Photo: BpA9543 · CC BY-SA 4.0Minneapolis’s public schools score below 73% of Minnesota districts on tests and graduation
On the state math tests, 33% of Minneapolis’s students scored proficient, below the Minnesota average (45%). The grade covers the public school district serving Minneapolis, 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.
From Minnesota state tests taken in spring 2022, when 83% 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.
Minneapolis’s schools, in brief
Against towns with similar incomes
Among the 1524 Minnesota towns with household incomes within a quarter of Minneapolis’s, its schools beat 6%, lower than their 27% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓
Results trail the state
In spring 2022, 42% of tested students were proficient in reading and 33% in math, against 51% and 45% statewide; 83% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓
Graduation
68% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 83% across Minnesota. Districts ↓
Spending and class size
The district spends $24,469 per student, against $17,091 across Minnesota (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓
37 elementary schools, then ten middle and ten high schools
Which school depends on the address at every step. Enrollment is up 10% since 2020–21. See the path ↓
Choice beyond the district
Minnesota Transitions Charter Elem, MTS High School, Banaadir Elementary, Banaadir Academy, CVA Fusion Elementary School, CVA Fusion Middle School, CVA Fusion High School, Sojourner Truth Academy, El Colegio High School, MN International Middle Chr School, Twin Cities International Schools, Friendship Academy of Arts-Primary, Friendship Academy of Arts - Interm, Aurora Charter School, Aurora Middle School, Metro College Prep, SET Academy Elementary, Southside Family Charter School, Yinghua Academy, Hiawatha Leadership Acdy-Northrop, Hiawatha Collegiate High School, Hiawatha College Prep - Northrop, Stonebridge World School, Lincoln International High School, KIPP North Star Academy, KIPP North Star Primary, Best Academy, Hennepin Schools Lower Campus, Hennepin Schools Upper Campus, Downtown Campus, Unity Campus, Augsburg Fairview Academy, Spero Academy, New City School, Venture Academy High School, Venture Academy Middle School, Universal Academy Elementary, Universal Academy Middle/High, Bdote Learning Center, Northeast College Prep Charter Scho, Skyline Math and Science Academy, Exploration High School, Aim Academy of Science & Technology, Blake School (private), Delasalle High School (private), Minnehaha Academy Lower/Middle School (private), Hope Academy (private), Carondelet Catholic (private), Carondelet Catholic School (private), Annunciation Catholic School (private), Minnehaha Academy - Upper School (private), Ascension Catholic School (private), Lake Country School (private), Risen Christ Catholic School (private), St. John Paul II Catholic School (private), Trinity First Lutheran School (private), Miniapple International Montessori (private), St. Helena Catholic Schoolool (private), Creekside Montessori School (private), Heartwood Montessori School Northeast Minneapolis (private), Gaia Democratic School (private), Siembra Montessori / Centro Tyrone Guzman (private) and Southwest Montessori School (private) are in town. CVA PASCAL Middle & High School, Metro 2 Online, Online SET Academy, Wakanda Virtual Academy, MNIC Online Program, Skyline Math & Science Academy OLL, MPS Online 6-12 and MPS Online K-5, 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.
What’s behind Minneapolis’s grade
C: better than 27% of Minnesota school districts, #263 of 274 Minnesota towns. Both inputs trail the Minnesota average; test scores are the closer of the two to typical.
Where will my kid go?
Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Minneapolis, with each school’s own grade.
Minneapolis’s public schools are run by Minneapolis Public School District. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.
The district
Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.
Well below the state in reading
Minneapolis vs. its neighbors
Schools grades for the Minnesota towns that share Minneapolis’s borders.
| Town | Schools | Main districts |
|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis | C | Minneapolis Public |
| Richfield | C+ | Richfield Public |
| St. Paul | C− | St. Paul Public |
| St. Anthony | A− | St. Anthony-New Brighton Schools |
| Golden Valley | C+ | Robbinsdale Public PK–12 · Hopkins Public PK–12 |
| Brooklyn Center | C+ | Brooklyn Center PK–12 · Osseo Public PK–12 · Robbinsdale Public PK–12 |
| St. Louis Park | B | St. Louis Park Public |
| Robbinsdale | C | Robbinsdale Public |
| Fridley | C+ | Fridley Public PK–12 · Columbia Heights Public PK–12 · Spring Lake Park PK–12 |
| Edina | A+ | Edina Public |
Every school in Minneapolis
149 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).
Left off: 25 public programs with fewer than 25 students (MTS Pease Academy, CVA PASCAL Elementary School (K-5), Loveworks Academy for Arts, Mastery School, Best Academy - Cedar Riverside, Venture Online, Lirio Montessori, Cosmos Montessori, Basic Skills, ALC Extended Day, Early Childhood Assessment/Special, Ronald McDonald House, Plymouth Youth Center Extended, MERC Extended, Takoda Prep Extended, Loring-Nicollet High Extended, Center School Extended, VOA High Extended, Menlo Park Academy Extended, Southwest High - SWS, Prekindergarten South, Minneapolis Academy & Career Extend, Nonpublic Shared Time, Out of State Care and Treatment and Ocean of Wisdom School).
Questions about Minneapolis’s schools
Are Minneapolis’s schools good?
On Minnesota’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Minneapolis children attend score below 73% of Minnesota’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C Schools grade, #263 of 274 Minnesota towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 6%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.
What school district is Minneapolis in?
Minneapolis Public School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 29,928 students in 86 schools (2024–25).
Where do Minneapolis kids go to high school?
One of 10 high schools, depending on your address: Washburn High, South High, Southwest High, Roosevelt High, Edison High, Camden High, North High, FAIR High, Wellstone International High and Heritage Academy High.
What is Minneapolis’s graduation rate?
68% of the class of 2023 in Minneapolis Public School District graduated in four years, against 83% across Minnesota.
How much does Minneapolis spend per student?
$24,469 in Minneapolis Public School District (FY2024), against $17,091 across Minnesota. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.
Are there private schools in Minneapolis?
Yes: Blake School (nonsectarian, grades K–12, 1,287 students), Delasalle High School (Catholic, grades 9–12, 693 students), Minnehaha Academy Lower/Middle School (religious, grades PK–12, 693 students), Hope Academy (religious, grades K–12, 621 students), Carondelet Catholic (Catholic, grades PK–8, 415 students), Carondelet Catholic School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 413 students), Annunciation Catholic School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 391 students), Minnehaha Academy - Upper School (religious, grades 9–12, 358 students), Ascension Catholic School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 331 students), Lake Country School (nonsectarian, grades PK–8, 294 students), Risen Christ Catholic School (Catholic, grades K–8, 292 students), St. John Paul II Catholic School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 215 students), Trinity First Lutheran School (religious, grades PK–8, 141 students), Miniapple International Montessori (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 112 students), St. Helena Catholic Schoolool (Catholic, grades K–8, 110 students), Creekside Montessori School (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 97 students), Heartwood Montessori School Northeast Minneapolis (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 50 students), Gaia Democratic School (nonsectarian, grades K–12, 30 students), Siembra Montessori / Centro Tyrone Guzman (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 30 students) and Southwest Montessori School (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 19 students). Minneapolis also has 43 charter schools, free and open by application.
Parents talk
What Minneapolis families are saying about school.
Looking for colleges? Colleges near Minneapolis → 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.