According to director Simon Tyler, Prairie Creek Community School is about students finding their voice. At the school, project-based learning leads the way as curriculum is tailored toward individual students' interests.

Located north of Northfield proper, Prairie Creek, which teaches kindergarten through fifth grade students, is considered a place of joy, discovery, invention, questioning, caring, community and learning.

In 2002, the Prairie Creek Community School became a public charter school and is authorized by the Northfield School District.