For the 2026 school year, there are 40 public schools serving 8,015 students in Rice County, MN (there are 9 private schools, serving 1,715 private students). 83% of all K-12 students in Rice County, MN are educated in public schools (compared to the MN state average of 90%).
The top-ranked public schools in Rice County, MN are Prairie Creek Community School, Bridgewater Elementary School and Spring Creek Elementary School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Rice County, MN public schools have an average math proficiency score of 41% (versus the Minnesota public school average of 46%), and reading proficiency score of 48% (versus the 51% statewide average). Schools in Rice County have an average ranking of 4/10, which is in the bottom 50% of Minnesota public schools.
Minority enrollment is 40% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is equal to the Minnesota public school average of 40% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Best Public Schools in Rice County (2026)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Prairie Creek Community School
Charter School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
27695 Denmark Ave
Northfield, MN 55057
(507) 645-9640
Northfield, MN 55057
(507) 645-9640
Gr: K-5 | 180 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 14%
Rank: #22.
Bridgewater Elementary School
(Math: 64% | Reading: 67%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
401 Jefferson Pkwy
Northfield, MN 55057
(507) 664-3300
Northfield, MN 55057
(507) 664-3300
Gr: K-5 | 564 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 23%
Rank: #33.
Spring Creek Elementary School
(Math: 68% | Reading: 62%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
1400 Maple St
Northfield, MN 55057
(507) 645-3470
Northfield, MN 55057
(507) 645-3470
Gr: PK-5 | 445 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 22%
Rank: #44.
Greenvale Park Elementary School
(Math: 72% | Reading: 56%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
500 Lincoln Pkwy
Northfield, MN 55057
(507) 645-3500
Northfield, MN 55057
(507) 645-3500
Gr: PK-5 | 488 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 38%
Rank: #55.
Northfield Middle School
(Math: 57% | Reading: 61%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
2200 Division St S
Northfield, MN 55057
(507) 663-0650
Northfield, MN 55057
(507) 663-0650
Gr: 6-8 | 845 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 24%
Rank: #66.
Arcadia Charter School
Charter School
(Math: 40-49% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
1719 Cannon Rd
Northfield, MN 55057
(507) 663-8806
Northfield, MN 55057
(507) 663-8806
Gr: 6-12 | 116 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 19%
Rank: #77.
Big 9 Online Elementary School
(Math: ≥50% | Reading: ≥50% )
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
201 Orchard St S
Northfield, MN 55057
(507) 645-1201
Northfield, MN 55057
(507) 645-1201
Gr: K-5
Rank: #8 - 108. - 10.
Big 9 Online Middle School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
201 Orchard St S
Northfield, MN 55057
(507) 645-1201
Northfield, MN 55057
(507) 645-1201
Gr: 6-8
Rank: #8 - 108. - 10.
Laura Baker Sun Program
Special Education School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
200 Western Ave Nw, Ste A
Faribault, MN 55021
(507) 209-2030
Faribault, MN 55021
(507) 209-2030
Gr: K-12 | 18 students Student-teacher ratio: 2:1 Minority enrollment: 39%
Rank: #8 - 108. - 10.
Minnesota State Academy For Blind
Special Education School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
400 6th Ave Se
Faribault, MN 55021
(507) 412-5200
Faribault, MN 55021
(507) 412-5200
Gr: PK-12 | 46 students Student-teacher ratio: 3:1 Minority enrollment: 20%
Rank: #1111.
Alexander Learning Academy
Special Education School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
200 Western Ave Nw, Ste A
Faribault, MN 55021
(507) 209-2030
Faribault, MN 55021
(507) 209-2030
Gr: K-12 | 32 students Student-teacher ratio: 2:1 Minority enrollment: 31%
Rank: #1212.
Morristown Elementary School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
23 Ann St
Morristown, MN 55052
(507) 685-4222
Morristown, MN 55052
(507) 685-4222
Gr: 5-6 | 115 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 9%
Rank: #1313.
Northfield Senior High School
(Math: 43% | Reading: 54%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
1400 Division St S
Northfield, MN 55057
(507) 663-0630
Northfield, MN 55057
(507) 663-0630
Gr: 9-12 | 1,283 student Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 24%
Rank: #1414.
Nerstrand Charter School
Charter School
(Math: 50-59% | Reading: 40-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
205 S 2nd St
Nerstrand, MN 55053
(507) 333-6850
Nerstrand, MN 55053
(507) 333-6850
Gr: K-5 | 102 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 14%
Rank: #1515.
Waterville-elysian-morristown Junior
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
23 Ann St
Morristown, MN 55052
(507) 685-4222
Morristown, MN 55052
(507) 685-4222
Gr: 7-8 | 105 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 12%
Rank: #1616.
Faribault Area Learning Center
Alternative School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
2855 1st Ave Nw
Faribault, MN 55021
(507) 333-6187
Faribault, MN 55021
(507) 333-6187
Gr: 9-12 | 118 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 53%
Rank: #1717.
