These Are The Best School Districts In MN, New Ranking Says

MINNESOTA — Wayzata Public Schools has been ranked as the best in Minnesota in Niche’s 2025 Best Schools and Districts rankings released Monday.

Wayzata district was among 171 Minnesota school districts that earned a mention in Niche’s ranking of more than 11,000 school districts nationwide.

Niche gave the Wayzata a letter grade of A+. Grades in specific categories were:

• Academics: A+
• Teachers: A+
• Clubs and activities: A+
• Sports: A+
• Resources and facilities: A
• Diversity: B+
• College prep: A+
• Administration: A
• Food: A+

Wayzata Public Schools has 12,318 students in all grades, with a student-teacher ratio of 19 to 1.

According to state test scores, 78 percent of students are at least proficient in math and 77 percent in reading, far above the state average.

The top 25 school districts in Minnesota and the letter grades assigned by Niche include:

1. Wayzata Public Schools
2. Minnetonka Public School District
3. Eden Prairie Schools
4. Edina Public School District
5. Eagle Ridge Academy Charter School
6. Orono Public School District
7. Nova Classical Academy
8. St. Croix Preparatory Academy
9. Lakeville Public School District
10. Sartell-St. Stephen School District
11. Mounds View Public School District
12. Eastern Carver County Public Schools
13. Mahtomedi Public School District
14. Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan Independent School District No. 196
15. Shakopee Public School District
16. Northfield Public School District
17. Westonka Public School District
18. St. Michael-Albertville School District
19. Springfield Public School District
20. Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools
21. Delano Public School District
22. Lake Benton Public School District
23. Hermantown Public School District
24. Hastings Public School District
25. Watertown-Mayer Public School District

The top five school districts nationwide are concentrated in two states, Illinois and New York. They are:

1. Adlai E. Stevenson High School District 125 (Illinois)
2. Glenbrook High School District 225 (Illinois)
3. Evanston Township High School District 202 (Illinois)
4. East Williston Union Free School District (New York)
5. Syosset Central School District (New York)

The rankings differ from others that rely almost exclusively on test scores and academic performance in that it also includes 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.