Best Schools in Minneapolis, Minnesota
170 schools · 90 Elementary · 19 Middle · 49 High · 12 Other
Choosing a school in Minneapolis?
Use this page to compare every school in Minneapolis 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.
Armatage Elementary
Elementary · Minneapolis Public School District. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Howe Elementary
Elementary · Minneapolis Public School District. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Dowling Elementary
Elementary · Minneapolis Public School District. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated 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 real test data across 123 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
170
141 public · 29 private
Avg Score
6.2
out of 10
Median Home
$364,841
home value · ACS
Districts
31
serving the city
Schools
170
141 public · 29 private
Avg Score
6.2
out of 10
Median Home
$364,841
home value · ACS
Districts
31
serving the city
Rates 9.0/10 despite 22% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.4 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 Minneapolis schools.
Top-Rated Schools in Minneapolis
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (Top 10 of 123 rated schools; 170 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Armatage Elementary | 9.0 / 10 |
| 2 | Howe Elementary | 8.9 / 10 |
| 3 | Dowling Elementary | 8.7 / 10 |
| 4 | Waite Park Elementary | 8.5 / 10 |
| 5 | Anthony Middle | 8.3 / 10 |
| 6 | Universal Academy Elementary | 8.2 / 10 |
| 7 | Northrop Elementary | 8.2 / 10 |
| 8 | Barton Elementary | 8.2 / 10 |
| 9 | Yinghua Academy | 8.1 / 10 |
| 10 | Lake Harriet Lower Elementary | 8.1 / 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
- $88,711
- Median home value
- $364,841
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 53%
- Avg commute
- 22 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 53%
26% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Minneapolis compares
Minnesota rank
#133 of 231
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.2
below Minnesota avg (6.3)
Median household income
$89k
106% of Minnesota median
Schools in this city
149
Education Snapshot
Minneapolis, MinnesotaMinneapolis runs 165 schools across 31 districts, with approximately 46,760 students enrolled across 87 elementary, 50 high, 19 middle, and 9 other campuses. The city's average MySchoolScout composite rating of 6.0/10 — drawn from 145 scored schools — trails the Minnesota state average of 6.2/10 by 0.2 points; because individual school ratings spread across a wide range, comparing at the school level matters far more than the city headline suggests. Charter schools account for 55 of those 165 campuses — one in three — giving families a substantial publicly funded choice market alongside traditional district options. Median household income sits at $86,003, a figure 3% below the Minnesota state median of $88,477, a gap that can widen meaningfully across the 31-district resource landscape. On educational attainment, 52% of Minneapolis adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Minneapolis Public School District runs 61% of Minneapolis's public schools
Minneapolis touches 31 districts, but Minneapolis Public School District is the one most addresses actually attend.
Minneapolis Public School District accounts for 86 of 141 public schools (61%). The other 30 districts hold the remaining 55.
Among 123 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 3.0 to 9.0 — the spread is inside Minneapolis, not a citywide average.
55 of the 141 public schools are charters (39%), so the district split is not the whole market.
- Minneapolis Public School District86 public · 61%
- Minnesota Transitions Charter Sch6 public · 4%
- Cyber Village Academy5 public · 4%
- Hiawatha Academies4 public · 3%
- Metro Schools Charter4 public · 3%
About Schools in Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis, Minnesota has 125 ranked public schools, giving parents a broad field to evaluate. The city averages 6.1 out of 10 across those schools — a middling baseline that masks significant variation at both ends of the range. Thirty-eight schools, or 30% of the ranked total, score 7 or higher, so parents willing to compare will find a real concentration of strong options alongside schools that fall well below the city mean.
The top of the performance range is anchored by Lake Harriet Upper Elementary, which scores 9.8 out of 10 — the highest-rated school in the city. CVA Fusion Elementary School (K-5) follows at 9.7, with Bancroft Elementary (9.4), Burroughs Elementary (9.1), and Kenny Elementary (9.0) rounding out the five highest-rated schools. All five are elementary schools. That pattern signals the city's strongest academic performance concentrates in the early grades, and parents of younger children have the most options at the top tier.
