Best Schools in Rochester, Minnesota
62 schools · 27 Elementary · 7 Middle · 16 High · 12 Other
Choosing a school in Rochester?
Use this page to compare every school in Rochester 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.
Rochester Arts & Sciences Academy
Elementary. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Jefferson Elementary
Elementary · Rochester Public School District. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Lourdes High School
High. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Rochester for 2026 are Rochester Arts & Sciences Academy (8.8/10), Jefferson Elementary (8.7/10), and Lourdes High School (8.7/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 39 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
62
49 public · 13 private
Avg Score
5.8
out of 10
Median Home
$326,825
home value · ACS
Districts
5
serving the city
Schools
62
49 public · 13 private
Avg Score
5.8
out of 10
Median Home
$326,825
home value · ACS
Districts
5
serving the city
Rates 8.7/10 despite 33% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.9 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 Rochester schools.
Top-Rated Schools in Rochester
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (39 of 62). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rochester Arts & Sciences Academy | 8.8 / 10 |
| 2 | Jefferson Elementary | 8.7 / 10 |
| 3 | Lourdes High School | 8.7 / 10 |
| 4 | Rochester Montessori School | 8.7 / 10 |
| 5 | Longfellow 45-15 Districtwide Elem | 8.2 / 10 |
| 6 | Folwell Elementary | 7.6 / 10 |
| 7 | Rochester Beacon Academy | 7.4 / 10 |
| 8 | Rps Online Middle School | 7.1 / 10 |
| 9 | St Pius X School | 7.0 / 10 |
| 10 | Montessori at Franklin Elementary | 6.8 / 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
- 5.8/10
- Median household income
- $95,722
- Median home value
- $326,825
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 51%
- Avg commute
- 18 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 69%
22% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Rochester compares
Minnesota rank
#166 of 229
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.4
below Minnesota avg (6.2)
Median household income
$96k
114% of Minnesota median
Schools in this city
46
Education Snapshot
Rochester, MinnesotaRochester's 5 districts serve 62 schools, enrolling roughly 19,920 students in a city where the median household income of $90,916 runs 3% above Minnesota's state median of $88,477. That economic edge — reinforced by a 48% adult bachelor's-degree attainment rate — doesn't fully translate into school ratings: Rochester averages 5.8/10 across 46 scored schools, trailing the Minnesota state average of 6.2/10 by 0.4 points. For parents evaluating a move here, that gap is the key signal — household wealth and education attainment outpace the state, but the schools as a group do not yet reflect that advantage. The 62 schools divide into 27 elementary, 16 high school, 7 middle, and 12 combined campuses; 4 charter schools provide an alternative to the primary district structure. The 27-to-16 elementary-to-high-school ratio signals meaningful grade-band consolidation as students advance.
About Schools in Rochester, Minnesota
Rochester, Minnesota gives parents 37 ranked public schools to evaluate, with an average rating of 6.3 out of 10. That average sits comfortably in the middle of the range, but the distribution matters more than the mean: 14 schools — 38% of the city's ranked inventory — score 7 or above, meaning more than one in three options clears a high-performing threshold. That's a meaningful concentration of strong options for a mid-sized city.
The elementary tier leads the landscape. Jefferson Elementary tops Rochester's rankings with a 9.0 out of 10, the highest score in the city. Close behind it, Montessori at Franklin Elementary earns an 8.8, offering families a structured alternative-education model at near-elite performance. Longfellow 45-15 Districtwide Elementary (8.4), Folwell Elementary (8.3), and Elton Hills Elementary (8.0) round out a five-school cluster that all score 8.0 or higher — a strong signal that Rochester's elementary pipeline has real depth, not just one outlier at the top.
Rochester Public Schools is the dominant district in the city. As home to the Mayo Clinic, Rochester draws a highly educated professional workforce, and that demographic reality tends to concentrate resources and parental engagement in ways that show up in school performance data. Families relocating for Mayo or IBM careers will find that the city's school quality — particularly at the elementary level — is a genuine asset, not a compromise.
The practical picture for parents: prioritize the northwest and central neighborhoods where the top-rated elementary schools cluster, and plan ahead for middle and high school transitions, since performance spreads wider at upper grades. With 38% of ranked schools above the 7.0 mark and five elementaries at 8.0 or better, Rochester offers more high-quality public options than many comparably sized cities. Run each candidate school against your child's grade level and your family's address — in Rochester, geography and feeder patterns will determine whether the top schools are actually in reach.
