St. John Lutheran School Photo

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 in Pennington County, MN 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).

Private Schools in Pennington County (2026)

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

Overview

This County (Pennington County)
This State (MN)
# Schools
3 Schools

Student Body:

# Students
132 Students
97,393 Students
% Average Students of Color
11%
23%

Academics and Faculty:

# Teachers
14 Teachers
7,972 Teachers
Average Student-Teacher Ratio
9:1
12:1
% Average Faculty w/Advanced Degree
67%
51%
Average Class Size
13 students
17 students

Tuition and Acceptance Rate:

Average Yearly Tuition Cost
$2,340
$10,132
Average % on Financial Aid
16%
38%
Average Financial Aid Grant
$500
$2,997
Average Acceptance Rate
90%
87%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.46
0.58
# American Indian Students
n/a
625 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
1%
# Asian Students
3 Students
3,705 Students
% Asian Students
2%
4%
# Hispanic Students
3 Students
4,576 Students
% Hispanic Students
2%
4%
# Black Students
1 Student
4,218 Students
% Black Students
1%
4%
# White Students
94 Students
58,368 Students
% White Students
70%
59%
# 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
27,607 Students
% of Others Students
23%
28%
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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