Best public high schools in Minnesota
As filmmaker and writer Nora Ephron said during a ’96 commencement address at Wellesley College, “Your education is a dress rehearsal for a life that is yours to lead.” If that’s the case, high school may be one of the greatest dress rehearsals of all.
It’s a place where students explore their interests, dive into extracurricular activities, finally get the freedom to choose their own classes, and prepare for college or the workplace. For many of these students and their families, public education is key: 49.4 million students enrolled in public pre-K-12 schools in fall 2021, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Of those, about a third were in high school, enrolled across about 23,500 public secondary schools nationwide.
For many anxious parents, getting their kids into the best of these public high schools is of the utmost importance. Some families even move homes to get into better school districts. However, among all of these thousands of schools, a few stand out for their academic excellence, incredible track records, and the future success of their young students.
Stacker compiled a list of the 30 best public high schools in Minnesota using 2023 rankings from Niche. Niche uses seven weighted factors for its rankings. A majority of the score is based on academics, but other factors include culture and diversity; sports; clubs and activities; resources; and surveys of parents, teachers, and students. School districts are provided when available; otherwise, the city is listed instead.
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#30. Stillwater Area High School
– Location: Stillwater Area Public Schools, MN•
– Enrollment: 2,705 (27:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade A-
#29. Irondale High School
– Location: Mounds View Public School District, MN
– Enrollment: 1,779 (24:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade A-
#28. Mahtomedi Senior High School
– Location: Mahtomedi Public School District, MN
– Enrollment: 1,151 (37:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade A-
#27. Washburn Senior High School
– Location: Minneapolis Public School District, MN
– Enrollment: 1,606 (31:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade A-
#26. Southwest Senior High
– Location: Minneapolis Public School District, MN
– Enrollment: 1,715 (32:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade A-
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#25. Apple Valley Senior High School
– Location: Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan Independent School District No. 196, MN
– Enrollment: 1,827 (18:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade A
#24. Mankato West Senior High School
– Location: Mankato Public School District, MN
– Enrollment: 1,249 (19:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade A
#23. Maple Grove Senior High School
– Location: Osseo Area Schools, MN
– Enrollment: 2,294 (22:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade A
#22. Chanhassen High School
– Location: Eastern Carver County Public Schools, MN
– Enrollment: 1,438 (23:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade A
#21. Highland Park Senior High School
– Location: St. Paul Public School District, MN
– Enrollment: 1,340 (23:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade A
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#20. Lakeville North High School
– Location: Lakeville Public School District, MN
– Enrollment: 1,815 (22:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade A
#19. Lakeville South High School
– Location: Lakeville Public School District, MN
– Enrollment: 1,822 (22:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade A
#18. Roseville Area Senior High School
– Location: Roseville Public School District, MN
– Enrollment: 2,324 (23:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade A
#17. Rosemount Senior High School
– Location: Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan Independent School District No. 196, MN
– Enrollment: 2,532 (19:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade A
#16. Eagle Ridge Academy
– Location: Eagle Ridge Academy Charter School, MN
– Enrollment: 594 (14:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade A
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#15. SAGE Academy Charter School
– Location: Brooklyn Park, MN
– Enrollment: 62 (7:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade A
#14. Great River School
– Location: Great River School, MN
– Enrollment: 407 (15:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade A
#13. Central Senior High School
– Location: St. Paul Public School District, MN
– Enrollment: 1,845 (23:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade A
#12. Mounds View High School
– Location: Mounds View Public School District, MN
– Enrollment: 1,897 (30:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade A
#11. Hopkins Senior High School
– Location: Hopkins Public Schools, MN
– Enrollment: 1,599 (21:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade A
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#10. Eagan Senior High School
– Location: Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan Independent School District No. 196, MN
– Enrollment: 2,111 (20:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade A
#9. St. Croix Preparatory Academy Upper School
– Location: St. Croix Preparatory Academy, MN
– Enrollment: 376 (18:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade A
#8. Math & Science Academy
– Location: Woodbury, MN
– Enrollment: 553 (17:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade A+
#7. Eastview Senior High School
– Location: Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan Independent School District No. 196, MN
– Enrollment: 2,289 (21:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade A+
#6. Nova Classical Academy Upper School
– Location: Nova Classical Academy, MN
– Enrollment: 508 (15:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade A+
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#5. Edina Senior High School
– Location: Edina Public School District, MN
– Enrollment: 2,680 (20:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade A+
#4. Orono Senior High School
– Location: Orono Public School District, MN
– Enrollment: 960 (20:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade A+
#3. Minnetonka Senior High School
– Location: Minnetonka Public School District, MN
– Enrollment: 3,504 (19:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade A+
#2. Eden Prairie Senior High School
– Location: Eden Prairie Schools, MN
– Enrollment: 2,827 (18:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade A+
#1. Wayzata High School
– Location: Wayzata Public Schools, MN
– Enrollment: 3,505 (20:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade A+
This story features data reporting and writing by Emma Rubin and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.
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By Stacker
