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Northern Lights Elementary

Q: Is Northern Lights Elementary a good school?

Northern Lights Elementary ranks 575 th of 1039 Wisconsin elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

575^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,039 Wisconsin Elementary Schools

Better than 45% of Wisconsin elementary schools

Summary

Northern Lights Elementary is a PK–5 school in Superior, WI, serving 453 students — the largest elementary in the Superior School District. It has been improving: its state ranking rose from the 16th percentile in 2021–22 to the 45th percentile in 2025–26, and its rating moved from 1 star to 2 stars. That is real, multi-year progress. Still, among nearby schools in 2025–26 it ranks lowest: Four Corners Elementary (69th percentile), Cooper Elementary (66th), Bryant Elementary (61st), Great Lakes Elementary (56th), and Northwestern Elementary (55th). It is closing the gap, but from behind.

Academics are mixed. Fourth-grade science is a standout at 67.53% proficient, the strongest result in the peer group, and fourth-grade social studies is also strong at 72.73%, above district and state. English language arts is near the state average in grades 3 and 4, but fifth grade is weaker at 42.19%. Mathematics is the clear weak point: below the state at every grade and declining across the grade span, from 48.44% in grade 3 to 42.86% in grade 4 to 31.25% in grade 5. Because these are single-grade results with modest numbers of tested students, year-to-year swings can reflect cohort differences. Looking over three years, every grade and subject is still ahead of 2022–23 levels.

Chronic absenteeism is 13.4%, better than the district and state, but nearby Four Corners Elementary (4.0%), Bryant Elementary (9.0%), Cooper Elementary (9.5%), and Great Lakes Elementary (11.5%) all report lower rates, while Northwestern Elementary is higher at 14.3%. The school spends the most per student ($17,422) and has the smallest classes (13.3 students per teacher) in its comparison group. One distinctive strength: special education students and low-income students now rank above the school’s overall result, with both groups earning 3 stars in 2025–26. Bottom line: Northern Lights Elementary is improving, with standout fourth-grade science and social studies and strong results for higher-need students; math, fifth-grade outcomes, and relative absenteeism are the clearest areas to watch.

453

Students ?

13.3

Student/teacher ratio ?

$17,422

Per pupil spending ?

15.2%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

90%

Kindergartners meeting all minimum immunization requirements (2025-26)

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 — 25th percentile in 2016 → 45th in 2026

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 20 percentile points since 2016

Worth a look

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

!Mathematics scores 12 pts below the Wisconsin average

!Near the bottom of Superior School District's ranking

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school53%

District avg59%

Wisconsin avg55%

575^th of 1,039

Wisconsin public elementary schools ?

Bottom 45%▲ up 20 pts since 2016

From bottom 25% (2016) to bottom 45% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Wisconsin Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

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

230^th of 432Superior 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
2026	51.2	575 of 1039	44.7%	★★☆☆☆
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
2026	51.4	539 of 986	45.3%	★★☆☆☆
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
2026	53.7	387 of 848	54.4%	★★★☆☆
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
2026	50.3	568 of 989	42.6%	★★☆☆☆
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
2026	26.2	106 of 142	25.4%	★☆☆☆☆
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
2026	56.8	307 of 791	61.2%	★★★☆☆
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
2026	35.3	494 of 697	29.1%	★☆☆☆☆
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)

Special Education (2026)61st percentile+17 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)54th percentile+10 vs school

Female (2026)45th percentile~ school

Male (2026)43rd percentile~ school

White (2026)29th percentile-16 vs school

Multi-racial (2026)25th percentile-19 vs school

Hispanic (2024)20th percentile~ school

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

By subject vs Wisconsin (2025-2026) ?

Social Studies73%+7 vs state

Science68%+14 vs state

English Language Arts53%~ state avg

Mathematics41%-12 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

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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 Vaccination Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				Forward Exam English Language Arts (2026)			Forward Exam Mathematics (2026)			Forward Exam Social Studies (2026)	Forward Exam Science (2026)	Vaccination (2025-26)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
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/reduced lunch (2024-25)	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	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	Vaccination: Kindergartners meeting all minimum immunization requirements	Vaccination: Exemption rate	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%)	51.2	575^th of 1039 public elementary schools	44.7%		46.6	636^th of 1044 public elementary schools	39.1%	61	54.7	61.0	42.2	48.4	42.9	31.3	72.7	67.5	90%		$17,422	$1,141	$16,280
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%)	58.6	460^th of 1039 public elementary schools	55.7%		61.9	430^th of 1044 public elementary schools	58.8%	30	69.8	64.7	69.8	50.9	41.2	51.2	66.7	49.0	88%		$15,296	$936	$14,360
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%)	67.4	351^st of 1039 public elementary schools	66.2%		62	429^th of 1044 public elementary schools	58.9%	78	53.2	69.0	67.9	48.9	51.7	58.9	84.5	64.9	90%		$16,570	$1,181	$15,389
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%)	62.7	407^th of 1039 public elementary schools	60.8%		67.8	350^th of 1044 public elementary schools	66.5%	57	67.5	61.0	57.1	45.0	63.4	60.0	68.3	58.5	93%		$16,060	$1,004	$15,056
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%)	69.1	326^th of 1039 public elementary schools	68.6%		58.1	489^th of 1044 public elementary schools	53.2%	163	80.0	52.9	60.0	88.0	61.8	63.3	67.7	58.8	89%		$16,131	$927	$15,204
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%)	58.3	472^nd of 1039 public elementary schools	54.6%		65	388^th of 1044 public elementary schools	62.8%	84	63.2	58.3	66.2	55.3	50.0	48.1	65.3	51.4	81%		$12,017	$741	$11,276

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

Is Northern Lights Elementary a good school?

Northern Lights Elementary ranks 575^th of 1039 Wisconsin elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What district is Northern Lights Elementary in?

Superior School District

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.

Rate Northern Lights Elementary!

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Latest Wisconsin data All new data »

2018–19 through 2025–26 immunization rates (updated)Oct 20, 2026

2016–17 through 2017–18 immunization rates (updated)Oct 19, 2026

2025–26 ACT & Forward Exam scoresOct 1, 2026

2021–22 through 2024–25 school spending dataJul 16, 2026

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.