Scenic Heights Elementary in Minnetonka ranked No. 5 among 895 public elementary schools in Minnesota in the 2027 U.S. News & World Report Best Elementary Schools rankings.
The rankings, released Oct. 20, gave the school a score of 99.55 out of 100. Scenic Heights also ranked first among elementary schools in Minnetonka Public School District.
The school, located at 5650 Scenic Heights Drive, serves students in kindergarten through fifth grade.
At Scenic Heights, 89% of students scored at or above the proficient level in math, according to the U.S. News profile.
The school recorded 84% reading proficiency.
Both figures exceeded district averages. Across Minnetonka Public School District, 80% of elementary students reached proficiency in math.
The district's reading proficiency rate was 75%.
Scenic Heights ranked No. 3 statewide in math proficiency and No. 5 in reading proficiency. U.S. News rated its math and reading performance "well above expectations."
The school serves 930 students with 64 full-time teachers. Its student-teacher ratio is 15-to-1, lower than the district average.
All 64 teachers are certified, according to the school's U.S. News profile.
Principal Nicole Snedden leads Scenic Heights, according to the Minnetonka Public Schools website.
How the rankings work
U.S. News released its 2027 Best Elementary and Middle Schools rankings Oct. 20, covering about 46,000 public elementary schools nationwide.
The rankings evaluate math proficiency, math performance, reading proficiency and reading performance. The performance measures account for student demographics.
Scenic Heights' U.S. News profile draws on state assessment results from the 2023-24 school year. Its enrollment and staffing information comes from federal education datasets.
The rankings therefore reflect an earlier assessment period rather than the most recent school year's results.
The full Minnesota elementary school rankings are available on the U.S. News website.
