Best Public Schools in Minnesota

Top 50 schools ranked by resource quality score. Based on student-teacher ratio, counselor access, gifted programs & attendance. NCES CCD 2022-23.

100/100
Top Score
Paul Bunyan Center
69/100
Avg Score (Top 50)
50
Schools Ranked
MN
State
# School Score Grade
1. Paul Bunyan Center BEMIDJI 100 A+
2. Hutchinson Middle School a.L.C. HUTCHINSON 89 A
3. Exploration High School MINNEAPOLIS 88 A
4. Early Childhood Special Education FARIBAULT 86 A
5. Edina Secondary Virtual Pathway EDINA 83 A-
6. Atheneum Elementary INVER GROVE HEIGHTS 80 A-
7. Success Academy Bloomington Elem BLOOMINGTON 78 B+
8. Aim Academy of Science & Technology MINNEAPOLIS 77 B+
9. Focus Beyond SAINT PAUL 70 B
10. Spero Academy Brooklyn Park BROOKLYN PARK 70 B
11. Bel Air Elementary NEW BRIGHTON 68 B-
12. Schumann Elementary LONG LAKE 68 B-
13. Evergreen Park Elementary-Stem BROOKLYN CENTER 68 B-
14. Andover Elementary ANDOVER 67 B-
15. Countryside Elementary EDINA 67 B-
16. Washington Elementary OWATONNA 67 B-
17. Oxbow Creek Elementary CHAMPLIN 66 B-
18. Cornelia Elementary EDINA 66 B-
19. Early Childhood Special Education MINNEAPOLIS 66 B-
20. Monroe Elementary School - Mse BROOKLYN PARK 66 B-
21. Royal Oaks Elementary WOODBURY 66 B-
22. Mississippi Elementary COON RAPIDS 66 B-
23. Ada-Borup-West Elementary ADA 66 B-
24. Madison Elementary BLAINE 66 B-
25. Oak Hill Montessori Community SHOREVIEW 66 B-
26. Hills-Beaver Creek Elementary BEAVER CREEK 66 B-
27. Banaadir Elementary MINNEAPOLIS 66 B-
28. Brandon Elementary BRANDON 66 B-
29. Deephaven Education Center EXCELSIOR 66 B-
30. Link12 Lakeville Middle School LAKEVILLE 66 B-
31. Rum River Elementary ANDOVER 65 B-
32. Brookside Elementary RAMSEY 65 B-
33. Concord Elementary EDINA 65 B-
34. Normandale Elementary EDINA 65 B-
35. Mckinley Elementary HAM LAKE 65 B-
36. Morris Bye Elementary COON RAPIDS 65 B-
37. Crooked Lake Elementary ANDOVER 65 B-
38. Lincoln Elementary School for Arts ANOKA 65 B-
39. Hmong Language and Culture-Parkway SAINT PAUL 65 B-
40. Avon Elementary AVON 65 B-
41. Normandy Park Education Center WHITE BEAR LAKE 65 B-
42. Lake Benton Elementary LAKE BENTON 65 B-
43. Cva Pascal Middle & High School MINNEAPOLIS 65 B-
44. Joseph Nicollet Middle School BURNSVILLE 65 B-
45. Sunrise Elementary BLAINE 64 C+
46. Ramsey Elementary RAMSEY 64 C+
47. Liberty Ridge Elementary WOODBURY 64 C+
48. Champlin/Brooklyn Pk Acd Mathenvsci CHAMPLIN 64 C+
49. Jefferson Elementary BLAINE 64 C+
50. Eisenhower Elementary COON RAPIDS 64 C+

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best public schools in Minnesota? ▼

The top-rated school in Minnesota is Paul Bunyan Center in BEMIDJI with a quality score of 100/100 (grade A+). Rankings are based on student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, gifted programs, and attendance rates from NCES data.

How are school quality scores calculated? ▼

Quality scores (0-100) are computed from NCES data across 4 metrics: student-teacher ratio (lower is better, national avg ~16:1), counselor availability (ASCA recommends 250:1), gifted program availability, and chronic absenteeism rate (lower is better). This measures school resources, not test scores.

Explore More for Minnesota

All Schools → Largest Schools → Absenteeism Data → Highest Spending → National Ranking →

Methodology

Quality scores (0-100) are computed from NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2022-23 metrics: student-teacher ratio, school counselor availability, gifted program access, and chronic absenteeism rates. Schools must have at least 50 students and data for one or more metrics. This measures resource quality, not test scores. Higher scores indicate smaller class sizes, better counselor access, and lower absenteeism.

Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.