Private School Review - Established 2003

Best O'brien County Private Schools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 4 private schools serving 387 students in O'brien County, IA (there are 9 public schools, serving 2,371 public students). 14% of all K-12 students are educated in private schools (compared to the IA state average of 10%).
The average acceptance rate is 99%, which is higher than the Iowa private school average acceptance rate of 87%.
100% of private schools in O'brien County, IA are religiously affiliated (most commonly Other and Christian).

Quick Facts (2026)

Quick Facts (2026)

Top Ranked O'brien County Private Schools (2026)

Map of Zion-st John Lutheran School
Zion-st John Lutheran School
Gr: PK-8 | 81 students
Avg. class size: 8 students
Lutheran Church Missouri Synod
103 W Bertha St
Paullina, IA 51046
(712) 949-3915
View Profile
Map of St. Patrick Elementary School
St. Patrick Elementary School
Gr: PK-8 | 64 students
Catholic
1020 4th Ave
Sheldon, IA 51201
(712) 324-3181
(1)
View Profile
Sanborn Christian School Photo
Sanborn Christian School
Gr: PK-8 | 110 students
Avg. class size: 11 students
Sports: 6 | Extracurriculars: 3
405 W 2nd Street
Sanborn, IA 51248
(712) 729-3288
View Profile
Map of Sheldon Christian School
Sheldon Christian School
Gr: PK-8 | 132 students
Sports: 4
Christian
1425 E 9th Street
Sheldon, IA 51201
(712) 324-2429
View Profile

Overview

Category
This State (IA)
US
# Schools
4 Schools

Trends in Total Number of Private Schools

YearO'brien County Total Schools
20254
20244
20234
20224
20214
20204
20194
20184
20174
20164
20154
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Note: Data may not be displayed on any public-facing website or service that replicates or resembles a school search or review portal without prior written permission. See our Terms of Service.

# Students
387 Students
52,730 Students

Trends in the Average Number of Students Per Private School

YearO'brien County AverageIowa (IA) AverageNational Average
202597217179
202490212172
202392192174
202298203185
202195201180
202095196171
201992199175
201892197172
201797195180
201697194178
201597188167
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Note: Data may not be displayed on any public-facing website or service that replicates or resembles a school search or review portal without prior written permission. See our Terms of Service.

% Average Students of Color
15%
16%

Percentage of Students of Color Trends (2015-2025)

YearO'brien County AverageIowa (IA) AverageNational Average
202515%16%34%
202415%16%34%
202317%17%33%
202217%15%33%
202116%16%32%
202016%15%32%
201913%14%31%
201812%15%31%
201710%13%32%
201610%13%32%
201510%12%32%
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Note: Data may not be displayed on any public-facing website or service that replicates or resembles a school search or review portal without prior written permission. See our Terms of Service.

Academics and Faculty:

# Teachers
39 Teachers
4,273 Teachers
Average Student-Teacher Ratio
10:1
12:1

Student-Teacher Ratio Trends (2015-2025)

YearO'brien County AverageIowa (IA) AverageNational Average
202510:112:111:1
20249:112:111:1
202311:113:111:1
202211:113:111:1
202111:113:111:1
202011:113:112:1
201910:114:112:1
201810:114:112:1
201712:113:112:1
201612:113:112:1
201512:113:112:1
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% Average Faculty w/Advanced Degree
10%
39%

Percentage of Faculty With Advanced Degrees Trends (2022-2025)

YearO'brien County AverageIowa (IA) AverageNational Average
202510%40%55%
202410%41%54%
202310%41%54%
202210%41%54%
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Average Class Size
10 students
16 students

Class Size Trends (2015-2025)

YearO'brien County AverageIowa (IA) AverageNational Average
2025101615
2024101615
2023101515
2022101615
202191615
202091615
201991615
201891615
201791515
201691515
201591515
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Tuition and Acceptance Rate:

Average Yearly Tuition Cost
$7,400
$9,320

Tuition Cost Trends (2022-2025)

