Prairie Winds Middle School

Summary:

Prairie Winds Middle School is a public middle school in Mankato, Minnesota, serving 954 students in grades 6-8. The school is part of the Mankato Public School District, which is ranked 121 out of 463 districts in the state and has a 4-star rating.

While Prairie Winds Middle School has a diverse student population, with 66.77% White, 17.19% African American, and 7.02% Hispanic students, its academic performance is generally below the district and state averages. In the 2023-2024 school year, the school's proficiency rates in Math (40.45%), Reading (46.31%), and Science (27.3%) were lower than the Mankato Public School District (52.1%, 55.05%, and 40.5%) and the state of Minnesota (45.47%, 49.85%, and 39.56%). The school's performance varies significantly across different student subgroups, with African American, Hispanic, and Special Education students performing significantly lower than their peers.

When compared to the nearby Dakota Meadows Middle School, also part of the Mankato Public School District, Prairie Winds Middle School has a more diverse student population but lower academic performance across most subject areas and grade levels. For example, in the 2023-2024 school year, Dakota Meadows Middle School had higher proficiency rates in Math (44.69%), Reading (55.45%), and Science (32.01%) compared to Prairie Winds Middle School. The school's overall ranking among Minnesota middle schools has also declined from 156 in 2013-2014 to 204 in 2023-2024, indicating that it may be struggling to keep pace with improvements in other schools across the state.


Detail:

Public 6-8

 1200 Prairie Winds Dr
       Mankato, MN  56001-8888


(507) 345-6625

District: Mankato Public School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
204th of 545 Minnesota Middle Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $11,184 Help


Students who attend Prairie Winds Middle School usually attend:

High:    Mankato East Senior High

Feeder schools for Prairie Winds Middle School:

Elementary:    Eagle Lake Elementary
    Franklin Elementary
    Kennedy Elementary
    Rosa Parks Elementary
    More...

Student/teacher ratio:  17.4 Help
Number of students:  954

Racial breakdown:

White:
66.8%
African American:
17.2%
Hispanic:
7.0%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  47.1% Help


 See top rated Minnesota middle schools

 Compare Prairie Winds Middle School to nearby middle schools!

Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Prairie Winds Middle School ranks better than 62.6% of middle schools in Minnesota. (See more...)
Help
Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 58.77. (See more...)
Student Body
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Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (66.8%), African American (17.2%), Hispanic (7%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 47.1% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Prairie Winds Middle School is 17.4. (See more...)
Help
Compare Prairie Winds Middle School employs 54.7 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at Prairie Winds Middle School is $11,184.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Prairie Winds Middle School:

SchoolDigger ranks Prairie Winds Middle School 204th of 545 Minnesota public middle schools. (See Prairie Winds Middle School in the ranking list.)

Middle School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Multi-racial students:
English Language Learner students:
Special Education students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Male students:
African American students:
Hispanic students:
White students:


Mankato Public School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Mankato Public School District 121st of 463 Minnesota school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Your rating for Prairie Winds Middle School?

