Private School Review - Established 2003
Mounds Park Academy Top 8 · Highest Avg. ACT Score (MN)
Minnehaha Academy Top 16 · Most AP Courses (MN)
Hillcrest Academy Top 13 · Highest Avg. SAT Score (MN)

Minnesota Private Schools Belonging to Membership Associations

For the 2026-27 school year, there are 362 private schools belonging to membership associations in Minnesota.
The most popular school membership associations are National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA) (38% of schools), Other school association(s) (18% of schools) and Other religious school association(s) (12% of schools).

Quick Facts (26-27)

  • # Private Schools: 362

Quick Facts (26-27)

  • # Private Schools: 362

Top Ranked Minnesota Private Schools by Membership Association (2026-27)

Membership Association
# Schools
# Students
% Minority
Accelerated Christian Education (School of Tomorrow) (ACE)
13
330
16%
Accreditation International
2
458
38%
Alabama Independent School Association (AISA)
2
13
30%
Alternative School Network
1
12
-
American Association of Christian Schools (AACS)
12
1,527
20%
American Montessori Society (AMS)
10
782
12%
Association for Middle Level Education (formerly NMSA) (AMLE)
1
169
47%
Association Montessori Internationale (AMI)
12
1,270
24%
Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI)
31
8,806
17%
Association of Christian Teachers and Schools (ACTS)
2
494
13%
Association of Classical Christian Schools (ACCS)
4
879
14%
Association of Military Colleges and Schools of the United States (AMCSUS)
1
604
10%
Association of Waldorf Schools of North America (AWSNA)
2
436
16%
Christian Schools International (CSI)
12
2,589
9%
Cognia (formerly AdvancED / SACS CASI / NCA CASI) (Cognia)
13
4,888
36%
Council of Bilingual Education (PVSR legacy category)
1
19
100%
Evangelical Lutheran Education Association (ELEA)
3
133
25%
Friends Council on Education (FCE)
1
146
16%
General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists (Education) (GCSDAC)
7
213
65%
Independent Schools Association of the Central States (ISACS)
17
9,503
29%
Institute for Independent Education (PVSR legacy category)
5
1,245
34%
International Baccalaureate World School (IB)
2
605
14%
International Coalition of Girls' Schools (formerly NCGS) (ICGS)
1
605
22%
Jesuit Schools Network (formerly JSEA) (JSN)
2
692
66%
Mid Atlantic Christian Schools Association (MACSA)
1
623
7%
Middle States Association Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools (MSA-CESS)
1
317
52%
National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
27
4,843
31%
National Association of Episcopal Schools (NAES)
4
2,068
23%
National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS)
24
11,706
29%
National Association of Private Schools (NAPS)
1
65
20%
National Association of Private Special Education Centers (NAPSEC)
1
306
23%
National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA)
139
34,255
20%
National Christian School Association (NCSA)
1
249
10%
National Council for Private School Accreditation (NCPSA)
4
929
24%
National Independent Private School Association (NIPSA)
3
203
13%
National Lutheran Schools Accreditation (NLSA)
11
1,780
12%
Oral Roberts University Educational Fellowship (ORUEF)
1
866
48%
Orton Gillingham Academy of Practioners and Educators
1
443
-
Other associations(s) for exceptional children
2
175
100%
Other Montessori association(s)
5
424
9%
Other religious school association(s)
43
6,977
21%
Other school association(s)
66
15,006
20%
Other special emphasis association(s)
13
2,624
28%
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
2
5,178
37%
Southern Baptist Association of Christian Schools (SBACS)
1
86
1%
State or regional independent school association
30
9,134
14%
The Association of Boarding Schools (TABS)
2
347
36%
Waldorf Early Childhood Association of North America (WECAN)
1
275
23%
Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod School Accreditation (WELSSA)
7
832
5%

Recent Articles

When a Private School Changes Head of School
When a Private School Changes Head of School
A private school leadership change can raise important questions. Learn how to evaluate head of school transitions, identify warning signs, and protect your child's educational experience before enrolling confidently.
Private School Financial Aid Renewal: Could Awards Shrink?
Private School Financial Aid Renewal: Could Awards Shrink?
Could your private school financial aid shrink next year? Learn why awards change, how income and school budgets affect renewal, and what parents can do to protect affordability long-term.
Need-Blind vs. Need-Aware Private School Admissions
Need-Blind vs. Need-Aware Private School Admissions
Understand how need-blind and need-aware private school admissions affect acceptance decisions, financial aid eligibility, and affordability, with practical guidance to help parents compare schools, ask questions, and plan confidently ahead.

Quick Links

SCHOOL SEARCH TOOLS:
SCHOOL BY TYPE (MN):
OPEN-HOUSES & JOBS:
PUBLIC & BOARDING SCHOOLS:
PRIVATE SCHOOL DATA:

Most Popular Articles

Private School vs Public School: Key Differences (2026 Guide)
Private School vs Public School: Key Differences (2026 Guide)
 School Rankings by Category
School Rankings by Category
Financial Aid for Private Schools: 2026 Parent Guide
Financial Aid for Private Schools: 2026 Parent Guide

More Articles

Running a Private School
Archives
Opinion
Paying For It
Pre-school