Is Prairie Woods Elementary a good school?

Prairie Woods Elementary ranks 221 st of 881 Minnesota elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Prairie Woods Elementary?

In the 2022-23 school year, 567 students attended Prairie Woods Elementary.

What is the racial makeup of Prairie Woods Elementary?

Students at Prairie Woods Elementary are 89% White, 9% Hispanic, 1% Two or more races.

What schools do graduates of Prairie Woods Elementary attend?

Students who attend Prairie Woods Elementary usually go on to attend: Middle : New London-Spicer Middle High : New London-Spicer Senior

Prairie Woods Elementary

Summary:

Prairie Woods Elementary is a public elementary school located in New London, Minnesota, serving grades PK-4 with a total enrollment of 567 students. The school is part of the New London-Spicer School District, which is ranked 57th out of 463 districts in Minnesota and has a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Prairie Woods Elementary consistently outperforms the state and district averages in both math and reading proficiency on the MCA-III assessments. For example, in the 2023-2024 school year, 66.95% of all grades were proficient or better in math, compared to 45.47% statewide and 52.9% for the district. The school's reading proficiency rates are also impressive, with 57.26% of all grades being proficient or better, compared to 49.85% statewide and 58.17% for the district. Prairie Woods Elementary's performance is particularly strong in 4th-grade math, where 71.93% of students were proficient or better, compared to 56.72% statewide and 71.93% for the district. However, the school's performance for students from low socioeconomic backgrounds has been more variable, with rankings ranging from the top 20% to the bottom 40% over the past few years.

When comparing Prairie Woods Elementary to the nearby schools, such as Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa Elementary, A.C.G.C. Elementary, and the Willmar Public Schools (including Roosevelt Elementary and Lakeland Elementary), Prairie Woods Elementary stands out with its consistently higher academic performance, particularly in math and reading proficiency. However, the school's predominantly white student population and relatively low percentage of economically disadvantaged students differentiate it from the more diverse and socioeconomically challenged nearby schools.

Detail:

Public PK, KG-4

17435 County Road 9 NE
New London, MN 56273-8888

(320) 354-2252

District: New London-Spicer School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
221^st of 881 Minnesota Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $11,812

Students who attend Prairie Woods Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	New London-Spicer Middle
High:	New London-Spicer Senior

Student/teacher ratio: 14.6

Number of students: 567

Racial breakdown:

White:

88.5%

Hispanic:

9.0%

Two or more races:

1.1%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 32.6%

See top rated Minnesota elementary schools

Compare Prairie Woods Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Prairie Woods Elementary ranks better than 74.9% of elementary schools in Minnesota. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 73.77. (See more...)

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (88.5%), Hispanic (9%), two or more races (1.1%). (See more...)

Compare Details 32.6% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Prairie Woods Elementary is 14.6. (See more...)

Compare Prairie Woods Elementary employs 38.7 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Prairie Woods Elementary is $11,812.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Prairie Woods Elementary:

SchoolDigger ranks Prairie Woods Elementary 221^st of 881 Minnesota public elementary schools. (See Prairie Woods Elementary in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Special Education students:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Male students:

White students:

New London-Spicer School District:

SchoolDigger ranks New London-Spicer School District 57^th of 463 Minnesota school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Prairie Woods Elementary

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Rank History for all students at Prairie Woods Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MN State Percentile
2006	52.50	438^th	756	42.1%
2007	56.15	396^th	777	49.0%
2008	63.72	305^th	781	60.9%
2009	52.55	243^rd	434	44.0%
2010	66.09	296^th	803	63.1%
2011	60.09	385^th	814	52.7%
2012	69.13	247^th	820	69.9%
2013	66.94	290^th	824	64.8%
2014	66.92	291^st	826	64.8%
2015	70.25	254^th	840	69.8%
2016	69.92	259^th	848	69.5%
2017	64.06	343^rd	853	59.8%
2018	70.03	254^th	847	70.0%
2019	78.09	160^th	870	81.6%
2021	68.89	268^th	869	69.2%
2022	72.89	235^th	858	72.6%
2023	76.69	186^th	845	78.0%
2024	73.77	221^st	881	74.9%

See the entire list of Minnesota Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Special Education students at Prairie Woods Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MN State Percentile
2018	81.98	49^th	463	89.4%
2019	74.85	84^th	515	83.7%
2021	80.34	46^th	417	89.0%
2022	83.29	46^th	500	90.8%
2023	55.87	209^th	524	60.1%
2024	53.50	229^th	572	60.0%

