2024 Best Schools in the Minneapolis-St. Paul Area

• Eden Prairie, MN•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.38 out of 5  74 reviews

Parent: Our children received a world-class education at ISM. They were extremely well-prepared for college and both received merit-based Regent Scholarships (full-ride tuition) for all four years of their university expreriences thanks to the International School of Minnesota. The math program is second to none in the Twin City area, with most students successfully completing all AP math courses offered by the College Board by their junior year and then taking at least one more year of college level math before graduating. Teachers at ISM are passionate about the subjects they teach. The school is passionate about students' success in academics, in citizenship, and in extra-curriculars. One of the greatest aspects of the school is the annual all-school musical where students from first to twelfth grade work together to create extraordinary, memorable performances! Our children learned to accept and celebrate diversity from the earliest age at ISM and are avid world travelers & citizens.... Read 74 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 310

• Student-teacher ratio 8:1

• Saint Paul, MN•

• Private School•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 4.32 out of 5  100 reviews

Middle school student: I moved to this school in 4th Grade because I have a parent who works at SPA. As soon as I walked in the door, the school scenery and aesthetic was amazing. From the convenient gender-neutral bathrooms to the many flexible classrooms and technology, SPA is a place of moving forward and shaping the minds and hearts of children. The teachers at this school are out of this world and are some of the nicest human beings you will ever meet. They form strong connections with me and my peers that are important in a class. SPA has many programs that help with kids that are behind or in need of more attention as well. Overall, SPA is a place of joy and professionalism and I definitely recommend going here!... Read 100 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 890

• Student-teacher ratio 8:1

• St. Paul, MN•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.69 out of 5  162 reviews

Parent: Our family unexpectedly found ourselves seeking a private school for our children last year. We were hesitant to start an independent school search as we were concerned the atmosphere would feel elitist and stray from our down-to-earth values. We were blown away by MPA, and our concerns were left at the door. MPA is the most inviting and warm environment, with the perfect blend of challenging academics and a nurturing approach. Once starting the school year, our children were immediately seen as a part of the community and valued for their strengths while the fantastic teachers honed in on their growth areas. We are so fortunate for MPA and have not looked back since enrolling. We can not recommend MPA enough!... Read 162 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 582

• Student-teacher ratio 8:1

• Hopkins, MN•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.06 out of 5  101 reviews

Parent: Absolutely exceptional school! The staff and teachers are 1000% committed to student success. The preparation and training is parallel to none. Each year builds upon another in ways missing from other schools. Students are nurtured to excel and thrive, to find their passions. Yes it’s competitive, but so is life and students are set up for success.... Read 101 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,370

• Student-teacher ratio 11:1

• Minneapolis, MN•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.3 out of 5  106 reviews

Senior: Teachers have always been readily available and happy to help no matter the time of day. The dining service is absolutely outstanding with many options for people on various diets. The campus and building are always excellently maintained by the facilities staff. There’s a lot of promotion to join clubs, sports, special programs and other activities and I’m pretty sure none of them have cuts. From a culture stand point, it is incredible welcoming and there are numerous yearly events that are unique to the school. Some of the less greats thing would be the sports equipment and facilities (especially baseball and swimming) could use a little work. Also, as much of the school promotes open conversations in the end the school is very much liberal so more moderate or conservative viewpoints may not be as inclined to speak up. However, in my four years, I have never heard of instances of discrimination because of political beliefs... Read 106 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,218

• Student-teacher ratio 9:1

• Minneapolis, MN•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.42 out of 5  116 reviews

Parent: Minnehaha is a wonderful school! We have three kids who've attended Minnehaha ranging from middle school through graduation. Minnehaha has prepared them extremely well for college and beyond. The small class sizes allow for students to engage with the faculty frequently to foster continued learning. In addition to exceptional academics, Minnehaha creates an environment where students grew and develop as unique individuals. While intentionally rooted in the Christian faith tradition, Minnehaha allows for students to explore their own faith journey in a safe community. We would highly recommend Minnehaha Academy to families!... Read 116 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 844

