Three Eden Prairie-based school districts and one Eden Prairie-adjacent district have been awarded strong evaluations in the most recent Niche rankings.
Niche provides research-based rankings and grade ratings for K-12 schools and colleges across the United States.
Eden Prairie Schools (EPS), Eagle Ridge Academy Charter School (ERA), Performing Institute of Minnesota (PiM) Arts High School, and The International School of Minnesota (ISM) all performed well in several categories.
When calculating rankings, Niche said it took into account both statistics from the U.S. Department of Education and user data: “Our rankings and grades are calculated using a series of steps to ensure statistical rigor and useful guidance in the school choice experience.”
A complete explanation of Niche’s methodology is available here.
Results highlights are below, along with links to full results for each school.
Eden Prairie School District
Eden Prairie Schools’ Administrative Services Center. Photos by Juliana Allen, except where noted
EPS received a grade of A+ overall: A+ for academics, college prep, clubs and activities, food, and sports; A for administration; and A- for teachers, diversity, and resources and facilities.
EPS was rated the No. 3 public school district in the state and the top high school district in the state for athletes.
EPS was also ranked 30th nationally among the best school districts for athletes.
State rankings
Best School Districts for Athletes in Minnesota: 1 of 357
Best School Districts in Minnesota: 3 of 352
Best Places to Teach in Minnesota: 14 of 363
Most Diverse School Districts in Minnesota: 35 of 367
Districts with the Best Teachers in Minnesota: 89 of 361
National rankings
Best School Districts for Athletes in America: 30 of 10,776
Best School Districts in America: 142 of 10,751
Full results for EPS can be found here.
Eden Prairie High School
2022 EPHS graduates. Photo by Gillian Holte
EPHS received an A+ grade overall: A+ for academics, college prep, and sports, A for diversity and clubs and activities, A- for teachers, B+ for administration and food, and B for resources and facilities.
EPHS was rated the No. 3 public high school in the state and fourth for Minnesota’s best college prep public high schools.
State rankings
Best Public High Schools in Minnesota: 3 of 461
Best College Prep Public High Schools in Minnesota: 4 of 383
Best High Schools for Athletes in Minnesota: 11 of 625
Best High Schools for STEM in Minnesota: 12 of 147
Best Public High School Teachers in Minnesota: 41 of 461
Most Diverse Public High Schools in Minnesota:110 of 737
National rankings
Best Public High Schools in America: 292 of 20,032
Best College Prep Public High Schools in America: 356 of 17,064
Best High Schools for Athletes in America: 521 of 25,861
Best High Schools for STEM in America: 911 of 8,786
Full results for EPHS are available here.
Eagle Ridge Academy Charter School District
Eagle Ridge Academy.
ERA is located just over the Eden Prairie border in Minnetonka and is attended by many Eden Prairie residents.
As a K-12 district, ERA received an A+ grade overall: A+ for academics, teachers, and college prep; A- for diversity, B+ for administration, food, and resources and facilities; and C- for sports and clubs and activities.
ERA also ranked fifth in the state for best public school district, and sixth-best for its teachers.
State rankings
Best School Districts in Minnesota: 5 of 352
Districts with the Best Teachers in Minnesota: 6 of 361
Most Diverse School Districts in Minnesota: 33 of 367
Best Places to Teach in Minnesota: 64 of 363
National rankings
Best School Districts in America: 191 of 10,751
Districts with the Best Teachers in America: 448 of 11,687
Full results for ERA school district are here.
Eagle Ridge Academy Charter School
Eagle Ridge Academy.
ERA’s upper school received an A+ grade overall: A+ for teachers; A for academics, college prep, and diversity; B- for administration as well as resources and facilities; C+ for food, and C for sports, clubs and activities.
ERA was rated second in the state for best public high school teachers, seventh for best public high school overall, and eighth-best for college prep high school. It also was rated the third-best charter high school in Minnesota.
State rankings
Best Public High School Teachers in Minnesota: 2 of 461
Best Public Middle Schools in Minnesota: 3 of 384
Best Charter Middle Schools in Minnesota: 3 of 93
Best Charter High Schools in Minnesota: 3 of 60
Best Public Middle School Teachers in Minnesota: 5 of 377
Best Public High Schools in Minnesota: 7 of 461
Best College Prep Public High Schools in Minnesota: 8 of 383
Best High Schools for STEM in Minnesota: 26 of 147
Most Diverse Public Middle Schools in Minnesota: 99 of 518
Most Diverse Public High Schools in Minnesota: 108 of 737
National rankings
Best Charter Middle Schools in America: 41 of 3,713
Best Charter High Schools in America: 45 of 2,409
Best Public High School Teachers in America: 61 of 19,714
Best Public Middle Schools in America: 81 of 25,154
Best Public Middle School Teachers in America: 306 of 24,682
Best Public High Schools in America: 448 of 20,032
Best College Prep Public High Schools in America: 514 of 17,064
Full results for ERA are available here.
Performing Institute of Minnesota Arts High School
PiM Arts High School.
PiM received an A- grade overall: A+ for teachers; A for administration, clubs and activities, and resources and facilities; A- for diversity; and B for academics, college prep, and food.
PiM was rated No. 3 for the best high school for the arts in Minnesota, and ranked eighth for best public high school teachers in the state.
State rankings
Best High Schools for the Arts in Minnesota: 3 of 10
Best Public High School Teachers in Minnesota: 8 of 461
Best Charter High Schools in Minnesota: 11 of 60
Best Public High Schools in Minnesota: 61 of 461
Best College Prep Public High Schools in Minnesota: 89 of 383
Most Diverse Public High Schools in Minnesota: 247 of 737
National rankings
Best High Schools for the Arts in America: 203 of 689
Best Public High School Teachers in America: 335 of 19,714
Best Charter High Schools in America: 471 of 2,409
PiM’s full rankings can be viewed here.
International School of Minnesota
The International School of Minnesota.
ISM received an A+ grade overall: A+ for academics, clubs and activities, diversity, and college prep; A for teachers, and C+ for sports.
ISM was rated the top private high school in Minnesota. It was first for most diverse private high school, third-best private high school for STEM, and fourth-best private high school for college prep.
ISM was also ranked the best private boarding school and best private K-12 school.
State rankings
Most Diverse Private High Schools in Minnesota: 1 of 109
Best Private High Schools in Minnesota: 1 of 64
Best Private K-12 Schools in Minnesota: 1 of 34
Best Boarding High Schools in Minnesota: 1 of 10
Best High Schools for STEM in Minnesota: 3 of 147
Best College Prep Private High Schools in Minnesota: 4 of 61
National rankings
Most Diverse Private High Schools in America: 48 of 7,010
Best Boarding High Schools in America: 56 of 418
Best Private K-12 Schools in America: 101 of 2,594
Best Private High Schools in America: 192 of 4,323
Best College Prep Private High Schools in America: 271 of 4,159
Best High Schools for STEM in America: 342 of 8,786
Full results for ISM are available here.