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Best Public Middle Schools in Dakota County (2026)
Public School Review - Established 2003

Best Dakota County Public Middle Schools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 55 public middle schools serving 19,339 students in Dakota County, MN.
The top-ranked public middle schools in Dakota County, MN are Dakota Hills Middle School, Century Middle School and Rosemount Middle School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Dakota County, MN public middle schools have an average math proficiency score of 42% (versus the Minnesota public middle school average of 40%), and reading proficiency score of 52% (versus the 49% statewide average). Middle schools in Dakota County have an average ranking of 9/10, which is in the top 20% of Minnesota public middle schools.
Minority enrollment is 40% of the student body (majority Hispanic and Black), which is more than the Minnesota public middle school average of 39% (majority Black and Hispanic).

Best Public Middle Schools in Dakota County (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Dakota Hills Middle School
(Math: 59% | Reading: 69%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
4183 Braddock Tr
Saint Paul, MN 55123
(651) 683-6800
Gr: 6-8 | 1,184 student Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 35%
Rank: #22.
Century Middle School
(Math: 56% | Reading: 65%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
18610 Ipava Ave
Lakeville, MN 55044
(952) 232-2301
Gr: 6-8 | 950 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 35%
Rank: #33.
Rosemount Middle School
(Math: 54% | Reading: 59%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
3135 143rd St W
Rosemount, MN 55068
(651) 423-7570
Gr: 6-8 | 1,141 student Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 31%
Rank: #44.
Mcguire Middle School
(Math: 53% | Reading: 58%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
21220 Holyoke Ave W
Lakeville, MN 55044
(952) 232-2200
Gr: 6-8 | 844 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 27%
Rank: #55.
196online Middle School
(Math: 40-59% | Reading: 60-69%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
3455 153rd St W
Rosemount, MN 55068
(651) 423-7915
Gr: 6-8
Rank: #66.
Kenwood Trail Middle School
(Math: 45% | Reading: 58%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
19455 Kenwood Tr
Lakeville, MN 55044
(952) 232-3800
Gr: 6-8 | 854 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 34%
Rank: #77.
Scott Highlands Middle School
(Math: 47% | Reading: 56%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
14011 Pilot Knob Rd
Saint Paul, MN 55124
(952) 423-7581
Gr: 6-8 | 1,228 student Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 47%
Rank: #88.
Fit Academy High School
Charter School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
7200 147th St W
Saint Paul, MN 55124
(952) 847-3798
Gr: 6-12 | 194 students Student-teacher ratio: 32:1 Minority enrollment: 42%
Rank: #99.
917 Deaf/hard Of Hearing
Special Education School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
357 9th Ave N
South Saint Paul, MN 55075
(612) 666-0473
Gr: PK-12 | 29 students Student-teacher ratio: 1:1 Minority enrollment: 59%
Rank: #1010.
Black Hawk Middle School
(Math: 45% | Reading: 52%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
1540 Deerwood Dr
Saint Paul, MN 55122
(651) 683-8521
Gr: 6-8 | 889 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 52%
Rank: #1111.
Falcon Ridge Middle School
(Math: 41% | Reading: 52%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
12900 Johnny Cake Ridge Rd
Saint Paul, MN 55124
(952) 431-8760
Gr: 6-8 | 1,088 student Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 44%
Rank: #1212.
Heritage E-stem Magnet School
Magnet School
(Math: 33% | Reading: 55%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
121 W Butler Ave
Saint Paul, MN 55118
(651) 403-7401
Gr: 5-8 | 761 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 56%
Rank: #1313.
Hastings Middle School
(Math: 43% | Reading: 50%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
1000 11th St W
Hastings, MN 55033
(651) 480-7066
Gr: 5-8 | 1,183 student Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 18%
Rank: #1414.
Discovery Charter Elementary School
Charter School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
4100 66th St E, Suite 2
Inver Grove Heights, MN 55076
(651) 444-8464
Gr: K-8 | 166 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 46%
Rank: #1515.
Levi P. Dodge Middle School
(Math: 37% | Reading: 50%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
4200 208th St W
Farmington, MN 55024
(651) 460-1500
Gr: 6-8 | 692 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 37%
Rank: #1616.
Friendly Hills Middle School
(Math: 40% | Reading: 49%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
701 Mendota Heights Rd
Saint Paul, MN 55120
(651) 403-7601
Gr: 5-8 | 785 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 51%
Rank: #1717.
917 Dash
Special Education School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
1300 145th St
Rosemount, MN 55068
(651) 423-8401
Gr: PK-12 | 20 students Student-teacher ratio: 4:1 Minority enrollment: 35%
Rank: #1818.
917 Tea
Special Education School
