Photo: Jeanqueq · CC BY-SA 4.0Prior Lake’s public schools outscore 91% of Minnesota districts
60% of students in Prior Lake’s public schools are proficient in math, above the Minnesota average (45%). The grade covers the public school district serving Prior Lake, 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 94% 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.
Prior Lake’s schools, in brief
Above the state on both counts
Reading proficiency is 62% and math 60% in spring 2022, against 51% and 45% statewide; 95% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 83%. Test scores ↓
Spending and class size
The district spends $14,061 per student, against $17,091 across Minnesota (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓
Four elementary schools, then one middle and one high school
Which elementary school depends on the address; from grade 6 the district’s path is Prior Lake-Savage Middle School, then Prior Lake High School. See the path ↓
Choice beyond the district
St. Michael Catholic School (private), Prior Lake Christian Academy (private) and St. Paul's Lutheran School (private) are in town. Laker Online, an online school, is based here too; it isn’t counted as a local school. 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 Prior Lake’s grade
A: better than 91% of Minnesota school districts, #26 of 274 Minnesota towns. Test scores and graduation are both above the Minnesota average; graduation is the stronger of the two.
Where will my kid go?
Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Prior Lake, with each school’s own grade.
Pre-K in Prior Lake · depends on your address
Jeffers Pond Elementary
Grades PK–5 · 487 students · 17:1 students per teacher
Edgewood School
Grades PK · 60 students · 3:1 students per teacher
6th grade in Prior Lake
Prior Lake-Savage Middle School
Grades 6–8 · 2,025 students · 19:1 students per teacher
7th grade in Prior Lake
Prior Lake-Savage Middle School
Grades 6–8 · 2,025 students · 19:1 students per teacher
8th grade in Prior Lake
Prior Lake-Savage Middle School
Grades 6–8 · 2,025 students · 19:1 students per teacher
9th grade in Prior Lake
Prior Lake High School
Grades 9–12 · 2,856 students · 21:1 students per teacher · in Savage
10th grade in Prior Lake
Prior Lake High School
Grades 9–12 · 2,856 students · 21:1 students per teacher · in Savage
11th grade in Prior Lake
Prior Lake High School
Grades 9–12 · 2,856 students · 21:1 students per teacher · in Savage
12th grade in Prior Lake
Prior Lake High School
Grades 9–12 · 2,856 students · 21:1 students per teacher · in Savage
Prior Lake’s public schools are run by Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools, which also serves Credit River, Savage and Spring Lake. Parts of Prior Lake (20% of its land) are served by Shakopee Public instead. 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 above the state in reading
Prior Lake vs. its neighbors
Schools grades for the Minnesota towns that share Prior Lake’s borders.
| Town | Schools | Main districts |
|---|---|---|
| Prior Lake | A | Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools |
| Spring Lake | A | Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools PK–12 · Jordan Public PK–12 |
| Shakopee | B+ | Shakopee Public |
| Credit River | A | Lakeville Public PK–12 · Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools PK–12 |
| Savage | B | Burnsville-Eagan-Savage PK–12 · Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools PK–12 |
3 of the 4 neighbors share Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools with Prior Lake, so their letters differ mainly through other districts.
Every school in Prior Lake
14 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: 1 public program with fewer than 25 students (SWMetro Passageways).
Questions about Prior Lake’s schools
Are Prior Lake’s schools good?
By Minnesota’s own tests, yes: the public schools Prior Lake children attend outscore 91% of Minnesota’s school districts on tests and graduation, an A Schools grade, #26 of 274 Minnesota towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 92%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.
What school district is Prior Lake in?
Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 8,788 students in 14 schools (2024–25). Small parts of Prior Lake are served by Shakopee Public.
Where do Prior Lake kids go to high school?
Prior Lake High School in Savage, with 2,856 students; its own test results earn an A−.
What is Prior Lake’s graduation rate?
95% of the class of 2023 in Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools graduated in four years, against 83% across Minnesota.
How much does Prior Lake spend per student?
$14,061 in Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools (FY2024), against $17,091 across Minnesota. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.
Are there private schools in Prior Lake?
Yes: St. Michael Catholic School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 361 students), Prior Lake Christian Academy (religious, grades PK–12, 112 students) and St. Paul's Lutheran School (religious, grades K–8, 67 students).
Parents talk
What Prior Lake families are saying about school.
Looking for colleges? Colleges near Prior Lake → 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.