2024 Best Elementary Schools in Minnesota

The Complete Guide to Elementary Schools in Minnesota

The state of Minnesota is home to over 1,500 different elementary schools (1,534) spread across the state. A few of the most populated areas include the cities of Saint Paul, Minneapolis and Rochester. The state has a full 48% more than the typical state, and on a per capita basis, Minnesota actually ranks #20 in the nation, averaging about 10% more elementary schools than most states.

Earning a median grade of a B, elementary schools in Minnesota are pretty much in-line with the national average. Furthermore, of the 1,500+ elementary schools, just over a third (35%) are rated above average. Still that leaves nearly 1,000 options (540) for the parent to evaluate - which can be an overwhelming endeavor. Narrowing that total down further, if you include only schools that rank in the top 25% of the nation, that total slims to 333. In other words, there’s still 300 school options in Minnesota that rank in the nation’s top quartile.

Are public elementary schools in Minnesota a good option?

Minnesota has 1,137 total public elementary schools, and of that total, traditional public schools make up about 80% (which totals 904). That’s a large number, but for those with above average sights, just under half (47%) score above the national average, so nearly half wouldn’t qualify.

What is the best public elementary school in Minnesota?

Based in Plymouth, the best public elementary school in Minnesota is Kimberly Lane Elementary School. With 571 students and a student to teacher ratio of 15:1, the school has a 7% higher ratio than the typical US elementary school, so parents should take care to ensure that their students are comfortable with what may result as a slightly less hands-on or kid-specific approach. That being said, Kimberly Lane Elementary wins out amongst nearly 1,100 other traditional public schools in the state (904). About 47% of all such schools are rated above the national average.

Key statistics about charter elementary schools in Minnesota

Some ask, are charter schools in Minnesota a good option? This really depends on your preference, but with more than 100 different options (145 to be exact) there are numerous potential fits for your littles. Although far less prevalent than their traditional public school counterparts, the typical charter elementary school in Minnesota scores a C. Although the grade may be slightly below average, this is certainly in part due to the fact that the state has 168% more charter schools per capita than the average state. In other words, there’s still a plethora of high quality charter options in the state.

What is the best charter elementary school in Minnesota?

The top ranked charter elementary school in Minnesota is Yinghua Academy. It’s located in Minneapolis, which is basically in the heart of the state. The school has 833 students and as you’d expect, is graded the highest A+ available. The school is known for exceptional quality, but should be noted that the average student to teacher ratio is 13:1, which is actually about 7% below the national average. This can mean that class sizes may be more manageable at times vs. the average, which can be a big plus for parents.

Everything you need to know about magnet elementary schools in Minnesota

Despite being such a large state, there are just 88 magnet elementary schools in Minnesota, placing the state 3rd in the nation for magnet schools per capita. The school quality is somewhat polarizing, with the median score being just a C+, which is slightly below the national average overall of a B grade. About 38% of the magnet elementary schools in the state are considered above the national average, which means there’s about 33 schools that might be an option for the high achiever.

What is the best magnet elementary school in Minnesota?

Hailing from Eagan (also part of the greater Minneapolis area) comes Glacier Hills School - Arts/Science, ranked as the best magnet elementary school in Minnesota. The school is sometimes referred to as GHS and is home to 689 students. It’s also worth noting that there are 13 students per every teacher at the school (13:1 ratio) which is right in line with the national average.