Elementary Schools
27 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 488 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.7 |
| 2 | 334 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.2 |
| 3 | 77 students · Kindergarten–6th | 7.9 |
| 4 | 331 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.6 |
| 5 | 174 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.8 |
| 6 | 725 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.7 |
| 7 | 488 students · Kindergarten–8th | 6.6 |
| 8 | 555 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.6 |
| 9 | 613 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.0 |
| 10 | 536 students · Pre-K–5th | 5.7 |
Show all 27 elementary schools in Rochester
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
7 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 58 students · 7th–8th | 7.1 | ||
| 2 | 1,003 students · 6th–8th | 5.1 | ||
| 3 | 781 students · 6th–8th | 4.5 | ||
| 4 | 801 students · 6th–8th | 2.9 | ||
| 5 | 834 students · 6th–8th | 2.5 | ||
| 6 | 27 students · 6th–8th | — | ||
| 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 | Ambassador Academy
Private
18 students · 1st–6th | — | ||
High Schools
16 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 95 students · 6th–12th | 7.4 |
| 2 | 1,722 students · 8th–12th | 6.1 |
| 3 | 116 students · 9th–12th | 6.0 |
| 4 | 1,820 students · 8th–12th | 5.9 |
| 5 | 73 students · 11th–12th | 5.8 |
| 6 | 65 students · 9th–12th | 5.5 |
| 7 | 376 students · 6th–12th | 5.2 |
| 8 | 1,521 students · 8th–12th | 5.0 |
| 9 | 201 students · 9th–12th | 3.2 |
| 10 | 5 students · 5th–12th | — |
Show all 16 high schools in Rochester
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 | 81 students · Kindergarten–12th | 6.3 | ||
| 2 | 76 students · Pre-K–Pre-K | 5.8 | ||
| 3 | 194 students · Pre-K–Pre-K | 5.8 | ||
| 4 | 32 students · Kindergarten–12th | 4.1 | ||
| 5 | 142 students · Pre-K–Pre-K | — | ||
| 6 | 4 students · Kindergarten–12th | — | ||
| 7 | 2 students · Pre-K–Pre-K | — | ||
| 8 | 30 students · Pre-K–Pre-K | — | ||
| Private Schools 4 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Rochester Montessori School
Private
110 students · Pre-K–9th | 8.7 | ||
| 2 | Schaeffer Academy
Private
277 students · Kindergarten–12th | 5.6 | ||
Show all 12 other schools in Rochester
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Schools in Rochester
Rochester, Minnesota · 62 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 4 ZIP codes
Median Income
$95,722
Median Home Value
$326,825
Median Rent
$1,327/mo
Population
134,010
College Educated
51%
Homeownership
69%
Avg Commute
18 min
Poverty Rate
8.3%
Community Profile
Rochester has a median household income of $95,722. It is a well-educated community where 51% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $326,825, with a median rent of $1,327/month. The local poverty rate of 8.3% is relatively low. Residents enjoy a short average commute of 18 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Minnesota
- Elementary
- 27
- Middle
- 7
- High
- 16
- Other
- 12
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 Rochester, Minnesota
How many schools are in Rochester, Minnesota?
Rochester has 62 schools, including 49 public and 13 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Rochester, Minnesota?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Rochester is 5.8 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 Rochester, Minnesota?
The top-ranked school in Rochester on MySchoolScout is Rochester Arts & Sciences Academy with a composite score of 8.8/10.
What is the best elementary school in Rochester, Minnesota?
The top-ranked elementary school in Rochester on MySchoolScout is Rochester Arts & Sciences Academy with a composite score of 8.8/10.
What is the best middle school in Rochester, Minnesota?
The top-ranked middle school in Rochester on MySchoolScout is Rps Online Middle School with a composite score of 7.1/10.
What is the best high school in Rochester, Minnesota?
The top-ranked high school in Rochester on MySchoolScout is Lourdes High School with a composite score of 8.7/10.
How many school districts serve Rochester, Minnesota?
Rochester is served by 5 school districts: Rosa Parks Charter High School, Rochester Math and Science Academy, Rochester Stem Academy, Rochester Beacon Academy, Rochester Public School District.
What is the education level in Rochester, Minnesota?
According to Census data, 51% of adults in Rochester have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Rochester, Minnesota?
The median household income in Rochester is approximately $95,722 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Rochester, Minnesota?
Yes, Rochester has 13 private schools alongside 49 public schools. The top-rated private school is Rochester Arts & Sciences Academy with a score of 8.8/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Rochester, Minnesota?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Rochester is 13.1:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Rochester, 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.