2022 Best Public High Schools in the Rochester, MN Area

Mayo Senior High School

• Rochester Public School District, MN
• 8-12
• Rating 3.86 out of 5  248 reviews

Senior: It is generally accepted among the Rochester community that Mayo is the best of the three RPS high schools. School spirit is BIG, and everybody (even staff) goes all out during spirit weeks and at school events. There are many opportunities to get involved inside the school and out, and it is fairly easy to find a club you like or start your own. The variety of the courses offered is alright; there are many science and math classes for those interested in STEM, but not a ton for those wanting to pursue fields in the social sciences outside of those required to graduate. Some of the teachers I've had I know will have an impact on me for the rest of my life, especially those teaching social studies and English! The parking lot could definitely use some renovation, and if you don't park directly next to one of the two exits, you'll be stuck in the lot for 15+ min at the end of the day. Overall, though, I've loved my time here and would recommend...Read 248 Reviews

• grade A

• 1,843 Students
• 18:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Century Senior High School

• Rochester Public School District, MN
• 8-12
• Rating 3.86 out of 5  220 reviews

Alum: One thing I liked the most about Century was the Academic support from other teachers and colleagues outside of class. It has a very welcoming environment. And also, being in a sports was very beneficial because teammates encouraged each other instead of trying to compete against each other. I personally has a very good experience at Century so there isn't really anything that I think needs a major change. Loved my experience!...Read 220 Reviews

• grade A

• 1,557 Students
• 18:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

St. Charles Secondary School

• St. Charles Public School District, MN
• 7-12
• Rating 3.54 out of 5  41 reviews

Senior: St. Charles Secondary School in St. Charles, MN is a very good school. Teachers are great people and they want to see students succeed. They handled the pandemic great and according to guidelines. The school is fun, inclusive, and they strive to help you out so you can succeed. I wish they had more clubs to participate in since I am not that into sports. There isn't a lot of diversity but that might be a factor for being in a small town...Read 41 Reviews

• grade A minus

• 461 Students
• 14:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Pine Island Secondary School

• Pine Island Public School District, MN
• 9-12
• Rating 3.81 out of 5  93 reviews

Senior: Pine Island High School is a great school that provides students with every opportunity for success. The resources are available for students to do well in class and in extracurriculars, both academic and otherwise. It is a small school, but the students and teachers alike are extremely welcoming and accepting of each other. The only thing I don't like about the school is that there is very little follow up with students who are known to be struggling. A student can reach out to the counselor for help with grades or even with mental help and, in my experience and from what I have heard from others, those students are typically expected to simply deal with these things on their own. Other than that, though, its an amazing, well-funded school that produces a great number of intelligent, educated, driven young men and women...Read 93 Reviews

• grade A minus

• 392 Students
• 15:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Byron Senior High School

• Byron Public School District, MN
• 9-12
• Rating 3.88 out of 5  81 reviews

Junior: Byron is a nice location and has a very good school district. Its high school has a decent amount of students where students can still get one-on-one help from teachers and staff (except this number is growing so hopefully, they can adapt). The counselors at Byron High School are extremely helpful; they put students first and are very supportive. The teachers are also very good at making sure students are on track and learning in the best way possible. In the past, there have been some not-so-great staff, but the administration is great at making changes to either improve that individual teacher's performance or let them go if they're not working out. It's very easy to tell that every staff member at Byron High School wants success for every student. This school is not perfect--they could improve at budgeting for one example--but always does its best to improve...Read 81 Reviews

• grade B+

• 636 Students
• 20:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Kasson-Mantorville Senior High School

• Kasson-Mantorville School District, MN
• 9-12
• Rating 3.92 out of 5  109 reviews

Alum: The music and arts/theater programs at KM high school were well-funded and greatly supported by the community. As well as our sports and academic teams. Most teachers here were the best I've ever worked with and they always treated us with respect. Our science, arts, math, and language programs were above and beyond those of the other schools in the surrounding area. The choir program has been going downhill there for the past few years, but the band program is amazing and growing with every graduating class of kids! Overall, I enjoyed my time at KM. It's not the most ethnically diverse school. Even so, I felt as if EVERYONE was treated the same and with great respect...Read 109 Reviews

• grade B+

• 674 Students
• 23:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

John Marshall Senior High School

• Rochester Public School District, MN
• 8-12
• Rating 3.77 out of 5  230 reviews

