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Excellent

#26 of 318 private schools in MN

Top 8% of private schools

Minnehaha Academy Lower School

Elementary School

4200 W RIVER PKWY, Minneapolis, MN 55406

Private Estimated Score

Estimated academic score. This school does not have standardized test data. Based on MN statewide data. Learn more

Enrollment

454

Student-Teacher

8.1:1

Score

8.1

Grades

Pre-K – 8th

Updated 2021-22

How this school compares

In Minneapolis

#2 of 20

public schools

Minnesota elementary schools

#11 of 222

About Minnehaha Academy Lower School

Minnehaha Academy Lower School is an elementary school located on the western edge of Minneapolis, Minnesota, in a bustling urban setting. The school serves students from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade and has an enrollment of 454 students with a student-to-teacher ratio of 8.1:1. With 56 full-time equivalent teachers on staff, Minnehaha Academy Lower School offers personalized attention to each student.

While the specific test score data is not available, the school's MySchoolScout rating of 6.0 out of 10 and its state ranking at #154 out of 318 schools in Minnesota suggest that there is room for academic growth and development. The school focuses on providing a supportive educational environment where students can thrive. Minnehaha Academy Lower School sits in the heart of a large city, offering easy access to cultural amenities and community resources.

Its location allows it to be part of an active urban neighborhood, fostering a sense of community among its diverse student body and families.

What Parents Should Know

With a student-teacher ratio of 8.1:1, Minnehaha Academy Lower School offers a notably low ratio compared to the national average. This typically means smaller class sizes and more opportunities for one-on-one interaction between students and teachers.

As a private school, Minnehaha Academy Lower School operates independently from the local public school district. Families considering this school should inquire about tuition costs, financial aid availability, and the admissions process. Private schools are not required to follow the same curriculum standards as public schools, which can be either an advantage or a consideration depending on your priorities.

Compare to Public Schools

Beta

How Minnehaha Academy Lower School compares to 105 public schools serving similar grades in Minneapolis, MN

Student-Teacher Ratio
8.1:1
This School
vs
15.7:1
Public Avg
Avg School Size
454
This School
vs
285
Public Avg
Avg School Scout Rating
8.1
This School
vs
6.3
Public Avg

Student Demographics

White 62.8% vs 0%
Black 13.9% vs 0%
Hispanic 2.9% vs 0%
Asian 2.9% vs 0%
Minnehaha Academy Lower School Minneapolis Public Avg

Nearby Elementary Schools

School Rating
Minnehaha Academy Lower School (this school) 8.1
HIAWATHA ELEMENTARY 7.0
DOWLING ELEMENTARY 8.6
Howe Elementary 5.9
Friendship Academy of Arts - Interm 2.4
SANFORD MIDDLE 7.5
NORTHROP ELEMENTARY 7.6
Friendship Academy of Arts-Primary 6.1
Lake Nokomis Keewaydin Elementary 7.5
CVA Fusion Elementary School (K-5) 9.3
CVA Fusion Middle School (6-8) 5.3
CVA PASCAL Middle & High School 3.7
CVA PASCAL Elementary School (K-5)
Longfellow Alternative High 8.5
Bdote Learning Center 5.3
Hiawatha Collegiate High School 4.9
Hiawatha College Prep - Kingfield 4.6
Folwell Elementary 5.7
Anishinabe Academy Elementary 6.9
SULLIVAN ELEMENTARY 6.3
Universal Academy Elementary 7.3

Showing 20 of 105 schools. View all schools in Minneapolis

Demographics sourced from NCES Private School Survey (PSS) and Common Core of Data (CCD). Comparisons are based on enrollment-weighted averages.

Score Breakdown

What This Rating Measures

This rating reflects classroom size, instructional time, student diversity, community resources, and school characteristics. Private schools are ranked against other private schools in MN.

Classroom Attention
? Student-teacher ratio calibrated against other private schools. Lower ratios mean more individual attention. (30% of overall score)
A 9.0 / 10
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio 8.1:1
Instructional Commitment
? Total annual instructional hours based on school day length and days per year. (15% of overall score)
B- 4.7 / 10
View breakdown
School Day Length 6.6 hours
Annual Instructional Hours 1,122
Diversity & Inclusion
? Racial and ethnic diversity of the student body using Simpson's diversity index. (20% of overall score)
A 9.4 / 10
View breakdown
Diversity Index 55%
Community Context

Data Unavailable

School Profile
? Enrollment size and grade span breadth — indicators of program depth and peer community. (15% of overall score)
A- 8.2 / 10
View breakdown
Enrollment 454
View data sources

Score basis: Private school model

Data coverage: 80% of scoring components had data

Components scored: 4 of 5

Ranking pool: Private schools in MN

Test Scores

Test score data not yet available for this school.

