Best private high schools in Montana

As filmmaker and writer Nora Ephron said during a '96 commencement address at Wellesley College, "Your education is a dress rehearsal for a life that is yours to lead." If that's the case, high school may be one of the greatest dress rehearsals of all.

It's a place where students explore their interests, dive into extracurricular activities, finally get the freedom to choose their own classes, and prepare for college or the workplace. For many of these students and their families, education is key: 1.4 million students enrolled in private high schools in fall 2021, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. There were about 3,600 private secondary schools nationwide as of 2020.

For many anxious parents, getting their kids into the best of these private high schools is of the utmost importance. Some families even move homes to send their kids to better schools. However, among all of these thousands of schools, a few stand out for their academic excellence, incredible track records, and the future success of their young students.

Stacker compiled a list of the best private high schools in Montana using 2027 rankings from Niche. Online schools were not included. Niche uses 10 weighted factors for its rankings, including: college enrollment, culture and diversity, parent/student surveys, top enrolled colleges, and student-teacher ratio. You can read more about Niche's methodology here.

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#25. Ponderosa Academy

- Location: Helena, MT
- Grades: 1-12
- Enrollment: 50 (8:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: unavailable

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#24. Shodair Children'S Hospital

- Location: Helena, MT
- Grades: K-12
- Enrollment: 52 (9:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: unavailable

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#23. Treasure State Academy

- Location: Great Falls, MT
- Grades: PK, K-12
- Enrollment: 61 (15:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: unavailable

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#22. Yellowstone Academy

- Location: Billings, MT
- Grades: 4-12
- Enrollment: 70 (4:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: unavailable

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#21. Mission Valley Christian Academy

- Location: Polson, MT
- Grades: K-12
- Enrollment: 58 (5:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: B+

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#20. Bozeman Field School

- Location: Bozeman, MT
- Grades: 9-12
- Enrollment: 16 (3:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A-

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#19. Traveling School

- Location: Bozeman, MT
- Grades: 10-12
- Enrollment: 16 (4:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A+

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#18. Stillwater Christian School

- Location: Kalipsell, MT
- Grades: PK, K-12
- Enrollment: 502 (17:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: B-

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#17. Lustre Christian High School

- Location: Lustre, MT
- Grades: 9-12
- Enrollment: 37 (7:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: B-

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#16. Billings Christian Schools

- Location: Billings, MT
- Grades: PK, K-12
- Enrollment: 279 (11:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: B-

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#15. Hamilton Christian Academy

- Location: Hamilton, MT
- Grades: PK, K-12
- Enrollment: 84 (11:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: B-

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#14. St. Labre Indian Catholic School

- Location: Ashland, MT
- Grades: PK, K-12
- Enrollment: 459 (18:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: B

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#13. Foothills Community Christian School

- Location: Great Falls, MT
- Grades: PK, K-12
- Enrollment: 203 (13:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: B

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#12. Helena Christian School

- Location: East Helena, MT
- Grades: PK, K-12
- Enrollment: 238 (14:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: B

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#11. Manhattan Christian School

- Location: Manhattan, MT
- Grades: PK, K-12
- Enrollment: 322 (13:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: B

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#10. Valley Christian School

- Location: Missoula, MT
- Grades: PK, K-12
- Enrollment: 373 (16:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: B

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#9. Mount Ellis Academy

- Location: Bozeman, MT
- Grades: 9-12
- Enrollment: 59 (7:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: B

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#8. Petra Academy

- Location: Bozeman, MT
- Grades: PK, K-12
- Enrollment: 181 (7:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: B

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#7. St. Andrew Catholic School

- Location: Helena, MT
- Grades: PK, K-12
- Enrollment: 231 (14:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: B

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#6. Butte Central Catholic High School

- Location: Butte, MT
- Grades: K-12
- Enrollment: 377 (24:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: B

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#5. Clearview Horizon

- Location: Heron, MT
- Grades: 9-12
- Enrollment: 30 (9:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: B

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#4. St. Patrick's Academy High School

- Location: Great Falls, MT
- Grades: 9-12
- Enrollment: 75 (8:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: B+

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#3. Heritage Christian School

- Location: Bozeman, MT
- Grades: PK, K-12
- Enrollment: 271 (12:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: B+

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#2. Billings Central Catholic High School

- Location: Billings, MT
- Grades: 9-12
- Enrollment: 1,113 (15:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A-

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#1. Loyola Sacred Heart High School

- Location: Missoula, MT
- Grades: 9-12
- Enrollment: 181 (9:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A

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