These Are The Best Public School Districts In The Twin Cities, New Ranking Says

WAYZATA, MN — One of the most important considerations of Minnesota parents when choosing a place to live is the quality of the school district.

According to the 2026 Best School Districts in America list recently released by the education ranking service Niche, the best school district in the Twin Cities is Wayzata Public Schools, based in Plymouth.

A Wayzata High School senior wrote in a review:

"Wayzata High School offers a truly outstanding educational experience. The school has a wide range of academic opportunities, from AP and honors classes to specialized programs that help students prepare for college and careers. The teachers are passionate and supportive, and the facilities are modern and well-kept."

The Minnesota school districts that earned an "A-" or better grade are, in the order ranked:

1. Wayzata Public Schools — A+
2. Minnetonka Public School District — A+
3. Edina Public School District — A+
4. Eden Prairie Schools — A+
5. Orono Public School District — A+
6. St. Croix Preparatory Academy (Stillwater) — A
7. Nova Classical Academy (St. Paul) — A
8. Lakeville Public School District — A
9. Eagle Ridge Academy Charter School (Minnetonka) — A
10. Sartell-St. Stephen School District — A
11. St. Michael-Albertville School District — A
12. Mahtomedi Public School District — A
13. Mounds View Public School District — A
14. Northfield Public School District — A
15. Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan ISD 196 — A
16. Eastern Carver County Public Schools (Chaska) — A
17. Shakopee Public School District — A
18. Westonka Public School District (Minnetrista) — A
19. Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools — A
20. Springfield Public School District — A
21. Delano Public School District — A-
22. Hopkins Public Schools — A-
23. Hermantown Public School District — A-
24. Waconia Public School District — A-
25. South Washington County School District (Cottage Grove) — A-
26. Luverne Public School District — A-
27. Anoka-Hennepin Schools — A-
28. Centennial Public School District (Circle Pines) — A-
29. Spectrum High School (Elk River) — A-
30. Stillwater Area Public Schools — A-
31. Hutchinson Public School District — A-
32. Roseville Public School District — A-
33. Osakis Public School District — A-
34. Spring Grove School District — A-
35. Cloquet Public School District — A-
36. Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose Public School District — A-
37. Minneota Public School District — A-
38. Perham-Dent Public School District — A-
39. Alexandria Public School District — A-
40. Watertown-Mayer Public School District — A-

Niche said its rankings, now in their 11th year, differ from others that rely almost exclusively on test scores and academic performance in that they also include input from students, alumni and parents, as well as quantitative data from sources such as the U.S. Department of Education to evaluate teachers, resources and facilities.