2025 Best Private K-12 Schools in the Minneapolis-St. Paul Area

Parent: Can we talk about ISM's amazing campus? First, it is always clean, and well-maintained. And it's sprawling! It's also beautiful. Everytime I drive onto campus to drop off my child I *almost wish I could stay. I would have loved to have had access to the space and facililites like this when I was in school. My child has access to modern classrooms, science labs, and sports facilities. My personal favorites are the physics lab, media center and art studio. We feel the school provides a safe and comfortable environment for learning and growth. Having high-quality facilities enhances the overall educational experience and ISM's commitment to providing excellent facilities is visible... We are very impressed.... Read 88 reviews

Parent: Both of my children have attended MPA since PreK. The youngest will graduate soon. The education they have received has been stellar. We were just at a family reunion out east and, as I listened to them converse with their aunts, uncles, and cousins, I was so proud of how knowledgable, articulate, and thoughtful they are. What's more, they speak glowingly of their school experience. They LOVE going to school! (They don't always love homework, but they do it and feel good about it.) They have certainly had more academic expectations on them than our neighborhood friends in in the local, public schools. But, it has been engaging work that reinforces deadlines, a work ethic, critical thinking, and creativity. They have had PLENTY of time to participate in a high level sport, practice their instruments, and hang out with friends on weekends, too. My eldest is now in college in Boston and she is thriving. She says she is more prepared than many of her peers at her university. Great school!... Read 182 reviews

Freshman: SPA began preparing me for life beyond at a young age. The community is close and connected, and members always feel safe and supported. They push us to be better than our best, and it pays off. I think that SPA could have more diversity, as it is mostly upper class families.... Read 106 reviews

Parent: Minnehaha Academy stands as a beacon of educational excellence amongst private schools in the Minneapolis area. Our family has enjoyed the academic rigor, spiritual growth, and enrichment opportunities and sports that help complete a well-rounded education. My two children enrolled in middle school and made the transition to high school with ease. They have appreciated the dedicated staff who remain committed to mentoring students through the challenges of adolescence and the counselors who provide personalized guidance as students prepare to attend college and beyond. If you are a family seeking a nurturing school where faith, high academic standards, and character development are important, consider putting Minnehaha Academy on your 'A' list of schools to attend!... Read 138 reviews

Parent: My family's experience with Breck has been wonderful thus far in our first couple of years! Regarding the school's academics, speak to any teacher about their approach and techniques to teaching or look at the impressive level of teacher credentials and you'll immediately understand the quality of education your child will receive at this school. When it comes to sports and activities, there seems to be a fit for every kind of student interest and that's fantastic. I'm also always impressed by the school's sense of community. Parents are actively involved and it's easy to get to get to know fellow parents socially through school related activities.... Read 121 reviews

Parent: We transferred into Blake with two kids in elementary school in 2023. The faculty and staff went above and beyond welcoming our kids and helping to build a strong network and community for our whole family. The faculty/staff and student body are diverse in every sense of the word and that is reflected in the curriculum and educational experiences. Academically my children are thriving. Despite having kids with very different personalities and learning styles, they both find school fun and engaging and wake up every day excited to go. We are still in the elementary school years, but the educational teams have a well thought out plan for building skills for middle and high school.... Read 109 reviews

Parent: Visitation has exceeded our expectations. This is a special place led by hardworking people who clearly love what they do. We found the community to be authentically warm and welcoming when our family was new. Our daughter is now a sophomore and she knows she is part of something great. The curriculum is challenging and she has to work hard but she is surrounded by people who lift each other up. The culture is loving and positive, focused not only on developing outstanding students but all around outstanding young women. I think the thing I am most grateful for is the joy I see in our daughter. Her experience being part of athletic teams has been inspiring and she is building relationships that make her want to be and do better. Vis helps keep what matters most at the center and I see it making a difference!... Read 192 reviews

Parent: The best school for the investment in your kids, IF YOU are a Muslim. Best teachers, school, admin, families… No school is perfect, including the private schools that charge 3x the tuition. But if faith is important to you and for your children, this is the school. Graduates are imams, lawyers, MD’s, doctors, dentists, engineers, moms, dads, entrepreneurs, … Hardvard, Cornell, Al-Azhar, UMN … It is not free, but your kids are worth every penny you spend on their education.... Read 26 reviews

Senior: Providence Academy is a strong college preparatory k-12 school that embodies the importance of fueling both mind and spirit. The culture at PA is very diverse, ranging from the clubs and activities held by the student body to the traditions and events in place to celebrate the students at PA. Due to the smaller class size, students can explore and excel in both academic and leadership positions that help build the students at PA. The values that Providence Academy stands for are very present among the students and faculties: installing wisdom and virtue through the cultivation of the affections for truth, beauty, and goodness.... Read 157 reviews

Senior: Liberty Classical Academy is a well-balanced school with high academics and a solid Christian worldview. When I embarked on my journey at Liberty, the academics were challenging, but the excellent teachers were always available to assist in my success. I was able to do real-world research through their Seeds of Change partnership, which allowed me to take full advantage of scientific study in Costa Rica. I would highly recommend Liberty Classical Academy to anyone looking for strong academics and a Christian worldview.... Read 24 reviews

