For the 2026 school year, there are 22 public schools serving 7,456 students in Steele County, MN (there are , serving 498 private students). 94% of all K-12 students in Steele County, MN are educated in public schools (compared to the MN state average of 90%).
The top-ranked public schools in Steele County, MN are Lincoln Elementary School, Blooming Prairie Elementary School and Lonsdale Pre K-6. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Steele County, MN public schools have an average math proficiency score of 47% (versus the Minnesota public school average of 46%), and reading proficiency score of 49% (versus the 51% statewide average). Schools in Steele County have an average ranking of 5/10, which is in the bottom 50% of Minnesota public schools.
Minority enrollment is 25% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Minnesota public school average of 39% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Best Public Schools in Steele County (2026)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Lincoln Elementary School
(Math: 67% | Reading: 55%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
747 Havana Rd
Owatonna, MN 55060
(507) 444-8100
Owatonna, MN 55060
(507) 444-8100
Gr: K-6 | 609 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 18%
Rank: #22.
Blooming Prairie Elementary School
(Math: 57% | Reading: 60%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
123 2nd St Nw
Blooming Prairie, MN 55917
(507) 583-4426
Blooming Prairie, MN 55917
(507) 583-4426
Gr: PK-4 | 342 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 6%
Rank: #33.
Lonsdale Pre K-6
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
1000 Idaho St Sw
Hope, MN 56046
(507) 744-3900
Hope, MN 56046
(507) 744-3900
Gr: PK-6 | 305 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 17%
Rank: #44.
Washington Elementary School
(Math: 60% | Reading: 51%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
423 14th St. Ne
Owatonna, MN 55060
(507) 444-8300
Owatonna, MN 55060
(507) 444-8300
Gr: K-5 | 484 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 21%
Rank: #55.
Nrheg Elementary School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
600 School St
Ellendale, MN 56026
(507) 684-3181
Ellendale, MN 56026
(507) 684-3181
Gr: PK-5 | 358 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 10%
Rank: #6 - 86. - 8.
Choice Technical Academy
Charter School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
315 South Grove Ave
Owatonna, MN 55060
(507) 400-4009
Owatonna, MN 55060
(507) 400-4009
Gr: 7-12 | 44 students Student-teacher ratio: 44:1 Minority enrollment: 41%
Rank: #6 - 86. - 8.
Owatonna Alc 9-12
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
338 E Main St
Owatonna, MN 55060
(507) 444-8000
Owatonna, MN 55060
(507) 444-8000
Gr: 9-12 | 90 students Student-teacher ratio: 8:1 Minority enrollment: 55%
Rank: #6 - 86. - 8.
Owatonna Online 9-12
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
338 E Main St
Owatonna, MN 55060
(507) 444-8008
Owatonna, MN 55060
(507) 444-8008
Gr: 9-12 | 66 students Minority enrollment: 35%
Rank: #99.
Owatonna Online K-6
(Math: 21-39% | Reading: 60-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
338 E Main St
Owatonna, MN 55060
(507) 444-8008
Owatonna, MN 55060
(507) 444-8008
Gr: K-6 | 58 students Minority enrollment: 90%
Rank: #1010.
Mckinley Elementary School
(Math: 53% | Reading: 47%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
1050 22nd St. Ne
Owatonna, MN 55060
(507) 444-8200
Owatonna, MN 55060
(507) 444-8200
Gr: K-5 | 483 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 37%
Rank: #1111.
Medford Elementary School
(Math: 44% | Reading: 52%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
750 2nd Ave Se
Medford, MN 55049
(507) 214-6312
Medford, MN 55049
(507) 214-6312
Gr: PK-6 | 491 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 18%
Rank: #1212.
Owatonna Senior High School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 53%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
1455 18th St Se
Owatonna, MN 55060
(507) 444-8800
Owatonna, MN 55060
(507) 444-8800
Gr: 9-12 | 1,494 student Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 26%
Rank: #1313.
Blooming Prairie High School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
202 4th Ave Nw
Blooming Prairie, MN 55917
(507) 583-4426
Blooming Prairie, MN 55917
(507) 583-4426
Gr: 7-12 | 380 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 7%
Rank: #1414.
Owatonna Middle School
(Math: 41% | Reading: 44%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
500 15th St Ne
Owatonna, MN 55060
(507) 444-8700
Owatonna, MN 55060
(507) 444-8700
Gr: 6-8 | 1,015 student Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 29%
Rank: #1515.
Wilson Elementary School
(Math: 39% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
325 Meadow Ln
Owatonna, MN 55060
(507) 444-8400
Owatonna, MN 55060
(507) 444-8400
Gr: PK-5 | 560 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 48%
Rank: #1616.
