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Golden Valley Library 2021Photo: McGhiever · CC BY-SA 4.0
C+
Schools in Golden Valley · Robbinsdale Public School District, Hopkins Public School District

Golden Valley’s public schools score below 60% of Minnesota districts on tests and graduation

On the state math tests, 31% of Golden Valley’s students scored proficient, below the Minnesota average (45%). The grade covers the two public school districts serving Golden Valley, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Minnesota, not nationally.

#238of 274 Minnesota townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Minnesota state tests taken in spring 2022, when 87% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
46%
▼ 5 pts vs MN 51%
2021–22
Math proficiency
31%
▼ 13 pts vs MN 45%
2021–22
Graduate on time
81%
▼ 2 pts vs MN 83%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$19.4K
▲ 14% vs MN $17.1K
FY2024 · Robbinsdale Public
Students per teacher
15.4
MN 14.8 · larger classes
Schools in town
11
7,066 students on the public path
In brief

Golden Valley’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 1311 Minnesota towns with household incomes within a quarter of Golden Valley’s, its schools beat 14%, lower than their 40% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 46% of tested students were proficient in reading and 31% in math, against 51% and 45% statewide; 87% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

81% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 83% across Minnesota. Districts ↓

Spending and class size

Robbinsdale Public spends $19,434 per student and Hopkins Public $18,411, against $17,091 across Minnesota (FY2024). Neither counts toward the grade. Districts ↓

Choice beyond the district

Notre Ecole Academy, Breck School (private), Good Shepherd (private), King of Grace Lutheran School (private) and Franklin Academy (private) are in town. VirtualEDU Secondary and Robbinsdale Virtual Academy, online schools, are based here too; they aren’t counted as local schools. Every school ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Golden Valley’s grade

C+ Test scoresC Graduation

C+: better than 40% of Minnesota school districts, #238 of 274 Minnesota towns. Both inputs trail the Minnesota average; test scores are the closer of the two to typical.

Minnesota school districts we grade (502)Better than 40%
Lower resultsHigher results
Minnesota towns with similar household incomes (1311)Better than 14%
A firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 7,709 test results and a graduating class of 999 wouldn’t change the letter. The tests are from spring 2022, when 87% of Golden Valley’s students in the tested grades sat them (7,542 in math, 7,877 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Golden Valley, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
PK–53 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressC− to A
6–8Sandburg Middle SchoolRobbinsdale Public School DistrictC−
9–123 high schoolsDepends on your addressC− to A−

Golden Valley runs its own schools through grade 12 (Robbinsdale Public School District). From grade PK, students attend the Hopkins Public School District, shared with Hopkins and Minnetonka. Its high school is in Minnetonka. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

Two districts serve Golden Valley

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Robbinsdale Public School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 24 schools · 10,810 students, down 8% since 2020–21 · 16.2 per teacher (MN 14.8)
$19,434MN $17,091 · FY2024
C
Hopkins Public School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 14 schools · 7,129 students, up 4% since 2020–21 · 14.3 per teacher (MN 14.8)
$18,411MN $17,091 · FY2024
B
Test scores · 2021–22

Below the state in reading

Reading · PK–12, Robbinsdale Public School District43%
State average 51.1% · 4968 students tested
Math · PK–12, Robbinsdale Public School District25%
State average 44.8% · 4734 students tested
Reading · PK–12, Hopkins Public School District52%
State average 51.1% · 2909 students tested
Math · PK–12, Hopkins Public School District42%
State average 44.8% · 2808 students tested

Golden Valley vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Minnesota towns that share Golden Valley’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Golden ValleyC+Robbinsdale Public PK–12 · Hopkins Public PK–12
St. Louis ParkBSt. Louis Park Public
MinneapolisCMinneapolis Public
CrystalCRobbinsdale Public
RobbinsdaleCRobbinsdale Public
PlymouthA+Wayzata Public

2 of the 5 neighbors share Robbinsdale Public with Golden Valley for grades PK–12, so their letters differ mainly through the lower grades.

Every school in Golden Valley

16 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Minnesota’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

District schools in Golden Valleyby address
Meadowbrook Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5
A
792 students15:1Rate it →
Noble Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5
C−
262 students11:1Rate it →
School of Engineering-Arts at Olson
Elementary · Grades K–5
A−
432 students16:1Rate it →
Sandburg Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8
C−
341 students14:1Rate it →
Also serving Golden Valleyin other towns
Hopkins High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Minnetonka
A−
2,003 students20:1Rate it →
Robbinsdale Armstrong Senior High
High · Grades 9–12 · Plymouth
B−
1,840 students24:1Rate it →
Robbinsdale Cooper Senior High
High · Grades 9–12 · New Hope
C−
1,396 students18:1Rate it →
Other district programsby referral or application
Highview Alc
High · Grades 9–12
C−
Alternative Education
277 students19:1Rate it →
Charter schoolsfree, open by application
Notre Ecole Academy
Elementary · Grades K–5
Charter
75 students12:1Rate it →
Other public schools in Golden Valleyrun by other districts or the state
Perpich Center for Arts Education
High · Grades 11–12
C−
154 students8:1Rate it →
Online schools based in Golden Valleynot counted as local schools
VirtualEDU Secondary
High · Grades 6–12
Online
112 students12:1Rate it →
Robbinsdale Virtual Academy
High · Grades 6–12
Online
170 students19:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
Breck School
Grades PK–12 · Minneapolis
Private · Religious
1,222 students12:1Rate it →
Good Shepherd
Elementary · Grades PK–6
Private · Catholic
335 students18:1Rate it →
King of Grace Lutheran School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
Private · Religious
195 students16:1Rate it →
Franklin Academy
Grades K–12
Private · Special education
88 students6:1Rate it →

Left off: 1 public program with fewer than 25 students (VirtualEDU ELementary).

Questions about Golden Valley’s schools

Are Golden Valley’s schools good?

On Minnesota’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Golden Valley children attend score below 60% of Minnesota’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C+ Schools grade, #238 of 274 Minnesota towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 14%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Golden Valley in?

Two districts: Robbinsdale Public School District runs grades PK–12, and Hopkins Public School District runs grades PK–12, shared with Hopkins and Minnetonka.

Where do Golden Valley kids go to high school?

One of 3 high schools, depending on your address: Hopkins High School, Robbinsdale Armstrong Senior High and Robbinsdale Cooper Senior High.

What is Golden Valley’s graduation rate?

81% of the class of 2023 in Robbinsdale Public School District graduated in four years, against 83% across Minnesota.

How much does Golden Valley spend per student?

$19,434 in Robbinsdale Public School District and $18,411 in Hopkins Public School District (FY2024), against $17,091 across Minnesota. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Golden Valley?

Yes: Breck School (religious, grades PK–12, 1,222 students), Good Shepherd (Catholic, grades PK–6, 335 students), King of Grace Lutheran School (religious, grades PK–8, 195 students) and Franklin Academy (special education, grades K–12, 88 students). Golden Valley also has 1 charter school, free and open by application.

Parents talk

What Golden Valley families are saying about school.

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Looking for colleges? Colleges near Golden Valley → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Minnesota. Stars are from neighbors.