Rank History for Prairie Winds Middle School

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Compare

Rank History for all students at Prairie Winds Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2004 64.04 164th 387 57.6%
2005 51.04 244th 396 38.4%
2006 62.55 163rd 406 59.9%
2007 73.43 79th 403 80.4%
2008 72.08 97th 409 76.3%
2009 65.10 79th 230 65.7%
2010 61.13 183rd 454 59.7%
2011 58.82 198th 478 58.6%
2012 49.70 280th 469 40.3%
2013 59.26 193rd 488 60.5%
2014 65.96 156th 490 68.2%
2015 64.33 176th 516 65.9%
2016 58.94 207th 508 59.3%
2017 61.53 208th 523 60.2%
2018 53.19 270th 518 47.9%
2019 54.08 251st 533 52.9%
2021 62.29 177th 521 66.0%
2022 54.18 230th 520 55.8%
2023 53.48 236th 529 55.4%
2024 58.77 204th 545 62.6%
See the entire list of Minnesota Middle School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Prairie Winds Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 21.67 99th 114 13.2%
2019 29.16 96th 120 20.0%
2021 37.45 66th 97 32.0%
2022 26.87 104th 131 20.6%
2023 34.31 73rd 107 31.8%
2024 41.95 69th 116 40.5%
See the entire list of Best Minnesota Middle Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Prairie Winds Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 24.97 99th 109 9.2%
2019 35.18 88th 120 26.7%
2021 42.36 55th 102 46.1%
2022 44.54 59th 130 54.6%
2023 53.77 33rd 133 75.2%
2024 29.05 137th 158 13.3%
See the entire list of Best Minnesota Middle Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Prairie Winds Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 47.22 129th 253 49.0%
2019 41.05 168th 282 40.4%
2021 69.11 44th 260 83.1%
2022 58.37 97th 288 66.3%
2023 56.11 106th 298 64.4%
2024 20.63 270th 307 12.1%
See the entire list of Best Minnesota Middle Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Prairie Winds Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 34.72 294th 401 26.7%
2019 32.67 304th 415 26.7%
2021 47.81 204th 399 48.9%
2022 42.36 237th 404 41.3%
2023 41.67 273rd 459 40.5%
2024 39.47 296th 473 37.4%
See the entire list of Best Minnesota Middle Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Prairie Winds Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 53.31 224th 436 48.6%
2019 50.91 231st 439 47.4%
2021 64.05 128th 443 71.1%
2022 56.91 184th 467 60.6%
2023 55.38 193rd 455 57.6%
2024 55.64 196th 474 58.6%
See the entire list of Best Minnesota Middle Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Prairie Winds Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 47.87 253rd 438 42.2%
2019 51.16 237th 454 47.8%
2021 54.41 196th 437 55.1%
2022 46.13 259th 476 45.6%
2023 46.24 250th 464 46.1%
2024 55.02 202nd 479 57.8%
See the entire list of Best Minnesota Middle Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for African American students at Prairie Winds Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 29.30 99th 137 27.7%
2019 23.59 117th 148 20.9%
2021 38.30 94th 141 33.3%
2022 33.39 108th 162 33.3%
2023 30.65 120th 164 26.8%
2024 38.40 112th 179 37.4%
See the entire list of Best Minnesota Middle Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Prairie Winds Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 52.90 66th 163 59.5%
2019 43.79 88th 171 48.5%
2021 60.21 47th 156 69.9%
2022 57.42 60th 188 68.1%
2023 31.31 129th 178 27.5%
2024 33.20 131st 186 29.6%
See the entire list of Best Minnesota Middle Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Prairie Winds Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 50.73 218th 428 49.1%
2019 54.94 196th 428 54.2%
2021 59.64 142nd 422 66.4%
2022 54.07 183rd 438 58.2%
2023 54.60 191st 436 56.2%
2024 62.30 135th 440 69.3%
See the entire list of Best Minnesota Middle Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Minnesota Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Prairie Winds Middle School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 






Data source: Minnesota Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 1)
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by a parent
Wednesday, March 2, 2022

Open Quote The bullying that goes on in this school is out of hand. My child has been having a TON of issues with bullying. Example: bully repeatedly harassing my child and no adult would confront the bully. My child eventually told the bully to shut up one day and my child got sent out of the classroom. The bully had zero repercussions because they have behavioral issues and parents who historically throw a fit if their child gets disciplined. This is unacceptable. My child's mental health is suffering because of this school. I am working on plans to pull them out. Close Quote


by a parent
Tuesday, May 21, 2019

Open Quote This is a beautiful school with vast resources however its administration is incompetent and they do not have the skill sets required to fix the multitude of problems at this school that includes bullying and fighting. It seems the students run this school while the staff run around like chickens with their heads cut off, so it speak. The kids who really need help don't get it. It might be time for this district to rethink the administration at this school especially given the low test scores, low amount of success, and large amount of chaos and violence. Close Quote


by a parent
Monday, November 12, 2018

Open Quote Poor excuse of teacher who cant handle a child with disability and when nurse sent child home due because being "sick" and dont want to deal with the child after telling them they are fine, they send a letter saying their absences are unacceptable. Close Quote


by a parent
Tuesday, April 17, 2018

Open Quote This school make me sick of the bulling that goes on and I think the teachers and any other adult there needs to do a better job when concern parents makes a complant!!! Close Quote



