Best Schools in Elk River, Minnesota
22 schools · 8 Elementary · 6 Middle · 6 High · 2 Other
Choosing a school in Elk River?
Use this page to compare every school in Elk River 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.
Spectrum Middle School - Grade 6
Middle · Spectrum High School. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Twin Lakes Elementary
Elementary · Elk River Public School District. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Parker Elementary
Elementary · Elk River Public School District. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Elk River for 2026 are Spectrum Middle School - Grade 6 (8.1/10), Twin Lakes Elementary (8.1/10), and Parker Elementary (7.7/10), 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
22
21 public · 1 private
Avg Score
6.2
out of 10
Median Home
$355,200
home value · ACS
Districts
3
serving the city
Schools
22
21 public · 1 private
Avg Score
6.2
out of 10
Median Home
$355,200
home value · ACS
Districts
3
serving the city
Rates 8.1/10 despite 24% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.4 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 Elk River schools.
Top-Rated Schools in Elk River
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (14 of 22). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spectrum Middle School - Grade 6 | 8.1 / 10 |
| 2 | Twin Lakes Elementary | 8.1 / 10 |
| 3 | Parker Elementary | 7.7 / 10 |
| 4 | Meadowvale Elementary | 7.6 / 10 |
| 5 | Spectrum High School | 7.5 / 10 |
| 6 | Three Rivers Montessori School | 7.1 / 10 |
| 7 | Elk River Senior High | 6.5 / 10 |
| 8 | Salk Middle School | 6.3 / 10 |
| 9 | Online728 High School | 5.9 / 10 |
| 10 | Spectrum Middle School - Grades 7-8 | 5.2 / 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
- 6.2/10
- Median household income
- $111,481
- Median home value
- $355,200
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 33%
- Avg commute
- 30 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 84%
40% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Elk River compares
Minnesota rank
#120 of 229
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.0
below Minnesota avg (6.2)
Median household income
$111k
133% of Minnesota median
Schools in this city
15
About Schools in Elk River, Minnesota
Elk River's public school system covers 14 ranked schools, with an average score of 6.3 out of 10. That average sits solidly in the mid-range, but the distribution matters more to parents than the mean: 6 of 14 schools — 43% — score 7.0 or higher, meaning nearly half the ranked schools land in high-performing territory. The remaining eight schools cluster below that threshold, so address determines outcome more here than in uniformly strong systems.
Elementary options drive the city's strongest numbers. Meadowvale Elementary leads all 14 schools with an 8.0 — the top score in Elk River. Parker Elementary and Twin Lakes Elementary both score 7.9, making this trio the clearest first choice for families with young children. Three Rivers Montessori School adds a fourth strong elementary option at 7.7, giving parents an alternative to conventional public school instruction. Four of the city's five highest-rated schools are elementary — a pattern worth considering when families decide where to live.
Middle school options show a narrower range. Spectrum Middle School — Grade 6 scores 7.6, ranking fifth citywide and representing a well-rated transition point for students aging out of the top elementary schools. Parents planning ahead should verify current enrollment boundaries for Spectrum, since zoning will determine access.
Practically speaking, Elk River rewards careful location research. The gap between the city's top school (8.0) and the citywide average (6.3) spans 1.7 points — wide enough that two families a mile apart can land in meaningfully different quality tiers. Families prioritizing elementary performance have three schools scoring 7.9 or above, which is a dense concentration of strong options for a city this size. The Montessori alternative at 7.7 expands the choice set further. Confirm district boundary maps before locking in an address, especially if you have children at multiple grade levels who may not share attendance zones.
Elementary Schools
8 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 716 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.1 | ||
| 2 | 526 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.7 | ||
| 3 | 548 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.6 | ||
| 4 | 99 students · Kindergarten–6th | 7.1 | ||
| 5 | 548 students · Kindergarten–5th | 4.5 | ||
| 6 | 1 students · Kindergarten–5th | — | ||
| 7 | 25 students · Kindergarten–5th | — | ||
| 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 | St Andrew Catholic School
Private
137 students · Pre-K–5th | 4.4 | ||
Middle Schools
6 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 121 students · 6th–6th | 8.1 |
| 2 | 677 students · 6th–8th | 6.3 |
| 3 | 287 students · 7th–8th | 5.2 |
| 4 | 521 students · 6th–8th | 4.6 |
| 5 | 1 students · 6th–8th | — |
| 6 | 25 students · 6th–8th | — |
High Schools
6 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 484 students · 9th–12th | 7.5 |
| 2 | 1,602 students · 9th–12th | 6.5 |
| 3 | 67 students · 9th–12th | 5.9 |
| 4 | 104 students · 9th–12th | 4.7 |
| 5 | 6 students · 6th–12th | — |
| 6 | 29 students · 12th–12th | — |
Other Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 379 students · Pre-K–Pre-K | 4.4 |
| 2 | 21 students · 1st–12th | — |
Schools in Elk River
Elk River, Minnesota · 22 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code
Median Income
$111,481
Median Home Value
$355,200
Median Rent
$1,356/mo
Population
45,080
College Educated
33%
Homeownership
84%
Avg Commute
30 min
Poverty Rate
2.4%
Community Profile
Elk River has a median household income of $111,481. It is an area where 33% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $355,200, with a median rent of $1,356/month. The local poverty rate of 2.4% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 30 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Minnesota
- Elementary
- 8
- Middle
- 6
- High
- 6
- Other
- 2
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 Elk River, Minnesota
How many schools are in Elk River, Minnesota?
Elk River has 22 schools, including 21 public and 1 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Elk River, Minnesota?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Elk River is 6.2 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 Elk River, Minnesota?
The top-ranked school in Elk River on MySchoolScout is Spectrum Middle School - Grade 6 with a composite score of 8.1/10.
What is the best elementary school in Elk River, Minnesota?
The top-ranked elementary school in Elk River on MySchoolScout is Twin Lakes Elementary with a composite score of 8.1/10.
What is the best middle school in Elk River, Minnesota?
The top-ranked middle school in Elk River on MySchoolScout is Spectrum Middle School - Grade 6 with a composite score of 8.1/10.
What is the best high school in Elk River, Minnesota?
The top-ranked high school in Elk River on MySchoolScout is Spectrum High School with a composite score of 7.5/10.
How many school districts serve Elk River, Minnesota?
Elk River is served by 3 school districts: Spectrum High School, Three Rivers Montessori School, Elk River Public School District.
What is the education level in Elk River, Minnesota?
According to Census data, 33% of adults in Elk River have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Elk River, Minnesota?
The median household income in Elk River is approximately $111,481 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Elk River, Minnesota?
Yes, Elk River has 1 private school alongside 21 public schools. The top-rated private school is St Andrew Catholic School with a score of 4.4/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Elk River, Minnesota?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Elk River is 15.3:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Elk River, 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.