Each year updated rankings are released for the best schools in the country. Niche is one of the websites that do these rankings each year and I have their results for 2023. I narrowed down the search to our neck of the woods in southeast Minnesota, Olmsted County, to see which schools ranked in the top 15.

Niche allows people to rate places, kind of like Google, and from there, they're given a letter grade. Some of the many factors that are looked at to determine a school's ranking are academics, teachers, diversity, college prep, and clubs and activities. Each one gets a letter grade and then there is an overall letter grade awarded as well.

Let's start at the 15th best school in Olmsted County...

15. Pine Island Middle School - Pine Island
Overall Rating: B+
Highest Rating: Teachers (A)
Lowest Rating: Diversity (C+)

Google Maps
Google Maps
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14. Dover-Eyota Elementary School - Eyota
Overall Rating: B+
Highest Rating: Teachers (A)
Lowest Rating: Diversity (C)

Google Maps
Google Maps
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13. George W. Gibbs Elementary School - Rochester
Overall Rating: B+
Highest Rating: Academics and Diversity (tie: A-)
Lowest Rating: Teachers (B+)

Google Maps
Google Maps
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12. Byron Senior High School - Byron
Overall Rating: B+
Highest Rating: Academics (A-)
Lowest Rating: Diversity (C)

Google Maps
Google Maps
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11. Folwell Elementary School - Rochester
Overall Rating: B+
Highest Rating: All 3 that are listed on Niche got an A- rating: Academics, Teachers, and Diversity

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Google
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10. Bonner Elementary School - Stewartville
Overall Rating: A-
Highest Rating: Academics (A)
Lowest Rating: Diversity (C+)

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Google Maps
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9. Washington Elementary School - Rochester
Overall Rating: A-
Highest Rating: All 3 that are listed on Niche got an A- rating: Academics, Teachers, and Diversity

Google Maps
Google Maps
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8. Lincoln Choice School - Rochester
Overall Rating: A-
Highest Rating: Academics, Teachers (tie: A-)
Lowest Rating: Diversity (B+)

Google Maps
Google Maps
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7. Pine Island Elementary School - Pine Island
Overall Rating: A-
Highest Rating: Academics, Teachers (tie: A)
Lowest Rating: Diversity (C+)

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Google Maps
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6. Century High School - Rochester
Overall Rating: A-
Highest Rating: Academics, College Prep, Diversity (tie: A-)
Lowest Rating: Resources and Facilities (C)

Jessica Williams
Jessica Williams
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5. Byron Middle School - Byron
Overall Rating: A-
Highest Rating: Academics, Teachers (tie: A)
Lowest Rating: Diversity (C+)

Google Maps
Google Maps
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4. Mayo High School - Rochester
Overall Rating: A-
Highest Rating: Diversity (A)
Lowest Rating: Resources and Facilities (C)

TSM Rochester
TSM Rochester
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3. Schaeffer Academy - Rochester
Overall Rating: A-
Highest Rating: Academics (A)
Lowest Rating: Sports, Clubs and Activities (C+)

Google Maps
Google Maps
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2. Lourdes High School - Rochester
Overall Rating: A
Highest Rating: Sports (A+)
Lowest Rating: Diversity (B-)

Aaron Galloway (TSM-Rochester)
Aaron Galloway (TSM-Rochester)
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1. Byron Intermediate School - Byron
Overall Rating: A
Highest Rating: Teachers (A+)
Lowest Rating: Diversity (C+)

CREDIT: Google Maps
CREDIT: Google Maps
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19 Hilarious Google Reviews That Were Left for Schools in Southeast Minnesota

You know how Google asks you to review places that you've visited? Well, some hilarious (and pretty honest) Google reviews were created for some of the schools in and around the Rochester, Minnesota area.

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