Enrollment information for Prairie Winds Middle School

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 369 1 8 4 0 n/a n/a 0 382
1989 421 2 5 3 0 n/a n/a 0 431
1990 483 2 5 3 0 n/a n/a 0 493
1991 488 0 7 3 0 n/a n/a 0 498
1992 491 2 7 2 0 n/a n/a 0 502
1993 495 1 9 6 2 n/a n/a 0 513
1994 535 4 20 7 3 n/a n/a 0 569
1995 475 3 24 17 2 n/a n/a 0 521
1996 475 3 24 17 2 n/a n/a 0 521
1997 498 6 18 18 1 n/a n/a 0 541
1998 492 13 21 13 0 n/a n/a 0 539
1999 464 8 20 15 1 n/a n/a 0 508
2000 420 24 10 16 0 n/a n/a 0 470
2001 442 26 16 13 3 n/a n/a 0 500
2002 450 32 21 14 0 n/a n/a 0 517
2003 450 32 21 14 0 n/a n/a 0 517
2004 419 35 16 17 1 n/a n/a 0 488
2005 405 35 16 20 3 n/a n/a 0 479
2006 384 38 16 27 2 n/a n/a 0 467
2007 374 43 23 29 1 n/a n/a 0 470
2008 380 44 21 26 1 n/a n/a 0 472
2009 355 48 28 19 4 n/a n/a 0 454
2010 335 64 16 30 5 n/a n/a 0 450
2011 364 56 12 27 6 0 3 0 468
2012 384 75 11 31 2 0 3 0 506
2013 396 73 11 26 2 1 7 0 516
2014 399 77 12 27 4 1 4 0 524
2015 407 86 13 35 6 1 8 0 556
2016 393 82 19 32 6 1 10 0 543
2017 664 142 25 63 3 0 25 0 922
2018 695 127 23 72 1 0 44 0 962
2019 717 128 22 85 5 1 52 0 1010
2020 756 158 16 87 3 3 71 0 1094
2021 747 178 18 71 3 3 70 0 1090
2022 710 198 19 75 5 6 65 0 1078
2023 637 164 22 67 7 1 56 0 954

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Prairie Winds Middle School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 382 22.2 17.2 25.1
1989 431 24.2 17.8 20.2
1990 493 26.9 18.3 18.3
1991 498 24.1 20.6 14.5
1992 502 23.3 21.5 20.7
1993 513 24.8 20.7 22.2
1994 569 24.8 22.9 21.4
1995 521 26.5 19.7 22.1
1996 521 26.5 19.7 22.1
1997 541 29.2 18.5 15.5
1998 539 n/a 0.0 19.5
1999 508 32.4 15.7 22
2000 470 28.4 16.5 30
2001 500 27.5 18.2 34
2002 517 29.8 17.3 32.1
2003 517 29.8 17.3 32.1
2004 488 27.6 17.7 37.5
2005 479 28.8 16.6 37.2
2006 467 27.8 16.8 36.2
2007 470 29.9 15.7 37
2008 472 30.1 15.7 40.5
2009 454 30.0 15.1 41.6
2010 450 27.7 16.2 44
2011 468 30.4 15.3 39.3
2012 506 28.4 17.8 45.3
2013 516 31.2 16.5 44
2014 524 31.8 16.4 40.1
2015 556 34.0 16.3 41
2016 543 33.0 16.4 39.8
2017 922 48.6 18.9 40.7
2018 962 53.6 17.9 38.7
2019 1010 55.5 18.1 38.8
2020 1094 58.2 18.7 38.3
2021 1090 59.4 18.3 35.8
2022 1078 56.9 18.9 35.8
2023 954 54.7 17.4 47.1