See the entire list of Best Minnesota Elementary Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Prairie Woods Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MN State Percentile
2018	80.95	70^th	728	90.4%
2019	77.31	105^th	740	85.8%
2021	57.43	294^th	683	57.0%
2022	39.77	422^nd	663	36.3%
2023	75.45	135^th	774	82.6%
2024	74.65	137^th	793	82.7%

See the entire list of Best Minnesota Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Prairie Woods Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MN State Percentile
2018	67.99	254^th	774	67.2%
2019	76.06	156^th	787	80.2%
2021	65.42	280^th	783	64.2%
2022	73.82	187^th	799	76.6%
2023	69.30	243^rd	787	69.1%
2024	72.83	199^th	809	75.4%

See the entire list of Best Minnesota Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Prairie Woods Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MN State Percentile
2018	68.54	249^th	779	68.0%
2019	76.80	148^th	798	81.5%
2021	67.89	238^th	784	69.6%
2022	67.34	268^th	808	66.8%
2023	79.92	127^th	799	84.1%
2024	70.81	217^th	826	73.7%

See the entire list of Best Minnesota Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for White students at Prairie Woods Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MN State Percentile
2018	53.64	342^nd	712	52.0%
2019	65.80	225^th	722	68.8%
2021	54.11	309^th	710	56.5%
2022	56.74	312^th	725	57.0%
2023	63.38	231^st	712	67.6%
2024	60.83	260^th	730	64.4%

See the entire list of Best Minnesota Elementary 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.

Data source: Minnesota Department of Education

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Enrollment information for Prairie Woods Elementary

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
1988	812	4	6	2	1	n/a	n/a	825
1989	863	5	5	1	1	n/a	n/a	875
1990	892	6	7	1	2	n/a	n/a	908
1991	943	2	8	1	6	n/a	n/a	960
1992	961	3	9	0	4	n/a	n/a	977
1993	932	5	8	2	4	n/a	n/a	951
1994	522	3	4	1	1	n/a	n/a	531
1995	517	2	3	0	2	n/a	n/a	524
1996	517	2	3	0	2	n/a	n/a	524
1997	512	2	2	0	2	n/a	n/a	518
1998	502	3	1	0	2	n/a	n/a	508
1999	497	2	0	2	2	n/a	n/a	503
2000	502	1	0	4	2	n/a	n/a	509
2001	505	1	0	3	2	n/a	n/a	511
2002	433	0	0	2	1	n/a	n/a	436
2003	433	0	0	2	1	n/a	n/a	436
2004	442	2	0	5	0	n/a	n/a	449
2005	506	3	1	4	3	n/a	n/a	517
2006	504	4	2	5	3	n/a	n/a	518
2007	493	3	3	13	3	n/a	n/a	515
2008	495	5	3	21	3	n/a	n/a	527
2009	511	6	2	23	3	n/a	n/a	545
2010	513	3	2	21	3	n/a	n/a	542
2011	531	1	0	36	3	0	3	574
2012	508	0	0	42	2	0	3	555
2013	519	0	1	38	2	0	3	563
2014	521	0	0	32	0	1	3	557
2015	530	0	0	34	0	1	5	570
2016	532	0	0	37	0	1	1	571
2017	547	1	0	38	1	1	1	589
2018	537	2	1	39	1	1	1	582
2019	518	2	1	50	1	1	1	574
2020	531	1	0	46	2	1	5	586
2021	491	2	1	51	3	0	5	553
2022	510	3	2	57	3	0	4	579
2023	502	2	4	51	2	0	6	567

