Best Pennington County �� Preschools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 5 private preschools serving 1,014 students in Pennington County, SD.

The private preschool in Pennington County, SD is St. Elizabeth Seton School.

80% of private preschools in Pennington County, SD are religiously affiliated (most commonly Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod and Lutheran Church Missouri Synod).

Top-Ranked Pennington County �� Preschools (2026)

School

Location

Quick Facts

St. Elizabeth Seton School

(Catholic)

Add to Compare

2101 City Springs Rd Ste 100
Rapid City, SD 57702
(605) 716-5213

Gr: PK-5 | 396 students

Calvary Christian School

(Baptist)

Add to Compare

4601 South Highway 16
Rapid City, SD 57709
(605) 348-5175

Gr: PK-5 | 210 students

Children's House Montessori

Montessori School

Add to Compare

3520 W Main St
Rapid City, SD 57702
(605) 341-0824

Gr: PK-6 | 68 students Avg. class size: 25 students Extracurrculars: 1 Tuition listed

St. Pauls Lutheran School

(Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod)

Add to Compare

835 E Fairmont Blvd
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)

Add to Compare

4550 S Highway 16
Rapid City, SD 57701
(605) 342-5749

Gr: PK-5 | 166 students Avg. class size: 20 students Sports: 3 | Extracurrculars: 1 Tuition listed

[+] Show Closed �� Schools in Pennington County, South Dakota

Pennington County �� 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

Gr: 6-12 | 16 students

Overview

This County (Pennington County)

This State (SD)

# Schools

5 Schools

View Data

Trends in Total Number of �� Preschools
Year	Pennington County Total Schools
2025	5
2024	5
2023	6
2022	7
2021	7
2020	7
2019	7
2018	7
2017	5
2016	5
2015	5

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Student Body:

# Students

1,014 Students

10,337 Students

View Data

Trends in the Average Number of Students Per �� Preschool
Year	Pennington County Average	South Dakota (SD) Average	National Average
2025	203	211	191
2024	203	206	187
2023	168	188	185
2022	173	198	188
2021	169	194	184
2020	169	187	179
2019	267	199	182
2018	267	191	181
2017	229	175	183
2016	225	175	181
2015	226	173	173

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% Average Students of Color

13%

14%

View Data

Percentage of Students of Color Trends (2015-2025)
Year	Pennington County Average	South Dakota (SD) Average	National Average
2025	13%	14%	32%
2024	13%	14%	32%
2023	15%	15%	32%
2022	27%	16%	31%
2021	28%	15%	32%
2020	28%	16%	31%
2019	19%	15%	31%
2018	19%	15%	30%
2017	15%	15%	31%
2016	15%	15%	31%
2015	15%	29%	31%

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Academics and Faculty:

# Teachers

62 Teachers

754 Teachers

Average Student-Teacher Ratio

16:1

14:1

View Data

Student-Teacher Ratio Trends (2015-2025)
Year	Pennington County Average	South Dakota (SD) Average	National Average
2025	16:1	14:1	12:1
2024	16:1	14:1	12:1
2023	16:1	14:1	12:1
2022	16:1	14:1	12:1
2021	16:1	14:1	12:1
2020	16:1	14:1	12:1
2019	13:1	14:1	12:1
2018	13:1	14:1	12:1
2017	11:1	13:1	12:1
2016	11:1	13:1	12:1
2015	11:1	12:1	13:1

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% Average Faculty w/Advanced Degree

22%

26%

View Data

Percentage of Faculty With Advanced Degrees Trends (2017-2025)
Year	Pennington County Average	South Dakota (SD) Average	National Average
2025	22%	26%	51%
2024	22%	26%	51%
2023	22%	25%	51%
2022	22%	24%	51%
2021	21%	23%	50%
2020	21%	22%	50%
2019	21%	22%	50%
2018	21%	22%	50%
2017	12%	26%	49%

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Average Class Size

20 students

16 students

View Data

Class Size Trends (2015-2025)
Year	Pennington County Average	South Dakota (SD) Average	National Average
2025	20	16	16
2024	20	17	16
2023	20	17	16
2022	20	17	16
2021	20	17	16
2020	20	17	16
2019	20	18	16
2018	20	18	16
2017	20	17	16
2016	25	17	16
2015	25	16	16

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Tuition and Acceptance Rate:

Average Yearly Tuition Cost

$4,800

$5,635

View Data

Tuition Cost Trends (2022-2025)
Year	Pennington County Average	South Dakota (SD) Average	National Average
2025	$4,800	$5,635	$12,988
2024	$4,800	$4,155	$10,159
2023	$4,500	$3,772	$9,500
2022	$4,500	$3,782	$8,989

