Best Schools in Austin, Minnesota
26 schools · 5 Elementary · 2 Middle · 4 High · 15 Other
Choosing a school in Austin?
Use this page to compare every school in Austin by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
New Dominion School
Other. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Southgate Elementary
Elementary · Austin Public School District. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Pacelli Catholic Schools
Other. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Austin for 2026 are New Dominion School (8.6/10), Southgate Elementary (7.0/10), and Pacelli Catholic Schools (6.9/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 13 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Schools
26
24 public · 2 private
Avg Score
5.4
out of 10
Median Home
$161,800
home value · ACS
Districts
3
serving the city
Schools
26
24 public · 2 private
Avg Score
5.4
out of 10
Median Home
$161,800
home value · ACS
Districts
3
serving the city
Rates 7.0/10 despite 63% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.2 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Austin schools.
Top-Rated Schools in Austin
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (13 of 26). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Dominion School | 8.6 / 10 |
| 2 | Southgate Elementary | 7.0 / 10 |
| 3 | Pacelli Catholic Schools | 6.9 / 10 |
| 4 | Smec Alc | 6.7 / 10 |
| 5 | Banfield Elementary | 6.7 / 10 |
| 6 | Oakland Education Center | 6.0 / 10 |
| 7 | Austin Senior High | 5.1 / 10 |
| 8 | I.j. Holton Intermediate School | 4.7 / 10 |
| 9 | Ellis Middle | 4.6 / 10 |
| 10 | Austin Area Learning Center | 4.4 / 10 |
See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 5.4/10
- Median household income
- $68,205
- Median home value
- $161,800
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 24%
- Avg commute
- 18 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 72%
13% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Austin compares
Minnesota rank
#207 of 229
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.8
below Minnesota avg (6.2)
Median household income
$68k
81% of Minnesota median
Schools in this city
15
About Schools in Austin, Minnesota
Austin, Minnesota is home to 26 schools, including 24 public schools and 2 private schools. The city's schools span 5 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 4 high schools.
With an average rating of 5.4 out of 10, schools in Austin show moderate performance on the MySchoolScout composite scale, which blends student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
The highest-performing school in Austin is New Dominion School with a composite score of 8.6/10, demonstrating strong academic outcomes and school quality metrics.
Austin is served by 3 school districts: SOUTHERN MN EDUCATION CONSORTIUM, Austin Albert Lea Area Special Educ, AUSTIN PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT. These districts collectively serve 5,362 students.
Austin's community shows 24% bachelor's degree attainment with a median household income of $68,205. The poverty rate in the area is 14.0%.
Browse the schools below to compare ratings, test scores, enrollment, and other key metrics. Use the filters to focus on specific school levels or types that match your family's needs.
Elementary Schools
5 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 460 students · 1st–4th | 7.0 |
| 2 | 478 students · 1st–4th | 6.7 |
| 3 | 366 students · Pre-K–Kindergarten | 4.5 |
| 4 | 352 students · 1st–4th | 3.7 |
| 5 | 341 students · 1st–4th | 3.5 |
Middle Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 700 students · 5th–6th | 4.7 |
| 2 | 713 students · 7th–8th | 4.6 |
High Schools
4 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 73 students · 5th–12th | 6.7 |
| 2 | 1,408 students · 9th–12th | 5.1 |
| 3 | 194 students · 6th–12th | 4.4 |
| 4 | 93 students · 6th–12th | 2.9 |
Other Schools
15 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 37 students · Kindergarten–12th | 6.0 |
| 2 | 40 students · Pre-K–12th | 5.6 |
| 3 | 11 students · Kindergarten–12th | — |
| 4 | 12 students · Pre-K–12th | — |
| 5 | 17 students · Kindergarten–12th | — |
| 6 | 5 students · Pre-K–Pre-K | — |
| 7 | 7 students · Kindergarten–12th | — |
| 8 | 10 students · Pre-K–Pre-K | — |
| 9 | 13 students · Kindergarten–12th | — |
| 10 | 3 students · Pre-K–Pre-K | — |
Show all 15 other schools in Austin
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Schools in Austin
Austin, Minnesota · 26 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code
Median Income
$68,205
Median Home Value
$161,800
Median Rent
$864/mo
Population
29,438
College Educated
24%
Homeownership
72%
Avg Commute
18 min
Poverty Rate
14.0%
Community Profile
Austin has a median household income of $68,205. It is a community where 24% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $161,800, with a median rent of $864/month. The area has a poverty rate of 14.0%. Residents enjoy a short average commute of 18 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Minnesota
- Elementary
- 5
- Middle
- 2
- High
- 4
- Other
- 15
Resources
Nearby Cities
Other Major Cities in Minnesota
Top metros statewide by school count.
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Austin, Minnesota
How many schools are in Austin, Minnesota?
Austin has 26 schools, including 24 public and 2 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Austin, Minnesota?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Austin is 5.4 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
What is the top-ranked school in Austin, Minnesota?
The top-ranked school in Austin on MySchoolScout is New Dominion School with a composite score of 8.6/10.
What is the best elementary school in Austin, Minnesota?
The top-ranked elementary school in Austin on MySchoolScout is Southgate Elementary with a composite score of 7.0/10.
What is the best middle school in Austin, Minnesota?
The top-ranked middle school in Austin on MySchoolScout is I.j. Holton Intermediate School with a composite score of 4.7/10.
What is the best high school in Austin, Minnesota?
The top-ranked high school in Austin on MySchoolScout is Smec Alc with a composite score of 6.7/10.
How many school districts serve Austin, Minnesota?
Austin is served by 3 school districts: Southern Mn Education Consortium, Austin Albert Lea Area Special Educ, Austin Public School District.
What is the education level in Austin, Minnesota?
According to Census data, 24% of adults in Austin have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Austin, Minnesota?
The median household income in Austin is approximately $68,205 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Austin, Minnesota?
Yes, Austin has 2 private schools alongside 24 public schools. The top-rated private school is New Dominion School with a score of 8.6/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Austin, Minnesota?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Austin is 27.1:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Austin, Minnesota?
MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.
Related reading
- Best Public Schools in Texas 2026: Top-Ranked Elementary, Middle & High Schoolsbest schools
- Best Schools in Austin, TX — 2026 Rankingsbest schools
- Moving for Schools: How to Find the Best Schools Before You Relocateguides
- Understanding School Ratings: A Parent's Guide to Using Data for School Choice Decisionsguides
- Best Elementary Schools in America: 2026 Rankingsbest schools
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Data from NCES Common Core of Data, Minnesota Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.