Private School Review - Established 2003

Best Pennington County Private Schools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 3 private schools serving 132 students in Pennington County, MN (there are 7 public schools, serving 2,075 public students). 6% of all K-12 students are educated in private schools (compared to the MN state average of 10%).
The average acceptance rate is 90%, which is higher than the Minnesota private school average acceptance rate of 87%.
100% of private schools in Pennington County, MN are religiously affiliated (most commonly Lutheran Church Missouri Synod and Catholic).

Quick Facts (2026)

Quick Facts (2026)

Private Schools in Pennington County (2026)

Map of St. Bernard's School
St. Bernard's School
Gr: PK-5 | 104 students
Avg. class size: 17 students
Catholic
117 Knight Ave N
Thief River Falls, MN 56701
(218) 681-1539
View Profile
St. John Lutheran School Photo
St. John Lutheran School
Gr: PK-12 | 23 students
Avg. class size: 8 students
Extracurriculars: 6
Lutheran Church Missouri Synod
15671 158th St NE
Thief River Falls, MN 56701
(218) 681-7753
(1)
View Profile
Map of Thief River Adventist Christian School
Thief River Adventist Christian School
Gr: 5-8 | 5 students
Alternative School (Seventh Day Adventist)
1004 Tindolph Ave S
Thief River Falls, MN 56701
(218) 683-1000
View Profile

Overview

Category
This State (MN)
US
# Schools
3 Schools

Trends in Total Number of Private Schools

YearPennington County Total Schools
20253
20243
20233
20223
20213
20203
20193
20183
20172
20162
20152
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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
132 Students
97,227 Students

Trends in the Average Number of Students Per Private School

YearPennington County AverageMinnesota (MN) AverageNational Average
202545181179
202445177172
202339175174
202242186185
202142181180
202042169171
201951176175
201851169172
201777172180
201681168178
201575165167
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% Average Students of Color
11%
23%

Percentage of Students of Color Trends (2015-2025)

YearPennington County AverageMinnesota (MN) AverageNational Average
202511%23%34%
202411%22%34%
202311%22%33%
202211%23%33%
202111%23%32%
202011%22%32%
201919%22%31%
201819%20%31%
20178%20%32%
201610%20%32%
20158%20%32%
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Academics and Faculty:

# Teachers
14 Teachers
7,994 Teachers
Average Student-Teacher Ratio
9:1
12:1

Student-Teacher Ratio Trends (2015-2025)

YearPennington County AverageMinnesota (MN) AverageNational Average
202511:112:111:1
202411:113:111:1
202312:112:111:1
202212:113:111:1
202112:113:111:1
202012:113:112:1
201913:113:112:1
201813:112:112:1
201713:112:112:1
201614:112:112:1
201514:112:112:1
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% Average Faculty w/Advanced Degree
67%
51%

Percentage of Faculty With Advanced Degrees Trends (2016-2025)

YearPennington County AverageMinnesota (MN) AverageNational Average
202567%51%55%
202467%50%54%
202367%52%54%
202267%51%54%
202167%52%54%
202067%53%54%
201967%54%53%
201867%53%53%
201767%53%53%
201667%52%52%
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Average Class Size
13 students
17 students

Class Size Trends (2015-2025)

YearPennington County AverageMinnesota (MN) AverageNational Average
2025131715
2024131615
2023131615
2022131615
2021131615
2020131615
2019131615
2018131615
2017131515
2016141515
2015141615
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Tuition and Acceptance Rate:

Average Yearly Tuition Cost
$2,340
$10,209

Tuition Cost Trends (2015-2025)

YearPennington County AverageMinnesota (MN) AverageNational Average
2025$2,340$10,222$15,012
2024$2,340$8,433$13,254
2023$2,340$7,467$12,626
2022$2,340$7,514$12,187
2021$2,340$7,036$11,800
2020$2,340$6,838$11,512
2019$2,340$6,749$11,293
2018$2,340$6,628$11,017
2017$2,340$6,739$10,708
2016$2,310$6,493$10,356
2015$1,950$6,273$9,939
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Average % on Financial Aid
16%
39%

Percent on Financial Aid Trends (2017-2025)