The spread from the city average of 6.1 to the top score of 9.8 is nearly four full points. That gap is wide enough that school selection makes a concrete difference in Minneapolis — more so than in cities where the top and average are closer together. Families should not treat the city-wide average as a reliable proxy for what any individual school delivers.
For parents starting their search, Minneapolis rewards school-by-school comparison over neighborhood assumptions. The 30% of schools scoring 7 or above are not evenly distributed across the city, and proximity alone is a poor guide to quality. Use MySchoolScout's map and filters to identify which high-scoring schools fall within your attendance zone or are reachable through open enrollment before narrowing your list. Elementary-level options at the top are strong; plan to look harder at the middle and high school levels where the top-tier concentration thins out.
Elementary Schools
90 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 376 students · Pre-K–5th | 9.0 |
| 2 | 245 students · 3rd–5th | 8.9 |
| 3 | 315 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.7 |
| 4 | 269 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.5 |
| 5 | 423 students · Pre-K–6th | 8.2 |
| 6 | 395 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.2 |
| 7 | 506 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.2 |
| 8 | 838 students · Kindergarten–8th | 8.1 |
| 9 | 320 students · Kindergarten–2nd | 8.1 |
| 10 | 404 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.0 |
Show all 90 elementary schools in Minneapolis
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
19 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 735 students · 6th–8th | 8.3 |
| 2 | 705 students · 6th–8th | 7.8 |
| 3 | 939 students · 6th–8th | 7.4 |
| 4 | 39 students · 5th–6th | 6.9 |
| 5 | 334 students · 6th–8th | 6.7 |
| 6 | 187 students · 5th–8th | 6.1 |
| 7 | 1,045 students · 6th–8th | 6.1 |
| 8 | 409 students · 5th–8th | 6.0 |
| 9 | 116 students · 6th–8th | 6.0 |
| 10 | 146 students · 3rd–8th | 5.8 |
High Schools
49 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 112 students · 7th–12th | 7.3 |
| 2 | 1,555 students · 9th–12th | 7.1 |
| 3 | 35 students · 9th–12th | 6.8 |
| 4 | 47 students · 9th–12th | 6.7 |
| 5 | 61 students · 7th–12th | 6.7 |
| 6 | 33 students · 7th–12th | 6.6 |
| 7 | 262 students · 12th–12th | 6.5 |
| 8 | 33 students · 9th–12th | 6.3 |
| 9 | 56 students · 9th–12th | 6.2 |
| 10 | 87 students · 9th–12th | 6.1 |
Show all 49 high schools in Minneapolis
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Other Schools
12 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 169 students · 6th–11th | 7.0 | ||
| 2 | 67 students · Kindergarten–12th | 6.9 | ||
| 3 | 30 students · Kindergarten–12th | 5.9 | ||
| 4 | 31 students · Kindergarten–12th | 5.7 | ||
| 5 | 27 students · 7th–10th | — | ||
| 6 | 8 students · Kindergarten–12th | — | ||
| 7 | 7 students · Pre-K–Pre-K | — | ||
Private Schools5 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Gaia Democratic SchoolPrivate 30 students · Kindergarten–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | Blake SchoolPrivate 1,287 students · Kindergarten–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 3 | Breck SchoolPrivate 1,168 students · Pre-K–12th | Not Rated | ||
Show all 12 other schools in Minneapolis
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Schools in Minneapolis
Minneapolis, Minnesota · 170 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 22 ZIP codes
Median Income
$88,711
Median Home Value
$364,841
Median Rent
$1,429/mo
Population
560,214
College Educated
53%
Homeownership
53%
Avg Commute
22 min
Poverty Rate
13.5%
Community Profile
Minneapolis has a median household income of $88,711. It is a well-educated community where 53% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $364,841, with a median rent of $1,429/month. The area has a poverty rate of 13.5%. The average commute for residents is 22 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Minnesota
- Elementary
- 90
- Middle
- 19
- High
- 49
- Other
- 12
Resources
School Districts (31)
SOJOURNER TRUTH ACADEMY
1 school · 354 students
EL COLEGIO CHARTER SCHOOL
1 school · 96 students
Twin Cities International Schools
2 schools · 956 students
