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Northern Lights Elementary

Q: Is Northern Lights Elementary a good school?

Northern Lights Elementary ranks 636 th of 1044 Wisconsin elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

636^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,044 Wisconsin Elementary Schools

Better than 39% of Wisconsin elementary schools

Summary

Northern Lights Elementary is a public elementary school in Superior, Wisconsin, serving 452 students in grades PK-5 as part of the Superior School District.

While Northern Lights Elementary has a relatively high per-student spending of $14,551, the school has consistently underperformed compared to the district and state in academic achievement. In the 2024-2025 school year, only 67.53% of 3rd-grade students were proficient or better in English Language Arts, compared to 65.31% for the district and 52.14% for the state. Similarly, in mathematics, only 25.4% of 4th-grade students were proficient or better, compared to 49.79% for the district and 53.96% for the state. The school also struggles with high chronic absenteeism rates, reaching 19.5% in the 2022-2023 school year.

Interestingly, the nearby schools in the Superior School District, such as Four Corners Elementary, Lake Superior Elementary, Bryant Elementary, Great Lakes Elementary, and Cooper Elementary, generally outperform Northern Lights Elementary in academic achievement and other key metrics. This suggests that the school may be facing challenges in effectively utilizing its resources to improve student outcomes.

453

Students ?

13.3

Student/teacher ratio ?

$14,551

Per pupil spending ?

15.2%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1201 N 28th St
Superior, WI 54880

(715) 395-6066

District: Superior School District

Students who attend Northern Lights Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Superior Middle
High:	Superior High

Racial breakdown:

White:

78.6%

Two or more races:

10.6%

African American:

3.3%

See top rated Wisconsin elementary schools

Compare Northern Lights Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 19th percentile in 2015 → 39th in 2025

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 20 percentile points since 2015

Worth a look

!Social Studies scores 24 pts below the Wisconsin average

!Near the bottom of Superior School District's ranking

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school50%

District avg56%

Wisconsin avg54%

636^th of 1,044

Wisconsin public elementary schools ?

Bottom 39%▲ up 20 pts since 2015

From bottom 19% (2015) to bottom 39% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Wisconsin Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

5^th of 5Elementary Schools in the Superior School District

245^th of 426Superior School District among Wisconsin 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	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2025	46.6	636 of 1044	39.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	27.8	829 of 1061	21.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	26.2	856 of 1067	19.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	19.8	900 of 1067	15.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	24.1	849 of 1050	19.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	30.5	791 of 1037	23.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	29.1	812 of 1025	20.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	39.7	721 of 1071	32.7%	★★☆☆☆
2016	32.1	809 of 1075	24.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	29.4	871 of 1076	19.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	44.3	706 of 1061	33.5%	★★☆☆☆
2013	39.5	759 of 1053	27.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	25.3	902 of 1045	13.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	25.2	911 of 1046	12.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	50.7	664 of 1045	36.5%	★★☆☆☆
2009	41.4	756 of 1030	26.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	21.5	902 of 1021	11.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	19.3	606 of 689	12.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	24.3	595 of 712	16.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2005	15.9	550 of 632	13.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2004	11.7	569 of 633	10.1%	★☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2018	23.8	138 of 165	16.4%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2025	49.6	572 of 1001	42.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	30.3	779 of 1011	22.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	22.5	835 of 1010	17.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	20.0	863 of 1017	15.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	23.3	827 of 1004	17.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	33.9	737 of 1002	26.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	28.9	796 of 997	20.2%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2024	23.6	266 of 331	19.6%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2025	45.9	499 of 870	42.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	26.5	703 of 866	18.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	26.5	716 of 871	17.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	22.6	734 of 859	14.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	31.9	630 of 847	25.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	36.2	613 of 874	29.9%	★★☆☆☆
2018	38.3	592 of 854	30.7%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2025	44.6	624 of 1000	37.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	27.9	797 of 1012	21.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	33.0	739 of 1011	26.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	23.0	838 of 1017	17.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	28.5	783 of 1003	21.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	30.5	776 of 1002	22.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	32.3	780 of 997	21.8%	★☆☆☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2025	46.7	59 of 113	47.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	43.9	69 of 119	42.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	42.4	52 of 96	45.8%	★★☆☆☆
2022	33.1	47 of 77	39.0%	★★☆☆☆
2021	23.1	70 of 85	17.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	47.8	38 of 76	50.0%	★★★☆☆
2018	20.8	60 of 67	10.4%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2025	38.4	495 of 802	38.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	21.1	676 of 790	14.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	22.3	647 of 770	16.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	20.5	654 of 748	12.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	37.0	473 of 746	36.6%	★★☆☆☆
2019	43.7	384 of 742	48.2%	★★☆☆☆
2018	47.1	368 of 721	49.0%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2025	34.6	519 of 718	27.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	10.7	687 of 727	5.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	12.8	674 of 715	5.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	8.4	681 of 704	3.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	10.3	672 of 699	3.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	13.7	656 of 718	8.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	18.6	616 of 686	10.2%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

Multi-racial (2025)48th percentile+9 vs school

Female (2025)43rd percentile+4 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)43rd percentile+4 vs school

Special Education (2025)38th percentile~ school

Male (2025)38th percentile~ school

White (2025)28th percentile-11 vs school

Hispanic (2024)20th percentile~ school

African American (2018)16th percentile-4 vs school

By subject vs Wisconsin (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts56%+5 vs state

Mathematics50%-4 vs state

Social Studies40%-24 vs state

Science37%-14 vs state

3.0

2 ratings · 1 written review

5★1

4★0

3★0

2★0

1★1

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What people are saying

by a parent on FaceBook
Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Teachers, administrators, and other staff at Northern Lights (from the Engineers and custodians to food service and tutors) work as a cohesive team with parents to provide the best possible educational and developmental environment for all students.