• Student-teacher ratio 9:1

• Wayzata Public Schools, MN•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.08 out of 5  493 reviews

Alum: Wayzata High School is filled with a lot of memories and experiences. It offers many opportunities and the staff members are all supportive. From fashion to culinary, the school provides classes for students with all types of dreams. It has advanced classes to challenge some students but also offers slow-paced classes to help other students who need a little boost. Although it is a populated school, each student gets the attention and help needed. The student-to-teacher ratio is well thought out as every student is seen and aided by their teachers. Like all schools, it has its ups and downs but overall is a great school with diverse people, experiences, and opportunities to succeed and advance in life.... Read 493 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 3,505

• Student-teacher ratio 20:1

• Eden Prairie Schools, MN•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.18 out of 5  676 reviews

Senior: I started going to Eden Prairie Highschool as a junior. It was overwhelming to move from a school of 300 to 3000, but I was pleasantly surprised by how diverse the school was and how social everyone was. At first, I didn't actually care too much for the school outside of academics and graduating but with the wide array of clubs here, I found a few new interests. I'm apart of the DND club and I love it! Most clubs are completely student-run which makes it feel less like an extra class and more like a hangout to express your interests. Academic-wise, I'm actually stunned at the amount of interesting and unique classes you can be apart of. I mean, there's a whole class dedicated to historical assassinations and nothing else! Although, coming from Canada, the lack of information counselors give you about everything is kind of disappointing. I didn't know how important the ACT was, nor did I know where to go for scholarships. That's really my only complaint. Solid 9/10 otherwise!... Read 676 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 2,827

• Student-teacher ratio 18:1

• Minnetonka Public School District, MN•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.18 out of 5  672 reviews

Senior: I have been at Minnetonka since kindergarten and I am incredibly grateful to be able to attend this school. The staff is great, and even though the class size is large, I still feel very connected with my peers. One thing that stands out at Minnetonka is academic excellence. Their programs are designed to help you succeed and learn quickly and efficiently while still enjoying what you’re doing. They have lots of different hands-on programs, such as VANTAGE, which replicates what workplace life is like, and MOMENTUM, which dabbles in the trades. Although Minnetonka has many great accomplishments and I could go on about how great they are, they do make some questionable calls. These past few years, the administration has come off as very disorganized and controlling without reason. One example is when they kept calling snow days half way through the school day! This was frustrating because they would call a snow day and school would be dismissed a half hour afterwards.... Read 672 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 3,504

• Student-teacher ratio 19:1

• Orono Public School District, MN•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.97 out of 5  204 reviews

Senior: It has been a much more positive and supportive experience attending Orono High School than I ever could have hoped for when I started my Freshman year during the peak pandemic. I was so nervous to start my high school experience in a mask after not having had a normal orientation or having met any of my teachers. However, I was pleasantly surprised to see how they handled it all and how welcomed many of my peers and I felt. Some of my best experiences would include the annual pep fests and school dances held by my student body government. The only bad experiences I have with Orono High School are not connected to my high school but rather my own personal experience with growing up and this challenging time that is attending High School in itself. I would just like to see people being more accepting of each other and focusing on bringing each other up rather than pushing each other down. I think having a class or two outside during the warmer months would be really uplifting too!... Read 204 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 960

• Student-teacher ratio 20:1

• Wayzata Public Schools, MN•

• PK, K-5

• •
  Rating 5 out of 5  4 reviews

Parent: Absolutely amazing school, teachers and community! 3 of our girls currently go to Northwoods Elementary and they all just love it! The teachers are engaging and provide additional resources (reading helpers, speech therapy, extracurricular sporting activity), if needed. The academics are top notch and have some of the highest test scores in the State! Regarding sports, Wayzata sports (basketball) is run by former pro athletes! Definitely glad we moved to this community and welcome any new neighbors!... Read 4 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 677

