For the 2025-26 school year, there are 10 private schools serving 2,062 students in Pennington County, SD (there are 42 public schools, serving 15,957 public students). 11% of all K-12 students in Pennington County, SD are educated in private schools (compared to the SD state average of 9%).
The top ranked private schools in Pennington County, SD include Rapid City Christian School, Black Hills Children's Home, and St. Elizabeth Seton School.
The average acceptance rate is 90%, which is higher than the South Dakota private school average acceptance rate of 79%.
Top Ranked Pennington County Private Schools (2025-26)
School
Location
Quick Facts
Black Hills Children's Home
Alternative School
24100 S Rockerville Rd
Rapid City, SD 57702
(605) 343-5422
Rapid City, SD 57702
(605) 343-5422
Gr: K-8 | 42 students
23757 Arena Drive
Rapid City, SD 57702
(605) 341-3377
Rapid City, SD 57702
(605) 341-3377
Gr: 6-12 | 333 students Avg. class size: 15 students Sports: 10 | Extracurrculars: 7 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
St. Elizabeth Seton School
(Catholic)
2101 City Springs Rd Ste 100
Rapid City, SD 57702
(605) 716-5213
Rapid City, SD 57702
(605) 716-5213
Gr: PK-5 | 396 students
St. Thomas More High School
(Catholic)
300 Fairmont Blvd
Rapid City, SD 57701
(605) 343-8484
Rapid City, SD 57701
(605) 343-8484
Gr: 9-12 | 376 students
Calvary Christian School
(Baptist)
4601 South Highway 16
Rapid City, SD 57709
(605) 348-5175
Rapid City, SD 57709
(605) 348-5175
Gr: PK-5 | 210 students
Children's House Montessori
Montessori School
3520 W Main St
Rapid City, SD 57702
(605) 341-0824
Rapid City, SD 57702
(605) 341-0824
Gr: PK-6 | 68 students Avg. class size: 25 students Extracurrculars: 1 Tuition listed
2225 E Saint Patrick St
Rapid City, SD 57703
(605) 343-2980
Rapid City, SD 57703
(605) 343-2980
Gr: K-8 | 115 students
Rapid City Seventh-day Adventist Elementary School![Rapid City Seventh-day Adventist Elementary School Photo]( "Rapid City Seventh-day Adventist Elementary School Photo")
(Seventh Day Adventist)
1636 Concourse Ct
Rapid City, SD 57703
(605) 343-2785
Rapid City, SD 57703
(605) 343-2785
Gr: 1-8 | 18 students Avg. class size: 12 students Extracurrculars: 3 Tuition listed
St. Pauls Lutheran School![St. Pauls Lutheran School Photo]( "St. Pauls Lutheran School Photo")
(Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod)
835 E Fairmont Blvd
Rapid City, SD 57701
(605) 341-5385
Rapid City, SD 57701
(605) 341-5385
Gr: PK-8 | 174 students Avg. class size: 16 students Sports: 5 | Extracurrculars: 6 Tuition listed
Zion Lutheran School
(Lutheran Church Missouri Synod)
4550 S Highway 16
Rapid City, SD 57701
(605) 342-5749
Rapid City, SD 57701
(605) 342-5749
Gr: PK-5 | 166 students Avg. class size: 20 students Sports: 3 | Extracurrculars: 1 Tuition listed
Pennington County Private Schools (Closed)
School
Location
Quick Facts
Black Hills Lutheran Schools (Closed 2019)
(Lutheran Church Missouri Synod)
910 Wood Ave
Rapid City, SD 57701
(605) 721-0760
Rapid City, SD 57701
(605) 721-0760
Gr: 6-12 | 16 students
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top ranked private schools in Pennington County, SD?
The top ranked private schools in Pennington County, SD include Rapid City Christian School, Black Hills Children's Home, and St. Elizabeth Seton School.
How many private schools are located in Pennington County?
10 private schools are located in Pennington County.
How diverse are private schools in Pennington County?
Pennington County private schools are approximately 20% minority students, which is lower than the South Dakota private school average of 21%.
What percentage of students in Pennington County go to private school?
11% of all K-12 students in Pennington County are educated in private schools (compared to the SD state average of 9%).
What percentage of private schools are religiously affiliated in Pennington County?
Which private schools in Pennington County are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of private schools in Pennington County include: St. Thomas More High School vs. Rapid City Christian School, Rapid City Christian School vs. St. Thomas More High School, Creekside Christian School vs. Calvary Christian School
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