Private Schools
Private Schools in North Dakota
39 private schools in North Dakota with at least 30 students answered the 2023-24 federal survey. Together they enroll 9,689 students: 23 Catholic, 13 other religious and 3 nonsectarian. 17 schools go through high school grades.
Schools listed
39
Go through high school
17
Median enrollment
160
Median students per teacher
11.8
Private schools in North Dakota
Largest first. Students per teacher is the school’s own report.
| School | City | Grades | Students | Per teacher | Affiliation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light of Christ Catholic Schools | Bismarck | PK–12 | 1,314 | 14.5 | Catholic |
| Jpii Catholic Schools | Fargo | PK–12 | 1,137 | 14.9 | Catholic |
| Oak Grove Lutheran School | Fargo | K–12 | 655 | 14.4 | Lutheran |
| Trinity Catholic School | Dickinson | PK–12 | 611 | 8.7 | Catholic |
| Shiloh Christian School | Bismarck | PK–12 | 538 | 9.9 | Christian |
| Bishop Ryan Catholic School | Minot | PK–12 | 376 | 10.5 | Catholic |
| St Mary's Central High School | Bismarck | 9–12 | 349 | 13.4 | Catholic |
| Oak Grove Lutheran Elementary School | Fargo | K–5 | 318 | 13.8 | Lutheran |
| Shanley High School | Fargo | 9–12 | 316 | 12.8 | Catholic |
| Our Redeemers Christian School | Minot | PK–12 | 290 | 16.8 | Lutheran |
| Trinity Elementary | West Fargo | PK–5 | 266 | 13.3 | Catholic |
| Sacred Heart Middle School | Fargo | 6–8 | 263 | 16.5 | Catholic |
| Williston Trinity Christian School | Williston | PK–12 | 255 | 8.6 | Christian |
| Trinity Catholic Schools | Dickinson | 7–12 | 239 | 9.2 | Catholic |
| St Mary's Grade School | Bismarck | K–5 | 226 | 16.1 | Catholic |
| Trinity Elementary West | Dickinson | K–4 | 197 | 12.7 | Catholic |
| St Anne School | Bismarck | PK–5 | 195 | 17.7 | Catholic |
| St John's Academy | Jamestown | PK–8 | 183 | 11.6 | Catholic |
| St Joseph School and St Mary Academy | Devils Lake | PK–8 | 164 | 14.3 | Catholic |
| St Joseph's School | Williston | K–6 | 160 | 11.8 | Catholic |
| Capstone Classical Academy | Fargo | PK–8 | 154 | 11.8 | Christian |
| Hope Christian Academy | Dickinson | PK–12 | 153 | 11.9 | Christian |
| St Michael's School | Grand Forks | PK–5 | 139 | 11 | Catholic |
| Christ the King Catholic Montessori SchoolMontessori | Mandan | PK–6 | 133 | 11.8 | Catholic |
| St Johns School | Wahpeton | PK–6 | 104 | 12.5 | Catholic |
| Holy Family St. Marys School | Grand Forks | PK–5 | 96 | 12 | Catholic |
| Trinity Elementary East | Dickinson | K–4 | 91 | 12.1 | Catholic |
| Dakota Memorial SchoolAlternative | Minot | 4–12 | 87 | 2.4 | Nonsectarian |
| Grace Lutheran School | Fargo | PK–8 | 83 | 83 | Lutheran |
| Johnson Corners Christian Academy | Watford City | K–12 | 77 | 6.4 | Christian |
| Victory Christian School | Jamestown | PK–8 | 77 | 9.3 | Christian |
| St Alphonsus School | Langdon | PK–8 | 74 | 8.1 | Catholic |
| Martin Luther School | Bismarck | PK–7 | 68 | 6 | Lutheran |
| Holy Spirit Elementary School | Fargo | K–5 | 67 | 11.2 | Catholic |
| Anne Carlsen CenterSpecial education | Jamestown | PK–12 | 58 | 3.9 | Nonsectarian |
| St Catherine Elementary School | Valley City | K–6 | 54 | 8.6 | Catholic |
| Forest River School | Fordville | K–10 | 53 | 12 | Brethren |
| Dakota Adventist Academy | Bismarck | 9–12 | 39 | 4.4 | Seventh-Day Adventist |
| The Innovation SchoolSpecial program | Bismarck | PK–8 | 30 | 8.3 | Nonsectarian |
Getting in, and keeping up
- Private school entrance exams: format, scoring, and dates for the ISEE, SSAT, and HSPT.
- Using a 529 plan for K-12 tuition and tutoring.
- Colleges in North Dakota, for families already looking ahead.
Frequently asked questions
How many private schools are in North Dakota?
39 private schools in North Dakota with at least 30 students answered the 2023-24 federal Private School Universe Survey. Schools that did not answer are not counted, so the real number is higher.
What is the largest private school in North Dakota?
Among schools that answered the survey, Light of Christ Catholic Schools in Bismarck is the largest, with 1,314 students in grades PK–12.
How big are classes at private schools in North Dakota?
The survey reports students per teacher, not class size. The median private school in North Dakota has 11.8 students per teacher and 160 students in total.
Do private schools require an entrance exam?
Many independent schools ask for the ISEE or SSAT, and many Catholic high schools use the HSPT. Each school sets its own rule, so check the admissions page of every school on your list.
Source: NCES Private School Universe Survey (PSS), 2023-24 public-use data file, National Center for Education Statistics. Schools that answered the survey and enrolled at least 30 students. Amish schools are left out. Schools report their own figures, and a school that did not answer the survey does not appear.
