Best Minnesota Public Schools

Minnesota is the #9 largest school system in the United States, serving 875,498 students across the 2,767 public schools for the 2026-27 school year (there are 629 private schools, serving 95,929 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 40%, with the majority being Black or Hispanic and the student-teacher ratio is 15:1.

Top-Ranked Public Schools in Minnesota (2026-27)

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 St 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: PK-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
2,767 Schools
100,274 Schools
# Students
875,498 Students
49,273,234 Students

Showing 2016–2025. Full 39-year historical data available below ↓

# Teachers
56,995 Teachers
3,176,846 Teachers

Showing 2016–2025. Full 39-year historical data available below ↓

Student-Teacher Ratio
15:1
15:1

Showing 2016–2025. Full 39-year historical data available below ↓

Student By Grade

State Acdeamy

State Average (MN)
National Average
46%
41%

Showing 2013–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓

50%
47%

Showing 2013–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓

39%
43%
83.3%
87%

Showing 2014–2023. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓

Eligible for Free Lunch
34%
50%

Showing 2016–2025. Full 38-year historical data available below ↓

Eligible for Reduced Lunch
7%
5%

Showing 2016–2025. Full 26-year historical data available below ↓

Students by Ethnicity:

0.60
0.71

Showing 2016–2025. Full 38-year historical data available below ↓

# American Indian Students
15,549 Students
465,607 Students
% American Indian Students
2%
1%

Showing 2016–2025. Full 38-year historical data available below ↓

# Asian Students
62,322 Students
2,805,284 Students
% Asian Students
7%
6%

Showing 2016–2025. Full 38-year historical data available below ↓

# Hispanic Students
105,374 Students
14,933,108 Students
% Hispanic Students
12%
30%

Showing 2016–2025. Full 38-year historical data available below ↓

# Black Students
106,276 Students
7,261,526 Students
% Black Students
12%
15%

Showing 2016–2025. Full 38-year historical data available below ↓

# White Students
527,005 Students
20,989,144 Students
% White Students
60%
43%

Showing 2016–2025. Full 38-year historical data available below ↓

# Hawaiian Students
1,081 Students
196,826 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
57,656 Students
2,585,770 Students
% of Two or more races Students
7%
5%

Showing 2016–2025. Full 15-year historical data available below ↓

All Ethnic Groups

State Revenue and Spending

This State (MN)
Statewide Total Revenue
$16,920 MM

Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓

Statewide Total Spending
$17,562 MM

Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓

Revenue / Student
$19,326

Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓

Spending / Student
$20,060

Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓

Best Minnesota Public Schools by County (2026-27)

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%
19
6,222
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%
8
1,464
22%
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
4,826
24%
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?
2,767 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 40%, with the majority being Black or Hispanic.
Which public schools in Minnesota are often viewed compared to one another?

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