile in 2025–2026—its best showing since 2021–2022, though still below its 2020–2021 mark of 49th percentile.

Math is Northside’s relative strength: 51.1% proficiency, above the district (36.5%) and state (44.9%), and slightly above Murdock Elementary (47.7%), though far behind Hancock Elementary (83.7%). Grade 3 math is especially strong at 76.1% proficient versus 57.9% statewide. Reading is above the district (46.8% vs. 40.3%) but below the state (48.6%) and below Murdock (51.1%). Grade 3 reading is above state, but grades 4 and 5 are below state. Science is a major weakness: 13.5% proficiency, far below the state (25.5%) and Hancock (35.9%). Science proficiency has fallen from 55.74% in 2022–2023 to 39.53% in 2023–2024, 16.95% in 2024–2025, and 13.5% in 2025–2026. Because science is only tested in grade 5, cohort changes can affect results, but the multi-year decline is clear.

Nearby, Murdock Elementary has similar enrollment (395 students) but serves PK–6, ranks higher overall (50th percentile, 3 stars), and has a much lower student–teacher ratio (11.4 vs. 16.7), though Northside’s math is slightly better. Hancock Elementary is smaller (233 students), also PK–6, and ranks 97th percentile with 5 stars, showing the regional ceiling. All-grade comparisons with PK–6 schools include an extra grade. Northside’s overall 44th percentile masks uneven subgroup results: special education students rank at the 22nd percentile (and were 7th percentile, 0 stars, in 2024–2025), while low-SES students and both genders are closer to the school average. The school’s free/reduced lunch rate fell from 53.94% in 2022–2023 to 38.36% in 2024–2025, now below Murdock (40.51%) but above Hancock (28.33%). Overall, Northside outperforms its own district but remains a middling state performer, with math as a bright spot and science as a clear priority.

391

Students ?

16.7

Student/teacher ratio ?

$12,180

Per pupil spending ?

38.4%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1800 Nevada Ave
Benson, MN 56215-8888

(320) 843-2710

District: Benson Public School District

Students who attend Northside Elementary usually attend:

High:

Benson Secondary

Racial breakdown:

White:

80.6%

Hispanic:

11.3%

Two or more races:

3.8%

See top rated Minnesota elementary schools

Compare Northside Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 42nd percentile in 2016 → 44th in 2026

Worth a look

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

!Science scores 12 pts below the Minnesota average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school45%

District avg34%

Minnesota avg43%

487^th of 869

Minnesota public elementary schools ?

Bottom 44%▲ up 2 pts since 2016

See the entire ranking list of Minnesota Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

309^th of 458Benson Public School District among Minnesota districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	48.1	487 of 869	44.0%	★★☆☆☆
2025	42.3	547 of 872	37.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	44.9	545 of 881	38.1%	★★☆☆☆
2023	48.2	505 of 845	40.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	51.5	484 of 858	43.6%	★★☆☆☆
2021	54.6	446 of 869	48.7%	★★☆☆☆
2019	55.7	465 of 870	46.6%	★★☆☆☆
2018	49.3	504 of 847	40.5%	★★☆☆☆
2017	40.6	595 of 853	30.2%	★★☆☆☆
2016	51.8	494 of 848	41.7%	★★☆☆☆
2015	58.9	406 of 840	51.7%	★★★☆☆
2014	53.9	448 of 826	45.8%	★★☆☆☆
2013	58.8	389 of 824	52.8%	★★★☆☆
2012	63.7	343 of 820	58.2%	★★★☆☆
2011	58.5	405 of 814	50.2%	★★★☆☆
2010	65.5	311 of 803	61.3%	★★★☆☆
2008	68.0	235 of 781	69.9%	★★★★☆
2007	63.0	293 of 777	62.3%	★★★☆☆
2006	53.7	421 of 756	44.3%	★★☆☆☆
2005	48.4	441 of 685	35.6%	★★☆☆☆
2004	51.2	395 of 676	41.6%	★★☆☆☆
2003	62.0	276 of 674	59.1%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	46.4	454 of 790	42.5%	★★☆☆☆
2025	42.5	506 of 799	36.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	42.8	514 of 809	36.5%	★★☆☆☆
2023	44.0	498 of 787	36.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	45.0	492 of 799	38.4%	★★☆☆☆
2021	53.7	419 of 783	46.5%	★★☆☆☆
2019	61.1	349 of 787	55.7%	★★★☆☆
2018	52.1	440 of 774	43.2%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2023	28.7	159 of 214	25.7%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	46.3	430 of 764	43.7%	★★☆☆☆
2025	44.6	445 of 764	41.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	52.4	385 of 793	51.5%	★★★☆☆
2023	46.7	432 of 774	44.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	54.9	300 of 663	54.8%	★★★☆☆
2021	63.1	226 of 683	66.9%	★★★☆☆
2019	62.6	267 of 740	63.9%	★★★☆☆
2018	52.7	373 of 728	48.8%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	47.2	457 of 807	43.4%	★★☆☆☆
2025	39.9	546 of 812	32.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	45.1	503 of 826	39.1%	★★☆☆☆
2023	48.6	454 of 799	43.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	55.3	395 of 808	51.1%	★★★☆☆
2021	51.7	437 of 784	44.3%	★★☆☆☆
2019	48.2	479 of 798	40.0%	★★☆☆☆
2018	44.3	514 of 779	34.0%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	27.8	449 of 579	22.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	15.6	521 of 562	7.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	30.2	420 of 572	26.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	23.4	441 of 524	15.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	43.4	252 of 417	39.6%	★★☆☆☆
2019	41.5	336 of 515	34.8%	★★☆☆☆
2018	30.6	331 of 463	28.5%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	30.3	544 of 710	23.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	24.9	604 of 714	15.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	29.6	569 of 730	22.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	36.5	491 of 712	31.0%	★★☆☆☆
2022	36.3	517 of 725	28.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	37.2	504 of 710	29.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	35.4	548 of 722	24.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	31.7	558 of 712	21.6%	★☆☆☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)44th percentile~ school