YearO'brien County AverageIowa (IA) AverageNational Average
2025$7,400$9,791$15,012
2024$7,400$7,091$13,254
2023$7,400$5,542$12,626
2022$7,400$5,359$12,187
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Average Acceptance Rate
99%
87%

Acceptance Rate Trends (2015-2025)

YearO'brien County AverageIowa (IA) AverageNational Average
202599%85%81%
202499%94%85%
202399%93%85%
202299%94%85%
202199%94%85%
202099%94%85%
201999%93%85%
201899%93%85%
201799%95%85%
201699%97%85%
201599%97%85%
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Students by Ethnicity:

0.50
0.48

Diversity Score Trends

YearO'brien County AverageIowa (IA) AverageNational Average
20250.500.470.65
20240.460.470.65
20230.540.500.65
20220.470.470.64
20210.450.470.64
20200.450.470.64
20190.350.460.63
20180.350.450.63
20170.390.390.61
20160.390.390.61
20150.390.390.61
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# American Indian Students
n/a
116 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
n/a
# Asian Students
1 Student
1,075 Students
% Asian Students
n/a
2%

Asian Student Percentage Trends

YearO'brien County AverageIowa (IA) AverageNational Average
20231%3%5%
20221%2%4%
20211%3%4%
20201%2%4%
20172%2%4%
20162%2%4%
20152%2%4%
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# Hispanic Students
31 Students
3,392 Students
% Hispanic Students
8%
7%

Hispanic Student Percentage Trends

YearO'brien County AverageIowa (IA) AverageNational Average
20258%6%9%
20249%7%9%
20239%6%9%
202211%6%8%
202111%6%9%
202011%6%9%
20197%5%8%
20187%5%8%
20173%4%8%
20163%4%8%
20153%4%8%
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# Black Students
10 Students
1,537 Students
% Black Students
3%
3%

Black Student Percentage Trends

YearO'brien County AverageIowa (IA) AverageNational Average
20253%3%7%
20243%3%7%
20232%3%8%
20223%3%7%
20213%3%7%
20203%3%8%
20191%3%7%
20181%3%7%
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Note: Data may not be displayed on any public-facing website or service that replicates or resembles a school search or review portal without prior written permission. See our Terms of Service.

# White Students
258 Students
36,965 Students
% White Students
67%
70%

White Student Percentage Trends

YearO'brien County AverageIowa (IA) AverageNational Average
202567%70%52%
202471%71%52%
202363%68%52%
202270%71%54%
202172%70%54%
202072%71%54%
201980%72%56%
201880%72%56%
201776%77%58%
201676%76%58%
201576%76%58%
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Note: Data may not be displayed on any public-facing website or service that replicates or resembles a school search or review portal without prior written permission. See our Terms of Service.

# Hawaiian Students
n/a
98 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
n/a
n/a
% of Two or more races Students
n/a
n/a
# Others Students
87 Students
9,674 Students
% of Others Students
22%
18%

Other Races Student Percentage Trends

YearO'brien County AverageIowa (IA) AverageNational Average
202522%18%26%
202417%17%26%
202325%20%25%
202214%18%25%
202112%18%25%
202012%18%24%
201912%18%24%
201812%18%23%
201719%15%22%
201619%16%22%
201519%16%21%
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Note: Data may not be displayed on any public-facing website or service that replicates or resembles a school search or review portal without prior written permission. See our Terms of Service.

All Ethnic Groups

Extracurriculars and Sports:

Average Number of Extracurriculars
3 extracurriculars
6 extracurriculars
Average Number of Sports
5 sports
7 sports

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top ranked private schools in O'brien County, IA?
The top ranked private schools in O'brien County, IA is Zion-st John Lutheran School.
How many private schools are located in O'brien County?
4 private schools are located in O'brien County.
What percentage of students in O'brien County go to private school?
14% of all K-12 students in O'brien County are educated in private schools (compared to the IA state average of 10%).
What percentage of private schools are religiously affiliated in O'brien County?
100% of private schools in O'brien County are religiously affiliated (most commonly Other and Christian).

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