Private School Review - Established 2003
Rapid City Christian School Top 3 · Highest % Faculty w/ Adv. Degrees (SD)
Rapid City Seventh-day Adventist Elementary School Top 15 · Oldest Founding Date (SD)
St. Pauls Lutheran School Top 15 · Highest % Faculty w/ Adv. Degrees (SD)

Rapid City Private Schools (2026-27)

For the 2026-27 school year, there are 11 private schools serving 2,062 students in Rapid City, SD, 15% of all K-12 students in Rapid City, SD are educated in private schools versus public 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%.
82% of private schools in Rapid City, SD are religiously affiliated (most commonly Catholic and Other).

Quick Facts (2026-27)

Quick Facts (2026-27)

Top Ranked Rapid City Private Schools (2026-27)

Map of Black Hills Children's Home
Black Hills Children's Home
Gr: K-8 | 42 students
Alternative School
24100 S Rockerville Rd
Rapid City, SD 57702
(605) 343-5422
View Profile
Rapid City Christian School Photo
Rapid City Christian School
Gr: 6-12 | 333 students
Avg. class size: 15 students
Sports: 10 | Extracurriculars: 7
23757 Arena Drive
Rapid City, SD 57702
(605) 341-3377
View Profile
Map of St. Elizabeth Seton School
St. Elizabeth Seton School
Gr: PK-5 | 396 students
Catholic
2101 City Springs Rd Ste 100
Rapid City, SD 57702
(605) 716-5213
View Profile
Map of St. Thomas More High School
St. Thomas More High School
Gr: 9-12 | 376 students
Catholic
300 Fairmont Blvd
Rapid City, SD 57701
(605) 343-8484
View Profile
Map of Calvary Christian School
Calvary Christian School
Gr: PK-5 | 210 students
Baptist
4601 South Highway 16
Rapid City, SD 57709
(605) 348-5175
View Profile
Map of Children's House Montessori
Children's House Montessori
Gr: PK-6 | 68 students
Avg. class size: 25 students
Extracurriculars: 1
Montessori School
3520 W Main St
Rapid City, SD 57702
(605) 341-0824
View Profile
Map of Creekside Christian School
Creekside Christian School
Gr: K-8 | 115 students
2225 E Saint Patrick St
Rapid City, SD 57703
(605) 343-2980
View Profile
Rapid City Seventh-day Adventist Elementary School Photo
Rapid City Seventh-day Adventist Elementary School
Gr: 1-8 | 18 students
Avg. class size: 12 students
Extracurriculars: 3
Seventh Day Adventist
1636 Concourse Ct
Rapid City, SD 57703
(605) 343-2785
View Profile
St. Pauls Lutheran School Photo
St. Pauls Lutheran School
Gr: PK-8 | 174 students
Avg. class size: 16 students
Sports: 5 | Extracurriculars: 6
Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod
835 E Fairmont Blvd
Rapid City, SD 57701
(605) 341-5385
View Profile
Map of St. Thomas More Middle School
St. Thomas More Middle School
Gr: 6-8 | 164 students
Catholic
424 Fairmont Blvd
Rapid City, SD 57701
(605) 348-1477
View Profile
Map of Zion Lutheran School
Zion Lutheran School
Gr: PK-5 | 166 students
Avg. class size: 20 students
Sports: 3 | Extracurriculars: 1
Lutheran Church Missouri Synod
4550 S Highway 16
Rapid City, SD 57701
(605) 342-5749
View Profile
[+] Show Closed Private Schools in Rapid City, South Dakota

Rapid City, South Dakota Private Schools (Closed)

Map of Black Hills Lutheran Schools
Black Hills Lutheran Schools
Gr: 6-12 | 16 students
Lutheran Church Missouri Synod
910 Wood Ave
Rapid City, SD 57701
(605) 721-0760
View Profile

Rapid City, SD Private School Trends (10-Year)