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Prairie Winds Middle School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 382 22.2 17.2 25.1
1989 431 24.2 17.8 20.2
1990 493 26.9 18.3 18.3
1991 498 24.1 20.6 14.5
1992 502 23.3 21.5 20.7
1993 513 24.8 20.7 22.2
1994 569 24.8 22.9 21.4
1995 521 26.5 19.7 22.1
1996 521 26.5 19.7 22.1
1997 541 29.2 18.5 15.5
1998 539 n/a 0.0 19.5
1999 508 32.4 15.7 22
2000 470 28.4 16.5 30
2001 500 27.5 18.2 34
2002 517 29.8 17.3 32.1
2003 517 29.8 17.3 32.1
2004 488 27.6 17.7 37.5
2005 479 28.8 16.6 37.2
2006 467 27.8 16.8 36.2
2007 470 29.9 15.7 37
2008 472 30.1 15.7 40.5
2009 454 30.0 15.1 41.6
2010 450 27.7 16.2 44
2011 468 30.4 15.3 39.3
2012 506 28.4 17.8 45.3
2013 516 31.2 16.5 44
2014 524 31.8 16.4 40.1
2015 556 34.0 16.3 41
2016 543 33.0 16.4 39.8
2017 922 48.6 18.9 40.7
2018 962 53.6 17.9 38.7
2019 1010 55.5 18.1 38.8
2020 1094 58.2 18.7 38.3
2021 1090 59.4 18.3 35.8
2022 1078 56.9 18.9 35.8
2023 954 54.7 17.4 47.1

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Prairie Winds Middle School

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YearTotal Expenditures Per Pupil
2019 $11,184

Data source: Minnesota Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Prairie Winds Middle School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 251st of 533 Middle schoolsRanks 236th of 529 Middle schools
 2.5%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
6th Grade Math (Prairie Winds Middle School)50.340.6
 9.7%
   6th Grade Math (Mankato Public School District)55.439.3
 16.2%
   6th Grade Math (Minnesota)50.539.7
 10.8%
6th Grade Reading (Prairie Winds Middle School)61.349
 12.4%
   6th Grade Reading (Mankato Public School District)65.552.5
 13%
   6th Grade Reading (Minnesota)62.853.4
 9.4%
7th Grade Math (Prairie Winds Middle School)51.536.5
 15%
   7th Grade Math (Mankato Public School District)53.335
 18.3%
   7th Grade Math (Minnesota)52.139.7
 12.4%
7th Grade Reading (Prairie Winds Middle School)49.138.2
 10.9%
   7th Grade Reading (Mankato Public School District)57.643.4
 14.2%
   7th Grade Reading (Minnesota)57.545.2
 12.3%
8th Grade Math (Prairie Winds Middle School)46.735.7
 11%
   8th Grade Math (Mankato Public School District)53.841.6
 12.2%
   8th Grade Math (Minnesota)55.240.3
 14.9%
8th Grade Reading (Prairie Winds Middle School)57.840.6
 17.2%
   8th Grade Reading (Mankato Public School District)6347.6
 15.4%
   8th Grade Reading (Minnesota)57.744.8
 12.9%
8th Grade Science (Prairie Winds Middle School)36.825.6
 11.2%
   8th Grade Science (Mankato Public School District)40.829.8
 10.9%
   8th Grade Science (Minnesota)4327.6
 15.4%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students1010954
 5.5%
African American128164
 28.1%
American Indian57
 40%
Asian2222
Hispanic8567
 21.2%
Pacific Islander11
White717637
 11.2%
Two or More Races5256
 7.7%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients38.8%47.1%
 8.3%


Schools Near Prairie Winds Middle School









Frequently Asked Questions about Prairie Winds Middle School

Students who attend Prairie Winds Middle School usually go on to attend Mankato East Senior High

Prairie Winds Middle School ranks 204th of 545 Minnesota middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Students at Prairie Winds Middle School are 67% White, 17% African American, 7% Hispanic, 6% Two or more races, 2% Asian.

In the 2022-23 school year, 954 students attended Prairie Winds Middle School.


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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.





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