All rankings · Minnesota
Best Minnesota public schools
Eight rankings of Minnesota's public schools from the latest NCES + state-assessment data. Unlike most school rankings, this list leads with BeatsExpectations: a demographics-adjusted score that asks how a school performs relative to what its student population would predict, not just in absolute terms.
Minnesota schools outperforming demographics
Top schools by BeatsExpectations score. Demographically-adjusted; a +20 here means the school posts 20 more proficiency points than its FRL profile predicts.| # | School | City | Beats by |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Elementary Lighthouse | SPRING LAKE PARK | +37.9pp |
| 2 | Secondary Lighthouse | SPRING LAKE PARK | +35.6pp |
| 3 | ATHENEUM ELEMENTARY | INVER GROVE HEIGHTS | +35.1pp |
| 4 | GATE 4/5 | STILLWATER | +32.9pp |
| 5 | Shirley Hills Primary School | MOUND | +29.8pp |
| 6 | SET Academy Elementary | MINNEAPOLIS | +29.1pp |
| 7 | FACE TO FACE ACADEMY | SAINT PAUL | +28.9pp |
| 8 | Hilltop Primary School | MINNETRISTA | +28.8pp |
| 9 | Jie Ming Mandarin Immersion Academy | SAINT PAUL | +27.9pp |
| 10 | Universal Academy Elementary | MINNEAPOLIS | +27.8pp |
| 11 | FRANKLIN ELEMENTARY | MANKATO | +27.7pp |
| 12 | Pine Point Elementary | PONSFORD | +27.2pp |
| 13 | Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart Element | HECTOR | +27.0pp |
| 14 | KING ELEMENTARY | DEER RIVER | +26.8pp |
| 15 | HANCOCK ELEMENTARY | HANCOCK | +25.3pp |
Minnesota Title I schools beating the odds
High-poverty schools (60%+ FRL) ranking in the top quartile of their state's proficiency.| # | School | City | Proficient |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | KING ELEMENTARY | DEER RIVER | 55.3% |
| 2 | Hill City Elementary | HILL CITY | 51.4% |
| 3 | SEBEKA ELEMENTARY | SEBEKA | 49.6% |
| 4 | PINE RIVER-BACKUS ELEMENTARY | PINE RIVER | 48.1% |
| 5 | BIGFORK ELEMENTARY | BIGFORK | 47.1% |
| 6 | NASHA SHKOLA CHARTER SCHOOL | BROOKLYN PARK | 46.9% |
| 7 | LANCASTER ELEMENTARY | LANCASTER | 46.3% |
| 8 | Hamilton Elementary | COON RAPIDS | 45.3% |
| 9 | Vaughan-Steffensrud Elementary | CHISHOLM | 44.4% |
| 10 | MORELAND ART/HEALTH SCIENCE MAGNET | WEST SAINT PAUL | 43.1% |
| 11 | Universal Academy Elementary | MINNEAPOLIS | 43.0% |
| 12 | SET Academy Elementary | MINNEAPOLIS | 42.2% |
| 13 | HGA Secondary | SAINT PAUL | 41.0% |
| 14 | Browns Valley Elementary | BROWNS VALLEY | 40.1% |
| 15 | HGA Elementary | SAINT PAUL | 38.6% |
Minnesota schools by raw proficiency
The traditional ranking: highest combined math + reading proficiency on the state assessment.| # | School | City | Proficient |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hilltop Primary School | MINNETRISTA | 85.5% |
| 2 | Shirley Hills Primary School | MOUND | 84.0% |
| 3 | Burroughs Elementary | MINNEAPOLIS | 83.7% |
| 4 | ST. CROIX PREPARATORY ACADEMY LOWER | STILLWATER | 80.7% |
| 5 | EDINA SENIOR HIGH | EDINA | 79.6% |
| 6 | Kenny Elementary | MINNEAPOLIS | 78.4% |
| 7 | SCENIC HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY | MINNETONKA | 77.9% |