11
Private Schools
+22.2% (+2 schools) 10-yr
2,062
Students
+35.3% (+538 students) 10-yr
$5,000
Avg. Tuition
-3.8% (-$200) 10-yr
18
Avg. Class Size
-14.3% (-3 students) 10-yr
20%
Students of Color
+42.9% (+6.0 pp) 10-yr
15:1
Student-Teacher Ratio
+25.0% (+3.0) 10-yr
Download town snapshot: CSV | XML | JSON Data may not be displayed on any public-facing website or service that replicates or resembles a school search or review portal without prior written permission.
Enrollment & Diversity
Category
This Town (Rapid City)
This State (SD)
# Schools
11 Schools
91 Schools

Trends in Total Number of Private Schools

YearRapid City, SD Total Schools
202511
202411
202310
202211
202112
202012
201911
201811
20178
20168
20159
Download Table: Download as CSV | Download as XML | Download as JSON
Download Full Town Data: Full Town Dataset XML | Full Town Dataset JSON

Note: Data may not be displayed on any public-facing website or service that replicates or resembles a school search or review portal without prior written permission. See our Terms of Service.

# Students
2,062 Students
14,978 Students

Trends in the Average Number of Students Per Private School

YearRapid City, SD AvgSouth Dakota (SD)National
2025187166179
2024187163172
2023175157174
2022174167185
2021159162180
2020159153171
2019199160175
2018189157172
2017181154180
2016179153178
2015169148167
Download Table: Download as CSV | Download as XML | Download as JSON
Download Full Town Data: Full Town Dataset XML | Full Town Dataset JSON

Note: Data may not be displayed on any public-facing website or service that replicates or resembles a school search or review portal without prior written permission. See our Terms of Service.

% Students of Color
20%
22%

Percentage of Students of Color Trends (2015-2025)

YearRapid City, SD AvgSouth Dakota (SD)National
202520%21%34%
202420%21%34%
202314%19%33%
202224%22%33%
202124%23%32%
202024%23%32%
201920%21%31%
201820%21%31%
201713%21%32%
201613%21%32%
201514%32%32%
Download Table: Download as CSV | Download as XML | Download as JSON
Download Full Town Data: Full Town Dataset XML | Full Town Dataset JSON

Note: Data may not be displayed on any public-facing website or service that replicates or resembles a school search or review portal without prior written permission. See our Terms of Service.

0.56
0.59

Diversity Score Trends

YearRapid City, SD AvgSouth Dakota (SD)National
20250.560.590.65
20240.560.580.65
20230.520.550.65
20220.620.610.64
20210.610.610.64
20200.610.610.64
20190.570.580.63
20180.570.580.63
20170.480.560.61
20160.470.570.61
20150.480.560.61
Download Table: Download as CSV | Download as XML | Download as JSON
Download Full Town Data: Full Town Dataset XML | Full Town Dataset JSON

Note: Data may not be displayed on any public-facing website or service that replicates or resembles a school search or review portal without prior written permission. See our Terms of Service.

Show more data/charts: racial breakdown
# American Indian Students
79 Students
1,727 Students
% American Indian Students
4%
11%

Percentage of Private School Students of American Indian Trends

YearRapid City, SD AvgSouth Dakota (SD)National
20254%11%1%
20244%12%1%
20234%10%1%
20225%13%2%
20215%14%1%
20205%13%1%
20194%12%1%
20184%12%2%
20174%13%1%
20164%14%1%
20155%14%1%
Download Table: Download as CSV | Download as XML | Download as JSON
Download Full Town Data: Full Town Dataset XML | Full Town Dataset JSON

Note: Data may not be displayed on any public-facing website or service that replicates or resembles a school search or review portal without prior written permission. See our Terms of Service.

# Asian Students
39 Students
161 Students
% Asian Students
2%
1%

Asian Student Percentage Trends

YearRapid City, SD AvgSouth Dakota (SD)National
20252%1%5%
20242%1%5%
20232%1%5%
20226%2%4%
20216%2%4%
20206%2%4%
20195%2%4%
20185%2%4%
20171%1%4%
20161%1%4%
20151%1%4%
Download Table: Download as CSV | Download as XML | Download as JSON
Download Full Town Data: Full Town Dataset XML | Full Town Dataset JSON

Note: Data may not be displayed on any public-facing website or service that replicates or resembles a school search or review portal without prior written permission. See our Terms of Service.