Lincoln Elementary School
(Math: 27% | Reading: 40%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
510 Lincoln Ave Nw
Faribault, MN 55021
(507) 333-6600
Faribault, MN 55021
(507) 333-6600
Gr: K-5 | 391 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 69%
Rank: #1818.
Cannon River Stem School
Charter School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
1800 14th St Ne
Faribault, MN 55021
(507) 331-7836
Faribault, MN 55021
(507) 331-7836
Gr: K-8 | 224 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 36%
Rank: #1919.
Jefferson Elementary School
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 34%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
922 Sw Home Place
Faribault, MN 55021
(507) 333-6500
Faribault, MN 55021
(507) 333-6500
Gr: PK-5 | 389 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 81%
Rank: #2020.
Roosevelt Elementary School
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
925 Parshall St
Faribault, MN 55021
(507) 333-6700
Faribault, MN 55021
(507) 333-6700
Gr: PK-5 | 473 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 69%
Rank: #2121.
Minnesota State Academy For Deaf
Special Education School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: 21-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
615 Olof Hanson Dr
Faribault, MN 55021
(507) 412-5200
Faribault, MN 55021
(507) 412-5200
Gr: PK-12 | 88 students Student-teacher ratio: 4:1 Minority enrollment: 48%
Rank: #2222.
Faribault Senior High School
(Math: 10-14% | Reading: 35%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
330 9th Ave Sw
Faribault, MN 55021
(507) 333-6100
Faribault, MN 55021
(507) 333-6100
Gr: 9-12 | 956 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 58%
Rank: #23 - 2423. - 24.
Discovery Public School - Faribault
Charter School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
126 8th Street Nw
Faribault, MN 55021
(507) 331-5423
Faribault, MN 55021
(507) 331-5423
Gr: 6-12 | 45 students Student-teacher ratio: 8:1 Minority enrollment: 24%
Rank: #23 - 2423. - 24.
Falcons Online Academy-middle
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
710 17th St Sw
Faribault, MN 55021
(507) 333-6000
Faribault, MN 55021
(507) 333-6000
Gr: 5-8 | 9 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 22%
Rank: #2525.
Faribault Middle School
(Math: 14% | Reading: 31%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
704 17th St Sw
Faribault, MN 55021
(507) 333-6300
Faribault, MN 55021
(507) 333-6300
Gr: 6-8 | 594 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 67%
Rank: #2626.
Northfield Area Learning Center
Alternative School
(Math: 11-19% | Reading: 20-29%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
201 Orchard St S
Northfield, MN 55057
(507) 645-1201
Northfield, MN 55057
(507) 645-1201
Gr: 6-12 | 107 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 38%
Rank: n/an/a
Cvsec Step
Special Education School
200 Western Ave Nw, Ste A
Faribault, MN 55021
(507) 209-2030
Faribault, MN 55021
(507) 209-2030
Gr: 9-12 | 47 students Student-teacher ratio: 5:1 Minority enrollment: 34%
Rank: n/an/a
Early Childhood Special Education
Special Education School
710 17th St Sw
Faribault, MN 55021
(507) 333-6460
Faribault, MN 55021
(507) 333-6460
Gr: PK | 78 students Student-teacher ratio: 6:1 Minority enrollment: 49%
Rank: n/an/a
710 17th St Sw
Faribault, MN 55021
(507) 333-6224
Faribault, MN 55021
(507) 333-6224
Gr: 9-12 | 62 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 48%
Rank: n/an/a
Faribault Allina Php
Alternative School
200 State Ave
Faribault, MN 55021
(507) 497-3600
Faribault, MN 55021
(507) 497-3600
Gr: 6-12
Rank: n/an/a
Faribault Day School Alc
Alternative School
2855 1st Ave Nw
Faribault, MN 55021
(507) 333-6187
Faribault, MN 55021
(507) 333-6187
Gr: 6-8
Rank: n/an/a
930 4th Ave Nw
Faribault, MN 55021
(507) 333-6460
Faribault, MN 55021
(507) 333-6460
Gr: PK | 36 students Minority enrollment: 58%
Rank: n/an/a
Mn Correctional Facility-faribault
Alternative School
1101 Linden Ln
Faribault, MN 55021
(507) 334-0878
Faribault, MN 55021
(507) 334-0878
Gr: 9-12
Show 5 more public schools in Rice County, MN (out of 40 total schools)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top-ranked public schools in Rice County, MN?
The top-ranked public schools in Rice County, MN include Prairie Creek Community School, Bridgewater Elementary School and Spring Creek Elementary School.
How many public schools are located in Rice County?
35 public schools are located in Rice County.
What percentage of students in Rice County go to public school?
83% of all K-12 students in Rice County are educated in public schools (compared to the MN state average of 90%).
What is the racial composition of students in Rice County?
Rice County public schools minority enrollment is 40% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is equal to the Minnesota public schools average of 40% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Which public schools in Rice County are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of public schools in Rice County include: Faribault Senior High School vs. Northfield Senior High School, Faribault Middle School vs. Northfield Middle School, Northfield Senior High School vs. Faribault Senior High School
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