| 8 | COLOGNE ACADEMY | COLOGNE | 77.1% |
| 9 | WAYZATA HIGH | PLYMOUTH | 76.5% |
| 10 | Lake Harriet Upper Elementary | MINNEAPOLIS | 76.4% |
| 11 | EAGLE HEIGHTS SPANISH IMMERSION | EDEN PRAIRIE | 75.8% |
| 12 | St. Croix Preparatory Academy Upper | STILLWATER | 75.5% |
| 13 | HANCOCK ELEMENTARY | HANCOCK | 75.2% |
| 14 | Jie Ming Mandarin Immersion Academy | SAINT PAUL | 75.2% |
| 15 | Xinxing Academy | HOPKINS | 74.9% |
Minnesota schools with the lowest student-teacher ratios
Schools with 200+ students reporting the fewest students per teacher. Excludes virtual.| # | School | City | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tier Three | PLYMOUTH | 3.4:1 |
| 2 | Riverview Spanish/English Dual Imme | SAINT PAUL | 3.7:1 |
| 3 | Tier Two | PLYMOUTH | 4.4:1 |
| 4 | Two Rivers Transition at Franklin | ANOKA | 5.9:1 |
| 5 | Transition Plus Services | MINNEAPOLIS | 6.5:1 |
| 6 | EC Sp Ed at Quarryview Ed Center | WAITE PARK | 6.6:1 |
| 7 | BLUFFVIEW MONTESSORI | WINONA | 6.9:1 |
| 8 | Eastview Education Center | MONTICELLO | 7.1:1 |
| 9 | BROWERVILLE SECONDARY | BROWERVILLE | 7.2:1 |
| 10 | WABASHA-KELLOGG ELEMENTARY | WABASHA | 7.2:1 |
| 11 | PROBSTFIELD CENTER FOR EDUCATION | MOORHEAD | 7.3:1 |
| 12 | Jenny Lind Elementary | MINNEAPOLIS | 7.6:1 |
| 13 | MYERS-WILKINS ELEMENTARY | DULUTH | 7.7:1 |
| 14 | Bethune Elementary | MINNEAPOLIS | 7.8:1 |
| 15 | PIM Arts High School | EDEN PRAIRIE | 7.8:1 |
Fastest-growing Minnesota public schools, 2017-2024
Schools open in both years with 200+ enrollment in 2017, ranked by % change.| # | School | City | Enrollment Δ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hiawatha Collegiate High School | MINNEAPOLIS | +157% |
| 2 | Woodbury Leadership Elementary | WOODBURY | +156% |
| 3 | Pipestone Elementary | PIPESTONE | +144% |
| 4 | Metro College Prep | MINNEAPOLIS | +130% |
| 5 | PACT CHARTER SECONDARY | RAMSEY | +127% |
| 6 | Prior Lake-Savage Middle School | PRIOR LAKE | +103% |
| 7 | PARTNERSHIP ACADEMY INC. | RICHFIELD | +103% |
| 8 | PACT Charter Elementary | RAMSEY | +100% |
| 9 | Stride Academy K-8 Charter School | SAINT CLOUD | +87% |
| 10 | Great River Elementary School | SAINT PAUL | +83% |
| 11 | Jie Ming Mandarin Immersion Academy | SAINT PAUL | +82% |
| 12 | Menahga High School | MENAHGA | +82% |
| 13 | LILA Upper School | FOREST LAKE | +75% |
| 14 | MN Virtual Secondary School | ROSEVILLE | +74% |
| 15 | Eagle Point Elementary | OAKDALE | +66% |
Most racially diverse Minnesota public schools
Schools ranked by how balanced their student body is. The largest single racial group's share of enrollment, lowest first.| # | School | City | Max group |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | American Indian Magnet School | SAINT PAUL | 25.0% Asian (143) |
| 2 | Skyview Community Middle | OAKDALE | 25.6% Asian (263) |
| 3 | Carver Elementary | MAPLEWOOD | 25.7% Asian (231) |
| 4 | Tartan Senior High | OAKDALE | 26.0% White (439) |
| 5 | Global Arts Plus Lower | SAINT PAUL | 27.1% White (111) |
| 6 | Castle Elementary | OAKDALE | 27.6% Asian (174) |
| 7 | Cherokee Heights Elementary School | SAINT PAUL | 28.5% Black (65) |