# Hispanic Students
211 Students
468 Students
% Hispanic Students
10%
3%

Hispanic Student Percentage Trends

YearRapid City, SD AvgSouth Dakota (SD)National
202510%3%9%
202410%3%9%
20233%2%9%
20223%2%8%
20213%2%9%
20203%2%9%
20194%2%8%
20184%2%8%
20176%2%8%
20166%2%8%
20155%2%8%
Download Table: Download as CSV | Download as XML | Download as JSON
Download Full Town Data: Full Town Dataset XML | Full Town Dataset JSON

Note: Data may not be displayed on any public-facing website or service that replicates or resembles a school search or review portal without prior written permission. See our Terms of Service.

# Black Students
36 Students
244 Students
% Black Students
2%
2%

Black Student Percentage Trends

YearRapid City, SD AvgSouth Dakota (SD)National
20252%2%7%
20242%2%7%
20232%2%8%
20222%2%7%
20212%2%7%
20202%2%8%
20191%2%7%
20181%2%7%
20171%1%7%
20161%1%7%
20151%1%8%
Download Table: Download as CSV | Download as XML | Download as JSON
Download Full Town Data: Full Town Dataset XML | Full Town Dataset JSON

Note: Data may not be displayed on any public-facing website or service that replicates or resembles a school search or review portal without prior written permission. See our Terms of Service.

# White Students
1,328 Students
8,987 Students
% White Students
63%
59%

White Student Percentage Trends

YearRapid City, SD AvgSouth Dakota (SD)National
202563%59%52%
202463%60%52%
202365%63%52%
202253%55%54%
202154%56%54%
202054%56%54%
201961%59%56%
201861%60%56%
201770%61%58%
201671%61%58%
201570%62%58%
Download Table: Download as CSV | Download as XML | Download as JSON
Download Full Town Data: Full Town Dataset XML | Full Town Dataset JSON

Note: Data may not be displayed on any public-facing website or service that replicates or resembles a school search or review portal without prior written permission. See our Terms of Service.

# Hawaiian Students
2 Students
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
403 Students
3,562 Students
% of Others Students
19%
23%

Other Races Student Percentage Trends

YearRapid City, SD AvgSouth Dakota (SD)National
202519%23%26%
202419%21%26%
202324%21%25%
202231%26%25%
202130%24%25%
202030%25%24%
201925%23%24%
201825%22%23%
201718%22%22%
201617%21%22%
201518%20%21%
Download Table: Download as CSV | Download as XML | Download as JSON
Download Full Town Data: Full Town Dataset XML | Full Town Dataset JSON

Note: Data may not be displayed on any public-facing website or service that replicates or resembles a school search or review portal without prior written permission. See our Terms of Service.

All Ethnic Groups
Academics
# Teachers
139 Teachers
1,225 Teachers
Average Student-Teacher Ratio
15:1
12:1

Student-Teacher Ratio Trends (2015-2025)

YearRapid City, SD AvgSouth Dakota (SD)National
202515:112:111:1
202415:112:111:1
202317:113:111:1
202215:112:111:1
202114:112:111:1
202014:112:112:1
201911:112:112:1
201812:112:112:1
201711:112:112:1
201612:112:112:1
201512:112:112:1
Download Table: Download as CSV | Download as XML | Download as JSON
Download Full Town Data: Full Town Dataset XML | Full Town Dataset JSON

Note: Data may not be displayed on any public-facing website or service that replicates or resembles a school search or review portal without prior written permission. See our Terms of Service.

