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Highlands Elementary

Public Grades K-5

48^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 872 Minnesota Elementary Schools

Better than 94% of Minnesota elementary schools

Summary

Highlands Elementary is a highly-regarded public elementary school in Edina Public School District, serving 554 students in grades K-5. The school has consistently been ranked among the top elementary schools in Minnesota, maintaining a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger over the past decade.

Highlands Elementary's academic performance is exceptional, with students consistently outperforming state and district averages in both math and reading proficiency. In the 2024-2025 school year, the school's math proficiency rate was 75.89%, compared to 72.48% for the Edina district and 45.21% for the state of Minnesota. Similarly, Highlands Elementary's reading proficiency rate was 70.21%, compared to 76.13% for the district and 49.59% for the state. The school's performance is particularly strong in 3rd and 4th grade math, where proficiency rates exceed 80%. Highlands Elementary also excels in serving specific student subgroups, such as Asian students and students with special education needs, ranking among the top schools in Minnesota for these populations.

While Highlands Elementary has a relatively low percentage of students from low socioeconomic backgrounds, with only 14.44% qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, this is lower than the nearby Countryside Elementary (17.97%) and Normandale Elementary (15.74%), as well as the state average. This suggests that the school may have a more homogeneous student population, which could potentially impact its ability to address the unique challenges faced by students from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds. Nevertheless, Highlands Elementary's sustained high performance and exceptional academic outcomes make it a standout elementary school in the Edina Public School District.

564

Students ?

15.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

$13,265

Per pupil spending ?

14.9%

Free/discounted lunch ?

5505 Doncaster Way
Edina, MN 55436-2017

(952) 848-4500

District: Edina Public School District

Students who attend Highlands Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	South View Middle
High:	Edina Senior High

Racial breakdown:

White:

74.5%

Two or more races:

7.4%

Asian:

6.2%

See top rated Minnesota elementary schools

Compare Highlands Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 98th percentile in 2015 → 94th in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Minnesota average (73% vs 47% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 6% of Minnesota elementary schools

Worth a look

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school73%

District avg74%

Minnesota avg47%

48^th of 872

Minnesota public elementary schools ?

Top 6%▼ down 3 pts since 2015

From top 2% (2015) to top 6% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Minnesota Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

4^th of 6Elementary Schools in the Edina Public School District

11^th of 446Edina Public School District among Minnesota districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2025	89.9	48 of 872	94.5%	★★★★★
2024	89.7	42 of 881	95.2%	★★★★★
2023	87.4	65 of 845	92.3%	★★★★★
2022	85.7	82 of 858	90.4%	★★★★★
2021	88.5	46 of 869	94.7%	★★★★★
2019	89.8	27 of 870	96.9%	★★★★★
2018	88.6	30 of 847	96.5%	★★★★★
2017	88.2	31 of 853	96.4%	★★★★★
2016	89.3	22 of 848	97.4%	★★★★★
2015	88.8	21 of 840	97.5%	★★★★★
2014	88.0	25 of 826	97.0%	★★★★★
2013	89.4	22 of 824	97.3%	★★★★★
2012	83.6	49 of 820	94.0%	★★★★★
2011	87.5	30 of 814	96.3%	★★★★★
2010	83.8	39 of 803	95.1%	★★★★★
2009	86.1	17 of 434	96.1%	★★★★★
2008	88.8	11 of 781	98.6%	★★★★★
2007	88.2	16 of 777	97.9%	★★★★★
2006	88.5	18 of 756	97.6%	★★★★★
2005	83.4	41 of 685	94.0%	★★★★★
2004	92.0	4 of 676	99.4%	★★★★★
2003	78.1	95 of 674	85.9%	★★★★☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2021	94.9	1 of 88	98.9%	★★★★★
2019	83.8	27 of 136	80.1%	★★★★☆
2018	81.9	28 of 134	79.1%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2025	90.6	30 of 799	96.2%	★★★★★
2024	90.0	29 of 809	96.4%	★★★★★
2023	86.8	59 of 787	92.5%	★★★★★
2022	82.3	95 of 799	88.1%	★★★★☆
2021	84.3	65 of 783	91.7%	★★★★★
2019	88.2	24 of 787	97.0%	★★★★★
2018	84.3	70 of 774	91.0%	★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2025	67.7	189 of 764	75.3%	★★★★☆
2024	56.4	337 of 793	57.5%	★★★☆☆
2023	41.1	487 of 774	37.1%	★★☆☆☆
2022	64.3	205 of 663	69.1%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2025	85.6	67 of 812	91.7%	★★★★★
2024	84.1	84 of 826	89.8%	★★★★☆
2023	84.3	79 of 799	90.1%	★★★★★
2022	84.4	75 of 808	90.7%	★★★★★
2021	87.9	41 of 784	94.8%	★★★★★
2019	88.6	32 of 798	96.0%	★★★★★
2018	89.5	17 of 779	97.8%	★★★★★

