The brief
The top-rated elementary schools in Minneapolis for 2026 are Armatage Elementary (9.0/10), Howe Elementary (8.9/10), and Dowling Elementary (8.7/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of 64 elementary schools with real test data included in this ranking. Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Minneapolis has 66 ranked elementary schools, giving families a wide range of options across the metro. Quality varies considerably — the average composite score sits at 6.6/10, but 28 schools clear the 7/10 mark, meaning strong options are genuinely available across the city if you know where to look. Bancroft Elementary leads the field with a 9.4/10, followed closely by CVA Fusion Elementary (9.3/10) and Lake Harriet Upper Elementary (9.2/10). The table below lets you sort by overall score, test performance, and other key metrics to find the right fit for your child. Keep in mind that the best school on paper isn't always the best school for a specific kid — use the scores as a starting point, then dig into what each school actually offers before making a decision.
Ranked by composite score; the tick is the score on the 1–10 axis.
- 19.0
- 28.9
- 38.7
- 48.5
- 58.2
- 68.2
- 78.2
- 88.1
- 98.1
- 108.0
All 64 ranked
Every ranked school on the axis, then the ledger.Top 25 of 64
Rating · students · student-teacher ratio · grades- 1Armatage ElementaryMinneapolis Public School Districtstudents 376student-teacher ratio 17.9:1grades Pre-K–5th
- 2Howe ElementaryMinneapolis Public School Districtstudents 245student-teacher ratio 14.4:1grades 3rd–5th
- 3Dowling ElementaryMinneapolis Public School Districtstudents 315student-teacher ratio 15.0:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 4Waite Park ElementaryMinneapolis Public School Districtstudents 269student-teacher ratio 14.9:1grades Pre-K–5th
- 5Universal Academy ElementarycharterUniversal Academy Charter Schoolstudents 423student-teacher ratio 20.1:1grades Pre-K–6th
- 6Northrop ElementaryMinneapolis Public School Districtstudents 395student-teacher ratio 18.0:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 7Barton ElementaryMinneapolis Public School Districtstudents 506student-teacher ratio 15.8:1grades Pre-K–5th
- 8Yinghua AcademycharterYinghua Academystudents 838student-teacher ratio 16.1:1grades Kindergarten–8th
- 9Lake Harriet Lower ElementaryMinneapolis Public School Districtstudents 320student-teacher ratio 18.8:1grades Kindergarten–2nd
- 10Lyndale ElementaryMinneapolis Public School Districtstudents 404student-teacher ratio 11.2:1grades Pre-K–5th
- 11Seward ElementaryMinneapolis Public School Districtstudents 557student-teacher ratio 13.3:1grades Pre-K–5th
- 12Marcy ElementaryMinneapolis Public School Districtstudents 424student-teacher ratio 12.1:1grades Pre-K–5th
- 13Pratt ElementaryMinneapolis Public School Districtstudents 187student-teacher ratio 9.8:1grades Pre-K–5th
- 14Hale ElementaryMinneapolis Public School Districtstudents 323student-teacher ratio 20.2:1grades Kindergarten–2nd
- 15Bryn Mawr ElementaryMinneapolis Public School Districtstudents 382student-teacher ratio 10.3:1grades Pre-K–5th
- 16Sullivan ElementaryMinneapolis Public School Districtstudents 598student-teacher ratio 11.1:1grades Pre-K–8th
- 17Loring ElementaryMinneapolis Public School Districtstudents 281student-teacher ratio 12.2:1grades Pre-K–5th
- 18Hiawatha Leadership Acdy-NorthropcharterHiawatha Academiesstudents 412student-teacher ratio 9.6:1grades Kindergarten–4th
- 19Twin Cities International SchoolscharterTwin Cities International Schoolsstudents 622student-teacher ratio 20.7:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 20New City SchoolcharterNew City Schoolstudents 339student-teacher ratio 10.6:1grades Kindergarten–8th
- 21Field ElementaryMinneapolis Public School Districtstudents 281student-teacher ratio 16.5:1grades 3rd–5th
- 22Green Central ElementaryMinneapolis Public School Districtstudents 554student-teacher ratio 12.3:1grades Pre-K–5th
- 23Lake Harriet Upper ElementaryMinneapolis Public School Districtstudents 271student-teacher ratio 15.9:1grades 3rd–5th
- 24Friendship Academy of Arts-PrimarycharterFriendship Academy of the Artsstudents 101student-teacher ratio 25.2:1grades Kindergarten–2nd
- 25Skyline Math and Science AcademycharterSkyline Math and Science Academystudents 188student-teacher ratio 17.1:1grades Kindergarten–6th
Scores are based on 2024-25 data from the NCES Common Core of Data and Minnesota education department. Rankings are relative to all public elementary schools in Minnesota. Learn about our methodology.
