15 Best Grade Schools in Olmsted County for 2023

Each year updated rankings are released for the best schools in the country. Niche is one of the websites that do these rankings each year and I have their results for 2023. I narrowed down the search to our neck of the woods in southeast Minnesota, Olmsted County, to see which schools ranked in the top 15.

Niche allows people to rate places, kind of like Google, and from there, they're given a letter grade. Some of the many factors that are looked at to determine a school's ranking are academics, teachers, diversity, college prep, and clubs and activities. Each one gets a letter grade and then there is an overall letter grade awarded as well.

Let's start at the 15th best school in Olmsted County...

15. Pine Island Middle School - Pine Island
Overall Rating: B+
Highest Rating: Teachers (A)
Lowest Rating: Diversity (C+)

14. Dover-Eyota Elementary School - Eyota
Overall Rating: B+
Highest Rating: Teachers (A)
Lowest Rating: Diversity (C)

13. George W. Gibbs Elementary School - Rochester
Overall Rating: B+
Highest Rating: Academics and Diversity (tie: A-)
Lowest Rating: Teachers (B+)

12. Byron Senior High School - Byron
Overall Rating: B+
Highest Rating: Academics (A-)
Lowest Rating: Diversity (C)

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11. Folwell Elementary School - Rochester
Overall Rating: B+
Highest Rating: All 3 that are listed on Niche got an A- rating: Academics, Teachers, and Diversity

10. Bonner Elementary School - Stewartville
Overall Rating: A-
Highest Rating: Academics (A)
Lowest Rating: Diversity (C+)

9. Washington Elementary School - Rochester
Overall Rating: A-
Highest Rating: All 3 that are listed on Niche got an A- rating: Academics, Teachers, and Diversity

8. Lincoln Choice School - Rochester
Overall Rating: A-
Highest Rating: Academics, Teachers (tie: A-)
Lowest Rating: Diversity (B+)

7. Pine Island Elementary School - Pine Island
Overall Rating: A-
Highest Rating: Academics, Teachers (tie: A)
Lowest Rating: Diversity (C+)

6. Century High School - Rochester
Overall Rating: A-
Highest Rating: Academics, College Prep, Diversity (tie: A-)
Lowest Rating: Resources and Facilities (C)

5. Byron Middle School - Byron
Overall Rating: A-
Highest Rating: Academics, Teachers (tie: A)
Lowest Rating: Diversity (C+)

4. Mayo High School - Rochester
Overall Rating: A-
Highest Rating: Diversity (A)
Lowest Rating: Resources and Facilities (C)

3. Schaeffer Academy - Rochester
Overall Rating: A-
Highest Rating: Academics (A)
Lowest Rating: Sports, Clubs and Activities (C+)

2. Lourdes High School - Rochester
Overall Rating: A
Highest Rating: Sports (A+)
Lowest Rating: Diversity (B-)

1. Byron Intermediate School - Byron
Overall Rating: A
Highest Rating: Teachers (A+)
Lowest Rating: Diversity (C+)