% Average Faculty w/Advanced Degree
31%
35%

Percentage of Faculty With Advanced Degrees Trends (2017-2025)

YearRapid City, SD AvgSouth Dakota (SD)National
202531%34%55%
202431%34%54%
202331%29%54%
202231%28%54%
202131%28%54%
202031%28%54%
201931%28%53%
201828%27%53%
201728%28%53%
Download Table: Download as CSV | Download as XML | Download as JSON
Download Full Town Data: Full Town Dataset XML | Full Town Dataset JSON

Note: Data may not be displayed on any public-facing website or service that replicates or resembles a school search or review portal without prior written permission. See our Terms of Service.

Average Class Size
18 students
15 students

Class Size Trends (2016-2025)

YearRapid City, SD AvgSouth Dakota (SD)National
2025181515
2024181615
2023181615
2022181715
2021171715
2020171715
2019171715
2018181715
2017191815
2016211815
Download Table: Download as CSV | Download as XML | Download as JSON
Download Full Town Data: Full Town Dataset XML | Full Town Dataset JSON

Note: Data may not be displayed on any public-facing website or service that replicates or resembles a school search or review portal without prior written permission. See our Terms of Service.

Average Number of AP Courses
6 courses
11 courses
Average ACT score
24
(Out of 36)
24
Tuition & Aid
Average Yearly Tuition Cost
$5,000
$6,467

Tuition Cost Trends (2015-2025)

YearRapid City, SD AvgSouth Dakota (SD)National
2025$5,000$6,448$15,012
2024$5,000$4,277$13,254
2023$4,850$4,025$12,626
2022$4,850$3,825$12,187
2021$5,200$3,699$11,800
2020$5,200$3,624$11,512
2019$5,200$3,720$11,293
2018$5,200$3,679$11,017
2017$5,200$3,248$10,708
2016$5,200$3,485$10,356
2015$5,200$3,074$9,939
Download Table: Download as CSV | Download as XML | Download as JSON
Download Full Town Data: Full Town Dataset XML | Full Town Dataset JSON

Note: Data may not be displayed on any public-facing website or service that replicates or resembles a school search or review portal without prior written permission. See our Terms of Service.

Average % on Financial Aid
20%
29%
Average Financial Aid Grant
$1,500
$2,500
Admissions & Athletics
Average Acceptance Rate
90%
76%
Average Number of Extracurriculars
4 extracurriculars
8 extracurriculars
Average Number of Sports
6 sports
7 sports

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top ranked private schools in Rapid City, SD?
The top ranked private schools in Rapid City, SD include Black Hills Children's Home, Rapid City Christian School, and St. Thomas More High School.
How many private schools are located in Rapid City?
11 private schools are located in Rapid City.
How diverse are private schools in Rapid City?
Rapid City private schools are approximately 20% minority students, which is lower than the South Dakota private school average of 22%.
What percentage of students in Rapid City go to private school?
15% of all K-12 students in Rapid City are educated in private schools (compared to the SD state average of 9%).
What percentage of private schools are religiously affiliated in Rapid City?
82% of private schools in Rapid City are religiously affiliated (most commonly Catholic and Other).
Which private schools in Rapid City are often viewed compared to one another?

Recent Articles

How Much Homework Is Too Much?
How Much Homework Is Too Much?
Learn how to compare private school homework expectations, recognize excessive workloads, evaluate assignment quality, and ask better questions about academic balance before choosing a school for your child.
Learning Support Without a Formal Program
Learning Support Without a Formal Program
Learn what private schools mean by informal learning support, how services differ from formal programs, and which questions families should ask before choosing the right school today.
Beyond AP vs. IB: How to Judge Academic Rigor
Beyond AP vs. IB: How to Judge Academic Rigor
Learn how to judge academic rigor at private schools without AP or IB by examining curriculum depth, assessments, faculty expectations, advanced coursework, student work, and college preparation outcomes.
Area schools map

Filter Schools

School Level
Must Offer Grade
Show more
Gender
School Focus
Religious Affiliation
ADD/ADHD Support
Summer Program

Quick Links

SCHOOL SEARCH TOOLS:
SCHOOL BY TYPE (SD):
PUBLIC & BOARDING SCHOOLS:
PRIVATE SCHOOL DATA: