ISD 728’s traditional high schools - Elk River, Zimmerman and Rogers - each earned a spot on the US News and World Report’s Best U.S. High School Rankings list for 2022. 

The U.S. News Best High Schools rankings include data on nearly 24,000 public high schools in 50 states and the District of Columbia. Nearly 18,000 schools are ranked on six factors based on their performance, including state assessments and how well they prepare students for college.

This is outstanding news for our schools and our families. “Our students are used to achieving at high levels, and have maintained that top performance in these unprecedented times. When you think about our high school students, they, in particular, have been through a lot over the past year. It’s a testament to them, their families, and to our staff…they’ve earned this recognition through hard work and innovation.” 

The rankings put all three ISD 728 high schools in the top third of all ranked high schools in the country, according to US News’ criteria, and in the top 25 percent overall for public schools.

Elk River High (No. 41) and Rogers High (No. 47) each earned spots in the top 20 percent of Minnesota high schools - both public and private/charter. 

ISD 728 has created several areas of emphasis in high school curriculum over the past several years, including new Career and Technical Education (CTE) opportunities, dedication to the arts and collaboration with local colleges and universities. 

Our high schools remain dedicated to getting all students career and college ready. The pandemic has also put an emphasis on personal relationships with students and mental health - areas where we can grow and learn. That is paying off thanks to effort from everyone - staff, students and families. 

Since the passage of a referendum and bond in 2019, ISD 728 has continued to fulfill its promises. Promises and commitments relate to such things as enhancing opportunities to ensure students are career and college ready, improving and making facilities more equitable, maintaining and lowering (when possible) class sizes, and taking good care of its buildings which includes things such as replacing roofs, updating heating/cooling systems, and repairing parking lots. 

We continue to grow and seek to improve each year, and we are in a position to do that thanks to the support of our communities and families.

More information on ISD 728’s programs, academic achievement and curriculum can be found via the annual World’s Best Workforce report on the District’s website.