Best Schools in Burnsville, Minnesota
20 schools · 10 Elementary · 1 Middle · 4 High · 5 Other
Choosing a school in Burnsville?
Use this page to compare every school in Burnsville 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.
Cyprus Classical Academy
Other. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Unity High School
High. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Southview Christian
Other. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Burnsville for 2026 are Cyprus Classical Academy (7.5/10), Unity High School (7.5/10), and Southview Christian (7.1/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 14 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
20
15 public · 5 private
Avg Score
5.4
out of 10
Median Home
$347,050
home value · ACS
Districts
4
serving the city
Schools
20
15 public · 5 private
Avg Score
5.4
out of 10
Median Home
$347,050
home value · ACS
Districts
4
serving the city
Rates 6.7/10 despite 62% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.6 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 Burnsville schools.
Top-Rated Schools in Burnsville
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (14 of 20). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cyprus Classical Academy | 7.5 / 10 |
| 2 | Unity High School | 7.5 / 10 |
| 3 | Southview Christian | 7.1 / 10 |
| 4 | Gideon Pond Elementary | 6.7 / 10 |
| 5 | One91 Virtual Academy Secondary | 6.2 / 10 |
| 6 | Joseph Nicollet Middle School | 5.5 / 10 |
| 7 | Burnsville High School | 5.0 / 10 |
| 8 | William Byrne Elementary | 5.0 / 10 |
| 9 | Good Shepherd Lutheran School | 5.0 / 10 |
| 10 | Edward Neill Elementary | 4.6 / 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
- $89,827
- Median home value
- $347,050
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 41%
- Avg commute
- 24 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 66%
17% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Burnsville compares
Minnesota rank
#213 of 229
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.9
below Minnesota avg (6.2)
Median household income
$90k
107% of Minnesota median
Schools in this city
18
About Schools in Burnsville, Minnesota
Burnsville's public school system includes 14 ranked schools spanning early education through high school. The city averages 6.0 out of 10 — a solid baseline that reflects a mix of strong performers and schools closer to the middle of the pack. That spread matters: families searching here will find real differences depending on where they land.
Five of Burnsville's 14 schools — 36% — score 7.0 or higher, forming a distinct top tier. Gideon Pond Elementary leads the city at 9.0, the highest rating among all ranked schools here. William Byrne Elementary follows at 8.1, and Sky Oaks Elementary rounds out the strong elementary group at 7.1. Three of those five top-rated schools serve elementary grades, making the younger years the most competitive segment of the local landscape. Early Education Program & Services earns a 7.2, giving families with the youngest children a high-scoring option from the start.
Families with high school-age students have one clear above-average option: ONE91 Virtual Academy Secondary, rated 7.5. Its virtual format sets it apart from Burnsville's other secondary offerings, and its score sits noticeably above the 6.0 city average.
For parents comparing schools, the 6.0 average is a useful anchor — any school at 7.0 or above sits in the top 36% of Burnsville's ranked schools, a reliable signal of stronger performance. Because address determines school assignment, the practical first step is confirming which schools serve a specific home address, then benchmarking those schools against the city average and the top performers. Burnsville rewards that research: the gap between the city's best schools and its average ones is wide enough to make zoning decisions count.
Elementary Schools
10 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 352 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.7 | ||
| 2 | 49 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.0 | ||
| 3 | 569 students · Pre-K–5th | 5.0 | ||
| 4 | 357 students · Pre-K–5th | 4.6 | ||
| 5 | 330 students · Pre-K–5th | 4.6 | ||
| 6 | 765 students · Pre-K–5th | 4.2 | ||
| 7 | 240 students · Kindergarten–5th | 4.1 | ||
| 8 | 459 students · Pre-K–5th | 3.7 | ||
| 9 | 140 students · Kindergarten–8th | 3.5 | ||
| Private Schools 1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Good Shepherd Lutheran School
Private
136 students · Pre-K–8th | 5.0 | ||
Middle Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 748 students · 6th–8th | 5.5 |
High Schools
4 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 159 students · 6th–12th | 6.2 | ||
| 2 | 2,100 students · 9th–12th | 5.0 | ||
| 3 | 43 students · 12th–12th | — | ||
| Private Schools 1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Unity High School
Private
63 students · 9th–12th | 7.5 | ||
Other Schools
5 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 201 students · Pre-K–Pre-K | 5.8 | ||
| 2 | 31 students · Pre-K–Pre-K | 4.4 | ||
| Private Schools 3 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Cyprus Classical Academy
Private
55 students · UG–UG | 7.5 | ||
| 2 | Southview Christian
Private
42 students · Kindergarten–9th | 7.1 | ||
| 3 | One School, Global
Private
29 students · 3rd–12th | — | ||
Schools in Burnsville
Burnsville, Minnesota · 20 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 2 ZIP codes
Median Income
$89,827
Median Home Value
$347,050
Median Rent
$1,537/mo
Population
64,295
College Educated
41%
Homeownership
66%
Avg Commute
24 min
Poverty Rate
7.9%
Community Profile
Burnsville has a median household income of $89,827. It is a well-educated community where 41% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $347,050, with a median rent of $1,537/month. The local poverty rate of 7.9% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 24 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Minnesota
- Elementary
- 10
- Middle
- 1
- High
- 4
- Other
- 5
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 Burnsville, Minnesota
How many schools are in Burnsville, Minnesota?
Burnsville has 20 schools, including 15 public and 5 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Burnsville, Minnesota?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Burnsville 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 Burnsville, Minnesota?
The top-ranked school in Burnsville on MySchoolScout is Cyprus Classical Academy with a composite score of 7.5/10.
What is the best elementary school in Burnsville, Minnesota?
The top-ranked elementary school in Burnsville on MySchoolScout is Gideon Pond Elementary with a composite score of 6.7/10.
What is the best middle school in Burnsville, Minnesota?
The top-ranked middle school in Burnsville on MySchoolScout is Joseph Nicollet Middle School with a composite score of 5.5/10.
What is the best high school in Burnsville, Minnesota?
The top-ranked high school in Burnsville on MySchoolScout is Unity High School with a composite score of 7.5/10.
How many school districts serve Burnsville, Minnesota?
Burnsville is served by 4 school districts: Step Academy, Gateway Stem Academy, Burnsville-eagan-savage Schools, Rosemount-apple Valley-eagan.
What is the education level in Burnsville, Minnesota?
According to Census data, 41% of adults in Burnsville have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Burnsville, Minnesota?
The median household income in Burnsville is approximately $89,827 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Burnsville, Minnesota?
Yes, Burnsville has 5 private schools alongside 15 public schools. The top-rated private school is Cyprus Classical Academy with a score of 7.5/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Burnsville, Minnesota?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Burnsville is 18.9:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Burnsville, 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.
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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.