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Public School Review - Established 2003

Best Improved Public Middle Schools in Minnesota (2026)

The most improved public middle schools in Minnesota are River Bend Area Learning Center, A.
G. A. P. E. Teen Parent and Isd 728 Focus/journey. A school's improvement is based on a its total rise in ranking spots during the last five years (2021-26).
Improved Rank Range: 593 1,125 Avg. Improved Rank: 810

Most Improved Public Middle Schools in Minnesota (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Ranking Change (2021-26)
Grades
Location
Rank: #11.
River Bend Area Learning Center
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
Rank Change: +1125
(from 1,798 to 673)
Grades: 7-12
1315 S Broadway St
New Ulm, MN 56073
(507) 359-8780
Rank: #22.
A. G. A. P. E. Teen Parent
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
Rank Change: +1115
(from 1,788 to 673)
Grades: 5-12
1037 University Ave
Saint Paul, MN 55104
(651) 744-7970
Rank: #33.
Isd 728 Focus/journey
Special Education School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
Rank Change: +1086
(from 1,759 to 673)
Grades: 2-12
948 Proctor Rd
Elk River, MN 55330
(763) 241-3400
Rank: #4 - 64. - 6.
Benton-stearns Education District
Special Education School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
Rank Change: +1037
(from 1,710 to 673)
Grades: 5-12
324 3rd Avenue South
Sauk Rapids, MN 56379
(320) 252-8427
Rank: #4 - 64. - 6.
Crossroads Area Learning Center
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
Rank Change: +1037
(from 1,710 to 673)
Grades: 7-12
61085 State Highway 23
Finlayson, MN 55735
(320) 245-6016
Rank: #4 - 64. - 6.
West Central Area Learning Center
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
Rank Change: +1037
(from 1,710 to 673)
Grades: 6-12
9 2nd St Sw
Melrose, MN 56352
(320) 256-7836
Rank: #77.
Centennial Area Learning Center
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
Rank Change: +979
(from 1,652 to 673)
Grades: 7-12
4881 101st Ln Ne
Circle Pines, MN 55014
(763) 398-2960
Rank: #8 - 108. - 10.
Arrowhead Academy
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
Rank Change: +919
(from 1,592 to 673)
Grades: 4-12
1918 Arlington Ave N
Duluth, MN 55811
(218) 625-6766
Rank: #8 - 108. - 10.
Center School
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
Rank Change: +919
(from 1,592 to 673)
Grades: 7-12
2421 Bloomington Ave
Minneapolis, MN 55404
(612) 721-1655
Rank: #8 - 108. - 10.
Perham Area Learning Center
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
Rank Change: +919
(from 1,592 to 673)
Grades: 7-12
800 Coney Street West
Perham, MN 56573
(218) 346-6502
Rank: #1111.
Lismore Colony Elementary School
(Math: 40-59% | Reading: 60-79%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
Rank Change: +913
(from 1,310 to 397)
Grades: K-8
80391 330th St
Clinton, MN 56225
(320) 325-5282
Rank: #1212.
Cromwell-wright Secondary
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
Rank Change: +906
(from 1,514 to 608)
Grades: 7-12
5624 Highway 210
Cromwell, MN 55726
(218) 644-3716
Rank: #1313.
Waseca Area Learning Center
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
Rank Change: +896
(from 1,569 to 673)
Grades: 7-12
501 Elm Ave E
Waseca, MN 56093
(507) 835-5588
Rank: #1414.
Rtr Secondary School
(Math: 57% | Reading: 60%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
Rank Change: +866
(from 1,211 to 345)
Grades: 6-12
111 County Highway 8
Tyler, MN 56178
(507) 247-5913
Rank: #1515.
Hancock Secondary School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
Rank Change: +859
(from 1,172 to 313)
Grades: 7-12
371 Hancock Ave
Hancock, MN 56244
(320) 392-5622
Rank: #1616.
Heartland Elementary School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
Rank Change: +850
(from 1,523 to 673)
Grades: K-8
2171 100th Ave
Lake Benton, MN 56149
(507) 368-3250
Rank: #1717.
6-12th Grade Building
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
Rank Change: +798
(from 1,295 to 497)
Grades: 6-12
712 3rd St
