**Updated March 2025**
Below is a comprehensive list of educational school options available in Rochester MN. We suggest asking about the experiences of your local friends, families, and neighbors as you begin the decision of choosing the option that’s best for your family. We also recommend researching the schools that you are interested in. Talk with staff, attend an open house, arrange a tour, and talk with other families who attend.
Our Rochester MN Guide to Early Education provides a comprehensive list of educational options for children 5 and under.
Rochester Public Schools
Rochester Public School District 535 offers both 25 public schools, comprised of neighborhood schools and district-wide schools. Neighborhood Schools are assigned based on where you live and the boundaries set by the school district. Students are automatically enrolled at their neighborhood school when they are registered with the school district. You can find your neighborhood school here with the Find Your School feature on the public school’s website. Registration for public school students is found in Room 124 of the Edison Building (615 7th Street SW.)
District-wide schools/programs are schools or programs located within the Rochester Public School District that may deliver the curriculum in a different manner than neighborhood schools. District-wide schools and programs are tuition-free for students. Transportation to district-wide schools is not provided.
District-wide schools require an application for each child. The application period for incoming kindergarteners and sixth-graders begins each November for the following school year. Applications are accepted through January 31 of each year for the lottery. Though parents may apply for district-wide schools for their first-through-fifth graders, these grades are dependent upon the space available. Siblings of current district-wide attendees are given preference in lottery selections.
District-wide schools are listed below.
High Schools
Middle Schools
Neighborhood Elementary Schools
Bamber Valley Elementary School
Churchill | Hoover Elementary School
Franklin Elementary School (also a district-wide choice, see below)
Gage Elementary School (also a district-wide choice, see below)
Riverside Central Elementary School
Sunset Terrace Elementary School
District-Wide Schools
Spanish Immersion at Riverside– *NEW* starting 2025-26 school year, the Spanish Immersion program will be housed at Riverside for grades K-8. The Spanish Immersion program follows a 90-10 model, meaning 90% of the day is in Spanish and 10% is in English. Teachers are licensed teachers proficient in both Spanish and English. The Spanish Immersion program covers the same curriculum and is held to the same standards for success as our traditional programs.
Longfellow Elementary School– Longfellow follows a 45/15 instructional calendar, with school beginning the last week of July after a six-week summer break. Students attend school each of the four instructional quarters for approximately 45 days followed by 15 days of break. Benefits of the 45/15 schedule include greater student retention and less re-teaching due to the strategically placed breaks, consistent teaching time, and positive school culture.
Lincoln K-8– Lincoln houses grades K-8. Its stated mission is to “empower and educate children in a family-oriented and creative community.” The school offers integrated technology classes, an innovative science curriculum, and Spanish classes for all grades.
Montessori at Franklin– Franklin is the home for RPS’ Montessori program. The Montessori approach to education embraces individualized instruction for children, mixed-age groupings, a structured curriculum, and a prepared environment using specialized Montessori teaching materials. The Montessori classrooms allow children to move, touch, manipulate, and explore the specifically designed learning materials with direct and indirect teaching to foster their journey from the concrete to the abstract. Since Montessori education is based on the inner motivation of the child, it is the teacher’s role to work with this motivation in ways that will enhance each child’s learning experience.
Washington Core Knowledge– Washington uses a portion of their curriculum based on the Core Knowledge Sequence, a body of information in American and world history, geography, science, literature, music, and art. We balance the mastery of basic reading, math, writing, and technology skills with a solid foundation of factual information in the content areas.
MNSync Online K-12 – MNSync Online offers a live, virtual learning environment with opportunities for occasional in-person activities such as hands-on labs and field trips. Students participate in instruction aligned to the state standards taught by RPS teachers. Instruction is provided in a synchronous (real-time) model along with some asynchronous options.
Alternative Learning – Rochester Public Schools
Middle School Alternative Learning Center – a learning experience designed for individual students needing a nontraditional approach to gaining knowledge. MS ALC programming is driven by student voice and will focus primarily on career paths. Students in the Middle School ALC program will learn a variety of social, emotional, and academic skills in a small class setting while still following the District’s curriculum.
High School Alternative Learning Center – provides a setting for high school education if a student has not been successful in another high school environment. The ALC offers varying programs and resources to meet the needs of any learner.
Apex Recovery Program – This is a program for students in grades 9-12 who are committed to sobriety, and have either recently completed addiction treatment or have been sober for at least 20 days. Apex offers: service to high school students up to age 21,a 15:1 student-to-teacher ratio, a program Substance Use Specialist, individual and group recovery sessions, on-site mental health services, collaboration with student’s support team, and a student centered learning mode.
Success Lab– Provides independent learning at individualized levels for students. Immediate feedback creates an opportunity for greater learning potential and credit recovery. This setting also allows for a quieter learning space and shortened school day.
Day School – The program offers a vocational and career emphasis, as well as independent study options for students over the age of 16. The day school also supports parenting students, and there is a licensed child care facility on site.
Night School – Night School is for students in grades 9-12. Classes are held at the RALC from 3:30-7:15 pm Monday-Thursday. The Night School Program is designed to help individual students that are employed during daytime hours to continue pursuing their high school diploma in the evenings.