The map
The top 25 pinned; open a pin for the campus.Campus by campus
What each of the top ten reports.- 1
Armatage Elementary
Minneapolis Public School District
376 students · 17.9:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Pre-K–5th
Top 3% in Minnesota
- Academics
- 9.8
- Growth
- 8.8
- Environment
- 8.4
- 2
Howe Elementary
Minneapolis Public School District
245 students · 14.4:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 3rd–5th
Top 3% in Minnesota
- Academics
- 9.2
- Growth
- 8.5
- Environment
- 9.3
- 3
Dowling Elementary
Minneapolis Public School District
315 students · 15.0:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–5th
Top 4% in Minnesota
- Academics
- 8.7
- Growth
- 8.6
- Environment
- 9.0
- 4
Waite Park Elementary
Minneapolis Public School District
269 students · 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Pre-K–5th
Top 6% in Minnesota
- Academics
- 9.6
- Growth
- 7.8
- Environment
- 8.6
- 5
Universal Academy Elementary
Universal Academy Charter School
423 students · 20.1:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Pre-K–6th
Top 9% in Minnesota · charter
- Academics
- 8.4
- Growth
- 9.6
- Environment
- 4.2
- 6
Northrop Elementary
Minneapolis Public School District
395 students · 18.0:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–5th
Top 9% in Minnesota
- Academics
- 9.5
- Growth
- 7.8
- Environment
- 7.5
- 7
Barton Elementary
Minneapolis Public School District
506 students · 15.8:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Pre-K–5th
Top 9% in Minnesota
- Academics
- 8.9
- Growth
- 7.7
- Environment
- 8.5
- 8
Yinghua Academy
Yinghua Academy
838 students · 16.1:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–8th
Top 10% in Minnesota · charter
- Academics
- 9.8
- Growth
- 8.3
- Environment
- 4.8
- 9
Lake Harriet Lower Elementary
Minneapolis Public School District
320 students · 18.8:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–2nd
Top 11% in Minnesota
- Academics
- 9.3
- Growth
- 7.7
- Environment
- 7.5
- 10
Lyndale Elementary
Minneapolis Public School District
404 students · 11.2:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Pre-K–5th
Top 12% in Minnesota
- Academics
- 5.7
- Growth
- 8.8
- Environment
- 9.3
Questions
What is the best elementary school in Minneapolis, Minnesota?
According to MySchoolScout's 2026 rankings, Armatage Elementary is the top-rated elementary school in Minneapolis with a composite score of 9.0/10. The score blends student growth, poverty-adjusted academic performance, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools — with equity shown as context, not scored.
How many elementary schools are in Minneapolis, Minnesota?
Minneapolis has 90 elementary schools, including 26 charter schools. Of these, 81 have enough data for a full composite rating on MySchoolScout.
What is the average elementary school rating in Minneapolis?
Among 81 Minneapolis elementary schools with a composite score, the average is 6.4/10. Scores range from 1.0 (bottom of the state) to 10.0 (top 1% in Minnesota).
How does MySchoolScout rate elementary schools?
Schools with enough data receive a 1-10 composite score that blends Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, with growth counting most in elementary and middle grades. Equity data is shown for context but not scored. All scores are computed within Minnesota, so schools are compared to peers in the same state. Data comes from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments.
What is a good school rating on MySchoolScout?
A score of 7 or above means a school is in roughly the top 30% of its state. A 5 is average. Anything above 8 is exceptional. Our ratings are relative to other schools in Minnesota, not a national comparison, because each state has different testing standards.
Are charter schools included in the Minneapolis elementary school rankings?
Minneapolis has 26 charter elementary schools in its directory. Charter schools that meet this ranking's data requirements are included alongside traditional public schools using the same composite scoring methodology.
How should I use this ranking?
Consider your child's learning style. Some children thrive in smaller settings (look for student-teacher ratios under 14:1), while others do well in larger, more social environments. The schools on this list range widely in size and approach.
Look beyond the composite score. A school ranked #15 might be the best fit if it excels in growth (improving student outcomes year over year) even if its raw academic score is lower. Click into individual school profiles to see the breakdown.
Visit your top choices. Walk the hallways during a school day. Watch how teachers interact with students. Ask about before- and after-school care, transportation, and parent involvement. These details matter more than any dataset.
Explore more
- Best middle schools in Minneapolis2026 rankings and ratings
- Best high schools in Minneapolis2026 rankings and ratings
- All 170 schools in MinneapolisElementary, middle and high
- Minnesota schoolsStatewide rankings and city comparisons
- Our methodologyHow we calculate school ratings