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Students by Ethnicity:

0.54

0.57

View Data

Diversity Score Trends
Year	Pennington County Average	South Dakota (SD) Average	National Average
2025	0.54	0.57	0.65
2024	0.54	0.56	0.65
2023	0.57	0.56	0.65
2022	0.65	0.59	0.64
2021	0.64	0.59	0.64
2020	0.64	0.59	0.64
2019	0.56	0.57	0.64
2018	0.56	0.57	0.64
2017	0.48	0.57	0.62
2016	0.47	0.56	0.62
2015	0.47	0.56	0.62

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# American Indian Students

28 Students

667 Students

% American Indian Students

View Data

Percentage of �� Preschool Students of American Indian Trends
Year	Pennington County Average	South Dakota (SD) Average	National Average
2017	4%	8%	1%
2016	5%	8%	1%
2015	5%	9%	2%

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# Asian Students

17 Students

100 Students

% Asian Students

View Data

Asian Student Percentage Trends
Year	Pennington County Average	South Dakota (SD) Average	National Average
2025	2%	1%	4%
2024	2%	1%	5%
2023	1%	1%	5%
2022	8%	2%	5%
2021	8%	2%	5%
2020	8%	2%	4%
2019	5%	2%	5%
2018	5%	2%	5%
2017	1%	1%	3%
2016	1%	1%	3%
2015	1%	1%	3%

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# Hispanic Students

34 Students

205 Students

% Hispanic Students

View Data

Hispanic Student Percentage Trends
Year	Pennington County Average	South Dakota (SD) Average	National Average
2025	3%	2%	8%
2024	3%	2%	8%
2023	4%	2%	8%
2022	3%	1%	8%
2021	3%	1%	7%
2020	3%	1%	7%
2019	4%	2%	7%
2018	4%	2%	7%
2017	6%	2%	6%
2016	6%	2%	7%
2015	6%	2%	6%

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# Black Students

15 Students

150 Students

% Black Students

View Data

Black Student Percentage Trends
Year	Pennington County Average	South Dakota (SD) Average	National Average
2025	1%	1%	6%
2024	1%	2%	6%
2023	2%	2%	6%
2022	2%	2%	6%
2021	2%	2%	7%
2020	2%	2%	7%
2019	1%	2%	6%
2018	1%	2%	6%
2017	1%	1%	6%
2016	1%	1%	6%
2015	1%	1%	6%

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# White Students

625 Students

5,936 Students

% White Students

62%

58%

View Data

White Student Percentage Trends
Year	Pennington County Average	South Dakota (SD) Average	National Average
2025	62%	58%	48%
2024	62%	59%	48%
2023	58%	60%	48%
2022	48%	54%	50%
2021	49%	55%	50%
2020	49%	55%	51%
2019	62%	58%	52%
2018	62%	59%	52%
2017	69%	59%	54%
2016	70%	59%	54%
2015	70%	60%	54%

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# Hawaiian Students

1 Student

4 Students

% Hawaiian Students

n/a

# Two or more races Students

n/a

% of Two or more races Students

n/a

# Others Students

294 Students

3,205 Students

% of Others Students

29%

31%

View Data

Other Races Student Percentage Trends
Year	Pennington County Average	South Dakota (SD) Average	National Average
2025	29%	31%	34%
2024	29%	29%	33%
2023	31%	27%	33%
2022	34%	34%	31%
2021	33%	33%	31%
2020	33%	33%	31%
2019	25%	29%	30%
2018	25%	28%	30%
2017	19%	29%	30%
2016	17%	29%	29%
2015	17%	27%	29%

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All Ethnic Groups

Extracurriculars and Sports:

Average Number of Extracurriculars

3 extracurriculars

4 extracurriculars

Average Number of Sports

4 sports

6 sports

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked private preschools in Pennington County, SD?

The private preschools in Pennington County, SD is St. Elizabeth Seton School.

How many private preschools are located in Pennington County?

5 private preschools are located in Pennington County.

How diverse are private preschools in Pennington County?

Pennington County private preschools are approximately 13% minority students, which is lower than the South Dakota private school average of 14%.

What percentage of private preschools are religiously affiliated in Pennington County?

80% of private preschools in Pennington County are religiously affiliated (most commonly Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod and Lutheran Church Missouri Synod).

Which private preschools in Pennington County are often viewed compared to one another?

Popular comparisons of private preschools in Pennington County include: Zion Lutheran School vs. St. Pauls Lutheran School, St. Pauls Lutheran School vs. Zion Lutheran School

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