Private School Review - Established 2003
Mount Ellis Elementary Top 6 · Oldest Founding Date (MT)
Missoula International School Top 3 · Highest % Faculty w/ Adv. Degrees (MT)
Mission Valley Christian Academy Top 6 · Lowest Acceptance Rate (MT)

Best Montana Private Schools

For the 2026-27 school year, there are 133 private schools serving 12,707 students in Montana, versus 837 public schools serving 147,349 students (8% of K-12 students attend private schools, vs. national average 10%).
The average private school tuition is $7,315 for elementary schools and $8,527 for high schools (view national tuition averages).
61% of schools are religiously affiliated, with most being Catholic or Christian.

Quick Facts (26-27)

  • # Private Schools: 133
  • # Students Served: 12,707
  • Average Tuition: $8,021
  • % Students on Financial Aid: 40%
  • Acceptance Rate: 88%
  • Average Class Size: 13 students
  • % Students of Color: 17%
  • View Montana School Trends

Quick Facts (26-27)

  • # Private Schools: 133
  • # Students Served: 12,707
  • Average Tuition: $8,021
  • % Students on Financial Aid: 40%
  • Acceptance Rate: 88%
  • Average Class Size: 13 students
  • % Students of Color: 17%
  • View Montana School Trends

Top Ranked Montana Private Schools (2026-27)

Billings Catholic Schools Photo
Billings Catholic Schools
Gr: PK-12 | 1,116 students
Avg. class size: 20 students
Sports: 13 | Extracurriculars: 23
Catholic
3 Broadwater Ave
Billings, MT 59101
(406) 867-8043
View Profile
Billings Christian School Photo
Billings Christian School
Gr: PK-12 | 400 students
Avg. class size: 18 students
Sports: 5 | Extracurriculars: 8
Christian
4519 Grand Ave
Billings, MT 59106
(406) 656-9484
(1)
View Profile
Blodgett View Christian School Photo
Blodgett View Christian School
Gr: K-8 | 34 students
Avg. class size: 17 students
Seventh Day Adventist
119 West Bridge Rd
Hamilton, MT 59840
(406) 363-0575
(2)
View Profile
Bozeman Field School Photo
Bozeman Field School
Gr: 9-12 | 27 students
Avg. class size: 7 students
2090 Stadium Dr
Bozeman, MT 59715
(406) 577-2492
View Profile
Clark Fork School Photo
Clark Fork School
Gr: PK-K | 100 students
Avg. class size: 16 students
Extracurriculars: 5
Daycare / Preschool
2525 Rattlesnake Dr
Missoula, MT 59802
(406) 728-3395
View Profile
Cottonwood Day School Photo
Cottonwood Day School
Gr: 1-12
Avg. class size: 8 students
Special Education School
10180 Cottonwood Road
Bozeman, MT 59718
(406) 586-3409
(2)
View Profile
Headwaters Academy Photo
Headwaters Academy
Gr: 6-8 | 79 students
Avg. class size: 15 students
Specialized Curriculum
1005 Durston Road
Bozeman, MT 59715
(406) 585-9997
View Profile
Manhattan Christian School Photo
Manhattan Christian School
Gr: PK-12 | 321 students
Avg. class size: 20 students
Sports: 7 | Extracurriculars: 3
Calvinist
8000 Churchill Rd
Manhattan, MT 59741
(406) 282-7261
View Profile
Missoula International School Photo
Missoula International School
Gr: PK-8 | 199 students
Avg. class size: 15 students
Sports: 4 | Extracurriculars: 7
Specialized Curriculum
808 South Third Street West
Missoula, MT 59801
(406) 542-9924
View Profile
Mount Ellis Academy Photo
Mount Ellis Academy
Gr: 9-12 | 59 students
Sports: 3 | Extracurriculars: 4
Seventh Day Adventist
3641 Bozeman Trail Rd
Bozeman, MT 59715
(406) 587-5178
View Profile
Show 10 more private schools in Montana (out of 133 total schools)
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Montana Private School Trends (10-Year)

