Cottonwood Day School Photo - New 18,000 sq ft building that includes both indoor and outdoor classrooms. Specifically designed to meet the unique needs of our students with specific attention given to sound attenuation, colors and lighting.

Best Gallatin County Private Elementary Schools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 12 private elementary schools serving 1,454 students in Gallatin County, MT.
The top-ranked private elementary schools in Gallatin County, MT include Mount Ellis Elementary, Heritage Christian School, and Manhattan Christian School.
The average acceptance rate is 97%, which is higher than the Montana private elementary school average acceptance rate of 89%.
43% of private elementary schools in Gallatin County, MT are religiously affiliated (most commonly Christian and Calvinist).

Top-Ranked Gallatin County Private Elementary Schools (2026)

School
Location
Quick Facts
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 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
Middle Creek Montessori
Montessori School
1572 Cobb Hill Rd
Bozeman, MT 59718
(406) 587-3817
Gr: PK-5 | 123 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
14 Schools

Student Body:

# Students
1,454 Students
10,765 Students
% Average Students of Color
10%
15%

Academics and Faculty:

# Teachers
136 Teachers
913 Teachers
Average Student-Teacher Ratio
11:1
12:1
% Average Faculty w/Advanced Degree
66%
44%
Average Class Size
16 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
$10,398
$10,647
Average Summer Program Cost
$250
$143
Average % on Financial Aid
28%
39%
Average Financial Aid Grant
$2,800
$3,113
Average Acceptance Rate
97%
89%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.35
0.53
# American Indian Students
56 Students
733 Students
% American Indian Students
4%
7%
# Asian Students
18 Students
162 Students
% Asian Students
1%
2%
# Hispanic Students
32 Students
231 Students
% Hispanic Students
2%
2%
# Black Students
14 Students
111 Students
% Black Students
1%
1%
# White Students
1,157 Students
6,941 Students
% White Students
80%
64%
# Hawaiian Students
n/a
16 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
177 Students
2,627 Students
% of Others Students
12%
24%
All Ethnic Groups

Extracurriculars and Sports:

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked private elementary schools in Gallatin County, MT?
The top-ranked private elementary schools in Gallatin County, MT include Mount Ellis Elementary, Heritage Christian School, and Manhattan Christian School.
How many private elementary schools are located in Gallatin County?
12 private elementary schools are located in Gallatin County.
How diverse are private elementary schools in Gallatin County?
Gallatin County private elementary schools are approximately 10% minority students, which is lower than the Montana private school average of 15%.
What percentage of private elementary schools are religiously affiliated in Gallatin County?
43% of private elementary schools in Gallatin County are religiously affiliated (most commonly Christian and Calvinist).
Which private elementary schools in Gallatin County are often viewed compared to one another?

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