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2025	76.1	14 of 73	80.8%	★★★★☆
2024	73.4	16 of 81	80.2%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2025	84.9	46 of 562	91.8%	★★★★★
2024	97.2	3 of 572	99.5%	★★★★★
2023	95.4	7 of 524	98.7%	★★★★★
2022	94.0	8 of 500	98.4%	★★★★★
2021	89.8	14 of 417	96.6%	★★★★★
2019	80.7	55 of 515	89.3%	★★★★☆
2018	71.6	106 of 463	77.1%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2025	86.9	48 of 714	93.3%	★★★★★
2024	87.8	34 of 730	95.3%	★★★★★
2023	82.4	87 of 712	87.8%	★★★★☆
2022	76.7	119 of 725	83.6%	★★★★☆
2021	79.2	91 of 710	87.2%	★★★★☆
2019	85.1	44 of 722	93.9%	★★★★★
2018	86.5	34 of 712	95.2%	★★★★★

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Asian (2021)99th percentile+4 vs school

Female (2025)96th percentile~ school

White (2025)93rd percentile~ school

Special Education (2025)92nd percentile-3 vs school

Male (2025)92nd percentile-3 vs school

Multi-racial (2025)81st percentile-14 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)75th percentile-19 vs school

By subject vs Minnesota (2024-2025) ?

Math76%+31 vs state

Reading70%+21 vs state

4.0

4 ratings · 4 written reviews

5★3

4★0

3★0

2★0

1★1

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What people are saying

by a parent
Monday, September 5, 2016

This is a fantastic school. Kids feel at home here and they all learn to love learning. The teachers are second to none. Close Quote

by a parent
Thursday, August 18, 2016

Spooky place, staff and teachers seem self important, strange stories coming from the students.
Definitely a sense of disorganization and structure, children look confused by lack of leadership. Close Quote

by a parent
Sunday, March 23, 2014

Highlands Elementary is a true Gem. It is one of the smaller elementary schools in Edina and the Principal and staff have a philosophy of active, hands-on experience based learning for kids. This is not a rote memorization school. Highlands teaches kids to be self-directed and allows for creativity and fosters critical thinking. Close Quote

