The Best Private Schools in De Smet, South Dakota
Discover 3 exceptional private schools in De Smet. Find the perfect educational environment for your child with our comprehensive reviews and ratings.
School Overview
Top-Rated Private Schools
St. Thomas More School
Catholic Diocese of Sioux Falls
St. Thomas More School is a highly-regarded Catholic private school serving students from preschool through 8th grade. Located in Sioux Falls, approximately 70 miles from De Smet, the school offers a comprehensive education with strong emphasis on faith formation, academic excellence, and character development. The school features modern facilities, small class sizes, and a rigorous curriculum that includes advanced STEM programs, fine arts, and competitive athletics. Parent reviews consistently praise the dedicated teachers, strong community environment, and well-rounded education that prepares students for high school and beyond.
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O'Gorman Catholic Schools
Catholic Diocese of Sioux Falls
O'Gorman Catholic Schools is a premier private education system serving students from kindergarten through 12th grade. With a long-standing reputation for academic excellence, O'Gorman offers a comprehensive college preparatory curriculum including numerous Advanced Placement courses. The school features state-of-the-art facilities, including modern science labs, performing arts centers, and extensive athletic complexes. Serving families throughout eastern South Dakota, including the De Smet area, O'Gorman is known for its strong Catholic identity, exceptional faculty, and outstanding extracurricular programs in athletics, arts, and community service.
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All Saints School
Catholic Diocese of Sioux Falls
All Saints School provides exceptional private Catholic education for students in preschool through 8th grade. Located in Sioux Falls, the school serves families throughout the region with a focus on academic excellence rooted in Catholic values. The curriculum emphasizes literacy, mathematics, science, and social studies while integrating technology throughout all grade levels. All Saints features dedicated music and art programs, strong parent involvement, and a supportive community environment. Parents consistently report high satisfaction with the school's caring teachers, safe environment, and comprehensive education that prepares students academically and spiritually.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about private schools in De Smet, South Dakota
What are the private school options for families residing in De Smet, South Dakota, and are there any schools located directly in town?
There are no private K-12 schools physically located within the city limits of De Smet. Families seeking private education typically look at schools in nearby larger communities. The most commonly considered options include St. Thomas More High School in Rapid City (approximately 4 hours away, often a boarding option), O'Gorman Catholic Schools in Sioux Falls (about 1.5 hours away), and All Saints School in Sioux Falls. For younger students, some families in De Smet also explore smaller parochial schools in closer towns like Arlington or Lake Preston. This means choosing private education in this region usually involves a significant commute, carpool arrangements, or considering boarding school options.
How does the tuition for private schools accessible from De Smet, SD, compare to the state average, and what financial aid or scholarship opportunities are available?
Tuition for South Dakota private schools varies greatly. Schools like O'Gorman and All Saints in Sioux Falls have tuition ranging from approximately $4,500 to $8,500 per year for parishioners, with higher rates for non-parishioners. St. Thomas More, as a boarding school, has a significantly higher comprehensive fee. South Dakota offers unique state-based financial assistance through the "Partners in Education" tax credit program, which provides need-based scholarships for students attending private schools. Additionally, many diocesan schools offer parish subsidies, multi-child discounts, and need-based aid. It's crucial for De Smet families to inquire about these programs and also factor in transportation costs when calculating the total investment.
What specialized academic or extracurricular programs do the private schools serving De Smet students offer that might justify the commute?
The private schools accessible to De Smet families often provide programs that may not be available in smaller public school districts. O'Gorman and St. Thomas More, for instance, offer extensive college preparatory (AP) course catalogs, dedicated STEM programs, and robust fine arts departments. O'Gorman provides a 1:1 technology program and competitive athletic leagues in the Sioux Falls area. St. Thomas More offers unique boarding school experiences and outdoor education leveraging the Black Hills. These schools also typically have smaller class sizes and religious education integrated into the curriculum, which are key draws for families seeking a specific value-based environment alongside academic rigor.
What is the typical enrollment timeline and process for a family from De Smet applying to a Sioux Falls-area private school like O'Gorman or All Saints?
Enrollment for schools like O'Gorman and All Saints in Sioux Falls often begins very early—sometimes a full year in advance—with priority given to existing families and parishioners of associated Catholic churches. The general application window for new families typically opens in January for the following fall. The process usually involves submitting an application, academic records, teacher recommendations, and often a family interview. For De Smet families, it's critical to initiate contact with the admissions office as early as possible due to geographic distance. Transportation planning is a key part of the process, as these schools do not provide transportation from De Smet, making carpool networks with other area families essential.
How do the class sizes and community environment of private schools like St. Thomas More or O'Gorman compare to the public De Smet School District?
The De Smet Public School District is a close-knit, small community school with single-section classes (one class per grade level), offering a personalized environment familiar to rural South Dakota. In contrast, private options like O'Gorman are significantly larger, offering a multi-section environment with more diverse elective choices and extracurricular activities, but with a still-manageable student-to-teacher ratio (often 15:1 or better). St. Thomas More, while smaller than O'Gorman, provides a boarding community that creates a 24/7 campus environment vastly different from a day school. The private school communities are explicitly faith-based, which is a fundamental differentiating factor from the secular public school environment in De Smet. The choice often hinges on whether a family prioritizes the convenience and local tradition of the public school or seeks a specific religious education and broader program offerings despite the commute.
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