These Are The Best Elementary Schools In MN: U.S. News Ranking

MINNESOTA — Atheneum Elementary in Inver Grove Heights is the best public elementary school in Minnesota, according to a new ranking from U.S. News & World Report.

U.S. News researchers based the 2025 ranking of the nation’s best public elementary schools on publicly available data from the U.S. Department of Education. Elementary schools are considered K-6 in the analysis.

The top 10 public elementary schools in Minnesota are:

1. Atheneum Elementary (Inver Grove Heights)
2. Gate ⅘ (Stillwater)
3. St. Croix Preparatory Academy Lower (Stillwater)
4. Lake Harriet Upper Elementary (Minneapolis)
5. Scenic Heights Elementary (Minnetonka)
6. Burroughs Elementary (Minneapolis)
7. Bridges Community Elementary (Mankato)
8. Dassel Elementary (Dassel)
9. Kimberly Lane Elementary (Plymouth)
10. Jie Ming Mandarin Immersion Academy (St. Paul)

The methodology for the rankings focused on state assessments of students who were proficient or above proficient in math and reading/language arts, while also accounting for students’ background and their achievements in core subjects. Student-teacher ratios were applied to break ties.

The rankings are intended as an evaluation tool to inform parents on how well schools are doing at providing high-equality education and providing students for a successful future, LaMont Jones, managing editor for Education at U.S. News, said in a news release.