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 Woods Elementary

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	825	40.3	20.4	21
1989	875	43.8	19.9	0
1990	908	51.6	17.5	19.1
1991	960	53.8	17.8	19.2
1992	977	51.8	18.8	22
1993	951	53.0	17.9	25.2
1994	531	37.2	14.3	27.3
1995	524	36.9	14.2	18.3
1996	524	36.9	14.2	18.3
1997	518	32.5	15.9	19.7
1998	508	n/a	0.0	14
1999	503	35.7	14.1	11.9
2000	509	39.6	12.9	28.3
2001	511	35.3	14.5	27.6
2002	436	37.5	11.6	25.9
2003	436	37.5	11.6	25.9
2004	449	35.5	12.6	24.3
2005	517	37.5	13.8	23.2
2006	518	34.9	14.8	21.2
2007	515	35.3	14.6	28.5
2008	527	36.3	14.5	29.4
2009	545	31.7	17.2	29
2010	542	32.5	16.6	35.2
2011	574	37.7	15.1	35.9
2012	555	37.5	14.7	33.2
2013	563	36.7	15.3	34.6
2014	557	36.9	15.0	30.3
2015	570	38.0	15.0	32.1
2016	571	36.0	15.8	28.7
2017	589	36.2	16.2	28.9
2018	582	38.3	15.1	28.9
2019	574	38.1	15.0	27.5
2020	586	40.6	14.4	24.7
2021	553	41.7	13.2	20.6
2022	579	38.0	15.2	17.6
2023	567	38.7	14.6	32.6

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 Woods Elementary

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	825	40.3	20.4	21
1989	875	43.8	19.9	0
1990	908	51.6	17.5	19.1
1991	960	53.8	17.8	19.2
1992	977	51.8	18.8	22
1993	951	53.0	17.9	25.2
1994	531	37.2	14.3	27.3
1995	524	36.9	14.2	18.3
1996	524	36.9	14.2	18.3
1997	518	32.5	15.9	19.7
1998	508	n/a	0.0	14
1999	503	35.7	14.1	11.9
2000	509	39.6	12.9	28.3
2001	511	35.3	14.5	27.6
2002	436	37.5	11.6	25.9
2003	436	37.5	11.6	25.9
2004	449	35.5	12.6	24.3
2005	517	37.5	13.8	23.2
2006	518	34.9	14.8	21.2
2007	515	35.3	14.6	28.5
2008	527	36.3	14.5	29.4
2009	545	31.7	17.2	29
2010	542	32.5	16.6	35.2
2011	574	37.7	15.1	35.9
2012	555	37.5	14.7	33.2
2013	563	36.7	15.3	34.6
2014	557	36.9	15.0	30.3
2015	570	38.0	15.0	32.1
2016	571	36.0	15.8	28.7
2017	589	36.2	16.2	28.9
2018	582	38.3	15.1	28.9
2019	574	38.1	15.0	27.5
2020	586	40.6	14.4	24.7
2021	553	41.7	13.2	20.6
2022	579	38.0	15.2	17.6
2023	567	38.7	14.6	32.6

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 Woods Elementary

Year	Total Expenditures Per Pupil
2019	$11,812

Data source: Minnesota Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Prairie Woods Elementary

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 160^th of 870 Elementary schools	Ranks 186^th of 845 Elementary schools	3.6%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
3rd Grade Math (Prairie Woods Elementary)	73.2	70.8	2.4%
3rd Grade Math (New London-Spicer School District)	73.2	70.8	2.4%
3rd Grade Math (Minnesota)	65.6	59.1	6.5%
3rd Grade Reading (Prairie Woods Elementary)	63.4	54	9.4%
3rd Grade Reading (New London-Spicer School District)	63.4	54	9.4%
3rd Grade Reading (Minnesota)	54.6	47.4	7.2%
4th Grade Math (Prairie Woods Elementary)	80.2	77.6	2.6%
4th Grade Math (New London-Spicer School District)	80.2	77.6	2.6%
4th Grade Math (Minnesota)	63.9	57.1	6.8%
4th Grade Reading (Prairie Woods Elementary)	71.6	57.6	14%
4th Grade Reading (New London-Spicer School District)	71.6	57.6	14%
4th Grade Reading (Minnesota)	55.4	48.4	7.1%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	574	567	1.2%
African American	2	2
American Indian	1	2	100%
Asian	1	4	300%
Hispanic	50	51	2%
Pacific Islander	1	0	100%
White	518	502	3.1%
Two or More Races	1	6	500%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	27.5%	32.6%	5.1%

