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Northwinds Elementary

Q: Is Northwinds Elementary a good school?

Northwinds Elementary ranks 208 th of 869 Minnesota elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades K-5

208^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 869 Minnesota Elementary Schools

Better than 76% of Minnesota elementary schools

Summary

Northwinds Elementary is a K–5 school in Buffalo, Minnesota, in the Wright County area, serving 419 students — the largest enrollment among the Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose Schools elementaries in this comparison. For 2025–2026 it ranked 208th of 869 Minnesota elementary schools (76th percentile, 4 stars), while the district ranked 133rd of 458 statewide. About 25.78% of students qualified for free or reduced lunch in 2024–2025, and the student-to-teacher ratio was 14.8:1.

Northwinds is clearly the academic leader among its district peers. It sits 55 to 382 rank positions ahead of every other BHM elementary, with only Montrose Elementary School of Innov anywhere close. Math proficiency of 63.4% is 18.5 points above the state and well ahead of Discovery Elementary, Parkside Elementary and Tatanka Elementary STEM School. Science (35.5%) and reading (57.6%) also beat district and state averages. Among nearby out-of-district schools, Maple Lake Elementary and Little Mountain Elementary post similar results, and Swan River Montessori Charter School actually edges Northwinds in reading. Only the small Monticello Nature Based Education school clearly outperforms it across the board.

The longer view is mixed. Northwinds was a top-decile school as recently as 2020–2021 (63rd of 869, 5 stars) and has since slid roughly 17 percentile points, bottoming at the 66th percentile in 2024–2025 before rebounding. Science shows the sharpest erosion: its margin over the state narrowed from +31.8 points in 2022–2023 to +10.0 points in 2025–2026. Its 76th-percentile overall ranking also is not matched by every student group — special education students rank at the 51st percentile, near the statewide midpoint — so results look stronger in the aggregate than they do for some groups of students.

419

Students ?

14.8

Student/teacher ratio ?

$11,493

Per pupil spending ?

25.8%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1111 7th Ave NW
Buffalo, MN 55313-8888

(763) 682-8800

District: Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose Schools

Students who attend Northwinds Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Buffalo Community Middle
High:	Buffalo Senior High

Racial breakdown:

White:

94.0%

Hispanic:

2.4%

African American:

1.7%

See top rated Minnesota elementary schools

Compare Northwinds Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 94th percentile in 2016 → 76th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Minnesota average (57% vs 43% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 24% of Minnesota elementary schools

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 18 percentile points since 2016

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school57%

District avg48%

Minnesota avg43%

208^th of 869

Minnesota public elementary schools ?

Top 24%▼ down 18 pts since 2016

From top 6% (2016) to top 24% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Minnesota Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

2^nd of 6Elementary Schools in the Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose Schools