133
Private Schools
+9.0% (+11 schools) 10-yr
12,707
Students
+23.3% (+2,398 students) 10-yr
$8,021
Avg. Tuition
+17.6% (+$1,203) 10-yr
13
Avg. Class Size
+8.3% (+1 student) 10-yr
17%
Students of Color
-10.5% (-2.0 pp) 10-yr
11:1
Student-Teacher Ratio
+10.0% (+1.0) 10-yr
Enrollment & Diversity
Category
This State (MT)
US
# Schools
133 Schools
671 Schools
avg. per state

Trends in Total Number of Private Schools

YearMontana (MT) TotalUS Avg per State
2025134671
2024142703
2023127665
2022113612
2021118637
2020132684
2019128665
2018129677
2017120631
2016122644
2015122683
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# Students
12,707 Students
111,494 Students
avg. per state

View Largest Montana Private Schools

Trends in Total Number of Private School Students

YearMontana (MT) TotalUS Avg per State
202512,783111,945
202412,259113,628
202311,110108,484
202210,741104,892
202110,833106,817
202010,940109,411
201910,767108,956
201810,728109,868
201710,332106,255
201610,748107,443
201510,309108,505
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Average School Size
97 Students
179 Students

Trends in Average School Size

YearMontana (MT) AvgNational
202597179
202487172
202388174
202297185
202193180
202084171
201985175
201884172
201788180
201690178
201585167
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% Average Students of Color
17%
34%

Percentage of Students of Color Trends (2015-2025)

YearMontana (MT) AvgNational
202517%34%
202418%34%
202320%33%
202222%33%
202122%32%
202022%32%
201920%31%
201819%31%
201718%32%
201618%32%
201519%32%
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Student By Grade

Distribution of Students By Grade Trends

GradeMontana
Nursey170
Pre-K2,218
Kind1,078
1874
2873
3816
4890
5867
6895
7844
8746
9656
10603
11578
12522
Not Listed77
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Academics
# Teachers
1,171 Teachers
508,622 Teachers
Average Student-Teacher Ratio
11:1
11:1

Student-Teacher Ratio Trends (2015-2025)

YearMontana (MT) AvgNational
202511:111:1
202411:111:1
202310:111:1
202211:111:1
202111:111:1
202010:112:1
201911:112:1
201811:112:1
201710:112:1
201610:112:1
201510:112:1
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% Average Faculty w/Advanced Degree
47%
55%

View Montana Private Schools with the Most Educated Faculty

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

YearMontana (MT) AvgNational
202546%55%
202447%54%
202346%54%
202246%54%
202145%54%
202045%54%
201947%53%
201843%53%
201749%53%
201649%52%
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Average Class Size
13 students
16 students

Class Size Trends (2015-2025)

YearMontana (MT) AvgNational
20251415
20241415
20231415
20221415
20211315
20201315
20191315
20181315
20171215
20161215
20151215
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Average Number of AP Courses
9 courses
13 courses
Tuition & Aid
Average Yearly Tuition Cost
$8,021
$13,769

View Montana Private Schools By Tuition Cost

Tuition Cost Trends (2015-2025)

YearMontana (MT) AvgNational
2025$12,014$15,012
2024$8,910$13,254
2023$8,992$12,626
2022$8,932$12,187
2021$8,821$11,800
2020$8,472$11,512
2019$8,302$11,293
2018$7,587$11,017
2017$7,305$10,708
2016$7,298$10,356
2015$6,818$9,939
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Average % on Financial Aid
40%
35%

Percent on Financial Aid Trends (2015-2025)

YearMontana (MT) AvgNational
202540%34%
202439%34%
202338%34%
202239%33%
202139%33%
202037%32%
201932%31%
201831%30%
201730%30%
201631%29%
201529%28%
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Average Financial Aid Grant
$2,802
$7,285

