#1 Best Private Middle Schools in South Dakota
Red Cloud Indian School
Diocesan school · Grades K–12
Smaller classes than 84% of Catholic schools nationwide
Pine Ridge, SD
A+Overall grade435 students7 students per teacher
2026 lists
Best Private Middle Schools in South Dakota
Private schools in South Dakota with middle-school grades and the highest overall grades. Top 29 of 29 schools.
#2 Best Private Middle Schools in South Dakota
Sunshine Bible Academy
Christian school (nondenominational) · Grades Pre-K–12
Smaller classes than 83% of Christian schools in South Dakota
Miller, SD
A+Overall grade82 students7 students per teacher
#3 Best Private Middle Schools in South Dakota
Children's Home Society of Sd/Loving School
Alternative school · Grades Pre-K–8
The largest independent school in Sioux Falls
Sioux Falls, SD
A+Overall grade85 students7 students per teacher
#4 Best Private Middle Schools in South Dakota
Sacred Heart School
Parish school · Grades Pre-K–8
Smaller classes than 62% of Catholic schools in South Dakota
Yankton, SD
AOverall grade263 students9 students per teacher
#5 Best Private Middle Schools in South Dakota
Windswept Academy
Christian school (nondenominational) · Grades K–11
Smaller classes than 75% of Christian schools in South Dakota
Eagle Butte, SD
A-Overall grade61 students8 students per teacher
#6 Best Private Middle Schools in South Dakota
St. Joseph Indian School
Independent Catholic school · Grades 1–8
Smaller classes than 81% of Catholic schools in South Dakota
Chamberlain, SD
B+Overall grade134 students7 students per teacher
#7 Best Private Middle Schools in South Dakota
Trinity Lutheran School
Lutheran (Wisconsin Synod) school · Grades K–8
One of the most diverse private schools in South Dakota
Aberdeen, SD
B+Overall grade62 students14 students per teacher
#8 Best Private Middle Schools in South Dakota
Sacred Heart Middle School
Independent Catholic school · Grades Pre-K–8
One of 2 Catholic schools in Yankton
Yankton, SD
B+Overall grade230 students9 students per teacher
#9 Best Private Middle Schools in South Dakota
Creekside Christian School
Religious school · Grades K–8
One of the most diverse private schools in South Dakota
Rapid City, SD
B+Overall grade128 students11 students per teacher
#10 Best Private Middle Schools in South Dakota
Dakota Christian School
Christian school (nondenominational) · Grades Pre-K–12
Serving families in Corsica since at least 2011
Corsica, SD
B+Overall grade94 students9 students per teacher
#11 Best Private Middle Schools in South Dakota
Our Lady of Lourdes Elementary
Parish school · Grades K–8
Serving families in Porcupine since at least 2011
Porcupine, SD
BOverall grade113 students9 students per teacher
#12 Best Private Middle Schools in South Dakota
Black Hills Christian Academy
Christian school (nondenominational) · Grades Pre-K–12
Growing: enrollment up 135% since 2011–12
Spearfish, SD
BOverall grade134 students10 students per teacher
#13 Best Private Middle Schools in South Dakota
Aberdeen Christian School
Christian school (nondenominational) · Grades Pre-K–12
Smaller classes than 67% of Christian schools in South Dakota
Aberdeen, SD
BOverall grade206 students8 students per teacher
#14 Best Private Middle Schools in South Dakota
St. Pauls Lutheran School
Lutheran (Wisconsin Synod) school · Grades K–8
Growing: enrollment up 84% since 2011–12
Rapid City, SD
BOverall grade127 students13 students per teacher
#15 Best Private Middle Schools in South Dakota
Watertown Christian School
Christian school (nondenominational) · Grades Pre-K–8
Serving families in Watertown since at least 2011
Watertown, SD
BOverall grade79 students
#16 Best Private Middle Schools in South Dakota
Pierre Indian Learning Center
Alternative school · Grades 1–8
Smaller classes than 64% of independent schools nationwide
Pierre, SD
BOverall grade107 students6 students per teacher
#17 Best Private Middle Schools in South Dakota
James Valley Christian School
Christian school (nondenominational) · Grades Pre-K–12
93% of graduates go to four-year colleges
Huron, SD
BOverall grade208 students10 students per teacher
#18 Best Private Middle Schools in South Dakota
O'Gorman Junior High School
Diocesan school · Grades 7–8
One of 4 Catholic schools in Sioux Falls
Sioux Falls, SD
BOverall grade329 students12 students per teacher
#19 Best Private Middle Schools in South Dakota
Mitchell Christian School
Christian school (nondenominational) · Grades Pre-K–12
One school from pre-K through 12th grade
Mitchell, SD
BOverall grade147 students10 students per teacher
#20 Best Private Middle Schools in South Dakota
Rapid City Catholic School System
Diocesan school · Grades Pre-K–12
One of the 3 largest Catholic schools in South Dakota
Rapid City, SD
BOverall grade650 students12 students per teacher
#21 Best Private Middle Schools in South Dakota
Roncalli Jr. & Sr. High School
Parish school · Grades 6–12
The smallest classes of any Catholic school in Aberdeen
Aberdeen, SD
B-Overall grade232 students11 students per teacher
#22 Best Private Middle Schools in South Dakota
Roncalli Primary School
Parish school · Grades Pre-K–12
One of the 3 largest Catholic schools in South Dakota
Aberdeen, SD
B-Overall grade482 students13 students per teacher
#23 Best Private Middle Schools in South Dakota
St. Martins Lutheran School
Lutheran (Wisconsin Synod) school · Grades Pre-K–8
The largest Christian school in Watertown
Watertown, SD
B-Overall grade164 students16 students per teacher
#24 Best Private Middle Schools in South Dakota
Sioux Falls Lutheran School
Lutheran (Missouri Synod) school · Grades K–12
One of the 3 largest Christian schools in South Dakota
Sioux Falls, SD
B-Overall grade295 students11 students per teacher
Grades compare each school's official facts, such as class size, how long it has served families and where graduates go, with similar schools. They're a starting point: visit, ask questions and trust what you see.