133^rd of 458Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose Schools 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	74.9	208 of 869	76.1%	★★★★☆
2025	67.3	296 of 872	66.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	75.0	200 of 881	77.3%	★★★★☆
2023	84.1	102 of 845	87.9%	★★★★☆
2022	84.7	90 of 858	89.5%	★★★★☆
2021	87.1	63 of 869	92.8%	★★★★★
2019	81.9	114 of 870	86.9%	★★★★☆
2018	82.0	98 of 847	88.4%	★★★★☆
2017	85.7	54 of 853	93.7%	★★★★★
2016	86.1	47 of 848	94.5%	★★★★★
2015	79.3	119 of 840	85.8%	★★★★☆
2014	80.6	99 of 826	88.0%	★★★★☆
2013	73.0	202 of 824	75.5%	★★★★☆
2012	69.2	245 of 820	70.1%	★★★★☆
2011	77.0	122 of 814	85.0%	★★★★☆
2010	69.2	248 of 803	69.1%	★★★☆☆
2008	63.3	315 of 781	59.7%	★★★☆☆
2007	67.3	240 of 777	69.1%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	74.6	174 of 790	78.0%	★★★★☆
2025	72.4	206 of 799	74.2%	★★★★☆
2024	72.0	209 of 809	74.2%	★★★★☆
2023	79.8	116 of 787	85.3%	★★★★☆
2022	82.3	96 of 799	88.0%	★★★★☆
2021	82.5	81 of 783	89.7%	★★★★☆
2019	78.3	125 of 787	84.1%	★★★★☆
2018	83.7	79 of 774	89.8%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	61.0	273 of 764	64.3%	★★★☆☆
2025	63.8	237 of 764	69.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	66.9	234 of 793	70.5%	★★★★☆
2023	84.5	54 of 774	93.0%	★★★★★
2022	81.8	60 of 663	91.0%	★★★★★
2021	92.4	17 of 683	97.5%	★★★★★
2019	84.1	47 of 740	93.6%	★★★★★
2018	81.3	66 of 728	90.9%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	71.0	220 of 807	72.7%	★★★★☆
2025	57.9	370 of 812	54.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	73.1	197 of 826	76.2%	★★★★☆
2023	83.2	92 of 799	88.5%	★★★★☆
2022	83.6	82 of 808	89.9%	★★★★☆
2021	87.7	44 of 784	94.4%	★★★★★
2019	81.4	102 of 798	87.2%	★★★★☆
2018	78.5	128 of 779	83.6%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	49.1	281 of 579	51.5%	★★★☆☆
2025	37.7	368 of 562	34.5%	★★☆☆☆
2024	52.6	244 of 572	57.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	81.8	63 of 524	88.0%	★★★★☆
2022	87.3	28 of 500	94.4%	★★★★★
2021	89.4	15 of 417	96.4%	★★★★★
2019	79.7	59 of 515	88.5%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2026	58.5	288 of 710	59.4%	★★★☆☆
2025	45.1	419 of 714	41.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	57.3	296 of 730	59.5%	★★★☆☆
2023	71.4	165 of 712	76.8%	★★★★☆
2022	75.6	135 of 725	81.4%	★★★★☆
2021	80.6	81 of 710	88.6%	★★★★☆
2019	74.1	142 of 722	80.3%	★★★★☆
2018	70.1	175 of 712	75.4%	★★★★☆

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)

Female (2026)78th percentile~ school

Male (2026)73rd percentile-3 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)64th percentile-12 vs school

White (2026)59th percentile-17 vs school

Special Education (2026)51st percentile-25 vs school

By subject vs Minnesota (2025-2026) ?

