The top reported proficiency rate is 74% in English language arts. The lowest is 45% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Minnewashta Elementary
Minnewashta Elementary serves kindergarten through fifth grade as part of the Minnetonka Public School District, and its test results place it in a strong position relative to other schools in Hennepin County. The school’s combined proficiency across math, reading, and science falls in the top quartile when compared with other county districts, which is a clear sign of consistent academic performance at a level most families would consider a strength.
On the Minnesota state assessments, a large majority of students met or exceeded standards in math across grades three through five. Reading results are similarly strong, with a particularly high share of fifth graders demonstrating proficiency. The fifth-grade science assessment showed a more moderate result, with roughly half of students reaching the proficient level. That figure warrants a note: the assessment itself and its cut scores changed for the 2024-2025 school year, so the result is not directly comparable to prior years. A parent may want to ask the school how science instruction and alignment have been addressed in light of the new test.
Enrollment at Minnewashta is large for an elementary school, with classes spread across all six grade levels. The student body is predominantly white, with Hispanic students making up the next largest group, followed by small shares of students who identify as two or more races, Asian, Black, and American Indian. The share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch is quite low, which is consistent with the high housing costs in the area. Data on students with individualized education programs and English learners were not available in the profile, so a parent should ask the school directly about special education services and language support if those are a consideration.
The school is located in Excelsior, a small, historic lakefront town on Lake Minnetonka. The downtown along Water Street is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and the town’s strict building codes preserve its Victorian-era character. The Commons park connects downtown to the lakefront with a swimming beach, tennis courts, and picnic areas, and the Lake Minnetonka Regional Trail runs through town, providing walking and biking routes. Excelsior is largely built out, with a stable population and no major new housing developments identified. Housing values in the area are high, and rents have risen sharply, reflecting the desirability of the location within the Twin Cities metro area.
The Minnetonka district has been through some significant financial events. In 2021, voters approved an operating levy that generates additional annual revenue to support class sizes, programming, and technology. More recently, for the 2024-2025 school year, the district made budget reductions through attrition and retirements, citing inflation and enrollment shifts. The district stated it avoided layoffs and aimed to protect classroom instruction, but the reductions represent a continuing fiscal constraint that families may want to track over time.
Minnewashta is a high-performing elementary school in a place where housing is expensive and the town economy is driven by small businesses and tourism rather than large employers. A family looking at this school will find strong academic results in the core subjects, a large student body, and a community that values its historic identity and lake access. The school does not serve grades that would have a graduation rate, so that metric does not apply here. The overall picture is of a school that delivers consistently solid proficiency within a district that has managed recent budget pressures without major disruption to the classroom.
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