Friendship Academy of the Arts
2 schools · 247 students
AURORA CHARTER SCHOOL
2 schools · 426 students
METRO SCHOOLS CHARTER
5 schools · 1,339 students
Minnesota Transitions Charter Sch
9 schools · 4,943 students
CYBER VILLAGE ACADEMY
5 schools · 219 students
LOVEWORKS ACADEMY FOR ARTS
1 school · 162 students
SOUTHSIDE FAMILY CHARTER SCHOOL
1 school · 115 students
YINGHUA ACADEMY
1 school · 838 students
HIAWATHA ACADEMIES
4 schools · 1,605 students
Stonebridge World School
1 school · 237 students
Lincoln International High School
1 school · 165 students
KIPP MINNESOTA CHARTER SCHOOL
4 schools · 271 students
BEST ACADEMY
3 schools · 623 students
Legacy of Dr Josie R Johnson Montes
1 school · 53 students
Hennepin Schools
2 schools · 452 students
MINNESOTA INTERNSHIP CENTER
4 schools · 273 students
AUGSBURG FAIRVIEW ACADEMY
1 school · 87 students
Spero Academy
2 schools · 229 students
NEW CITY SCHOOL
1 school · 339 students
Venture Academy
2 schools · 342 students
Universal Academy Charter School
2 schools · 450 students
Skyline Math and Science Academy
1 school · 188 students
Minnesota Wildflower Montessori Sch
3 schools · 33 students
Exploration High School
1 school · 104 students
Aim Academy of Science & Technology
1 school · 169 students
Bdote Learning Center
1 school · 83 students
Northeast College Prep
1 school · 274 students
Minneapolis Public School District
98 schools · 29,063 students
Other Major Cities in Minnesota
Top metros statewide by school count.
Featured Rankings
See our in-depth rankings with interactive maps, score breakdowns, and school spotlights.
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 Minneapolis, Minnesota
How many schools are in Minneapolis, Minnesota?
Minneapolis has 170 schools, including 141 public and 29 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Minneapolis, Minnesota?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Minneapolis 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 Minneapolis, Minnesota?
The top-ranked school in Minneapolis on MySchoolScout is Armatage Elementary with a composite score of 9.0/10.
What is the best elementary school in Minneapolis, Minnesota?
The top-ranked elementary school in Minneapolis on MySchoolScout is Armatage Elementary with a composite score of 9.0/10.
What is the best middle school in Minneapolis, Minnesota?
The top-ranked middle school in Minneapolis on MySchoolScout is Anthony Middle with a composite score of 8.3/10.
What is the best high school in Minneapolis, Minnesota?
The top-ranked high school in Minneapolis on MySchoolScout is Banaadir Secondary with a composite score of 7.3/10.
How many school districts serve Minneapolis, Minnesota?
Minneapolis is served by 31 school districts: Sojourner Truth Academy, EL Colegio Charter School, Twin Cities International Schools, Friendship Academy of the Arts, Aurora Charter School, Metro Schools Charter, Minnesota Transitions Charter Sch, Cyber Village Academy, Loveworks Academy for Arts, Southside Family Charter School, Yinghua Academy, Hiawatha Academies, Stonebridge World School, Lincoln International High School, Kipp Minnesota Charter School, Best Academy, Legacy of Dr Josie R Johnson Montes, Hennepin Schools, Minnesota Internship Center, Augsburg Fairview Academy, Spero Academy, New City School, Venture Academy, Universal Academy Charter School, Skyline Math and Science Academy, Minnesota Wildflower Montessori Sch, Exploration High School, Aim Academy of Science & Technology, Bdote Learning Center, Northeast College Prep, Minneapolis Public School District.
What is the education level in Minneapolis, Minnesota?
According to Census data, 53% of adults in Minneapolis have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Minneapolis, Minnesota?
The median household income in Minneapolis is approximately $88,711 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Minneapolis, Minnesota?
Yes, Minneapolis has 29 private schools alongside 141 public schools. The top-rated private school is Trinity First Lutheran School with a score of 8.9/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Minneapolis, Minnesota?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Minneapolis is 14.8:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Minneapolis, 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.