Schools Near Prairie Woods Elementary

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				MCA-III Math (2024)				MCA-III Reading (2024)				MCA-III Science (2024)		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	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	MCA-III Math 3rd Grade	MCA-III Math 4th Grade	MCA-III Math 5th Grade	MCA-III Math All Grades	MCA-III Reading 3rd Grade	MCA-III Reading 4th Grade	MCA-III Reading 5th Grade	MCA-III Reading All Grades	MCA-III Science 5th Grade	MCA-III Science All Grades	Total
Prairie Woods Elementary	Public	PK, KG-4	17435 County Road 9 NE	New London	56273	Kandiyohi County	New London-Spicer School District	No	No	No	Yes	(320) 354-2252	567	39	14.6	32.6%	502 (88.5%)	2 (0.4%)	51 (9.0%)	4 (0.7%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (1.1%)	73.8	221^st of 881 public elementary schools	74.9%		76.7	186^th of 845 public elementary schools	78.0%	35	62.2	71.9		67.0	51.3	63.5		57.3			$11,812
Lakeland Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1001 Lakeland Drive SE	Willmar	56201	Kandiyohi County	Willmar Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(320) 263-5020	565	46	12.3	76.6%	175 (31.0%)	70 (12.4%)	284 (50.3%)	16 (2.8%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (3.2%)	20.5	721^st of 881 public elementary schools	18.2%		30.4	625^th of 845 public elementary schools	26.0%	96	47.4	17.2	28.9	31.4	30.5	21.5	36.1	29.2	27.4	27.4	$12,031
Paynesville Area Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	205 W Mill St	Paynesville	56362	Stearns County	Paynesville Area Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(320) 243-3725	405	28	14.3	29.9%	374 (92.3%)	1 (0.2%)	22 (5.4%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (1.5%)	74	215^th of 881 public elementary schools	75.6%		70.1	250^th of 845 public elementary schools	70.4%	35	71.6	64.5	52.7	62.9	58.1	62.9	53.4	57.9	63.5	63.5	$11,355
Kennedy Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	824 7th St SW	Willmar	56201	Kandiyohi County	Willmar Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(320) 214-6688	715	60	11.8	75.2%	211 (29.5%)	124 (17.3%)	343 (48.0%)	19 (2.7%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	17 (2.4%)	35.5	613^th of 881 public elementary schools	30.4%		26.8	641^st of 845 public elementary schools	24.1%	28	51.5	26.9	62.9	46.1	38.4	25.2	49.5	37.2	26.7	26.7	$12,983
A.C.G.C. Elementary	Public	PK, KG-4	302 S 2nd St	Atwater	56209	Kandiyohi County	A.C.G.C. Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(320) 244-4686	344	31	11.2	53.5%	295 (85.8%)	0 (0.0%)	34 (9.9%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (4.1%)	48.5	509^th of 881 public elementary schools	42.2%		65.6	300^th of 845 public elementary schools	64.5%	209	47.6	63.4		56.0	27.0	52.1		40.3			$12,613
Roosevelt Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1800 19th Ave SW	Willmar	56201	Kandiyohi County	Willmar Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(320) 231-8470	649	44	14.6	72.3%	207 (31.9%)	154 (23.7%)	227 (35.0%)	36 (5.5%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.5%)	22 (3.4%)	34.9	620^th of 881 public elementary schools	29.6%		26.3	643^rd of 845 public elementary schools	23.9%	23	52.4	48.2	42.1	47.0	36.9	36.1	39.5	37.7	24.6	24.6	$12,945
Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	245 School Avenue	Brooten	56316	Stearns County	Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa School District	No	No	No	Yes	(320) 254-8211	307	22	14.0	49.8%	277 (90.2%)	0 (0.0%)	30 (9.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	63.2	337^th of 881 public elementary schools	61.7%		38.8	584^th of 845 public elementary schools	30.9%	247	63.5	53.2	47.5	55.4	40.4	46.8	85.0	55.4	57.5	57.5	$11,382

Prairie Woods Elementary

Prairie Woods Elementary:

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

New London-Spicer School District:

What do you think?

Rank History for Prairie Woods Elementary

Rank History for all students at Prairie Woods Elementary

Rank History for Special Education students at Prairie Woods Elementary

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Prairie Woods Elementary

Rank History for Female students at Prairie Woods Elementary

Rank History for Male students at Prairie Woods Elementary

Rank History for White students at Prairie Woods Elementary

Enrollment information for Prairie Woods Elementary

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Prairie Woods Elementary

Student/Teacher Ratio Prairie Woods Elementary

Per Pupil Expenditures for Prairie Woods Elementary

Impact of COVID-19 on Prairie Woods Elementary

Rankings

Test Scores

Student Body

Schools Near Prairie Woods Elementary