| 8 | Burnsville Area Learning Center | BURNSVILLE | 28.7% Hispanic (387) |
| 9 | Global Arts Plus Upper | SAINT PAUL | 28.8% Black (126) |
| 10 | Willow Lane Elementary | WHITE BEAR LAKE | 29.4% White (82) |
| 11 | Northeast Middle | MINNEAPOLIS | 29.4% Black (159) |
| 12 | Red Oak Elementary | SHAKOPEE | 29.4% White (133) |
| 13 | Monroe Elementary School - MSE | BROOKLYN PARK | 30.2% Asian (167) |
| 14 | Rahn Elementary | EAGAN | 30.3% White (116) |
| 15 | Burnsville High School | BURNSVILLE | 30.3% Hispanic (615) |
Largest Minnesota public schools
Brick-and-mortar schools ranked by total enrollment. Virtual schools excluded.| # | School | City | Students |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | WAYZATA HIGH | PLYMOUTH | 3,781 |
| 2 | MINNETONKA SENIOR HIGH | MINNETONKA | 3,514 |
| 3 | Blaine High School | BLAINE | 3,157 |
| 4 | Champlin Park High School | CHAMPLIN | 2,978 |
| 5 | Prior Lake High School | SAVAGE | 2,856 |
| 6 | EDEN PRAIRIE SENIOR HIGH | EDEN PRAIRIE | 2,844 |
| 7 | Shakopee High School | SHAKOPEE | 2,823 |
| 8 | STILLWATER AREA HIGH SCHOOL | STILLWATER | 2,658 |
| 9 | EDINA SENIOR HIGH | EDINA | 2,641 |
| 10 | White Bear Lake Area High School | WHITE BEAR LAKE | 2,572 |
| 11 | MAPLE GROVE SENIOR HIGH | MAPLE GROVE | 2,453 |
| 12 | ROSEMOUNT SENIOR HIGH | ROSEMOUNT | 2,364 |
| 13 | Anoka High School | ANOKA | 2,348 |
| 14 | EASTVIEW SENIOR HIGH | APPLE VALLEY | 2,328 |
| 15 | OSSEO SENIOR HIGH | OSSEO | 2,289 |
Minnesota schools underperforming demographics
Bottom 10% within state by BeatsExpectations. Not a verdict, a starting question. A school may be in leadership transition or recovering from a demographic shift.| # | School | City | Beats by |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Herman-Norcross High School | HERMAN | -45.1pp |
| 2 | RANDOLPH SECONDARY | RANDOLPH | -39.2pp |
| 3 | Wellstone International High | MINNEAPOLIS | -37.5pp |
| 4 | Spero Academy | MINNEAPOLIS | -31.1pp |
| 5 | Spero Academy Brooklyn Park | BROOKLYN PARK | -30.4pp |
| 6 | Rochester Beacon Academy | ROCHESTER | -28.5pp |
| 7 | CAMPBELL-TINTAH ELEMENTARY | CAMPBELL | -28.4pp |
| 8 | Escuela Exitos | NEW HOPE | -28.2pp |
| 9 | LEROY SECONDARY | LEROY | -27.1pp |
| 10 | Martin County West Senior High | SHERBURN | -26.7pp |
| 11 | North Branch Area High School | NORTH BRANCH | -26.4pp |
| 12 | Red Wing Senior High | RED WING | -26.0pp |
| 13 | NEW HEIGHTS SCHOOL INC. | STILLWATER | -26.0pp |
| 14 | NORTHEAST RANGE SECONDARY | BABBITT | -25.9pp |
| 15 | Level Up Academy Middle School | WHITE BEAR LAKE | -25.8pp |
About these rankings
These tables use the most recent NCES Common Core of Data (2024-25) for enrollment, demographics, and staffing, and state-native assessment data (typically 2023-24 or 2024-25) for proficiency. BeatsExpectations is computed via per-state ordinary-least-squares regression of composite proficiency on free-and-reduced-lunch share. Full methodology.
License: CC-BY 4.0. Reproduce these rankings anywhere with attribution to allk12.com. Press contact: [email protected].
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