Student Demographics NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

White 62.8%
Two or More 17.0%
Black 13.9%
Hispanic 2.9%
Asian 2.9%
Native American 0.4%
Pacific Islander 0.2%

Source: NCES Private School Survey (PSS)

Location

4200 W RIVER PKWY, Minneapolis, MN 55406

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Minnehaha Academy Lower School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. CVA Fusion Elementary School (K-5) (rated 9.3/10, 1.8 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is GROVELAND PARK ELEMENTARY (rated 8.7/10, 1.1 miles away, in nearby Saint Paul), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, DOWLING ELEMENTARY (rated 8.6/10, 0.4 miles away), which scores slightly higher. For more schools in Minneapolis, see our Minneapolis schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 1.8 mi
School Distance Rating
DOWLING ELEMENTARY Minneapolis 0.4 mi 8.6
HIAWATHA ELEMENTARY Minneapolis 0.3 mi 7.0
SUNNY HOLLOW MONTESSORI Saint Paul 0.5 mi 7.1
Howe Elementary Minneapolis 0.6 mi 5.9
SANFORD MIDDLE Minneapolis 0.9 mi 7.5
Friendship Academy of Arts - Interm Minneapolis 0.9 mi 2.4
MINNEHAHA ACADEMY - UPPER SCHOOL Minneapolis 1.4 mi 7.6
HORACE MANN SCHOOL Saint Paul 1.1 mi 8.5
NORTHROP ELEMENTARY Minneapolis 1.0 mi 7.6
GROVELAND PARK ELEMENTARY Saint Paul 1.1 mi 8.7
HIGHLAND CATHOLIC SCHOOL Saint Paul 1.2 mi 7.3
ST CATHERINE UNIVERSITY EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER Saint Paul 1.2 mi
NATIVITY OF OUR LORD SCHOOL Saint Paul 1.3 mi 4.8
Roosevelt High Minneapolis 1.3 mi 7.9
Roosevelt High - SWS Minneapolis 1.3 mi
CVA PASCAL Middle & High School Minneapolis 1.8 mi 3.7
CVA PASCAL Elementary School (K-5) Minneapolis 1.8 mi
CVA Fusion Elementary School (K-5) Minneapolis 1.8 mi 9.3
CVA Fusion Middle School (6-8) Minneapolis 1.8 mi 5.3
CVA Fusion High School (9-12) Minneapolis 1.8 mi 7.4

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 55406 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$91,865

Median Home Value

$335,500

Median Rent

$1,276/mo

Population

35,863

College Educated

56%

Homeownership

66.8%

Avg Commute

22.5 min

Poverty Rate

8.2%

Median Age

39.7

Community Profile

The community surrounding Minnehaha Academy Lower School has a median household income of $91,865. It is a well-educated community where 56% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $335,500, with a median rent of $1,276/month. The local poverty rate of 8.2% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 23 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
BIRCHVIEW ELEMENTARY Plymouth, MN 8.1
CLEARVIEW ELEMENTARY Clear Lake, MN 8.1
COTTAGE GROVE ELEMENTARY Cottage Grove, MN 8.1
DISCOVERY COMMUNITY ELEMENTARY Waite Park, MN 8.1
Dorothy Dodds Elementary School Moorhead, MN 8.1
EAGLE CREEK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Shakopee, MN 8.1

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Minnehaha Academy Lower School

What grades does Minnehaha Academy Lower School serve?

Minnehaha Academy Lower School serves students in grades Pre-K through 8th.

How many students attend Minnehaha Academy Lower School?

Minnehaha Academy Lower School has an enrollment of approximately 454 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Minnehaha Academy Lower School?

The student-teacher ratio at Minnehaha Academy Lower School is 8.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 11:1 for private schools.

How does Minnehaha Academy Lower School rank in MN?

Minnehaha Academy Lower School is ranked #26 out of 318 private schools in MN.

What is Minnehaha Academy Lower School's MySchoolScout rating?

Minnehaha Academy Lower School has a composite rating of 8.1 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

Is Minnehaha Academy Lower School a private school?

Yes, Minnehaha Academy Lower School is a private coeducational school with a Christian, no specific denomination affiliation. Private schools are not required to participate in state standardized testing, so academic performance data may be limited compared to public schools.

Is Minnehaha Academy Lower School a religious school?

Minnehaha Academy Lower School has a Christian, no specific denomination religious affiliation.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
37 Car-Dependent
Transit Score
51 Good Transit
Bike Score
79 Very Bikeable
City Safety
High (6,330/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Minneapolis). Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

Grades
Pre-K – 8th
Enrollment
454
Gender Split
51% M / 49% F
Student-Teacher Ratio
8.1:1
Teachers (FTE)
56
Type
private
Coed Status
coed
Affiliation
Christian, no specific denomination
School Day
6.6 hours
Days Per Year
170 days
Setting
Large City
County
HENNEPIN
Data Year
2022–2023

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 methodology

Related reading

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