Trinity School at River Ridge Photo

Best Dakota County Private High Schools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 9 private high schools serving 2,298 students in Dakota County, MN.
The top-ranked private high schools in Dakota County, MN include St. Croix Lutheran Academy, Glory Academy, and Saint Thomas Academy.
The average acceptance rate is 90%, which is higher than the Minnesota private high school average acceptance rate of 83%.
90% of private high schools in Dakota County, MN are religiously affiliated (most commonly Catholic and Seventh Day Adventist).

Top-Ranked Dakota County Private High Schools (2026)

School
Location
Quick Facts
St. Croix Lutheran Academy
St. Croix Lutheran Academy Photo - SCLA welcomes students from the local community, the United States, and from around the world.
(Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod)
(3)
1200 Oakdale Ave
Saint Paul, MN 55118
(651) 455-1521
Gr: 6-12 | 481 students Avg. class size: 20 students Sports: 18 | Extracurrculars: 26 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
First Baptist School
(Baptist)
(1)
14400 Diamond Path West
Rosemount, MN 55068
(651) 423-2272
Gr: PK-12 | 279 students Avg. class size: 16 students Sports: 3 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Glory Academy
Glory Academy Photo - Working together.
(Pentecostal)
(3)
25170 Dodd Blvd
Lakeville, MN 55044
(952) 985-3659
Gr: PK-11 | 38 students Avg. class size: 6 students Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Saint Thomas Academy
Saint Thomas Academy Photo
All-boys (Catholic)
(3)
949 Mendota Heights Road
Saint Paul, MN 55120
(651) 683-1516
Gr: 6-12 | 588 students Avg. class size: 18 students Sports: 20 | Extracurrculars: 40 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Visitation School
Visitation School Photo - Upper School Biology students utilize the Visitation 60 acre campus for research
(Catholic)
(6)
2455 Visitation Drive
Saint Paul, MN 55120
(651) 683-1706
Gr: PK-12 | 605 students Avg. class size: 15 students Sports: 17 | Extracurrculars: 24 Tuition listed
Brightmont Academy - Mendota Heights
Brightmont Academy - Mendota Heights Photo - Taking individual courses at Brightmont Academy offers an effective one-to-one instruction alternative for students to learn concepts and skills by progressing at their own pace.
Special Program Emphasis
720 Main Street, Suite 101
Saint Paul, MN 55118
(952) 564-2164
Gr: 1-12 Avg. class size: 1 student Tuition listed
One School, Global
(Brethren)
500 E. Travelers Trail Suite 500 Burnsville
Burnsville, MN 55337
(952) 469-6623
Gr: 3-12 | 30 students
Southview Christian
(Seventh Day Adventist)
15304 County Road 5
Burnsville, MN 55306
(952) 898-2727
Gr: K-9 | 48 students Avg. class size: 3 students Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Trinity School at River Ridge
Trinity School at River Ridge Photo
(Christian)
(19)
601 River Ridge Parkway
Eagan, MN 55121
(651) 789-2894
Gr: 6-12 | 166 students Avg. class size: 15 students Sports: 8 | Extracurrculars: 11 Tuition listed
[+] Show Closed Private Schools in Dakota County, Minnesota

Dakota County Private Schools (Closed)

School
Location
Quick Facts
1565 Cliff Road, Suite 9
Saint Paul, MN 55122
(651) 405-8005
Gr: NS-PK | 60 students Tuition listed
4300 Nicols Rd
Saint Paul, MN 55122
(651) 456-0001
Gr: K-7 | 21 students
1815 Bromley St
South Saint Paul, MN 55075
(651) 451-1863
Gr: PK-6 | 119 students
12156 Nicollet Avenue S.
Burnsville, MN 55337
(952) 277-0809
Gr: 9-12 | 40 students

Overview

This County (Dakota County)
This State (MN)
# Schools
10 Schools

Student Body:

# Students
2,298 Students
43,049 Students
% Average Students of Color
22%
30%

Academics and Faculty:

# Teachers
221 Teachers
3,658 Teachers
Average Student-Teacher Ratio
10:1
12:1
% Average Faculty w/Advanced Degree
60%
55%
Average Class Size
12 students
16 students
Average Number of AP Courses
13 courses
12 courses
Average SAT score
1365
(Out of 1600)
1285
Average ACT score
27
(Out of 36)
26

Tuition and Acceptance Rate:

Average Yearly Tuition Cost
$19,428
$14,664
Average Summer Program Cost
$1,800
$872
Average % on Financial Aid
49%
42%
Average Financial Aid Grant
$9,400
$6,196
Average Acceptance Rate
90%
83%
Average Endowment Size
$4.5 million
$20.08 million

Students by Ethnicity:

0.38
0.61
# American Indian Students
9 Students
378 Students
% American Indian Students
1%
1%
# Asian Students
130 Students
2,651 Students
% Asian Students
5%
6%
# Hispanic Students
139 Students
2,594 Students
% Hispanic Students
5%
6%
# Black Students
105 Students
2,161 Students
% Black Students
4%
5%
# White Students
2,037 Students
25,109 Students
% White Students
78%
58%
# Hawaiian Students
2 Students
92 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
190 Students
10,689 Students
% of Others Students
7%
24%
All Ethnic Groups

Extracurriculars and Sports:

Average Number of Extracurriculars
25 extracurriculars
17 extracurriculars
Average Number of Sports
13 sports
12 sports

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked private high schools in Dakota County, MN?
The top-ranked private high schools in Dakota County, MN include St. Croix Lutheran Academy, Glory Academy, and Saint Thomas Academy.
How many private high schools are located in Dakota County?
9 private high schools are located in Dakota County.
How diverse are private high schools in Dakota County?
Dakota County private high schools are approximately 22% minority students, which is lower than the Minnesota private school average of 30%.
What percentage of private high schools are religiously affiliated in Dakota County?
90% of private high schools in Dakota County are religiously affiliated (most commonly Catholic and Seventh Day Adventist).

Recent Articles

How Global Economic Trends Shape Private School Affordability
How Global Economic Trends Shape Private School Affordability
Explore how global economic trends influence private school affordability and enrollment in 2026, with insights for families and educators.
Parent Engagement in Private Schools in 2026
Parent Engagement in Private Schools in 2026
Explore how parent engagement in private schools builds strong communities, support networks, and student success in 2026.
So Many Choices: Navigating Private School Selection in 2026
So Many Choices: Navigating Private School Selection in 2026
A 2026 parent guide to choosing the right private school, with updated admissions timelines, tuition trends, affordability strategies, and expert insights.