Graceville, MN 56240
(320) 748-7233
Rank: #1818.
Runestone Alternative School
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
Rank Change: +775
(from 1,448 to 673)
Grades: 7-12
700 Northside Dr Ne
Alexandria, MN 56308
(320) 763-5559
Rank: #1919.
Sanford Middle School
(Math: 41% | Reading: 55%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
Rank Change: +749
(from 1,554 to 805)
Grades: 6-8
3524 42nd Ave S
Minneapolis, MN 55406
(612) 668-4900
Rank: #20 - 2120. - 21.
Minneota Secondary
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
Rank Change: +724
(from 1,142 to 418)
Grades: 7-12
504 N Monroe St
Minneota, MN 56264
(507) 872-6175
Rank: #20 - 2120. - 21.
Beacon Program W Central Ed. Dist.
Special Education School
(Math: <50% | Reading: ≥50%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
Rank Change: +724
(from 1,358 to 634)
Grades: PK-12
9 2nd St Sw
Melrose, MN 56352
(320) 256-6026
Rank: #22 - 2322. - 23.
Eastern Wright Program
Special Education School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
Rank Change: +685
(from 1,358 to 673)
Grades: 5-8
1405 3rd Ave. Ne
Buffalo, MN 55313
(320) 543-1122
Rank: #22 - 2322. - 23.
Red Lake Middle Level Alc
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
Rank Change: +685
(from 1,358 to 673)
Grades: 6-8
23990 Hwy 1 E
Redlake, MN 56671
(218) 679-2701
Rank: #2424.
North Lakes Academy 7-12 Campus
Charter School
(Math: 21-39% | Reading: 60-69%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
Rank Change: +683
(from 1,448 to 765)
Grades: 7-12
308 15th St Sw
Forest Lake, MN 55025
(651) 982-2688
Rank: #2525.
Rockridge Academy
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: 21-39%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
Rank Change: +681
(from 1,755 to 1,074)
Grades: K-12
4849 Ivanhoe St
Duluth, MN 55804
(218) 336-8955
Rank: #26 - 2726. - 27.
Spring Grove Secondary
(Math: 40-49% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
Rank Change: +666
(from 1,192 to 526)
Grades: 7-12
113 2nd Ave Nw
Spring Grove, MN 55974
(507) 498-3221
Rank: #26 - 2726. - 27.
Bellaire Education Center
Special Education School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
Rank Change: +666
(from 1,845 to 1,179)
Grades: 5-9
2540 County Rd F
Saint Paul, MN 55110
(651) 415-5530
Rank: #2828.
Benson Area Learning Center
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
Rank Change: +663
(from 1,336 to 673)
Grades: 7-12
1400 Montana Ave
Benson, MN 56215
(320) 843-2710
Rank: #29 - 3029. - 30.
Fosston Secondary
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
Rank Change: +654
(from 1,262 to 608)
Grades: 7-12
301 1st St E
Fosston, MN 56542
(218) 435-1909
Rank: #29 - 3029. - 30.
917 Idea
Special Education School
(Math: <50% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
Rank Change: +654
(from 1,820 to 1,166)
Grades: K-12
14300 Biscayne Ave W
Rosemount, MN 55068
(651) 423-8100
Rank: #3131.
Rogers Middle School
(Math: 69% | Reading: 61%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
Rank Change: +647
(from 878 to 231)
Grades: 5-8
20855 141st Ave
Rogers, MN 55374
(763) 241-3550
Rank: #3232.
Marshall Area Learning Center
Alternative School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
Rank Change: +641
(from 1,820 to 1,179)
Grades: 5-12
1510 Stadium Drive, Suite 2
Marshall, MN 56258
(507) 537-6210
Rank: #3333.
Norse Area Learning Center
Alternative School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
Rank Change: +619
(from 1,798 to 1,179)
Grades: 7-12
38423 Lincoln Trail
North Branch, MN 55056
(651) 674-1406
Rank: #3434.
Zimmerman Middle School
(Math: 50% | Reading: 56%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
Rank Change: +597
(from 1,112 to 515)
Grades: 6-8
25900 4th St W
Zimmerman, MN 55398
(763) 241-3505
Rank: #35 - 3635. - 36.
Maple River Secondary
(Math: 48% | Reading: 61%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
Rank Change: +593
(from 1,106 to 513)
Grades: 6-12
801 Central Ave S
Mapleton, MN 56065
(507) 524-3930
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