Osseo Public School District, MN

Original Research by School Decision on Osseo Public School District

Osseo Public School District, formally known as Osseo Area Schools (District 279), is a large suburban district serving a broad stretch of northwestern Hennepin County. The district covers a mix of communities that differ noticeably in character and housing cost. Some parts of Maple Grove and Plymouth offer higher home values, while areas of Brooklyn Park, Brooklyn Center, and New Hope sit at the lower end of the district's range. The overall housing market in the district is priced above the national median, and rents have been rising, though the estimated cost of renting remains a smaller share of income than the estimated cost of a monthly mortgage payment, a typical pattern in a market where buying is more expensive than renting.

The district enrolls a substantial number of students across grades PK through 12. Its student body is diverse, with no single racial or ethnic group forming a majority. White students make up the largest share, followed by Black and Asian students. Hispanic students and students of two or more races each account for a smaller but notable portion of the population. The district has a small number of American Indian students and a negligible number of Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander students. Data on the share of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, as well as information on students with disabilities and English learners, was not available, making it difficult to assess the district's economic and special-education profile from this source.

On state assessments, Osseo's overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades places it in the top quartile among Hennepin County's districts. This is a meaningful strength. When you look at individual subjects and grade levels, the picture is more layered. In reading, proficiency rates across grades 3 through 8 generally range from just above two-fifths to just above one-half, with fifth grade showing a higher rate and seventh grade a lower one. In math, the pattern is a clear downward slope by grade: third graders show a proficiency rate above the midpoint, but by eighth grade the rate is lower. The district's science results are notably low, with fifth-grade proficiency below a quarter and eighth-grade proficiency even lower. It is worth noting that the science assessment underwent a change in name and cut scores, which means the results may not be directly comparable to prior years, and a parent may want to look into this further with the school.

Chronic absenteeism is a soft spot. The district's rate is above the midpoint among Hennepin County's districts, meaning a larger share of students than at many neighboring districts are missing school regularly. This is a factor that can affect academic progress and school climate, and families moving into the area may want to ask about attendance supports.

Per-pupil spending sits in the middle range among the county's districts, close to the median. That suggests the district is not unusually well-funded nor under-resourced compared with its neighbors.

The district runs a large number of schools, including elementary schools, middle schools, and two comprehensive high schools, Osseo Senior High and Maple Grove Senior High. There are also several magnet and specialty schools, such as Birch Grove School for the Arts, Brooklyn Middle STEAM School, Park Center IB World School, and Weaver Lake Science Math & Tech School, as well as a school focused on STEAM at Zanewood Community School. These options give families in-district choice programs that may influence where they choose to live within the district's boundaries. The district also operates the 279Online full-time online school, which serves students across Minnesota, a structural addition that provides a fully virtual pathway. In addition, a new elementary school, Aspen Ridge Elementary, opened to accommodate growth in the Maple Grove area, which may affect school boundaries and capacity in that part of the district. The district also operates alternative learning centers and an early childhood special education program.

For a family considering this district, the academic picture is one of above-average overall performance compared with other districts in the same county, particularly in reading and early math, but with a notable drop-off in math proficiency in the middle grades and very low science results. The chronic absenteeism rate is a concern worth investigating. The diversity of the student body and the range of program offerings, including specialty schools and an online option, provide multiple pathways for different student needs.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

20,776

Grades

PK–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 10%

Black 26%

White 38%

Asian 16%

Two+ 8%

Am. Indian / AK Native 0%

Hawaiian / Pac. Isl. 0%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr 3

28%

58%

Gr 4

24%

57%

Gr 5

38%

66%

Gr 6

30%

67%

Gr 7

27%

59%

Gr 8

30%

60%

Math

Gr 3

37%

74%

Gr 4

34%

70%

Gr 5

25%

61%

Gr 6

15%

56%

Gr 7

19%

56%

Gr 8

18%

53%

Science

Gr 5

10%

35%

Gr 8

19%

Schools in this District

34 schools are officially reported under this district.