Male (2026)43rd percentile~ school

Female (2026)43rd percentile~ school

Hispanic (2023)26th percentile-15 vs school

White (2026)23rd percentile-21 vs school

Special Education (2026)22nd percentile-22 vs school

By subject vs Minnesota (2025-2026) ?

Math51%+6 vs state

Reading47%~ state avg

Science14%-12 vs state

★

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Schools Near Northside Elementary

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				MCA-IV Reading (2026)					MCA-IV Science (2026)		MCA-III Math (2026)					Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients (2025)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	MCA-IV Reading 3rd Grade	MCA-IV Reading 4th Grade	MCA-IV Reading 5th Grade	MCA-IV Reading 6th Grade	MCA-IV Reading All Grades	MCA-IV Science 5th Grade	MCA-IV Science All Grades	MCA-III Math 3rd Grade	MCA-III Math 4th Grade	MCA-III Math 5th Grade	MCA-III Math 6th Grade	MCA-III Math All Grades	Total
Northside Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1800 Nevada Ave	Benson	56215	Swift County	Benson Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(320) 843-2710	391	23	16.7	38.4%	315 (80.6%)	6 (1.5%)	44 (11.3%)	11 (2.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (3.8%)	48.1	487^th of 869 public elementary schools	44.0%		42.3	547^th of 872 public elementary schools	37.3%	60	52.2	45.5	42.5		46.8	13.5	13.5	76.1	43.6	31.6		51.1	$12,180
Murdock Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	408 Hollis St N	Murdock	56271	Swift County	Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg	No	No	No	Yes	(320) 875-2441	395	35	11.4	40.5%	297 (75.2%)	2 (0.5%)	83 (21.0%)	4 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.0%)	5 (1.3%)	52.3	431^st of 869 public elementary schools	50.4%		61.5	356^th of 872 public elementary schools	59.2%	75	42.4	57.8	52.6	52.7	51.1	12.8	12.8	55.9	60.9	32.1	50.0	47.7	$11,477
Hancock Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	371 Hancock Ave	Hancock	56244	Stevens County	Hancock Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(320) 392-5621	233	18	12.9	28.3%	196 (84.1%)	1 (0.4%)	27 (11.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (3.9%)	92.9	28^th of 869 public elementary schools	96.8%		94	23^rd of 872 public elementary schools	97.4%	5	70.0	96.7	71.1	72.2	76.9	35.9	35.9	100.0	100.0	79.5	61.1	83.7	$10,388

Frequently Asked Questions about Northside Elementary

What schools do graduates of Northside Elementary attend?

Students who attend Northside Elementary usually go on to attend:

High : Benson Secondary

What is the racial makeup of Northside Elementary?

Students at Northside Elementary are 81% White, 11% Hispanic, 4% Two or more races, 3% Asian, 2% African American.

Is Northside Elementary a good school?

Northside Elementary ranks 487^th of 869 Minnesota elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What district is Northside Elementary in?

Benson Public School District

How many students attend Northside Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 391 students attended Northside Elementary.

Rate Northside Elementary!

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Schools in Benson, MN

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Latest Minnesota data All new data »

2024–25 through 2025–26 MCA-III & MCA-IV test scoresNewSep 30, 2026

2024–25 dropout rates & graduation ratesJun 13, 2026

2024–25 MCA-III test scoresAug 29, 2025

2023–24 dropout rates & graduation ratesMay 8, 2025

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Minnesota Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.