Freshman: As a freshman who has been there since Pre-K, this school has improved so much! Sure in every school there are imperfections in some things, but the administration always picks them out so they wouldn't disrupt the students' learning. Surely, this private school is one of the best Christian private schools out there! Recommend it to people who want to be ahead of most kids their age in the U.S.A. The school's "normal" education for average students is already 1.5 years ahead of normal students their age, no matter what grade a kid is in. So a student who is already enrolled in there, who wants to be ahead of kids their age, is already ahead of the game! The environment is very comforting, most furniture is modern! So are textbooks and school resources. They even have their own STEM room! Most students are ridiculously nice, and most importantly they are growing Christ-centered leaders which is a blessing for the country's future. - I rate the school overall a 4.5/5 stars!... Read 125 reviews

Parent: Our family LOVES NLA! It is such a supportive community and the size allows the approachable staff/teacher's to ensure each student has tailored attention. The campus is well-maintained with updated technology, creating a positive environment for learning. Best of all it has a strong biblical foundation that enriches our kid's education and develop's their total character.... Read 97 reviews

Senior: I enjoyed my time at Fourth Baptist. I have been going here since K5 and though it is not a perfect school, I would not want to go to any other school. I wish they had more electives and a wider range of sport options but what they do have is very good. Every teacher I have encountered has been good and I would recommend Fourth to anyone else.... Read 21 reviews

Senior: I have enjoyed my experience here at heritage. My grade was personally small which was a big change for me when I came to heritage but I have adjusted to it, I would say the class sizes are growing for younger class which I personally think is a good thing. Teachers do care about you, and with the smaller class sizes it can be less nerve-racking to ask questions which has been very beneficial to my overall learning... Read 51 reviews

Alum: Went to First Baptist my whole life. Looking back, I really did enjoy it. There are teachers that I disagreed with and that I felt didn’t like me, but they never showed it outright (I might be wrong.) other than that, had a really good experience.... Read 10 reviews

Junior: I have been going to RiverTree since Kindergarten and don't want to leave this beautiful place. The environment is truly created so that children can grow into who God has created them to be without a fear of teachers or grades. Grades have never been the priority. Teaching children to care about learning is the priority. Therefore, the grade takes care of itself. Everyone at RiverTree strives to learn and truly cares because we have been trained to be good stewards of what we have been given. Not a resource is wasted. No one is overlooked. The attention given by each teacher is unparalleled. Each teacher notices and cares for the student as an individual child of God, not just another body passing through the building. The community of students and families is not an afterthought and neither is the curriculum. Both are wonderfully designed to compliment Godly living. When I leave this school I will be coming back to visit, and to continue to be a part of that faithful community.... Read 5 reviews

Junior: Hope Academy is a school where students from various backgrounds come together to learn and grow. The teachers are passionate and committed to helping us learn. Hope Academy is a faith-based school, so we have chapel services and a Christ-centered curriculum. This school is affordable, and our parents get involved a lot. Though it may be a bit uncomfortable at first, I know that it's for our benefit. From kindergarten to twelfth grade, we get to discover our God-given value and purpose. The best part about my experience at Hope Academy is the mission trips and how small the class sizes are. It helps with forming close and deep relationships with our classmates. Something that I would love to improve is the late starts. It was amazing when I was younger, however, when I got older it became a nightmare. I barely had time after school to do anything productive because it ends at 4:25. Overall, this is a great school, and I can tell that they care about their students.... Read 29 reviews

Senior: It's a great school that can challenge you and wear you out but at the end of the day, you'll feel so grateful for the experiences.... Read 86 reviews

Junior: I've been at LCA for 14 years and every year the drama program puts on an incredible performance! From the magic of the sets to the careful choreography and detailed direction of the actors, watching and participating in the theatre program is an amazing experience. I've participated in two of Legacy's performances and in each one it was very clear that the purpose and goal of everyone in the program is to first and foremost glorify God. That goal shines through in the actors and the program as a whole! I am super excited to see what God does through Legacy next!... Read 77 reviews

Parent: The teachers are the best. They not only care about the students academic excellence, but they genuinely care for each student and seek to mentor and develop character and spiritual maturity. The teachers at Woodcrest go above and beyond the call of duty to impact the lives of the students they love. As a parent it is a huge blessing to know that I have an invaluable partner in my accountability of raising my children to develop their own personal biblical worldview. Thank you teachers of Woodcrest!... Read 20 reviews

Parent: Warm, friendly, academic atmosphere! We found that our children received individualized attention and were really known by their teachers. Excellent music program - lots of opportunity to learn and grow. Love the commitment to God's Word given every day.... Read 4 reviews

Senior: Because it is a smaller school the teachers have more time to spend one on one with the students, which has benefited my education so much. Because the classes are also so much smaller I have cultivated such strong, close friendships with my classmates. We are all really close and have a great bond.... Read 2 reviews

Parent: OLP is an amazing small Catholic elementary school, within a wonderful neighborhood. When we started thinking about preschool for our daughter, we looked to OLP because it was close by. We did a little more research, completed a tour, but we didn't put too much else into the decision. Boy, did we luck out! It is a hidden gem of a school, and we quickly realized this after hearing from others at different schools, and later touring many other schools due to a move. The staff are incredible, the facilities are safe, clean and welcoming, and the community can't be beat. I would highly recommend OLP.... Read 9 reviews

Parent: We love MMSA! My daughter is an alum and my son is entering 8th grade. I can’t say enough about how supported we have felt at this school. I appreciate all the little things this school has to offer, such as the principal standing outside to greet the children in the morning by name. Such a special place, so grateful we get to be a part of it!... Read 24 reviews