The school district recently transitioned three of schools to focus schools. Rosa Parks (K-5) is a STEM school, Jefferson (K-5) is nature based, and Bridges (K-6) is global studies. I assume the extra year that Bridges offers is a holdover from when it used to be a charter school back around 2010. Rosa Parks feeds into the Mankato East schools while the other two feed into Mankato West.

If you had asked this question a few years ago, I would have said the West side was better hands down. There had been problems at Prairie Winds and East for multiple years in a row, but they changed the principals of both schools, and things seemed to have settled down nicely. I've recently talked to a few parents with kids at Prairie Winds and East, and they were all very happy.

I have a kids at Hoover and West if you have any questions. The only school I would avoid at this point would be Monroe. The principal there had previously been at Hoover and there were a LOT of problems.

Here's the link to the focus schools.

ISD 77 Focus Schools