Best Public Schools in Zip Code 55904

Zip code 55904 in Rochester, MN, is home to Rochester Public School District and its 16 diverse schools, serving students from early elementary through high school, including traditional, alternative, and online programs.

The standout traditional schools in this area are Lincoln K-8 School and Mayo High School. Lincoln K-8 is the academic powerhouse, ranking in the 76th percentile statewide and being the only school in the zip code where math and reading proficiency significantly exceed both district and state averages. Mayo High School is the top-performing traditional high school, ranking in the 80th percentile with a strong 91.8% graduation rate and standout reading proficiency of 60%. Willow Creek Middle School has shown the most dramatic improvement, jumping from the 16th to the 51st percentile over three years. In contrast, alternative programs like MNSync Online Secondary and Rochester Phoenix Academy serve students with greater challenges, reflected in lower test scores and graduation rates.

A key finding is the "5th Grade Slump" across standard elementary schools like Franklin Elementary School, where math proficiency drops sharply from 3rd to 5th grade, suggesting a systemic curriculum challenge. The data also reveals the difficulty of online learning for at-risk populations, with MNSync Online Secondary showing a math proficiency rate of just 2.44%. Several very small schools, such as Southeast Regional Crisis Center, lack test scores, indicating they serve specialized student needs. Overall, families in 55904 have strong options in Lincoln K-8 and Mayo High School, but should be aware of the performance gaps between traditional and alternative programs.