Additional RPS Programs
Additional Special Education Programs:
LEAP Program – Launching Emerging Adults Program (LEAP) is intended to provide a safe environment for participants to succeed by improving their overall level of functioning. LEAP is designed to serve youth ages 16-21 with a desire to be active participant in personal goal identification and attainment in the transitional areas of education, employment, housing, and community engagement. With a focus on preparation for transition to adulthood, our target participant has Special Education needs that have not been met through traditional educational, rehabilitative programming.
Phoenix Academy – Rochester Phoenix Academy fosters and promotes personal and academic growth for all students by establishing high academic and social expectations for individual student involvement within the global community. Phoenix Academy is a setting 4 special education site that provides programming for students with disabilities and intense mental health and behavioral needs. Programming is designed to meet mental health, behavioral, and academic needs in students K-12 grades.
Rochester Academy for Independent Living (RAIL) – Rochester Public Schools offers Rochester Academy for Independent Living (RAIL) to help young adults with disabilities integrate into the community and work settings. The program’s goal is to assist the adults at RAIL in developing the independent living and social skills needed to become active, productive, and integrated members of their community.
Career Training Pathways at RPS:
P-TECH – Rochester Public Schools has partnered with IBM, Mayo Clinic and RCTC to offer pathways in nursing and Information Technology (IT). Students have the opportunity to earn both their high school diploma and a diploma in practical nursing or an Associate of Applied Science in Information Technology within four years in the program model. Students will receive workplace experiences through job shadows, mentors, and a paid internship.
CTECH – Career and Technical Education Center at Heintz (CTECH) is a dynamic collaboration between Rochester Public Schools, Rochester Community and Technical College, and our professional community. CTECH offers inspiring hands-on programs, combining rigorous coursework with project based learning in a collaborative setting for students who want to gain a deep understanding of, and actively participate in, high demand professions.
Private Schools
Rochester Arts and Sciences Academy– RASA provides the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IB PYP) for preschool (age 3) through 8th grade. RASA, as an IB World School, embraces this mission and educational model while nurturing individual talents and inspiring academic excellence.
Rochester Catholic Schools – Rochester Catholic Schools includes 4 elementary/middle schools (grades PreK- 8) and 1 high school (grades 9-12). These include Holy Spirit, St. Francis of Assisi, St. John, St. Pius X, and Lourdes High School.
Rochester Central Lutheran School – Grades PK-8. Christian school with preschool, kindergarten, elementary, and middle school programs affiliated with the Lutheran church, but the school is comprised of many denominations.
Resurrection Lutheran School – Grades PK-8. Christian school with preschool, kindergarten, elementary and middle school programs.
Rochester Montessori School – Rochester Montessori School provides Montessori education for ages toddler (18 months) through 9th grade. The Middle Years Program (grades 7-9) is an authorized International Baccalaureate World School, which means it has passed the authorization process and meets the high standards of the International Baccalaureate Association.
Schaeffer Academy – Non-denominational, accredited Christian education for grades K-12. Follows Classical Christian Education, focusing on faith and academic excellence in liberal arts.
Victory Christian Academy – Baptist education for grades K-12.
Charter Schools
Rochester Math and Science Academy – RMSA is for students in grades K-8. Like other charter schools, there is no tuition cost for RMSA and is approved by the Minnesota Department of Education. RMSA has a specific vision to meet the needs of students who have newly arrived in the United States and promotes a diverse, respectful environment.
Rochester Beacon Academy – RBA is open to students in grades 7-12 for the 2017-2018 school year. The school provides general education while providing necessary supports to transition students to young adulthood. RBA includes students with executive functioning challenges such as organization, socialization, and sensory differences.
Homeschooling
Homeschooling gives parents the ability to choose the curriculum they feel is the best fit for their child, as well as the ability to set their own schedule. Although parents choose their own curriculum, there are homeschooling groups and co-ops in Rochester to provide social outings and additional education opportunities. Some of these resources are listed here.
Learning Together Rochester – Learning Together Rochester is a secular, liberal homeschool group that holds monthly parent meetings, weekly playdates (often on Thursday afternoons), and a variety of other activities and field trips. Interested parents can search for our Facebook group to learn more.
Classical Conversations – There are 3 Classical Conversations communities in Rochester. These communities are for parents who utilize the Classical Conversations homeschool curriculum and meet weekly at various local churches. The Classical Conversations mission is to “Know God and make Him known”. During weekly sessions, trained parent-tutors model skills and facilitate activities. Students are given an opportunity to complete academic work with others, and the group also provides support to parents. Fees are associated.
PATH Homeschooling Cooperative – PATH exists for the Body of Christ in the Rochester Area to come together and share talents, skills, and abilities with one purpose: To help parents in their education, preparation, and training-up of their middle or high school student. Options include: PSEO, social connections, specialized instruction, discipleship, and more.
RAACHE – Rochester Area Association of Christian Home Educators is a group of more than 150 home-educating families working together as a Minnesota non-profit corporation. They offer a choir, homeschool graduation ceremonies, science fairs, athletics, and many other cooperative learning experiences.
As always, please let Rochester Local know if you have additional educational resources to add to this list by emailing us at info@rochestermom.com Although decisions about your children’s education feel overwhelming, remember that you know your child best. Research, listen to others, and then make the best decision you can with the information you have.
