Best Schools in Dakota County, MN
Dakota County, MN has 197 public schools (61 high, 25 middle, 98 elementary) serving 86,084 students. On average they score 44% on state proficiency tests against a projected 43%, so schools in Dakota County meet expectations. Rankings below compare each school’s actual results with the projection for its socioeconomic context.
Best High Schools in Dakota County, MN
The top high schools in Dakota County, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.
1. Eastview Senior High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Rosemount-apple Valley-eagan • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 2308 Students
2. Eagan Senior High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Rosemount-apple Valley-eagan • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 2171 Students
3. Lakeville North High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Lakeville Area Schools • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1796 Students
4. Rosemount Senior High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Rosemount-apple Valley-eagan • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 2425 Students
5. Hastings High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Hastings Public School District • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1353 Students
6. Lakeville South High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Lakeville Area Schools • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1906 Students
7. Northfield Senior High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Northfield Public School District • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1246 Students
8. Two Rivers High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
West St. Paul-mendota Heights-eagan • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1479 Students
9. Link12 Lakeville High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Lakeville Area Schools • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 108 Students
10. Apple Valley Senior High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Rosemount-apple Valley-eagan • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1893 Students
Best Middle Schools in Dakota County, MN
The top middle schools in Dakota County, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.
1. Dakota Hills Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Rosemount-apple Valley-eagan • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 1158 Students
2. Northfield Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Northfield Public School District • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 846 Students
3. Century Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Lakeville Area Schools • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 931 Students
4. Rosemount Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Rosemount-apple Valley-eagan • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 1205 Students
5. Mcguire Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Lakeville Area Schools • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 865 Students
6. Scott Highlands Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Rosemount-apple Valley-eagan • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 1184 Students
7. Black Hawk Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Rosemount-apple Valley-eagan • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 894 Students
8. Kenwood Trail Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Lakeville Area Schools • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 777 Students
9. Friendly Hills Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
West St. Paul-mendota Heights-eagan • Public • Grades 5 - 8 • 735 Students
10. Falcon Ridge Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Rosemount-apple Valley-eagan • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 970 Students
Best Elementary Schools in Dakota County, MN
The top elementary schools in Dakota County, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.
1. Atheneum Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Inver Grove Heights Schools • Public • Grades 2 - 5 • 85 Students
2. Mendota Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
West St. Paul-mendota Heights-eagan • Public • Grades Pre K - 4 • 392 Students
3. Cherry View Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Lakeville Area Schools • Public • Grades KG - 5 • 883 Students
4. Shannon Park Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Rosemount-apple Valley-eagan • Public • Grades KG - 5 • 525 Students
5. Woodland Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Rosemount-apple Valley-eagan • Public • Grades KG - 5 • 754 Students
6. Oak Hills Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Lakeville Area Schools • Public • Grades KG - 5 • 658 Students
7. Glacier Hills School - Arts/science
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Rosemount-apple Valley-eagan • Public • Grades KG - 5 • 662 Students
8. Red Pine Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Rosemount-apple Valley-eagan • Public • Grades KG - 5 • 728 Students
9. Bridgewater Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Northfield Public School District • Public • Grades KG - 5 • 527 Students
10. Spring Creek Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Northfield Public School District • Public • Grades KG - 5 • 462 Students
Education & Community Snapshot in Dakota County, MN
County-level factors that shape the learning environment around local schools.
Community Factors
Dakota County, MN has a total population of 439,882 with 25% of that population attending schools. The adult high school graduation rate is 95%, and 45% of adults have a bachelor’s degree or higher.
Students in Dakota County, MN
K-12 Students
High School Graduates
Adults 25+ with HS diplomas
College Graduates
Adults 25+ with a Bachelor’s degree or higher
Demographics statistics provided by Best Neighborhood Dakota County, MN.
Safety
Crime Grades summarize reported incidents per 1,000 residents. Use them as neighborhood context, not a school rating.
Overall Crime Grade
16.22 per 1,000 Residents
Violent Crime Grade
2.04 per 1,000 Residents
Property Crime Grade
14.18 per 1,000 Residents
Crime statistics provided by CrimeGrade in Dakota County, MN.
Connectivity
Connectivity influences learning at home. We summarize internet infrastructure, typical download speed, and a digital connectivity index for Dakota County, MN.
ISP Report Card
Internet Infrastructure Grade
Average Download Speed
Speed Most Residents Can Get
Digital Connectivity Index
ISP Connectivity Demand Report
To read more about these statistics, please visit Dakota County, MN Internet Health Assessment.
Questions About Schools in Dakota County, MN
How many schools are in Dakota County, MN?
Dakota County, MN has 197 public schools: 61 high schools, 25 middle schools and 98 elementary schools, serving 86,084 students in total.
How do schools in Dakota County perform on state tests?
On average, 197 schools in Dakota County score 44% proficient on state assessments. Given the socioeconomic context of their students we project 43%, so on average schools in Dakota County meet expectations.
How does SchoolGrade rank the best schools in Dakota County?
Every public school gets a SchoolGrade from A+ to F based on the share of students at or above the state proficiency bar. The Impact Grade compares that result with what we would expect given the school’s student and community context, so schools that outperform their circumstances stand out. Schools cannot pay to change a grade. Read the full methodology.
Best Schools in Cities Near Dakota County, MN
Explore nearby cities to widen your school search.
- Actual: 47%
- Projected: 47%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 31%
- Projected: 29%
- Impact Grade: Exceeds Expectations
- Actual: 40%
- Projected: 39%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 48%
- Projected: 48%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 52%
- Projected: 52%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 41%
- Projected: 41%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 44%
- Projected: 44%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 43%
- Projected: 41%
- Impact Grade: Exceeds Expectations
- Actual: 45%
- Projected: 43%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 46%
- Projected: 47%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
Cities, towns and school districts in Dakota County
10 places in Dakota County with graded public schools. Each link opens that place's ranked schools.
Cities and towns (10)
- Lakeville (19)
- Apple Valley (16)
- Eagan (14)
- Burnsville (13)
- Rosemount (13)
- Hastings (10)
- Inver Grove Heights (10)
- Farmington (9)
- Mendota Heights (5)
- Randolph (2)
School districts (9)
- Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan (38 schools)
- Lakeville Area Schools (18 schools)
- Burnsville-Eagan-Savage Schools (16 schools)
- Intermediate School District 917 (12 schools)
- West St. Paul-Mendota Heights-Eagan (11 schools)
- Hastings Public School District (9 schools)
- Inver Grove Heights Schools (9 schools)
- Farmington Public School District (8 schools)
- South St. Paul Public School Dist (7 schools)