Minnetonka Schools Among Best For Grades K-8: U.S. News

MINNETONKA, MN — Several elementary schools in Minnetonka have been ranked among the best in Minnesota, according to a brand-new ranking released Tuesday by U.S. News & World Report.

For the inaugural list, U.S. News published rankings and data on more than 80,000 public elementary schools across the United States.

Schools are ranked at the state and district levels. The best charter schools and best magnet schools ranked as stand-alone categories.

Elementary school rankings

Scenic Heights Elementary

• District ranking for elementary schools: 1
• State ranking for elementary schools: 31

Deephaven Elementary

• District ranking for elementary schools: 2
• State ranking for elementary schools: 98

Minnewashta Elementary

• District ranking for elementary schools: 3
• State ranking for elementary schools: 111

Groveland Elementary

• District ranking for elementary schools: 3
• State ranking for elementary schools: 162

Excelsior Elementary

• District ranking for elementary schools: 5 (tied)
• State ranking for elementary schools: 265

Clear Springs Elementary

• District ranking for elementary schools: 5 (tied)
• State ranking for elementary schools: 282

To determine the rankings, U.S. News used data from the U.S. Department of Education to analyze two areas at each school:

• Math and reading proficiency — or how well students perform on state assessments.
• Math and reading performance — or how well they perform compared with expectations.

The state assessment data used in the rankings is from the 2018-19 school year and, therefore, predates any effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on test-taking.

Nationally, California has 5,534 ranked elementary schools — the most of any state — followed by Texas at 4,446; New York at 2,211; Florida at 2,128; and Illinois at 2,038 schools.

California also has the most ranked middle schools with 2,319, followed by Texas at 1,942; Illinois at 1,243; New York at 1,219; and Florida at 997.

See the complete list of 2021’s Best K-8 Schools.