(Math: <50% | Reading: 21-39%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
5800 - 149th Street West
Saint Paul, MN 55124
(952) 707-4075
Gr: PK-12 | 41 students Student-teacher ratio: 3:1 Minority enrollment: 61%
Rank: #1919.
Robert Boeckman Middle School
(Math: 36% | Reading: 47%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
800 Denmark Ave
Farmington, MN 55024
(651) 460-1400
Gr: 6-8 | 855 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 30%
Rank: #2020.
917 Riverside School
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
1600 Highway 55
Hastings, MN 55033
(651) 438-4980
Gr: 6-12 | 17 students Student-teacher ratio: 4:1 Minority enrollment: 82%
Rank: #2121.
One91 Virtual Academy Secondary
(Math: 21-39% | Reading: 40-59% )
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
200 Burnsville Pkwy W
Burnsville, MN 55337
(952) 707-4077
Gr: 6-12 | 151 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 79%
Rank: #2222.
917 Idea
Special Education School
(Math: <50% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
14300 Biscayne Ave W
Rosemount, MN 55068
(651) 423-8100
Gr: K-12 | 37 students Student-teacher ratio: 5:1 Minority enrollment: 65%
Rank: #2323.
917 Dcals Main
Alternative School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
1300 E 145th St
Rosemount, MN 55068
(651) 423-8259
Gr: 8-12 | 112 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 48%
Rank: #2424.
Valley Middle School Of Stem
(Math: 36% | Reading: 42%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
900 Garden View Dr
Saint Paul, MN 55124
(952) 431-8300
Gr: 6-8 | 1,090 student Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 59%
Rank: #2525.
Lakeville Pathways Academy
Alternative School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: 40-59%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
19455 Kenwood Trl
Lakeville, MN 55044
(952) 232-3900
Gr: 6-12 | 58 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 52%
Rank: #2626.
Lakeville Online Academy-middle
(Math: 20-29% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
17630 Juniper Path, Ste A
Lakeville, MN 55044
(952) 232-2023
Gr: 6-8 | 50 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 32%
Rank: #2727.
Inver Grove Heights Middle School
(Math: 28% | Reading: 38%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
8167 Cahill Ave E
Inver Grove Heights, MN 55076
(651) 306-7200
Gr: 6-8 | 817 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 58%
Rank: #2828.
Joseph Nicollet Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 25% | Reading: 37%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
400 E 134th St
Burnsville, MN 55337
(952) 707-2600
Gr: 6-8 | 50 students Student-teacher ratio: 1:1 Minority enrollment: 66%
Rank: #2929.
917 Sun
Special Education School
(Math: 11-19% | Reading: 30-39%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
14300 Biscayne Ave W
Rosemount, MN 55068
(651) 423-8204
Gr: K-12 | 94 students Student-teacher ratio: 3:1 Minority enrollment: 53%
Rank: #3030.
South St. Paul Middle School
(Math: 14% | Reading: 33%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
700 2nd St N
South Saint Paul, MN 55075
(651) 306-3659
Gr: 6-8 | 535 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 56%
Rank: #3131.
Randolph Secondary
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
29101 Dawson Ave
Randolph, MN 55065
(507) 263-2151
Gr: 7-12 | 430 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 7%
Rank: #3232.
Gateway Stem Academy Charter School
Charter School
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 15-19%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
12119 16th Avenue South
Burnsville, MN 55337
(952) 206-4050
Gr: K-8 | 121 students
Rank: #3333.
S St. Paul Community Lrng. Cntr.
Alternative School
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
710 - 19th Avenue North
South Saint Paul, MN 55075
(651) 450-9966
Gr: 7-12 | 99 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 71%
Rank: #3434.
Dakota Ridge School
Special Education School
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: 11-19%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
4629 144th St W
Saint Paul, MN 55124
(952) 423-7619
Gr: K-12 | 101 students Student-teacher ratio: 4:1 Minority enrollment: 58%
Rank: n/an/a
917 Case
Special Education School
14300 Biscayne Ave W
Rosemount, MN 55068
(651) 423-8100
Gr: PK-12 | 5 students Student-teacher ratio: 3:1 Minority enrollment: 20%

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked public middle schools in Dakota County, MN?
The top-ranked public middle schools in Dakota County, MN include Dakota Hills Middle School, Century Middle School and Rosemount Middle School.
How many public middle schools are located in Dakota County?
56 public middle schools are located in Dakota County.
What is the racial composition of students in Dakota County?
Dakota County public middle schools minority enrollment is 40% of the student body (majority Hispanic and Black), which is more than the Minnesota public middle schools average of 39% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Which public middle schools in Dakota County are often viewed compared to one another?

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