by a parent
Thursday, March 18, 2010

fantastic staff and great programs for kids!!! Close Quote

Schools Near Highlands Elementary

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				MCA-III Math (2025)							MCA-III Reading (2025)							Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	MCA-III Math 3rd Grade	MCA-III Math 4th Grade	MCA-III Math 5th Grade	MCA-III Math 6th Grade	MCA-III Math 7th Grade	MCA-III Math 8th Grade	MCA-III Math All Grades	MCA-III Reading 3rd Grade	MCA-III Reading 4th Grade	MCA-III Reading 5th Grade	MCA-III Reading 6th Grade	MCA-III Reading 7th Grade	MCA-III Reading 8th Grade	MCA-III Reading All Grades	Total
Highlands Elementary	Public	K-5	5505 Doncaster Way	Edina	55436	Hennepin County	Edina Public School District	No	No	No	No	(952) 848-4500	564	37	15.0	14.9%	420 (74.5%)	32 (5.7%)	35 (6.2%)	35 (6.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	42 (7.4%)	89.9	48^th of 872 public elementary schools	94.5%		89.7	42^nd of 881 public elementary schools	95.2%	6	78.8	81.3	67.4				75.9	65.3	71.4	74.2				70.2	$13,265
Edina Elementary Virtual Pathway	Public	K-8	5505 Doncaster Way	Edina	55436	Hennepin County	Edina Public School District	No	No	No	No	(952) 848-4096	0				0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Countryside Elementary	Public	K-5	5701 Benton Ave S	Edina	55436	Hennepin County	Edina Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(952) 848-4700	665	44	15.2	15.2%	486 (73.1%)	43 (6.5%)	63 (9.5%)	30 (4.5%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	42 (6.3%)	90.8	38^th of 872 public elementary schools	95.6%		89.7	43^rd of 881 public elementary schools	95.1%	5	86.5	80.8	57.9				74.5	70.8	69.7	80.4				73.8	$12,358
Normandale Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	5701 Normandale Rd	Edina	55424	Hennepin County	Edina Public School District	No	No	No	No	(952) 848-4100	652	38	17.0	6.0%	476 (73.0%)	17 (2.6%)	50 (7.7%)	37 (5.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	72 (11.0%)	94.5	14^th of 872 public elementary schools	98.4%		93	17^th of 881 public elementary schools	98.1%	3	87.1	86.3	69.2				81.5	71.0	76.9	84.6				77.1	$10,808
Early Childhood Special Educational	Public	PK-K	5701 Normandale Rd	Edina	55424	Hennepin County	Edina Public School District	No	No	No	No	(952) 848-4960	146	8	18.0	22.6%	91 (62.3%)	18 (12.3%)	17 (11.6%)	9 (6.2%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.4%)	9 (6.2%)								(n/a)															$44,207
Concord Elementary	Public	K-5	5900 Concord Ave S	Edina	55424	Hennepin County	Edina Public School District	No	No	No	No	(952) 848-4300	741	46	16.1	9.0%	558 (75.3%)	34 (4.6%)	55 (7.4%)	35 (4.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	59 (8.0%)	94.5	15^th of 872 public elementary schools	98.3%		92.9	18^th of 881 public elementary schools	98.0%	3	93.2	80.5	75.5				82.9	76.5	73.7	79.1				76.5	$12,854
Creek Valley Elementary	Public	K-5	6401 Gleason Rd	Edina	55439	Hennepin County	Edina Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(952) 848-3200	586	42	14.0	16.2%	404 (68.9%)	59 (10.1%)	27 (4.6%)	51 (8.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	45 (7.7%)	88.8	53^rd of 872 public elementary schools	93.9%		89	56^th of 881 public elementary schools	93.6%	3	76.5	81.0	58.3				71.9	69.6	64.5	81.6				71.8	$13,783
Agamim Classical Academy	Public, Charter	K-8	5300 France Avenue South	Edina	55410	Hennepin County	Agamim Classical Academy	Yes	No	No	Yes	(952) 856-2531	266	26	10.3	45.5%	92 (34.6%)	79 (29.7%)	22 (8.3%)	31 (11.7%)	5 (1.9%)	0 (0.0%)	37 (13.9%)	59.1	381^st of 872 public elementary schools	56.3%		70.8	246^th of 881 public elementary schools	72.1%	135	50.0	50.0	48.6	46.7	47.8	52.0	49.3	34.6	38.1	75.0	66.7	47.8	50.0	53.1	$13,101
Susan Lindgren Elementary	Public	K-5	4801 W 41st St	Saint Louis Park	55416	Hennepin County	St. Louis Park Public School District	No	No	No	No	(952) 928-6700	457	34	13.5	38.9%	224 (49.0%)	115 (25.2%)	58 (12.7%)	6 (1.3%)	3 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	51 (11.2%)	64.1	334^th of 872 public elementary schools	61.7%		62.4	349^th of 881 public elementary schools	60.4%	15	56.0	61.1	50.6				55.8	49.5	49.3	63.3				53.9	$15,927
St. Louis Park Special Education Program	Public	PK, KG-6	6300 Walker St	Saint Louis Park	55416	Hennepin County	St. Louis Park Public School District	No	No	No	No	(952) 928-6068	135	10	13.2	47.4%	67 (49.6%)	44 (32.6%)	9 (6.7%)	5 (3.7%)	1 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (6.7%)								(n/a)															$4,026

Frequently Asked Questions about Highlands Elementary

Is Highlands Elementary a good school?

Yes. Highlands Elementary ranks in the top 5.5% of Minnesota elementary schools.

What district is Highlands Elementary in?

Edina Public School District

What schools do graduates of Highlands Elementary attend?

Students who attend Highlands Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : South View Middle
High : Edina Senior High

How many students attend Highlands Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 564 students attended Highlands Elementary.

What is the racial makeup of Highlands Elementary?

Students at Highlands Elementary are 74% White, 7% Two or more races, 6% Asian, 6% Hispanic, 6% African American.

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Minnesota Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.