Senior: One of the best tips I can offer for physical distancing is to take some time to show yourself love. I know that sometimes we can all get so caught up in helping others that we may forget to take time for ourselves. The need for physical distancing and self care is evident in all of our lives, so why not combine the two. Give yourself an evening of pampering to reflect on your beauty and take some time to work on your self confidence. Be ready to enter society with a deeper appreciation of YOU!...Read 230 Reviews

• grade B

• 1,725 Students
• 20:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Plainview-Elgin-Millville High School

• Plainview-Elgin-Millville (PEM) Community Schools, MN
• 9-12
• Rating 3.87 out of 5  84 reviews

Senior: I loved my teachers at PEM they were always there for me when I needed them and always gave me good advice. Another thing I liked was the class size, my class is just over one hundred students. This made it supper easy to know everyone and have multiple friends! Their isn’t anything I would change about my high school!...Read 84 Reviews

• grade B

• 456 Students
• 16:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Chatfield Secondary School

• Chatfield Public Schools, MN
• 7-12
• Rating 3.19 out of 5  36 reviews

Senior: For being in a town of under 3,000, Chatfield has been a great high school. There are some really great teachers here, even if not all are great. The teachers really enjoy teaching and it shows. Lots of clubs to get involved in and good coaches for the sports. It is really easy to get involved in many different clubs and sports due to the small size. School workload is perfect. There is a good amount of homework, but not a ridiculous amount. Lunches are not great, but also not terrible. I have not noticed any serious bullying going on. I've always felt safe. The school's always locked and it actually becomes a nuisance, which is not a bad problem. Lots of different class options from automotive literature to production engineering...Read 36 Reviews

• grade B

• 404 Students
• 16:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Stewartville Senior High School

• Stewartville Public School District, MN
• 9-12
• Rating 3.47 out of 5  105 reviews

Senior: I absolutely loved my experience at Stewartville High School! I moved to Stewartville when I was 10 years old, I was very scared to go to such a small school. Everyone has known each other for their entire lives. On the first day of school I realized that I fit right in. Everyone was so nice and accepting of the new kid. The teachers are all fantastic, and obviously enjoy teaching. The teachers in the district are there for you when you need anything whether it's about academics or life. The community in Stewartville is very lovely. The town comes together on many occasions, these occasions can be something as simple as a sporting event or a big as a holiday...Read 105 Reviews

• grade B

• 600 Students
• 17:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Zumbrota-Mazeppa Senior High School

• Zumbrota-Mazeppa School District, MN
• 9-12
• Rating 3.63 out of 5  62 reviews

Senior: Zumbrota-Mazeppa Senior High offers an astoundingly diverse range of subjects for its size. My graduating class is less than 90 students yet extracurricular include track, football, softball, wrestling, FFA, NHS, Students Against Destructive Decisions, competitive theater, choral, and band groups. Classes are in diverse fields, especially in language arts, and I have been encouraged to augment my education through online credits that are added to my transcript. Counselors are responsive to requests for aid, and have assisted me in large quantities of short notice scholarship paperwork quickly and efficiently on multiple occasions...Read 62 Reviews

• grade B

• 360 Students
• 19:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Triton High School

• Triton Public School District, MN
• 9-12
• Rating 3.82 out of 5  17 reviews

Niche User: My children transferred here and it was the best move ever! There is respect in the classroom, talented teachers, more variety for clubs and activities -- not just sports -- and a wonderful administration that creates a culture that empowers students to grow and achieve their potential...Read 17 Reviews

• grade B

• 335 Students
• 13:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Grand Meadow Senior High School

• Grand Meadow Public School District, MN
• 9-12
• Rating 3.64 out of 5  11 reviews

Senior: Grand Meadow Senior High School has been very good for me. I have been going to this school since the beginning of elementary and I have never had a problem with how things have been run. I have been able to make strong connections to the teachers and they have always been willing to help me learn, even outside of every day class. The school is very supportive of sports and teamwork as well as academics. Overall I think that as a student who has been attending Grand Meadow Public School for twelve years, I believe it to be a very well rounded and pleasant school...Read 11 Reviews

• grade B

• 132 Students
• 11:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Kingsland Junior/Senior High School

• Kingsland Public School District, MN
• 7-12
• Rating 3.56 out of 5  9 reviews

Senior: It’s a great school, I’ve been able to make it threw all my classes with no problems, the teachers have been very supportive, and always love to talk to me on how my day is going and everything else, overall have loved this school since preschool...Read 9 Reviews

• grade B minus

• 256 Students
• 15:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Dover-Eyota High School

