Home > South Dakota > Oglala Lakota County > Pine Ridge

Red Cloud Indian School

View full size Get directions

Tel: (605) 407-8289

REQUEST INFO

SAVE SCHOOL

The Red Cloud Indian School, Inc., is a non-profit corporation (501C3) operating as an accredited private school and organized under the laws of the state of South Dakota.

Private donations support 97 percent of Red Cloud Indian School.

We receive no Federal, State, or Tribal funds. The Red Cloud Indian School provides a quality education of the mind and heart for almost 600 Native American students every day.

The main campus near Pine Ridge Village consists of one of the largest private Native American schools in the country.

The mission of The Red Cloud Indian Schools is to provide a quality education from kindergarten through high school to the Native American children on the Pine Ridge Reservation.

The educational process at Red Cloud Indian School attempts to give lakota students the skills they need to compete in the larger society while retaining the traditional values and culture of the Lakota heritage.

Course work includes a basic educational curriculum (Math, Science, History, etc.) as well as courses in ethics, religion, Lakota culture, Lakota religion, and Lakota language.

Quick Facts (2026)

Top-Ranked SD School
Grades: Kindergarten-12
Enrollment: 435 students
Average class size: 15 students
Application Deadline: None / Rolling
Source: Verified school update

Top Rankings

Red Cloud Indian School ranks among the top 20% of private schools in South Dakota for:

School Overview

School Membership(s)School Assoc.

Jesuit Secondary Education Association (JSEA)

Religious Affiliation

Catholic

Grades Offered

Grades Kindergarten-12

Year Founded

1888

Colors

White, Blue

School Calendar

View School Calendar

Student Body

Total Students

435 students

Student Body Type

Co-ed

% Students of Color

99%

State avg.: 22%

Students by Grade

Academics and Faculty

Total Classroom Teachers

65 teachers

Student-Teacher Ratio

7:1

National avg.: 11:1

Average Class Size

15 students

Tuition and Acceptance Rate

Admission Deadline

None / Rolling

Application URL

Online Application

Source: Verified school update

REQUEST FREE INFORMATION

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Red Cloud Indian School's ranking?

Red Cloud Indian School ranks among the top 20% of private schools in South Dakota for: Highest percentage of students of color, Largest student body and Oldest founding date.

When is the application deadline for Red Cloud Indian School?

The application deadline for Red Cloud Indian School is rolling (applications are reviewed as they are received year-round).

School Reviews

5 1/6/2015

I AM A 54 YEAR OLD RETIRED CERTIFIED LA TEACHER. I SPENT 15 OF THOSE YEARS IN READING ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS. MY RETIREMENT DREAM HAS ALWAYS BEEN TO TEACH AND LEARN FROM A CULTURE THAT I HAVE STUDIED AND LOVED FOR OVER 20 YEARS OF TRAVEL IN SOUTH DAKOTA. I WOULD GREATLEY APPRECIATE ALL INFORMATION THAT I WOULD NEED FOR ANY FUTHER CERTIFICATION AND REQUIREMENTS TO APPROACH MY DREAM IN THE FALL

- Posted by Teacher - dmcle

Endorse Red Cloud Indian School. Endorsements should be a few sentences in length. Please include any comments on:

Quality of academic programs, teachers, and facilities
Availability of music, art, sports and other extracurricular activities
Academic or athletic awards

Recent Articles

August 05, 2026

How Private Schools Handle Mid-Year Enrollment Changes and Tuition Refunds

Learn how private schools manage mid-year withdrawals, transfers, tuition refunds, enrollment contracts, and what families should expect financially.

August 05, 2026

Is Paying More Worth It? Mid-Tuition vs. Premium Private Schools

Compare academic outcomes, college admissions, class sizes, and value between mid-tuition and premium private schools to determine whether higher tuition delivers better results.

August 05, 2026

Financial Aid Appeals: When Should You Ask a Private School to Reconsider an Award?

Learn when and how to appeal a private school financial aid award, what documents to provide, and strategies that improve your chances of success.

Quick Facts (2026)

Top-Ranked SD School
Grades: Kindergarten-12
Enrollment: 435 students
Average class size: 15 students
Application Deadline: None / Rolling
Source: Verified school update

Request Information

Email:

Name of parent:

Student first name:

Student last name:

Student date of birth:

Student is:

Male

Female

Currently in grade:

Seeking entry for grade:

Target start date:

Please briefly describe academic, athletic, and extracurricular interests of the student:

Home address:

City:

Country:

State:

Zip: (enter "N/A" if not applicable)

Phone:

Save this data and create your user profile. Create your own user account so you don't have to re-type your user data each time you request information. You'll also be able to track your information requests, get reminded of application dates, and more!

Username:

Password:

Did You Know?

The average private school tuition in South Dakota is $6,455 for elementary schools and $7,985 for high schools (read more about average private school tuition across the country).

The average acceptance rate in South Dakota is 76% (read more about average acceptance rates across the country).