Best Minnesota Public Schools (2026)

Minnesota is the #10 largest school system in the United States, serving 870,541 students across the 2,724 public schools for the 2026 school year (there are 629 private schools, serving 96,865 students). 90% of all K-12 students in Minnesota attend public schools, compared to the national average of 90%.
The percentage of students achieving math proficiency in Minnesota is 46%. The percentage of students achieving reading proficiency is 51%.
The top-ranked public schools in Minnesota are Atheneum Elementary School, Gate 4/5, and Scenic Heights Elementary School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test scores.
Minority enrollment is 39%, with the majority being Black or Hispanic and the student-teacher ratio is 15:1.

Top-Ranked Public Schools in Minnesota (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Student Proficiency
Grades
Location
Rank: #11.
Atheneum Elementary School
(Math: 90-94% | Reading: ≥95%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
Math: 90-94% (Top 1%)
Reading: ≥95% (Top 1%)
Grades: 2-5
5899 Babcock Tr E
Inver Grove Heights, MN 55077
(651) 306-7300
Rank: #22.
Gate 4/5
(Math: ≥90% | Reading: ≥90%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
Math: ≥90% (Top 1%)
Reading: ≥90% (Top 1%)
Grades: 4-5
523 Marsh Street W.
Stillwater, MN 55082
(651) 351-6905
Rank: #33.
Scenic Heights Elementary School
(Math: 91% | Reading: 83%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
Math: 91% (Top 1%)
Reading: 83% (Top 1%)
Grades: K-5
5650 Scenic Heights Dr
Minnetonka, MN 55345
(952) 401-5400
Rank: #4 - 54. - 5.
Lake Harriet Upper Elementary School
(Math: 84% | Reading: 86%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
Math: 84% (Top 1%)
Reading: 86% (Top 1%)
Grades: 3-5
4912 Vincent Ave South
Minneapolis, MN 55410
(612) 668-3310
Rank: #4 - 54. - 5.
St. Croix Preparatory Academy Lower
Charter School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 80-84%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
Math: 85-89% (Top 1%)
Reading: 80-84% (Top 1%)
Grades: K-4
4260 Stagecoach Tr N
Stillwater, MN 55082
(651) 395-5920
Rank: #66.
Burroughs Elementary School
(Math: 85% | Reading: 84%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
Math: 85% (Top 1%)
Reading: 84% (Top 1%)
Grades: K-5
1601 W 50th St
Minneapolis, MN 55419
(612) 668-3280
Rank: #77.
Normandale Elementary School
(Math: 84% | Reading: 82%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
Math: 84% (Top 1%)
Reading: 82% (Top 1%)
Grades: K-5
5701 Normandale Rd
Minneapolis, MN 55424
(952) 848-4100
Rank: #88.
Kimberly Lane Elementary School
(Math: 89% | Reading: 80%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
Math: 89% (Top 1%)
Reading: 80% (Top 5%)
Grades: K-5
17405 Old Rockford Rd
Minneapolis, MN 55446
(763) 745-5600
Rank: #9 - 119. - 11.
Bridges Community Elementary School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 80-84%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
Math: 80-84% (Top 1%)
Reading: 80-84% (Top 1%)
Grades: K-5
320 Garfield Ave
Mankato, MN 56003
(507) 387-2800
Rank: #9 - 119. - 11.
Dassel Elementary School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 80-84%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
Math: 80-84% (Top 1%)
Reading: 80-84% (Top 1%)
Grades: PK-4
131 William Ave E
Dassel, MN 55325
(320) 286-4100

Overview

This State (MN)
US
# Schools
2,724 Schools
100,843 Schools
# Students
870,541 Students
49,540,313 Students
Gender %
# Teachers
57,765 Teachers
3,241,808 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
15:1
15:1

Student By Grade

State Acdeamy

State Average (MN)
National Average
46%
41%
50%
47%
39%
43%
84%
87%
Eligible for Free Lunch
36%
50%
Eligible for Reduced Lunch
7%
5%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.59
0.70
# American Indian Students
15,694 Students
477,494 Students
% American Indian Students
2%
1%
# Asian Students
61,819 Students
2,755,834 Students
% Asian Students
7%
6%
# Hispanic Students
99,578 Students
14,725,989 Students
% Hispanic Students
12%
30%
# Black Students
102,736 Students
7,325,310 Students
% Black Students
12%
15%
# White Students
534,389 Students
21,494,652 Students
% White Students
61%
43%
# Hawaiian Students
1,007 Students
185,321 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
55,318 Students
2,515,298 Students
% of Two or more races Students
6%
5%
All Ethnic Groups

State Revenue and Spending

This State (MN)
Total Revenue (23-24)
$15,547 MM
Spending (23-24)
$16,179 MM
Revenue / Student (23-24)
$17,860
Spending / Student (23-24)
$18,585

Best Minnesota Public Schools by County (2026)

County
# Schools
# Students
% Minority
9
1,665
13%
126
57,156
44%
23
5,178
34%
36
8,024
47%
17
6,401
14%
8
825
11%
31
9,642
25%
18
3,620
16%
26
6,274
21%
47
16,553
21%
21
4,512
40%
12
2,436
28%
28
8,183
13%
30
11,368
27%
4
1,400
30%
8
647
30%
14
1,949
41%
22
9,479
10%
159
72,640
43%
13
3,876
14%
19
5,755
9%
6
1,872
23%
15
3,338
6%
13
4,025
37%
35
7,605
16%
8
1,048
8%
477
174,585
55%
20
4,292
20%
14
2,651
20%
24
6,198
16%
24
6,575
20%
7
1,394
18%
7
2,135
11%
20
6,228
49%
6
619
9%
6
1,439
15%
5
1,177
21%
5
1,300
8%
10
3,654
21%
11
1,060
9%
19
4,836
33%
4
795
92%
11
1,440
11%
15
3,096
21%
22
5,240
22%
14
3,343
14%
25
6,071
17%
23
5,183
8%
39
6,842
47%
6
1,065
14%
21
3,674
27%
18
5,173
64%
4
900
22%
67
23,866
40%
36
8,243
18%
7
2,075
17%
20
3,740
19%
9
1,571
32%
19
5,077
25%
8
1,444
6%
287
88,371
66%
6
731
11%
13
2,522
25%
9
1,796
25%
35
8,015
40%
7
1,517
14%
11
2,621
17%
72
26,874
34%
48
18,667
22%
11
2,062
29%
87
23,928
18%
65
23,645
35%
22
7,456
25%
7
1,684
24%
8
1,794
25%
6
2,034
33%
4
565
35%
9
3,481
13%
17
4,116
11%
11
2,935
20%
95
47,178
37%
8
1,993
59%
8
1,017
16%
19
4,432
23%
79
26,939
15%

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked public schools in Minnesota?
The top-ranked public schools in Minnesota include Atheneum Elementary School, Gate 4/5, and Scenic Heights Elementary School.
How many public schools are located in Minnesota?
2,724 public schools are located in Minnesota.
What percentage of students in Minnesota go to public school?
90% of all K-12 students in Minnesota attend public schools (compared to the national average of 90%).
What is the racial composition of students in Minnesota?
Minority enrollment in Minnesota is 39%, with the majority being Black or Hispanic.
Which public schools in Minnesota are often viewed compared to one another?

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