The Top 30 High Schools In MN For 2025-26: U.S. News & World Report

TWIN CITIES, MN — U.S. News & World Report has released its latest rankings on the best high schools in the country, and dozens in Minnesota made the list.

The 2025-2026 Best High School Rankings, released Tuesday, includes specialized STEM and charter rankings alongside the traditional state, district, and metro area categories.

Top 30 High Schools in Minnesota – U.S. News 2025

1. St. Croix Preparatory Academy Upper (Stillwater)
- National Rank: #117
- Graduation Rate: 99%
- College Readiness: 83.8
- Enrollment: 375

2. Nova Classical Academy Upper School (St. Paul)
- National Rank: #134
- Graduation Rate: 97%
- College Readiness: 65.5
- Enrollment: 288

3. Edina Senior High School (Edina)
- National Rank: #235
- Graduation Rate: 95%
- College Readiness: 56.9
- Enrollment: 2,585

4. Minnetonka Senior High School (Minnetonka)
- National Rank: #254
- Graduation Rate: 97%
- College Readiness: 70.6
- Enrollment: 3,482

5. Math and Science Academy (Woodbury)
- National Rank: #299
- Graduation Rate: 95%
- College Readiness: 66.1
- Enrollment: 384

6. Wayzata High School (Plymouth)
- National Rank: #361
- Graduation Rate: 95%
- College Readiness: 53.2
- Enrollment: 3,548

7. Parnassus Prep School-Rhetoric (Maple Grove)
- National Rank: #602
- Graduation Rate: 95%
- College Readiness: 56.0
- Enrollment: 254

8. Mounds View Senior High School (Arden Hills)
- National Rank: #616
- Graduation Rate: 98%
- College Readiness: 48.9
- Enrollment: 1,901

9. Orono Senior High School (Long Lake)
- National Rank: #665
- Graduation Rate: 98%
- College Readiness: 67.3
- Enrollment: 945

10. Eagle Ridge Academy Charter School (Minnetonka)
- National Rank: #708
- Graduation Rate: 74%
- College Readiness: 51.2
- Enrollment: 334

11. Harbor City International Charter (Duluth)
- National Rank: #711
- Graduation Rate: 86%
- College Readiness: 45.0
- Enrollment: 205

12. Eagan Senior High School (Eagan)
- National Rank: #791
- Graduation Rate: 94%
- College Readiness: 45.8
- Enrollment: 2,202

13. Lakes International Language Academy Upper (Forest Lake)
- National Rank: #824
- Graduation Rate: 96%
- College Readiness: 58.7
- Enrollment: 270

14. Great River School (St. Paul)
- National Rank: #1,042
- Graduation Rate: 89%
- College Readiness: 43.2
- Enrollment: 269

15. Mahtomedi Senior High School (Mahtomedi)
- National Rank: #1,045
- Graduation Rate: 97%
- College Readiness: 58.4
- Enrollment: 1,164

16. Eastview Senior High School (Apple Valley)
- National Rank: #1,106
- Graduation Rate: 92%
- College Readiness: 44.8
- Enrollment: 2,312

17. Woodbury High School (Woodbury)
- National Rank: #1,175
- Graduation Rate: 95%
- College Readiness: 46.5
- Enrollment: 1,948

18. Mound-Westonka High School (Minnetrista)
- National Rank: #1,182
- Graduation Rate: 93%
- College Readiness: 37.1
- Enrollment: 718

19. Lakeville North High School (Lakeville)
- National Rank: #1,322
- Graduation Rate: 97%
- College Readiness: 50.7
- Enrollment: 1,865

20. East Ridge High School (Woodbury)
- National Rank: #1,362
- Graduation Rate: 96%
- College Readiness: 39.9
- Enrollment: 2,042

21. Rosemount Senior High School (Rosemount)
- National Rank: #1,372
- Graduation Rate: 91%
- College Readiness: 46.3
- Enrollment: 2,380

22. Eden Prairie Senior High School (Eden Prairie)
- National Rank: #1,397
- Graduation Rate: 94%
- College Readiness: 39.0
- Enrollment: 2,799

23. Mankato West Senior High School (Mankato)
- National Rank: #1,545
- Graduation Rate: 87%
- College Readiness: 38.0
- Enrollment: 1,193

24. St. Michael-Albertville Senior High School (St. Michael)
- National Rank: #1,565
- Graduation Rate: 97%
- College Readiness: 30.5
- Enrollment: 2,223

25. Jefferson Senior High School (Bloomington)
- National Rank: #1,620
- Graduation Rate: 91%
- College Readiness: 44.8
- Enrollment: 1,685

26. Brainerd Senior High School (Brainerd)
- National Rank: #1,831
- Graduation Rate: 92%
- College Readiness: 33.0
- Enrollment: 1,833

27. Northfield Senior High School (Northfield)
- National Rank: #1,875
- Graduation Rate: 97%
- College Readiness: 43.7
- Enrollment: 1,295

28. Sartell Senior High School (Sartell)
- National Rank: #1,889
- Graduation Rate: 98%
- College Readiness: 40.7
- Enrollment: 1,315

29. Spectrum High School (Elk River)
- National Rank: #1,956
- Graduation Rate: 93%
- College Readiness: 31.1
- Enrollment: 484

30. North Lakes Academy Upper (Forest Lake)
- National Rank: #1,963
- Graduation Rate: 96%
- College Readiness: 41.1
- Enrollment: 270

The 2025-2026 Best High Schools national rankings identify top public schools based on six key performance indicators, including student achievement on state-required assessments, strong graduation rates, and college readiness measures.

Schools are evaluated on how effectively they serve all students, including underserved populations, with college readiness specifically measured through student participation and performance on Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate exams.

The rankings consider curriculum breadth and overall student outcomes as well. U.S. News worked with RTI International, a global research firm, to implement the comprehensive ranking methodology, using the most current data from the 2022-2023 school year.

National Ranking - Top 10

1. BASIS Tucson North (Arizona)
2. Signature School (Indiana)
3. Central Magnet School (Tennessee)
4. Davidson Academy (Nevada)
5. Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (Virginia)
6. Albuquerque Institute of Math and Science (New Mexico)
7. Hass Hall Bentonville (Arkansas)
8. Julia R. Masterman Secondary School (Pennsylvania)
9. The School for the Talented and Gifted (Texas)
10. Aiken Scholars Academy (South Carolina)