Headwaters Academy Photo - Water testing on the Gallatin River in Bozeman, MT.

Best Gallatin County Private Schools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 19 private schools serving 1,755 students in Gallatin County, MT (there are 48 public schools, serving 14,228 public students). 11% of all K-12 students in Gallatin County, MT are educated in private schools (compared to the MT state average of 8%).
The top-ranked private schools in Gallatin County, MT include Heritage Christian School, Cottonwood Day School, and Headwaters Academy.
The average acceptance rate is 89%, which is higher than the Montana private school average acceptance rate of 87%.
33% of private schools in Gallatin County, MT are religiously affiliated (most commonly Christian and Seventh Day Adventist).

Top-Ranked Gallatin County Private Schools (2026)

School
Location
Quick Facts
Bozeman Field School
Bozeman Field School Photo
2090 Stadium Dr
Bozeman, MT 59715
(406) 577-2492
Gr: 9-12 | 27 students Avg. class size: 7 students Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Cottonwood Day School
Cottonwood Day School Photo - Interior of New Facility.
Special Education School
(2)
10180 Cottonwood Road
Bozeman, MT 59718
(406) 586-3409
Gr: 1-12 Avg. class size: 8 students Tuition listed
Headwaters Academy
Headwaters Academy Photo - Water testing on the Gallatin River in Bozeman, MT.
Special Program Emphasis
1005 Durston Road
Bozeman, MT 59715
(406) 585-9997
Gr: 6-8 | 79 students Avg. class size: 15 students Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Heritage Christian School
(Christian)
(1)
4310 Durston Road
Bozeman, MT 59718
(406) 587-9311
Gr: PK-12 | 252 students Avg. class size: 17 students Sports: 5 | Extracurrculars: 5 Tuition listed
Manhattan Christian School
Manhattan Christian School Photo
(Calvinist)
8000 Churchill Rd
Manhattan, MT 59741
(406) 282-7261
Gr: PK-12 | 321 students Avg. class size: 20 students Sports: 7 | Extracurrculars: 3 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Mount Ellis Academy
Mount Ellis Academy Photo - Mount Ellis Academy has existed in the beautiful Gallatin Valley since 1902.
(Seventh Day Adventist)
3641 Bozeman Trail Rd
Bozeman, MT 59715
(406) 587-5178
Gr: 9-12 | 59 students Avg. class size: 15 students Sports: 3 | Extracurrculars: 4 Tuition listed
Mount Ellis Elementary
Mount Ellis Elementary Photo - Bear Canyon Bears Volleyball!
(Seventh Day Adventist)
3835 Bozeman Trail Rd
Bozeman, MT 59715
(406) 587-5430
Gr: PK-8 | 75 students Sports: 4 | Extracurrculars: 3 Tuition listed
Petra Academy
(Christian)
4720 Classical Way
Bozeman, MT 59718
(406) 582-8165
Gr: PK-12 | 174 students Avg. class size: 15 students Sports: 4 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Big Sky Discovery School
Montessori School
175 Aspen Leaf Dr
Big Sky, MT 59716
(406) 580-9982
Gr: PK-12 | 59 students
Bozeman Creative Learning Center
Alternative School
111 S. Tracy Ave.
Bozeman, MT 59715
(406) 577-2407
Gr: K-6 | 13 students Avg. class size: 15 students Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Bozeman Summit Schoool
Montessori School
3001 W Villard Street
Bozeman, MT 59718
(406) 585-3778
Gr: PK-5 | 63 students Avg. class size: 20 students Tuition listed
Divine Mercy Academy
(Catholic)
601 W Cameron Ave
Belgrade, MT 59714
(406) 388-7588
Gr: PK-8 | 64 students
Great Beginnings Montessori School
Great Beginnings Montessori School Photo - Language acquisition
Montessori School
100 Springhill Lane
Bozeman, MT 59715
(406) 587-0132
Gr: PK-K | 52 students Extracurrculars: 4 Tuition listed
Hearts & Hands Montessori
Montessori School
(1)
1660 Amsterdam Rd.
Belgrade, MT 59714
(406) 388-8876
Gr: PK-K | 45 students Avg. class size: 10 students
Highland Montessori School
Montessori School
111 Highland Blvd
Bozeman, MT 59715
(406) 585-0171
Gr: NS | 34 students Tuition listed
Learning Circle Montessori School
Montessori School
(1)
516 W Cleveland St
Bozeman, MT 59715
(406) 587-2672
Gr: PK-K | 29 students
Middle Creek Montessori
Montessori School
1572 Cobb Hill Rd
Bozeman, MT 59718
(406) 587-3817
Gr: PK-5 | 123 students
Sourdough Montessori
Alternative School
4310 Sourdough Rd
Bozeman, MT 59715
(406) 582-1548
Gr: PK-K | 55 students
Valley of the Flowers School
Valley of the Flowers School Photo
Waldorf School
115 E. Dickerson St.
Bozeman, MT 59715
(813) 331-1476
Gr: K-5 | 18 students Tuition listed
[+] Show Closed Private Schools in Gallatin County, Montana

Gallatin County Private Schools (Closed)

School
Location
Quick Facts
804 S Willson Ave
Bozeman, MT 59715
(406) 586-6051
Gr: PK-K | 22 students
2015 Wheat Dr
Bozeman, MT 59719
(406) 587-2429
Gr: PK-K | 78 students

Overview

This County (Gallatin County)
This State (MT)
# Schools
21 Schools

Student Body:

# Students
1,755 Students
12,783 Students
% Average Students of Color
11%
17%

Academics and Faculty:

# Teachers
172 Teachers
1,175 Teachers
Average Student-Teacher Ratio
11:1
11:1
% Average Faculty w/Advanced Degree
68%
46%
Average Class Size
14 students
14 students
Average Number of AP Courses
3 courses
9 courses
Average SAT score
1240
(Out of 1600)
1227

Tuition and Acceptance Rate:

Average Yearly Tuition Cost
$11,555
$11,689
Average Summer Program Cost
$250
$143
Average % on Financial Aid
29%
40%
Average Financial Aid Grant
$3,889
$3,083
Average Acceptance Rate
89%
87%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.43
0.56
# American Indian Students
58 Students
750 Students
% American Indian Students
3%
6%
# Asian Students
21 Students
206 Students
% Asian Students
1%
2%
# Hispanic Students
41 Students
261 Students
% Hispanic Students
3%
2%
# Black Students
15 Students
139 Students
% Black Students
1%
1%
# White Students
1,240 Students
7,696 Students
% White Students
73%
60%
# Hawaiian Students
n/a
18 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
325 Students
3,764 Students
% of Others Students
19%
29%
All Ethnic Groups

Extracurriculars and Sports:

Average Number of Extracurriculars
4 extracurriculars
7 extracurriculars
Average Number of Sports
5 sports
5 sports

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked private schools in Gallatin County, MT?
The top-ranked private schools in Gallatin County, MT include Heritage Christian School, Cottonwood Day School, and Headwaters Academy.
How many private schools are located in Gallatin County?
19 private schools are located in Gallatin County.
How diverse are private schools in Gallatin County?
Gallatin County private schools are approximately 11% minority students, which is lower than the Montana private school average of 17%.
What percentage of students in Gallatin County go to private school?
11% of all K-12 students in Gallatin County are educated in private schools (compared to the MT state average of 8%).
What percentage of private schools are religiously affiliated in Gallatin County?
33% of private schools in Gallatin County are religiously affiliated (most commonly Christian and Seventh Day Adventist).
Which private schools in Gallatin County are often viewed compared to one another?

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