I was initially intimidated by the size of the school (over 650 students at the time my children enrolled) and the socio-economic demographic served. I have since seen the benefits of a system that allows grade levels some isolation while integrating multi-age classes and encouraging diversity (and acceptance, not just tolerance).

Northern Lights prepares students to succeed in Middle School by building their academic foundation while teaching them to exist in larger society. Close Quote

Schools Near Northern Lights Elementary

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				Forward Exam English Language Arts (2025)			Forward Exam Mathematics (2025)			Forward Exam Social Studies (2025)	Forward Exam Science (2025)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2021)
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	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	Forward Exam English Language Arts 3rd Grade	Forward Exam English Language Arts 4th Grade	Forward Exam English Language Arts 5th Grade	Forward Exam Mathematics 3rd Grade	Forward Exam Mathematics 4th Grade	Forward Exam Mathematics 5th Grade	Forward Exam Social Studies 4th Grade	Forward Exam Science 4th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Northern Lights Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1201 N 28th St	Superior	54880	Douglas County	Superior School District	No	No	No	Yes	(715) 395-6066	453	34	13.3	15.2%	356 (78.6%)	15 (3.3%)	14 (3.1%)	8 (1.8%)	12 (2.6%)	0 (0.0%)	48 (10.6%)	46.6	636^th of 1044 public elementary schools	39.1%		27.8	829^th of 1061 public elementary schools	21.9%	193	67.5	44.4	54.8	70.1	25.4	50.0	39.7	36.5	$14,551	$1,120	$13,431
Great Lakes Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	129 N 28th St E	Superior	54880	Douglas County	Superior School District	No	No	No	Yes	(715) 395-8500	348	22	16.0	13.8%	281 (80.7%)	2 (0.6%)	17 (4.9%)	1 (0.3%)	5 (1.4%)	2 (0.6%)	40 (11.5%)	61.9	430^th of 1044 public elementary schools	58.8%		69	338^th of 1061 public elementary schools	68.1%	92	68.4	66.0	60.3	63.2	57.5	37.9	68.1	48.9	$11,604	$646	$10,958
Cooper Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1807 Missouri Ave	Superior	54880	Douglas County	Superior School District	No	No	No	Yes	(715) 394-8790	363	27	13.5	11.6%	263 (72.5%)	13 (3.6%)	22 (6.1%)	3 (0.8%)	9 (2.5%)	0 (0.0%)	53 (14.6%)	62	429^th of 1044 public elementary schools	58.9%		53	592^nd of 1061 public elementary schools	44.2%	163	71.4	59.7	55.3	57.1	61.4	36.2	64.9	61.4	$13,197	$648	$12,549
Bryant Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1423 Central Ave	Superior	54880	Douglas County	Superior School District	No	No	No	Yes	(715) 394-8785	283	18	15.8	11.3%	241 (85.2%)	6 (2.1%)	14 (4.9%)	1 (0.4%)	5 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (5.7%)	67.8	350^th of 1044 public elementary schools	66.5%		60.8	473^rd of 1061 public elementary schools	55.4%	123	63.0	59.5	67.4	52.2	59.5	60.5	70.3	67.6	$13,664	$1,092	$12,572
Four Corners Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	4465 E County Road B	Superior	54880	Douglas County	Superior School District	No	No	No	No	(715) 399-8911	200	13	15.5	10.5%	181 (90.5%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (2.0%)	2 (1.0%)	2 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (5.5%)	58.1	489^th of 1044 public elementary schools	53.2%		51.6	610^th of 1061 public elementary schools	42.5%	121	48.6	60.0	57.1	62.9	56.7	42.9	66.7	56.7	$13,237	$874	$12,363
Northwestern Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	10465 E US Highway 2	Poplar	54864	Douglas County	Maple School District	No	No	No	Yes	(715) 364-8465	515	30	17.0	31.8%	472 (91.7%)	3 (0.6%)	9 (1.7%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	26 (5.0%)	65	388^th of 1044 public elementary schools	62.8%		57.5	528^th of 1061 public elementary schools	50.2%	140	64.4	59.0	65.4	53.4	48.7	64.1	71.8	57.7	$11,528	$729	$10,800

Frequently Asked Questions about Northern Lights Elementary

What schools do graduates of Northern Lights Elementary attend?

Students who attend Northern Lights Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Superior Middle
High : Superior High

What is the racial makeup of Northern Lights Elementary?

Students at Northern Lights Elementary are 79% White, 11% Two or more races, 3% African American, 3% Hispanic, 3% American Indian, 2% Asian.

How many students attend Northern Lights Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 453 students attended Northern Lights Elementary.

Is Northern Lights Elementary a good school?

Northern Lights Elementary ranks 636^th of 1044 Wisconsin elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What district is Northern Lights Elementary in?

Superior School District

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

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.