📊 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 →
Top 25 Districts Minnesota
Sorted by rating — highest first
| # | District | City | Rating | State Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Lake Benton Public School District | Lake Benton | 10/10 Excellent | 99th |
| #2 | Minnetonka Public School District | Excelsior | 10/10 Excellent | 99th |
| #3 | Westonka Public School District | Mound | 10/10 Excellent | 99th |
| #4 | Edina Public School District | Minneapolis | 10/10 Excellent | 98th |
| #5 | Hancock Public School District | Hancock | 10/10 Excellent | 98th |
| #6 | Orono Public School District | Long Lake | 10/10 Excellent | 98th |
| #7 | Wayzata Public School District | Minneapolis | 10/10 Excellent | 98th |
| #8 | Delano Public School District | Delano | 10/10 Excellent | 97th |
| #9 | Hawley Public School District | Hawley | 10/10 Excellent | 97th |
| #10 | Mahtomedi Public School District | Willernie | 10/10 Excellent | 97th |
| #11 | Byron Public School District | Byron | 10/10 Excellent | 96th |
| #12 | Dassel-Cokato Public School District | Cokato | 10/10 Excellent | 96th |
| #13 | Esko Public School District | Esko | 10/10 Excellent | 96th |
| #14 | Minneota Public School District | Minneota | 10/10 Excellent | 96th |
| #15 | Pierz Public School District | Pierz | 10/10 Excellent | 96th |
| #16 | Battle Lake Public School District | Battle Lake | 10/10 Excellent | 95th |
| #17 | Sartell-St. Stephen School District | Saint Stephen | 10/10 Excellent | 95th |
| #18 | Waconia Public School District | Cologne | 10/10 Excellent | 95th |
| #19 | Zumbrota-Mazeppa School District | Mazeppa | 10/10 Excellent | 95th |
| #20 | Eastern Carver County Public Schools | Carver | 10/10 Excellent | 94th |
| #21 | Eden Prairie Schools | Eden Prairie | 10/10 Excellent | 94th |
| #22 | Watertown-Mayer Public School District | Mayer | 10/10 Excellent | 94th |
| #23 | Caledonia Public School District | Brownsville | 10/10 Excellent | 93th |
| #24 | Centennial Public School District | Circle Pines | 10/10 Excellent | 93th |
| #25 | Northfield Public School District | Dundas | 10/10 Excellent | 93th |
Best School Districts in Minnesota (2026)
This ranking covers 320 rated public school districts in Minnesota, scored using MCA 2024–25 state assessment data. 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 →
Minnesota School Districts at a Glance
- 326 of the 329 regular school districts operating in Minnesota have a published rating on this site.
- 118 districts score 8/10 or higher, the top three rating bands.
- Ratings come from MCA 2024–25, and every district is ranked against other districts in Minnesota only — never against districts in another state, because the tests differ.
- The highest-rated district is Lake Benton Public School District in Lake Benton, rated 10/10.
- Almost every district in Minnesota is unified, meaning one district runs kindergarten through 12th grade for an address.
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 (MCA 2024–25), the top-rated district is Lake Benton Public School District in Lake Benton, 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 (MCA 2024–25), 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.
How many school districts are in Minnesota? ▼
Minnesota has 329 regular school districts operating in the 2024–25 school year, according to the NCES Common Core of Data. 326 of them have enough state assessment data to carry a rating on this site.
What test are Minnesota school district ratings based on? ▼
MCA 2024–25. The rating is the share of students scoring proficient or above in reading and math, converted to a percentile against other districts in Minnesota and then to a 1–10 scale. Spending, staffing and district size are not part of it.
How many districts in Minnesota are rated 8 out of 10 or higher? ▼
118 of the 326 rated districts in Minnesota score 8/10 or above. Because the scale is a within-state percentile, a high rating means the district outperforms most other districts in Minnesota, not the country.
Does one district cover all grades in Minnesota? ▼
In Minnesota nearly every district is unified, so the same district runs elementary, middle and high school for an address. A few states split those into separate districts; Minnesota is not one of them.