Best Schools in Rochester, Minnesota
62 schools · 27 Elementary · 7 Middle · 16 High · 12 Other
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 6.5/10
- Median household income
- $95,722
- Median home value
- $326,825
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 51%
- Avg commute
- 18 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 69%
40% 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
#71 of 229
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
+0.2
above Minnesota avg (6.3)
Median household income
$96k
114% of Minnesota median
Schools in this city
45
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 | 174 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.4 | ||
| 3 | 334 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.4 | ||
| 4 | 331 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.3 | ||
| 5 | 323 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.0 | ||
| 6 | 77 students · Kindergarten–6th | 7.9 | ||
| 7 | 613 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.6 | ||
| 8 | 492 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.3 | ||
| 9 | 725 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.7 | ||
| 10 | 563 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.6 | ||
| 11 | 275 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.5 | ||
| 12 | 555 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.5 | ||
| 13 | 412 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.3 | ||
| 14 | 419 students · Kindergarten–8th | 6.0 | ||
| 15 | 325 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.0 | ||
| 16 | 195 students · Pre-K–2nd | 5.9 | ||
| 17 | 488 students · Kindergarten–8th | 5.9 | ||
| 18 | 240 students · 3rd–5th | 5.7 | ||
| 19 | 536 students · Pre-K–5th | 5.4 | ||
| 20 | 388 students · Pre-K–5th | 4.6 | ||
| Private Schools 7 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | 110 students · Pre-K–5th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | ST PIUS X SCHOOL
Private
158 students · Pre-K–5th | Not Rated | ||
| 3 | 328 students · Pre-K–8th | Not Rated | ||
| 4 | ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI SCHOOL
Private
354 students · Pre-K–8th | Not Rated | ||
| 5 | HOLY SPIRIT CATHOLIC SCHOOL
Private
165 students · Pre-K–5th | Not Rated | ||
Show 2 more elementary schools
| 6 | PRIMROSE SCHOOL OF ROCHESTER
Private
7 students · Pre-K–Kindergarten | Not Rated |
| 7 | 13 students · Kindergarten–3rd | Not Rated |
Middle Schools
7 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 58 students · 7th–8th | 6.9 | ||
| 2 | 801 students · 6th–8th | 5.4 | ||
| 3 | 1,003 students · 6th–8th | 5.3 | ||
| 4 | 781 students · 6th–8th | 4.4 | ||
| 5 | 834 students · 6th–8th | 3.1 | ||
| 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 | Not Rated | ||
High Schools
16 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,722 students · 8th–12th | 8.1 | ||
| 2 | 95 students · 6th–12th | 7.4 | ||
| 3 | 73 students · 11th–12th | 7.0 | ||
| 4 | 201 students · 9th–12th | 6.1 | ||
| 5 | 1,820 students · 8th–12th | 5.6 | ||
| 6 | 1,521 students · 8th–12th | 5.1 | ||
| 7 | 116 students · 9th–12th | 4.9 | ||
| 8 | 376 students · 6th–12th | 4.9 | ||
| 9 | 65 students · 9th–12th | 4.1 | ||
| 10 | 5 students · 5th–12th | — | ||
| 11 | 1 students · 9th–12th | — | ||
| 12 | 9 students · 12th–12th | — | ||
| 13 | 4 students · 9th–12th | — | ||
| 14 | 6 students · 9th–12th | — | ||
| 15 | 5 students · 5th–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 | LOURDES HIGH SCHOOL
Private
321 students · 9th–12th | Not Rated | ||
Other Schools
12 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 81 students · Kindergarten–12th | 7.4 | ||
| 2 | 76 students · Pre-K–Pre-K | 7.0 | ||
| 3 | 194 students · Pre-K–Pre-K | 7.0 | ||
| 4 | 142 students · Pre-K–Pre-K | — | ||
| 5 | 4 students · Kindergarten–12th | — | ||
| 6 | 2 students · Pre-K–Pre-K | — | ||
| 7 | 32 students · Kindergarten–12th | — | ||
| 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 | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | SCHAEFFER ACADEMY
Private
277 students · Kindergarten–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 3 | ROCHESTER PENTECOSTAL SCHOOL
Private
8 students · 1st–10th | Not Rated | ||
| 4 | VICTORY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY
Private
14 students · Pre-K–11th | Not Rated | ||
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.
Quick Facts
- State
- Minnesota
- Total Schools
- 62
- Elementary
- 27
- Middle
- 7
- High
- 16
- Districts
- 5
- Avg Rating
- 6.5/10
Resources
Nearby Cities
Other Major Cities in Minnesota
Top metros statewide by school count.
How We Rate Schools
Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.
Read our full methodologyFrequently 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 6.5 out of 10, based on academic achievement, student growth, equity, and school environment.
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 6.9/10.
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 based on four components: Academic Achievement, Student Growth, Equity, and School Environment.
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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.