📊 Data: NCES CCD 2024–2025·🔄 Updated: May 2026·Editorial standards
🏆 Rankings · State Test Data (EDFacts 2017–18)

Best School Districts
in Minnesota

Minnesota has 309 rated public school districts. Rankings reflect state reading & math assessment proficiency, percentile-ranked within each state. Use the zip code search to find and compare districts near your address.

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📊 What this ranking measures
Rankings are based on academic achievement — the share of students scoring proficient or above on state reading and math assessments (NCES EDFacts, 2017–18), ranked against other districts in the same state — not on spending, district size, or staffing. See full methodology →
Top 25 Districts Minnesota Sorted by rating — highest first
#DistrictCityRatingState Percentile
#1Delano Public School DistrictDelano10/10  Excellent99th
#2Esko Public School DistrictEsko10/10  Excellent99th
#3Minnetonka Public School DistrictMinnetonka10/10  Excellent99th
#4Wayzata Public School DistrictWayzata10/10  Excellent99th
#5Westonka Public School DistrictWestonka10/10  Excellent99th
#6Mahtomedi Public School DistrictMahtomedi10/10  Excellent97th
#7Orono Public School DistrictOrono10/10  Excellent96th
#8Barnesville Public School DistrictBarnesville10/10  Excellent95th
#9Edina Public School DistrictEdina10/10  Excellent95th
#10St. Michael-Albertville School DistrictSt. Michael-Albertville10/10  Excellent95th
#11Byron Public School DistrictByron10/10  Excellent94th
#12Battle Lake Public School DistrictBattle Lake10/10  Excellent93th
#13Dassel-Cokato Public School DistrictDassel-Cokato10/10  Excellent93th
#14Eden Prairie Public School DistrictEden Prairie10/10  Excellent93th
#15Eden Prairie SchoolsEden Prairie10/10  Excellent93th
#16Lake Benton Public School DistrictLake Benton10/10  Excellent93th
#17Lakeville Public School DistrictLakeville10/10  Excellent93th
#18Minneota Public School DistrictMinneota10/10  Excellent93th
#19Sartell-St. Stephen School DistrictSaint Stephen10/10  Excellent93th
#20Springfield Public School DistrictSpringfield10/10  Excellent93th
#21Elk River School DistrictElk River10/10  Excellent92th
#22New Prague Area SchoolsNew Prague10/10  Excellent92th
#23Waconia Public School DistrictWaconia10/10  Excellent92th
#24Albany Public School DistrictAlbany9/10  Excellent89th
#25Prior Lake-Savage Area SchoolsPrior Lake-Savage9/10  Excellent89th

Best School Districts in Minnesota (2026)

This ranking covers 309 rated public school districts in Minnesota, scored using NCES EDFacts state assessment data for the 2017–18 school year — the most recent district-level federal collection we have processed. Each district's reading and math proficiency rates are averaged, then ranked against other districts in the same state to produce a 1–10 score.

A district's score reflects how its students perform on state assessments relative to same-state peers — it is not a direct measure of teaching quality, school culture, or individual student outcomes. Always visit schools, talk to local families, and contact districts directly before making decisions. Learn how ratings are calculated →

How to Use This List

Click any district name to see its zip code page and confirm your exact assignment with the district office. Boundaries don't always follow city or neighborhood lines — the zip code search gives you the most accurate result.

Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best school district in Minnesota?
Based on state reading and math assessment proficiency (NCES EDFacts, 2017–18), the top-rated district is Delano Public School District in Delano, rated 10/10 (Excellent).
How are these rankings calculated?
Rankings use the share of students scoring proficient or above on state reading and math assessments (NCES EDFacts, 2017–18), ranked against other districts in the same state, then converted to a 1–10 scale. Full methodology here.
Are ratings based on test scores?
Yes. Ratings are based directly on state reading and math assessment proficiency rates, not on enrollment, spending, or school count. They are a starting point for research, not a final verdict on school quality.