📊 What this ranking measures
Rankings are based on academic achievement — the share of students scoring proficient or above on state reading and math assessments (MCA 2024–25), ranked against other districts in the same state — not on spending, district size, or staffing. See full methodology →
16 Rated Districts in the Rochester, MN Metro Area
MCA 2024–25 · percentile among Minnesota districts
| Metro Rank | District | District Office | Rating | State Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Byron Public School District | Byron | 10/10 Excellent | 96th |
| #2 | Kasson-Mantorville School District | Kasson | 10/10 Excellent | 92nd |
| #3 | Chatfield Public Schools | Chatfield | 9/10 Excellent | 86th |
| #4 | Mabel-Canton Public School District | Mabel | 9/10 Excellent | 84th |
| #5 | Plainview-Elgin-Millville | Plainview | 8/10 Good | 79th |
| #6 | Rushford-Peterson Public Schools | Rushford | 8/10 Good | 71st |
| #7 | Stewartville Public School District | Stewartville | 8/10 Good | 70th |
| #8 | Dover-Eyota Public School District | Eyota | 7/10 Good | 69th |
| #9 | Fillmore Central | Preston | 7/10 Good | 67th |
| #10 | Kingsland Public School District | Spring Valley | 7/10 Good | 67th |
| #11 | Lake City Public School District | Lake City | 7/10 Good | 61st |
| #12 | Triton School District | Dodge Center | 6/10 Average | 58th |
| #13 | Rochester Public School District | Rochester | 6/10 Average | 55th |
| #14 | Lanesboro Public School District | Lanesboro | 6/10 Average | 51st |
| #15 | Wabasha-Kellogg Public School District | Wabasha | 5/10 Average | 40th |
| #16 | Hayfield Public School District | Hayfield | 4/10 Below Average | 34th |
Best School Districts in the Rochester, MN Metro Area (2026)
Counties are assigned to metropolitan areas using the U.S. Census Bureau's 2023 delineation, and each district is placed in the county of its NCES directory listing. Ratings come from MCA 2024–25 (Minnesota) and are percentile-ranked within the district's own state. Always confirm your assignment by address.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best-rated school district in the Rochester, MN metro area? ▼
Among the 16 rated districts in the Rochester, MN metro area, the highest-rated is Byron Public School District (Byron), rated 10/10 (Excellent) and in the 96th percentile of Minnesota districts on MCA 2024–25 reading and math proficiency.
How are these rankings calculated? ▼
Each district's rating comes from the share of its students scoring proficient or above on state reading and math assessments, percentile-ranked against all rated districts in its state and converted to a 1–10 scale. Full methodology here.