• Student-teacher ratio 17:1

• Edina Public School District, MN•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4 out of 5  401 reviews

Parent: Edina High School is an excellent school. We have two freshmen and two more kids that will attend in future years. My wife and I went to a smaller high school in Minnesota so we were unsure of them attending a 'bigger' high school, but we have been so impressed with the teachers and both the academic and extra-curricular options...we are so happy to have this high school in our district!... Read 401 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 2,680

• Student-teacher ratio 20:1

• Nova Classical Academy, MN•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 3.71 out of 5  72 reviews

Senior: This school pushes you hard, and prepares you for higher education and an educated life. From Logic and Rhetoric to Latin and Ancient Lit., you receive a background steeped in classical knowledge. You will find a mind to comprehend, an ear to listen, and the learning to come up with solutions. The requirements are structured to simulate the difficulty of college, thereby most graduates claim that college was easier than high school! If you are not ready for the rigor, you may not be able to handle the heavy discussions and writing-intensive workload. However, if you are an individual, like me, who thrives beneath struggle and high expectations, this would be the place for you.... Read 72 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 508

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan Independent School District No. 196, MN•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.06 out of 5  425 reviews

Senior: The teachers are great and really understanding. They all want the best for their students and will take the extra leap to make sure their students get to where they need to be. There are tons of clubs and organizations for every student to enjoy: from mathletes, chess teams, and robotics to even a self-care club! Eastview school is very welcoming to new students like freshmen or transfers. In conclusion, Eastview is a diverse place where the teachers really care about their students and everyone has a chance to do what they like.... Read 425 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 2,289

• Student-teacher ratio 21:1

• Minnetonka Public School District, MN•

• K-5

• •
  Rating 4.9 out of 5  10 reviews

Parent: The BEST SCHOOL in Minnesota if not on earth! I absolutely love this school for the administration, nurse and everyone else who works there. My daughter has Special needs and she is treated with so much of care and love that I feel blessed for us to be so lucky! Their Special needs program is word class probably the best in the world. Its no wonder parents from all over the country Move to Minneapolis just to put their kids in this school! It really is the GOLDEN Ticket for your children! Believe it or not, its the best thing in Minnesota and the only reason I never want to leave Minneapolis.... Read 10 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 885

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• Wayzata Public Schools, MN•

• K-5

• •
  Rating 5 out of 5  1 review

• grade A+

• Students 563

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• Woodbury, MN•

• Public School•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 4.03 out of 5  73 reviews

Junior: My experience at the Math and Science Academy has been a journey that has allowed me to learn a lot. The best part of my experience is the teachers, students, and advisors. The teachers take the time to make sure that the students have a good understanding of the material and are always available for help. The community is very diverse and allowed me to meet people who have the same background as me. The clubs offered here allowed me to build a better relationship with my community and gain soft skills that I can use in the future. The worst part of my experience was the amount of coursework we got because I came here during freshman year so I wasn't used to the large amount of coursework. Something I would like to see change is the size of the classrooms because there isn't enough room for all the students. I would also want the clubs and sports to be better supported because some of them don't have any buses, so many of us have to rely on parents or others to participate.... Read 73 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 553

• Student-teacher ratio 17:1

• St. Paul, MN•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.06 out of 5  295 reviews

Parent: We have had three kids graduate from Cretin-Derham Hall, and have a current rising sophomore. We have loved everything about CDH! Academically, our children have been challenged and extremely well prepared for college, and it has shown in their successful college performances. The administration and teachers are dedicated and insightful, and have been wonderful resources for the kids. All of our kids have participated in multiple extracurricular activities, which they have enjoyed immensely and which have made them well-rounded students. There is substantial diversity, including racial and socio-economic diversity. That has really opened all of our minds to new ways of viewing the world and its challenges and opportunities. The facilities are great, especially for a 150-year old land-locked inner city school! Our kids have always felt very safe at CDH ... it's been like a home away from home. We cannot imagine sending our kids to any other school! Go Raiders!... Read 295 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 940

