For the 2026 school year, there are 13 private schools serving 1,117 students in Columbia County, WI (there are 34 public schools, serving 9,622 public students). 10% of all K-12 students in Columbia County, WI are educated in private schools (compared to the WI state average of 15%).
The top-ranked private schools in Columbia County, WI include St. John's Lutheran School, Messmer Saint Rose, and Guardian Christian Academy.
The average acceptance rate is 98%, which is higher than the Wisconsin private school average acceptance rate of 89%.
Top-Ranked Columbia County Private Schools (2026)
School
Location
Quick Facts
Guardian Christian Academy
(Christian)
N3522 Us Highway 51
Poynette, WI 53955
(608) 635-2955
Poynette, WI 53955
(608) 635-2955
Gr: NS-12 | 21 students Avg. class size: 8 students Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Messmer Saint Rose
(Catholic)
514 N 31st St
Milwaukee, WI 53208
(414) 264-5440
Milwaukee, WI 53208
(414) 264-5440
Gr: PK-8 | 353 students Tuition listed
St. John's Lutheran School
(Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod)
505 E. Lafollette St.
Pardeeville, WI 53954
(608) 429-3636
Pardeeville, WI 53954
(608) 429-3636
Gr: PK-7 | 71 students Sports: 6 | Extracurrculars: 4
St. Mary School
(Catholic)
315 West Cook Street
Portage, WI 53901
(608) 742-4998
Portage, WI 53901
(608) 742-4998
Gr: PK-8 | 170 students Avg. class size: 16 students
822 Western Avenue
Columbus, WI 53925
(920) 623-5180
Columbus, WI 53925
(920) 623-5180
Gr: PK-8 | 78 students Avg. class size: 15 students Sports: 7 Tuition listed
Petersen Adventist School
(Seventh Day Adventist)
W1004 Hall Rd
Columbus, WI 53925
(920) 623-4056
Columbus, WI 53925
(920) 623-4056
Gr: K-8 | 11 students Tuition listed
St. Jerome School
(Catholic)
1550 Farnham St
Columbus, WI 53925
(920) 623-5780
Columbus, WI 53925
(920) 623-5780
Gr: K-8 | 110 students Tuition listed
St. Johns Lutheran School
(Lutheran Church Missouri Synod)
430 W Emmett St
Portage, WI 53901
(608) 742-9000
Portage, WI 53901
(608) 742-9000
Gr: K-8 | 85 students Tuition listed
Trinity Lutheran School
(Lutheran Church Missouri Synod)
728 Church St
Wisconsin Dells, WI 53965
(608) 253-3241
Wisconsin Dells, WI 53965
(608) 253-3241
Gr: PK-6 | 45 students
N2355 Du Borg Rd
Columbus, WI 53925
(920) 623-3300
Columbus, WI 53925
(920) 623-3300
Gr: 9-12 | 86 students Extracurrculars: 9 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Columbia County Private Schools (Closed)
School
Location
Quick Facts
Pine View SDA Elementary School (Closed 2004)
(Seventh Day Adventist)
756 Gulch Ave
Wisconsin Dells, WI 53965
(608) 254-8453
Wisconsin Dells, WI 53965
(608) 254-8453
Gr: 3-8 | 2 students
Stepping Stone Learning Center (Closed 2013)
Daycare / Preschool (Christian)
1199 N Hwy 51
Poynette, WI 53955
(608) 635-3880
Poynette, WI 53955
(608) 635-3880
Gr: PK-K | 40 students Avg. class size: 10 students Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Overview
This County (Columbia County)
This State (WI)
# Schools
13 Schools
Student Body:
# Students
1,117 Students
147,798 Students
% Average Students of Color
43%
35%
Academics and Faculty:
# Teachers
87 Teachers
11,463 Teachers
Average Student-Teacher Ratio
13:1
13:1
% Average Faculty w/Advanced Degree
60%
39%
Average Class Size
13 students
16 students
Average Number of AP Courses
19 courses
12 courses
Tuition and Acceptance Rate:
Average Yearly Tuition Cost
$4,815
$7,540
Average % on Financial Aid
10%
35%
Average Financial Aid Grant
$1,000
$2,651
Average Acceptance Rate
98%
89%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.66
0.66
# American Indian Students
9 Students
906 Students
% American Indian Students
1%
1%
# Asian Students
68 Students
3,598 Students
% Asian Students
6%
2%
# Hispanic Students
59 Students
17,453 Students
% Hispanic Students
5%
12%
# Black Students
257 Students
20,354 Students
% Black Students
23%
13%
# White Students
597 Students
79,820 Students
% White Students
52%
53%
# Hawaiian Students
n/a
295 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
144 Students
28,707 Students
% of Others Students
13%
19%
All Ethnic Groups
Extracurriculars and Sports:
Average Number of Extracurriculars
7 extracurriculars
7 extracurriculars
Average Number of Sports
7 sports
6 sports
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top-ranked private schools in Columbia County, WI?
The top-ranked private schools in Columbia County, WI include St. John's Lutheran School, Messmer Saint Rose, and Guardian Christian Academy.
How many private schools are located in Columbia County?
13 private schools are located in Columbia County.
How diverse are private schools in Columbia County?
Columbia County private schools are approximately 43% minority students, which is higher than the Wisconsin private school average of 35%.
What percentage of students in Columbia County go to private school?
10% of all K-12 students in Columbia County are educated in private schools (compared to the WI state average of 15%).
What percentage of private schools are religiously affiliated in Columbia County?
Which private schools in Columbia County are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of private schools in Columbia County include: St. Mary School vs. St. Johns Lutheran School, St. Johns Lutheran School vs. St. Mary School, Trinity Lutheran School vs. St. John's Lutheran School
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