YearPennington County AverageMinnesota (MN) AverageNational Average
202516%39%34%
202416%38%34%
202316%36%34%
202216%35%33%
202116%35%33%
202016%35%32%
201916%35%31%
201816%34%30%
201716%33%30%
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Average Financial Aid Grant
$500
$2,996

Financial Aid Grant Trends (2015-2025)

YearPennington County AverageMinnesota (MN) AverageNational Average
2025$500$3,008$7,073
2024$500$2,962$6,930
2023$500$2,926$6,469
2022$500$3,207$6,289
2021$500$3,190$6,055
2020$500$3,236$5,921
2019$500$3,303$5,795
2018$500$3,183$5,456
2017$500$3,390$5,319
2016$500$3,093$5,105
2015$500$3,282$5,030
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Average Acceptance Rate
90%
87%

Acceptance Rate Trends (2017-2025)

YearPennington County AverageMinnesota (MN) AverageNational Average
202590%86%81%
202490%91%85%
202390%91%85%
202290%92%85%
202190%92%85%
202090%91%85%
201990%90%85%
201890%92%85%
201790%92%85%
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Students by Ethnicity:

0.46
0.58

Diversity Score Trends

YearPennington County AverageMinnesota (MN) AverageNational Average
20250.470.580.65
20240.470.580.65
20230.510.580.65
20220.450.560.64
20210.450.560.64
20200.450.550.64
20190.580.530.63
20180.580.520.63
20170.570.460.61
20160.580.470.61
20150.570.470.61
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# American Indian Students
n/a
625 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
1%

Percentage of Private School Students of American Indian Trends

YearPennington County AverageMinnesota (MN) AverageNational Average
20222%1%2%
20212%1%1%
20202%1%1%
201912%2%1%
201812%2%2%
201714%1%1%
201613%1%1%
201514%1%1%
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# Asian Students
3 Students
3,705 Students
% Asian Students
2%
4%

Asian Student Percentage Trends

YearPennington County AverageMinnesota (MN) AverageNational Average
20253%4%5%
20243%4%5%
20231%4%5%
20222%4%4%
20212%4%4%
20202%4%4%
20192%3%4%
20182%3%4%
20171%3%4%
20161%3%4%
20151%3%4%
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# Hispanic Students
3 Students
4,576 Students
% Hispanic Students
2%
4%

Hispanic Student Percentage Trends

YearPennington County AverageMinnesota (MN) AverageNational Average
20252%5%9%
20242%5%9%
20231%5%9%
20224%4%8%
20214%5%9%
20204%5%9%
20193%4%8%
20183%4%8%
20171%3%8%
20161%3%8%
20151%3%8%
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# Black Students
1 Student
4,218 Students
% Black Students
1%
4%

Black Student Percentage Trends

YearPennington County AverageMinnesota (MN) AverageNational Average
20251%4%7%
20241%4%7%
20231%5%8%
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# White Students
94 Students
58,346 Students
% White Students
70%
59%

White Student Percentage Trends

YearPennington County AverageMinnesota (MN) AverageNational Average
202569%59%52%
202469%59%52%
202363%59%52%
202272%61%54%
202172%62%54%
202072%63%54%
201960%65%56%
201860%66%56%
201760%71%58%
201658%71%58%
201560%70%58%
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# Hawaiian Students
2 Students
194 Students
% Hawaiian Students
2%
n/a
# Two or more races Students
n/a
n/a
% of Two or more races Students
n/a
n/a
# Others Students
31 Students
27,553 Students
% of Others Students
23%
28%

Other Races Student Percentage Trends

YearPennington County AverageMinnesota (MN) AverageNational Average
202524%27%26%
202424%27%26%
202331%26%25%
202219%26%25%
202119%24%25%
202019%23%24%
201922%22%24%
201822%21%23%
201724%18%22%
201627%18%22%
201524%20%21%
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All Ethnic Groups

Extracurriculars and Sports:

Average Number of Extracurriculars
6 extracurriculars
10 extracurriculars

Frequently Asked Questions

How many private schools are located in Pennington County, MN?
3 private schools are located in Pennington County, MN.
What percentage of students in Pennington County go to private school?
6% of all K-12 students in Pennington County are educated in private schools (compared to the MN state average of 10%).
What percentage of private schools are religiously affiliated in Pennington County?
100% of private schools in Pennington County are religiously affiliated (most commonly Lutheran Church Missouri Synod and Catholic).

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