Owatonna Online 7-8
(Math: 20-29% | Reading: 40-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
338 E Main St
Owatonna, MN 55060
(507) 444-8008
Owatonna, MN 55060
(507) 444-8008
Gr: 7-8 | 29 students Minority enrollment: 69%
Rank: #1717.
Medford Secondary
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
750 2nd Ave Se
Medford, MN 55049
(507) 214-6302
Medford, MN 55049
(507) 214-6302
Gr: 7-12 | 399 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 21%
Rank: n/an/a
202 4th Ave Nw
Blooming Prairie, MN 55917
(507) 583-4426
Blooming Prairie, MN 55917
(507) 583-4426
Gr: 5-6 | 142 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 5%
Rank: n/an/a
Owatonna Ecse
Special Education School
338 E Main St
Owatonna, MN 55060
(507) 444-8040
Owatonna, MN 55060
(507) 444-8040
Gr: PK | 107 students Student-teacher ratio: 7:1 Minority enrollment: 22%
Rank: n/an/a
Owatonna Night School
Alternative School
338 E Main St
Owatonna, MN 55060
(507) 444-8000
Owatonna, MN 55060
(507) 444-8000
Gr: 9-12
Rank: n/an/a
Owatonna Summer School 6-8
Alternative School
500 15th St Ne
Owatonna, MN 55060
(507) 444-8702
Owatonna, MN 55060
(507) 444-8702
Gr: 6-8
Rank: n/an/a
Owatonna Summer School 9-12
Alternative School
338 E Main St
Owatonna, MN 55060
(507) 444-8000
Owatonna, MN 55060
(507) 444-8000
Gr: 9-12
Steele County Public Schools (Closed)
School
Location
Quick Facts
Actions School (Closed 2023)
Special Education School
134 Vine St E
Owatonna, MN 55060
(507) 444-8010
Owatonna, MN 55060
(507) 444-8010
Gr: 7-12 | 11 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1
338 Main St E
Owatonna, MN 55060
(507) 444-8040
Owatonna, MN 55060
(507) 444-8040
Gr: PK | 35 students Minority enrollment: 48%
Crossroads Of Owatonna (Closed 2009)
Alternative School
4327 County Road 45 S
Owatonna, MN 55060
(507) 455-3863
Owatonna, MN 55060
(507) 455-3863
Gr: 4-12 | 3 students Minority enrollment: 33%
Elementary Actions (Closed 2023)
Special Education School
115 Landmark Dr
Owatonna, MN 55060
(507) 213-0298
Owatonna, MN 55060
(507) 213-0298
Gr: K-7 | 4 students
Independent Study (610) (Closed 2005)
Alternative School
115 Rose St. E.
Owatonna, MN 55060
(507) 444-7800
Owatonna, MN 55060
(507) 444-7800
Owatonna Alc 6-8 (Closed 2018)
Alternative School
338 Main St. E
Owatonna, MN 55060
(507) 444-8700
Owatonna, MN 55060
(507) 444-8700
Gr: 6-8
Owatonna Extended Day K-8 (Closed 2009)
Alternative School
115 E Rose Street
Owatonna, MN 55060
(507) 444-8671
Owatonna, MN 55060
(507) 444-8671
122 Mckinley St E
Owatonna, MN 55060
(507) 444-7900
Owatonna, MN 55060
(507) 444-7900
Gr: PK | 108 students Minority enrollment: 43%
Owatonna Summer School K-8 (Closed 2009)
Alternative School
115 E Rose Street
Owatonna, MN 55060
(507) 444-8671
Owatonna, MN 55060
(507) 444-8671
1225 Lincoln Ave South
Owatonna, MN 55060
(507) 835-0554
Owatonna, MN 55060
(507) 835-0554
Gr: 7-12
Summer School 9-12 (610) (Closed 2023)
Alternative School
115 Rose St. E.
Owatonna, MN 55060
(507) 444-7800
Owatonna, MN 55060
(507) 444-7800
1050 22nd St Ne
Owatonna, MN 55060
(507) 444-8510
Owatonna, MN 55060
(507) 444-8510
Gr: 6 | 342 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 26%
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top-ranked public schools in Steele County, MN?
The top-ranked public schools in Steele County, MN include Lincoln Elementary School, Blooming Prairie Elementary School and Lonsdale Pre K-6.
How many public schools are located in Steele County?
22 public schools are located in Steele County.
What percentage of students in Steele County go to public school?
94% of all K-12 students in Steele County are educated in public schools (compared to the MN state average of 90%).
What is the racial composition of students in Steele County?
Steele County public schools minority enrollment is 25% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Minnesota public schools average of 39% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Which public schools in Steele County are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of public schools in Steele County include: Mckinley Elementary School vs. Lincoln Elementary School, Washington Elementary School vs. Lincoln Elementary School, Medford Secondary vs. Owatonna Senior High School
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