• Student-teacher ratio 12:1

• Wayzata Public Schools, MN•

• K-5

• grade A+

• Students 596

• Student-teacher ratio 17:1

• Richfield, MN•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.31 out of 5  185 reviews

Alum: The academy of holy angels is a private catholic high school in Minnesota. The best part of the school was how everyone knew each other, the uniforms were pretty cute and customizable, and the sports funding is great (for the guys sports). Despite the next things I will say, Holy Angels did a great job preparing most students for college. The school is very white and upper class. While many students are on some sort of partial scholarship, there continues to be a materialistic atmosphere throughout the whole school. The school also has very wishy-washy stances on anything controversial; I remember in my time there, a fantastic gay teacher was either implicitly or explicitly not asked to return, and a student-led LGBT support group was squashed by the archdiocese and the administration. The sports funding is awesome, the arts funding is depressing. Students are also not allowed to take AP classes before junior year, which can make college more expensive.... Read 185 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 629

• Student-teacher ratio 12:1

• Wayzata Public Schools, MN•

• 6-8

• •
  Rating 4.75 out of 5  4 reviews

Senior: The best experiences I had at Wayzata East Middle School involved teachers and flexibility. The assignments we were given related back to the real world often and were things middle school students want to be involved with. Many of the teachers supported us throughout life and still love when we come to visit. The ETD and FCS classes were very hands on and kept students engaged which was one of the best parts of middle school. In 8th grade there’s also a big country project that many students looked forward to and it was a fun interactive thing to do. Most of the classes the teaches were relaxed yet still engaged, each teacher seemed to love the subject. The sports teams were fun and competitive and created a good environment for students. I think it is somewhat a dark school with a lack of windows, but other than that no changes.... Read 4 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 620

• Student-teacher ratio 20:1

• Edina Public School District, MN•

• 6-8

• •
  Rating 4.33 out of 5  3 reviews

Middle School Student: It was a really fun school! I grew up with most of my classmates. We all got along so well! The staff was also very friendly, made school really fun.... Read 3 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 992

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• St. Croix Preparatory Academy, MN•

• K-4

• •
  Rating 3.25 out of 5  8 reviews

Parent: We have absolutely loved SCPA since day 1. Our children are now in the 7th and 4th grades. Teachers are awesome. K-12 together in one building makes for wonderful interactions between upper and lower school students and a fun and inclusive school environment. The school does not shy away from challenging it's students which is the number one reason that we chose this school for our children. They instill the importance of accountability at a very young age while also focusing on strong character traits & leadership. And try not to mistake the fact that they get homework in elementary school for it being an uncaring environment. Our children have always felt well loved by their teachers - even my rambunctious, sometimes in trouble, hard to sit still 4th grade boy! He needs boundaries & guidance and has been given that by each of his teachers in a caring & effective way. We have never felt intimidated by the staff or administration. In fact we are thankful that they run a tight ship!... Read 8 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 449

• Student-teacher ratio 18:1

• Minnetonka Public School District, MN•

• 6-8

• •
  Rating 4 out of 5  4 reviews

Middle School Student: Great school with great academics but a couple of the teachers are mean and/strict, 7th grade Social Studies with my experience. Also has a great immersion program and languages that helps students learn what they want. The down side is that most of the hallways are always so crowded so that means shoving and people getting hurt.... Read 4 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,239

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• Fridley, MN•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.29 out of 5  21 reviews

Junior: Being a student at Al-Amal School has been an awe-inspiring journey, brimming with personal growth, invaluable learning opportunities, and unforgettable moments. I consider myself incredibly fortunate to be a part of this exceptional institution that places equal emphasis on fostering academic excellence and nurturing character development. I definitely would love to see more changes as the school goes on. Especially with sports, clubs, and extracurriculars. Even though this is a academic school we need basic clubs to be more interactive with the school and create a closer community.... Read 21 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 393

• Student-teacher ratio 10:1