Best high schools for sports in Minnesota

More than 7.6 million high school students played sports across the U.S. during the 2021-22 academic year, according to data from the National Federation of State High School Associations. Those athletes participated in a slew of sports: from football—the most popular sport for high school boys with 1 million players nationwide—to track and field, which is the most popular sport amongst high school girls in the U.S. with more than 488,000 athletes.

The dynamic landscape of high school sports has created competition not only between athletes but the institutions they represent. With more than 23,500 public and private secondary and high schools across the country, determining the best options for athletes is an arduous process.

High schools across the country are vying to be crowned the best institution for athletes in America and not only has the battle become personal but regional as well. States like California and Florida, which have high-profile high-school athletic programs, also want bragging rights.

Young athletes will continue to thrive as sports return to pre-pandemic participation levels and high schools put in the work to be considered one of the best institutions in America for sports.

Stacker compiled a list of the best high schools for sports in Minnesota using data from Niche. These rankings factor in parent and student surveys on sports, total high school enrollment, K-12 sports championships, number of sports, and athletic participation rates.

#25. East Ridge High School

- City: Woodbury
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: A

#24. Eastview Senior High School

- City: Apple Valley
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: A+

#23. Owatonna Senior High School

- City: Owatonna
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: B

#22. Edina Senior High School

- City: Edina
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: A+

#21. Perham Senior High School

- City: Perham
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: B+

#20. Academy of Holy Angels

- City: Richfield
- Type: Private, Catholic
- Overall Niche grade: A

#19. The Blake School

- City: Hopkins
- Type: Private
- Overall Niche grade: A+

#18. Lourdes High School

- City: Rochester
- Type: Private, Catholic
- Overall Niche grade: A

#17. Chanhassen High School

- City: Chanhassen
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: A

#16. Saint Thomas Academy

- City: Mendota Heights
- Type: Private, Catholic, All-Boys
- Overall Niche grade: A+

#15. Benilde-St. Margaret's School

- City: St. Louis Park
- Type: Private, Catholic
- Overall Niche grade: A

#14. Lakeville South High School

- City: Lakeville
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: A

#13. Mahtomedi Senior High School

- City: Mahtomedi
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: A

#12. Elk River Senior High School

- City: Elk River
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: B

#11. Eden Prairie Senior High School

- City: Eden Prairie
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: A+

#10. Hutchinson Senior High School

- City: Hutchinson
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: B

#9. Minnetonka Senior High School

- City: Minnetonka
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: A+

#8. Orono Senior High School

- City: Long Lake
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: A+

#7. Wayzata High School

- City: Plymouth
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: A+

#6. Hopkins Senior High School

- City: Minnetonka
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: A

#5. Minnehaha Academy

- City: Minneapolis
- Type: Private, Christian (General)
- Overall Niche grade: A+

#4. Cretin-Derham Hall

- City: St. Paul
- Type: Private, Boarding, Catholic
- Overall Niche grade: A+

#3. Mankato West Senior High School

- City: Mankato
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: A

#2. St. Michael-Albertville Senior High School

- City: Saint Michael
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: A-

#1. Lakeville North High School

- City: Lakeville
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: A