Early Childhood Special Education

BIRCH GROVE SCHOOL FOR THE ARTS

Brooklyn Middle STEAM School

CEDAR ISLAND ELEMENTARY

CREST VIEW ELEMENTARY

Weaver Lake Science Math & Tech Sch

FAIR OAKS ELEMENTARY

GARDEN CITY ELEMENTARY

North View Middle School

Osseo Middle School

OSSEO SENIOR HIGH

PALMER LAKE ELEMENTARY

PARK BROOK ELEMENTARY

PARK CENTER IB WORLD SCHOOL

Zanewood Community School STEAM

Maple Grove Middle School

OAK VIEW ELEMENTARY

RUSH CREEK ELEMENTARY

BASSWOOD ELEMENTARY

MAPLE GROVE SENIOR HIGH

Osseo Education Center

WOODLAND ELEMENTARY

ALC INDEPENDENT STUDY

ALC CREDIT RECOVERY

Osseo ALC Alternative Programs

ALC SENIOR HIGH

279Online Learning Program K-5

279Online Learning Program 6-8

279Online Learning Program 9-12

279 Excel

Academic Performance

Percent of students meeting or exceeding state standards, by grade.

Mathematics

6 grades reported

57%

Grade 3

54%

Grade 4

44%

Grade 5

38%

Grade 6

38%

Grade 7

37%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

44%

Grade 3

42%

Grade 4

53%

Grade 5

51%

Grade 6

44%

Grade 7

46%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

23%

Grade 5

14%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

Data as of April 2026 | District-weighted from constituent ZIP codes

Home Values

Typical home value$423,872

Year-over-year change+1.9%

Range across 12 ZIP codes$281K to $682K

vs. state typical1.21x

vs. national typical1.15x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (12 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
55369	Maple Grove	$398K	+2.7%	32.3%
55311	Maple Grove	$500K	+1.5%	21.8%
55445	Brooklyn Park	$363K	+2.5%	12.2%
55443	Brooklyn Park	$385K	+0.3%	11.4%
55442	Plymouth	$476K	+2.4%	4.6%
55428	New Hope	$323K	+3.0%	4.5%
55429	Brooklyn Center	$302K	+1.4%	4.4%
55340	Corcoran	$682K	+0.7%	3.2%
55446	Plymouth	$624K	+1.4%	2.0%
55444	Brooklyn Park	$339K	+1.4%	1.8%
55374	Rogers	$478K	+0.2%	1.5%
55430	Brooklyn Center	$281K	+1.2%	0.3%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$1,987/mo

Year-over-year change+3.5%

Range across 9 ZIP codes$1,462 to $2,342/mo

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (9 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
55369	Maple Grove	$1,953	+1.5%	32.3%
55311	Maple Grove	$2,342	+4.1%	21.8%
55445	Brooklyn Park	$2,014	—	12.2%
55443	Brooklyn Park	$1,541	+7.3%	11.4%
55442	Plymouth	$2,028	+4.7%	4.6%
55428	New Hope	$1,462	+5.5%	4.5%
55446	Plymouth	$2,127	+1.7%	2.0%
55374	Rogers	$2,028	—	1.5%
55430	Brooklyn Center	$1,813	—	0.3%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$2,139/mo

Home price / national median income5.1x

Annual rent / national median income28.5%

Est. mortgage exceeds rent by$152/mo

Comparison

State typical home value$350,891 (+2.9% YoY)

National typical home value$368,198 (+0.6% YoY)

State ZHVI trend (12 months)

National ZHVI trend (12 months)

Economic Context

30-year fixed mortgage rate6.48%

National unemployment rate4.3%

National median household income$83,730

CPI: Rent of shelter (index)447.05

30-year fixed mortgage rate (12 months)

National unemployment rate (12 months)

National median household income (12 months)

CPI: Rent of shelter (index) (12 months)

Sources: Zillow Home Value Index and Zillow Observed Rent Index (Zillow Group), Realtor.com via Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED)

Data Currently Unavailable

Civil Rights Data (CRDC)

This profile is derived exclusively from publicly available federal and state datasets. It may not reflect the most current information available. We encourage parents and families to supplement this data with information published directly on the school’s website, which may include more recent figures, additional programs, or updated enrollment data.