Private School Review - Established 2003

Best Fall River County Private Schools (2026-27)

For the 2026-27 school year, there is 1 private school serving 27 students in Fall River County, SD (there are 10 public schools, serving 1,000 public students). 3% of all K-12 students are educated in private schools (compared to the SD state average of 9%).
The average acceptance rate is 90%, which is higher than the South Dakota private school average acceptance rate of 76%.
100% of private schools in Fall River County, SD are religiously affiliated (most commonly Lutheran Church Missouri Synod).

Quick Facts (2026-27)

Quick Facts (2026-27)

Private Schools in Fall River County (2026-27)

Map of Bethesda Lutheran School
Bethesda Lutheran School
Gr: PK-5 | 27 students
Avg. class size: 10 students
Lutheran Church Missouri Synod
1537 Baltimore Ave
Hot Springs, SD 57747
(605) 745-6676
View Profile

Overview

Category
This State (SD)
US
# Schools
1 School

Trends in Total Number of Private Schools

YearFall River County Total Schools
20251
20241
20231
20221
20211
20201
20191
20181
20171
20161
20151
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# Students
27 Students
14,978 Students

Trends in the Average Number of Students Per Private School

YearFall River County AverageSouth Dakota (SD) AverageNational Average
202527166179
202426163172
202326157174
202234167185
202134162180
202034153171
201923160175
201823157172
201724154180
201624153178
201524148167
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% Average Students of Color
11%
22%

Percentage of Students of Color Trends (2015-2025)

YearFall River County AverageSouth Dakota (SD) AverageNational Average
202511%21%34%
202411%21%34%
202312%19%33%
202220%22%33%
202120%23%32%
202020%23%32%
20177%21%32%
20167%21%32%
20157%32%32%
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Academics and Faculty:

# Teachers
3 Teachers
1,225 Teachers
Average Student-Teacher Ratio
9:1
12:1

Student-Teacher Ratio Trends (2015-2025)

YearFall River County AverageSouth Dakota (SD) AverageNational Average
20259:112:111:1
20249:112:111:1
20239:113:111:1
20229:112:111:1
20219:112:111:1
20209:112:112:1
20196:112:112:1
201823:112:112:1
201712:112:112:1
201612:112:112:1
201512:112:112:1
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Average Class Size
10 students
15 students

Class Size Trends (2019-2025)

YearFall River County AverageSouth Dakota (SD) AverageNational Average
2025101515
2024101615
2023101615
2022141715
2021141715
2020141715
201991715
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Tuition and Acceptance Rate:

Average Yearly Tuition Cost
$3,825
$6,467

Tuition Cost Trends (2020-2025)

YearFall River County AverageSouth Dakota (SD) AverageNational Average
2025$3,825$6,448$15,012
2024$3,100$4,277$13,254
2023$3,100$4,025$12,626
2022$3,100$3,825$12,187
2021$3,100$3,699$11,800
2020$3,100$3,624$11,512
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Average Acceptance Rate
90%
76%

Acceptance Rate Trends (2020-2025)

YearFall River County AverageSouth Dakota (SD) AverageNational Average
202590%76%81%
202490%95%85%
202390%96%85%
202290%97%85%
202190%97%85%
202090%97%85%
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Students by Ethnicity:

0.47
0.59

Diversity Score Trends

YearFall River County AverageSouth Dakota (SD) AverageNational Average
20250.470.590.65
20240.480.580.65
20230.480.550.65
20220.420.610.64
20210.420.610.64
20200.420.610.64
20190.500.580.63
20180.500.580.63
20170.540.560.61
20160.540.570.61
20150.540.560.61
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# American Indian Students
n/a
1,727 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
11%

Percentage of Private School Students of American Indian Trends

YearFall River County AverageSouth Dakota (SD) AverageNational Average
20174%13%1%
20164%14%1%
20154%14%1%
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# Asian Students
1 Student
161 Students
% Asian Students
4%
1%

Asian Student Percentage Trends

YearFall River County AverageSouth Dakota (SD) AverageNational Average
20254%1%5%
20244%1%5%
20234%1%5%
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# Hispanic Students
n/a
468 Students
% Hispanic Students
n/a
3%
# Black Students
n/a
244 Students
% Black Students
n/a
2%
# White Students
8 Students
8,987 Students
% White Students
29%
59%

White Student Percentage Trends

YearFall River County AverageSouth Dakota (SD) AverageNational Average
202530%59%52%
202431%60%52%
202331%63%52%
202229%55%54%
202129%56%54%
202029%56%54%
201943%59%56%
201843%60%56%
201754%61%58%
201654%61%58%
201554%62%58%
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# Hawaiian Students
n/a
99 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
1%
# Two or more races Students
n/a
n/a
% of Two or more races Students
n/a
n/a
# Others Students
18 Students
3,562 Students
% of Others Students
67%
23%

Other Races Student Percentage Trends

YearFall River County AverageSouth Dakota (SD) AverageNational Average
202566%23%26%
202465%21%26%
202365%21%25%
202271%26%25%
202171%24%25%
202071%25%24%
201957%23%24%
201857%22%23%
201742%22%22%
201642%21%22%
201542%20%21%
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All Ethnic Groups

Extracurriculars and Sports:

Frequently Asked Questions

How many private schools are located in Fall River County, SD?
1 private schools are located in Fall River County, SD.
What percentage of students in Fall River County go to private school?
3% of all K-12 students in Fall River County are educated in private schools (compared to the SD state average of 9%).
What percentage of private schools are religiously affiliated in Fall River County?
100% of private schools in Fall River County are religiously affiliated (most commonly Lutheran Church Missouri Synod).

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