Math63%+18 vs state

Reading58%+9 vs state

Science36%+10 vs state

★

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Schools Near Northwinds 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
Northwinds Elementary	Public	K-5	1111 7th Ave NW	Buffalo	55313	Wright County	Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose Schools	No	No	No	No	(763) 682-8800	419	28	14.8	25.8%	394 (94.0%)	7 (1.7%)	10 (2.4%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (1.4%)	74.9	208^th of 869 public elementary schools	76.1%		67.3	296^th of 872 public elementary schools	66.1%	88	58.7	54.9	59.0		57.6	35.5	35.5	77.3	70.0	44.3		63.4	$11,493
Discovery Elementary	Public	K-5	301 2nd Ave NE	Buffalo	55313	Wright County	Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose Schools	No	No	No	No	(763) 682-8400	257	15	16.6	16.0%	252 (98.1%)	2 (0.8%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.8%)	48.6	480^th of 869 public elementary schools	44.8%		51.4	464^th of 872 public elementary schools	46.8%	16	43.9	50.0	50.0		47.9	17.1	17.1	43.9	69.0	30.6		48.7	$12,939
Parkside Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	207 3rd St NE	Buffalo	55313	Wright County	Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(763) 682-8500	348	27	12.8	42.8%	286 (82.2%)	7 (2.0%)	26 (7.5%)	6 (1.7%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (6.0%)	42.7	541^st of 869 public elementary schools	37.7%		44.3	527^th of 872 public elementary schools	39.6%	14	40.0	42.7	49.1		43.9	25.0	25.0	47.3	45.3	33.3		42.2	$13,171
Tatanka Elementary STEM School	Public	K-5	703 8th St NE	Buffalo	55313	Wright County	Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(763) 682-8600	393	26	14.8	35.1%	301 (76.6%)	32 (8.1%)	24 (6.1%)	7 (1.8%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (6.9%)	36.5	590^th of 869 public elementary schools	32.1%		42.5	544^th of 872 public elementary schools	37.6%	46	44.4	30.9	51.9		42.5	14.8	14.8	51.4	41.8	22.2		39.8	$10,828
Maple Lake Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	200 Highway 55 E	Maple Lake	55358	Wright County	Maple Lake Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(320) 963-3024	404	33	12.2	27.2%	384 (95.0%)	1 (0.2%)	7 (1.7%)	2 (0.5%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (2.2%)	72	240^th of 869 public elementary schools	72.4%		66	314^th of 872 public elementary schools	64.0%	74	42.6	56.9	65.9	64.8	56.7	34.1	34.1	59.0	67.7	52.3	50.9	58.3	$11,302
Monticello Nature Based Education	Public	PK, KG-5	9842 Briarwood Avenue NE	Monticello	55362	Wright County	Monticello Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(763) 272-2801	65	0		23.1%	59 (90.8%)	1 (1.5%)	3 (4.6%)	1 (1.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.5%)	83.9	105^th of 869 public elementary schools	87.9%		80	148^th of 872 public elementary schools	83.0%	43		43.8	81.8		65.8	50.0	50.0		62.5	77.3		71.1
Montrose Elementary School of Innov	Public	PK, KG-5	100 2nd St S	Montrose	55363	Wright County	Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(763) 682-8345	363	25	14.4	45.7%	307 (84.6%)	14 (3.9%)	29 (8.0%)	9 (2.5%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.8%)	68.9	263^rd of 869 public elementary schools	69.7%		59.6	376^th of 872 public elementary schools	56.9%	113	58.8	46.7	67.3		57.2	34.5	34.5	72.5	56.7	40.0		56.0	$13,186
Little Mountain Elementary	Public	1-5	9350 Fallon Ave NE	Monticello	55362	Wright County	Monticello Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(763) 272-2600	576	42	13.6	32.6%	414 (71.9%)	29 (5.0%)	61 (10.6%)	23 (4.0%)	5 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	44 (7.6%)	67.9	272^nd of 869 public elementary schools	68.7%		66.2	310^th of 872 public elementary schools	64.4%	38	41.9	59.2	71.3		57.6	32.0	32.0	59.7	53.3	54.3		55.8	$12,686
Humphrey Elementary	Public	PK, KG-4	803 Elm Ave	Waverly	55390	Wright County	Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted	No	No	No	Yes	(320) 543-4680	243	19	12.7	29.6%	204 (84.0%)	4 (1.6%)	26 (10.7%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (3.3%)	44.4	521^st of 869 public elementary schools	40.0%		38.1	584^th of 872 public elementary schools	33.0%	63	36.5	42.0			39.2			50.9	56.0			53.4	$11,301
Eastview Education Center	Public	PK-K	9375 Fenning Ave NE	Monticello	55362	Wright County	Monticello Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(763) 272-2801	301	43	7.0	38.5%	229 (76.1%)	14 (4.7%)	33 (11.0%)	7 (2.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (6.0%)								(n/a)													$16,426

Frequently Asked Questions about Northwinds Elementary

What schools do graduates of Northwinds Elementary attend?

Students who attend Northwinds Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Buffalo Community Middle
High : Buffalo Senior High

How many students attend Northwinds Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 419 students attended Northwinds Elementary.

Is Northwinds Elementary a good school?

Northwinds Elementary ranks 208^th of 869 Minnesota elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Northwinds Elementary?

Students at Northwinds Elementary are 94% White, 2% Hispanic, 2% African American, 1% Two or more races.

What district is Northwinds Elementary in?

Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose Schools

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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.