Financial Aid Grant Trends (2016-2025)

YearMontana (MT) AvgNational
2025$3,083$7,073
2024$3,248$6,930
2023$3,263$6,469
2022$2,727$6,289
2021$2,513$6,055
2020$2,525$5,921
2019$2,420$5,795
2018$2,282$5,456
2017$2,182$5,319
2016$2,348$5,105
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Average Acceptance Rate
88%
85%

View Most Selective Private Schools in Montana

Acceptance Rate Trends (2016-2025)

YearMontana (MT) AvgNational
202585%81%
202486%85%
202386%85%
202285%85%
202186%85%
202086%85%
201984%85%
201880%85%
201783%85%
201681%85%
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Students by Ethnicity
0.56
0.65

View Montana Private Schools Minority Statistics

Diversity Score Trends

YearMontana (MT) AvgNational
20250.560.65
20240.530.65
20230.560.65
20220.570.64
20210.570.64
20200.570.64
20190.560.63
20180.560.63
20170.540.61
20160.530.61
20150.530.61
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# American Indian Students
750 Students
29,812 Students
% American Indian Students
6%
1%

Percentage of Private School Students of American Indian Trends

YearMontana (MT) AvgNational
20256%1%
20246%1%
20237%1%
202210%2%
202110%1%
202011%1%
201911%1%
201811%2%
201710%1%
201610%1%
201511%1%
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# Asian Students
206 Students
264,417 Students
% Asian Students
2%
5%

Asian Student Percentage Trends

YearMontana (MT) AvgNational
20252%5%
20242%5%
20232%5%
20222%4%
20212%4%
20202%4%
20191%4%
20181%4%
20171%4%
20161%4%
20151%4%
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# Hispanic Students
255 Students
506,604 Students
% Hispanic Students
2%
9%

Hispanic Student Percentage Trends

YearMontana (MT) AvgNational
20252%9%
20242%9%
20232%9%
20222%8%
20212%9%
20202%9%
20192%8%
20182%8%
20172%8%
20162%8%
20152%8%
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# Black Students
139 Students
415,581 Students
% Black Students
1%
7%

Black Student Percentage Trends

YearMontana (MT) AvgNational
20251%7%
20241%7%
20231%8%
20221%7%
20211%7%
20201%8%
20171%7%
20161%7%
20151%8%
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# White Students
7,654 Students
2,927,695 Students
% White Students
60%
52%

White Student Percentage Trends

YearMontana (MT) AvgNational
202560%52%
202464%52%
202361%52%
202259%54%
202160%54%
202061%54%
201961%56%
201862%56%
201763%58%
201664%58%
201564%58%
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# Hawaiian Students
18 Students
20,065 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
3,733 Students
1,473,095 Students
% of Others Students
29%
26%

Other Races Student Percentage Trends

YearMontana (MT) AvgNational
202529%26%
202425%26%
202327%25%
202226%25%
202125%25%
202023%24%
201925%24%
201824%23%
201723%22%
201622%22%
201521%21%
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All Ethnic Groups
Extracurriculars & Sports
Average Number of Extracurriculars
7 extracurriculars
9 extracurriculars
Average Number of Sports
5 sports
7 sports
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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top ranked private schools in Montana?
How many private schools are located in Montana?
There are 133 private schools are located in Montana.
How much do private schools cost in Montana?
The average private school tuition in Montana is $7,315 for elementary schools and $8,527 for high schools
How diverse are private schools in Montana?
Approximately 17% of students in Montana private schools are minority students (compared to the national percentage).
What percentage of students in Montana go to private school?
8% of all K-12 students in Montana attend private schools (compared to the national average of 10%).
What percentage of private schools are religiously affiliated in Montana?
61% of private schools in Montana are religiously affiliated, with most being Catholic or Christian.
Which private schools in Montana are often viewed compared to one another?

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