• Dover-Eyota Public School District, MN
• 9-12
• Rating 3.61 out of 5  23 reviews

Senior: This school has very good focus on both acedemics and student club involvment. Teachers here care about what the students are learning and how it will be used in their everyday lives.Read 23 Reviews

• grade B minus

• 339 Students
• 20:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Goodhue Secondary School

• Goodhue Public School District, MN
• 7-12
• Rating 4.13 out of 5  16 reviews

Senior: I have had a successful high school career at Goodhue. I have attended Goodhue since kindergarten. What I love about the school is the small class sizes and the close knit feel between students and the community. The support that the community has for the school in academics and athletics is outstanding, and leads to many students to success in these areas. What I would like to see more from Goodhue is more opportunities for students to take weighted classes or college courses...Read 16 Reviews

• grade B minus

• 321 Students
• 17:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Hayfield Secondary School

• Hayfield Public School District, MN
• 6-12
• Rating 3.33 out of 5  52 reviews

Senior: I'm a senior at Hayfield High School now, and I've been attending Hayfield since Kindergarten. My favorite part about Hayfield is how close of a community it is, since it's a smaller school. It's such a nice feeling that everyone knows each other, and you can tell the staff really do care about the students. When the Covid-19 pandemic first hit in 2020 last year, many graduation ceremonies were no longer held in person- rather they were held online instead or simply cancelled. Hayfield, however, was one of about 2 or 3 schools total in Minnesota that still made it happen for our seniors- all while following any protocols that were required, of course! To be quite honest, I can't think of much that I would change about Hayfield other than maybe a few facility updates, but we recently just got approved for and have finished construction for the referendum- so plenty of updates have already taken place. All around, I think Hayfield is great and would definitely recommend it to people...Read 52 Reviews

• grade B minus

• 385 Students
• 19:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Rochester STEM Academy

• Public School
• ROCHESTER, MN
• 9-12
• Rating 3 out of 5  12 reviews

Alum: My experience at RSA was amazing, I have never felt more at home than any other place. When you walk through the doors of RSA you are instantly greeted with love, care, and compassion. It’s more than just a school, it’s a family. I would recommend this school to everybody...Read 12 Reviews

• grade B minus

• 128 Students
• 16:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Rochester Alternative Learning Center

• Rochester Public School District, MN
• 6-12
• Rating 4 out of 5  1 review

Senior: Teacher were very kind, helpful and encouraging! Wish I did the first 3 years of highs chool there at Rochester ALCRead 1 Review

• grade C

• 371 Students
• 17:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Rosa Parks Charter High School

• Public School
• ROCHESTER, MN
• 9-12
• Rating 5 out of 5  1 review

Senior: I will be graduating at the end of the May from Rochester Off-Campus Charter High School. It is by far the best school in Rochester, Minnesota. The teachers and staff are very welcoming and helpful. My first day at school the other kids came up to me right away to see if I needed any help and it made me feel very welcome. Everyone at our school feels like it is our own little family. The teachers are excellent and have taught me so much that I wouldn't get from any other school. ROC has really helped me to not only be prepared for college but be excited for it...Read 1 Review

• grade C minus

• 71 Students
• 23:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Rochester Beacon Academy

• Public School
• ROCHESTER, MN
• 6-12
• Rating 2.75 out of 5  4 reviews

Parent: Rochester Beacon Academy has been a really good for my 13 year old son. He started there in 6th grade and is now in 8th grade. Middle schools in our town had a student body of anywhere from 850 to 1100 students. For my son, who is on the autism spectrum, but high functioning, the thought of that was so overwhelming. The student body at RBA is smaller, the teachers are extremely involved in each student and they are skilled in dealing with the issues that can affect kiddos with autism. Quiet areas to decompress, able to use noise blocking headphones...things you can't get in the public schools in our town. Thank you RBA!...Read 4 Reviews

• grade unavailable

• 124 Students
• 18:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Rochester Phoenix Academy

• Rochester Public School District, MN
• K-12

• grade unavailable

• 79 Students
• 8:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Rochester Academy - IDP Living

• Rochester Public School District, MN
• 11-12

• grade unavailable

• 72 Students
• 9:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Zumbro Area Learning Center

• Public School
• BYRON, MN
• 6-12

• grade unavailable

• 66 Students
• 8:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Zumbro Education District Futures/Choice

• Public School
• BYRON, MN
• K-12

• grade unavailable

• 36 Students
• 4:1 Student-Teacher Ratio