Private Schools in Wyoming: Small Numbers, Long Distances

Wyoming is the least populous state in the country, and its private school map reflects that. Our database lists 34 private school entries, and most are small, faith-based or specialty programs rather than large campus operations. A family in Cheyenne or Casper may have several schools within a short drive. A family in Thermopolis, Torrington or Worland may have one option in town, or none.

This page explains how the system works in practice. It covers who regulates private schools, how the larger cities differ from rural counties, what some of the less obvious listings really are, and what to ask before you enroll a child. Use the city and county pages for individual addresses and phone numbers.

One point to settle early: a private school is not a charter school or a public school of choice. Private schools charge tuition, set their own admission rules, and answer to their own boards, congregations or founders rather than to an elected school board.

Who Oversees Wyoming Private Schools

The Wyoming Department of Education, based in Cheyenne, administers public education and state standards. It does not run private schools. In general, Wyoming leaves curriculum, hiring and daily operations at private schools to the schools themselves. That is quite different from public districts, where state content standards, teacher certification and state assessments apply.

Compulsory attendance is set by state law in Title 21 of the Wyoming Statutes. It begins at age seven and continues into the mid-teens. A child can meet the requirement through public school, a private school or a home-based program. Enrolling in a private school does not require a separate state permit from the family.

Accreditation is voluntary. Many Wyoming private schools seek it through national Christian school associations, church bodies or regional accreditors. Accreditation signals outside review, but it is not a state license. Ask any school whether it is accredited, by which organization, and when it was last reviewed.

Catholic schools here fall under the Diocese of Cheyenne, which covers the whole state. The Catholic listings in our database are St Mary's Catholic School in Cheyenne, St Anthony Tri-Parish Catholic School in Casper and Holy Spirit Catholic School in Rock Springs. Lutheran options include Trinity Lutheran Church and School in Cheyenne and Mount Hope Lutheran School in Casper.

Public money is a separate, Wyoming-specific question. The state constitution limits how public funds may support religious instruction. School-choice proposals, including education savings accounts, have been debated and challenged in court in recent years. Rules can change between legislative sessions, so check with the Wyoming Department of Education or the school's business office before counting on any state-funded tuition help.

Cheyenne, Casper and Gillette Versus the Rest of the State

Cheyenne has the most listings in Wyoming, with six. They include Laura E Mason Christian Academy at 723 Storey Boulevard, Noah Webster Christian School on Cleveland Avenue, St Mary's Catholic School on O Neil Avenue, Trinity Lutheran Church and School on East 22nd Street, and Montessori School Of Cheyenne on Yellowstone Road. The sixth entry, Southeastern Wyoming Juvenile Center, is a facility rather than a typical school. All six sit in Laramie County, home to the state capital.

Casper follows with four listings in Natrona County. They are Mountain Road Christian Academy on Casper Mountain Road, St Anthony Tri-Parish Catholic School, Mount Hope Lutheran School and Wyoming Behavioral Institute. Casper is the largest city in central Wyoming, so its schools may draw students from well beyond city limits.

Gillette, in Campbell County, has three listings, among them Heritage Christian School at 510 Wall Street Court and Youth Emergency Services on North Gurley Avenue. Jackson and Wilson, in Teton County, account for four listings. These include Jackson Hole Community School at 1715 High School Road and Red Top Meadows in Wilson.

Outside these hubs, listings thin out to one or two per town. Buffalo has Big Horn Christian Elementary School and Learning Tree Christian School. Riverton has Smart Start Academy. Cody has Park Christian Schools on Gerrans Avenue. In a town with a single school, you may have nothing to compare, so a personal visit matters even more.

Distance shapes every decision in this state. Interstates 25, 80 and 90 link the larger towns, but winter storms and high winds can close them. Before a school visit between November and March, check the Wyoming Department of Transportation's travel information. Ask each school how it handles snow days, and whether it offers transportation, since many small private schools do not.

Listings That Are Not Traditional Day Schools

Some entries in the database are residential, treatment or youth-service programs with an education component. Examples include Wyoming Behavioral Institute in Casper, Southeastern Wyoming Juvenile Center in Cheyenne, Youth Emergency Services in Gillette, Big Horn Basin Children's Center in Thermopolis, St. Joseph's Children's Home in Torrington and Red Top Meadows in Wilson. Colter High School in Worland, Mae Olson Education Center in Laramie and Normative Services Inc in Sheridan may also serve specialized or alternative programs. Green River Bible Baptist Church is a congregation-based listing.

Programs like these usually take students through a referral from a court, agency, hospital or family. They generally do not handle walk-in enrollment the way a parish elementary school does. If one of them is what you need, call the listed number first. Ask who is eligible, how placement works, and how credits transfer back to your home school district.

What to Ask a Wyoming Private School Before You Enroll

Small schools differ more from one another than large ones do, so a short list of questions helps. Bring the same list to every visit and compare the answers side by side.

Many schools set application deadlines in late winter for an August start. Plan tours for winter or early spring, and ask about waitlists early, especially in Jackson and Cheyenne.

Private schools in Wyoming are licensed and regulated by the state's department of education, which sets minimum standards for safety, curriculum, and accreditation while allowing institutions significant freedom in operations and admissions. Wyoming may also offer education savings account or voucher programs that provide public funding assistance to eligible families attending private schools.

Private Schools locations are available in 15 cities across Wyoming. They are spread across 13 counties.

Cities with the highest concentration of private schools include Cheyenne, Casper, Jackson, reflecting larger population centers where demand for diverse educational options tends to support a wider range of private school institutions.

Families in Wyoming exploring private school options should contact each school's admissions office to request a prospectus, schedule a tour, and learn about financial aid availability, as tuition and assistance programs vary significantly from one institution to the next.

Private Schools by Counties

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Families in Wyoming comparing private school options should check each school's accreditation status through the state department of education and request standardized test score data, graduation rates, and college placement outcomes. Many private schools in Wyoming hold open house events in the fall that are open to prospective families without an appointment.

Browse Private Schools by county across Wyoming to find the nearest location.

Narrowing Down Wyoming Private Schools by County

Wyoming has 23 counties, and our listings touch 13 of them. County pages are the fastest way to see every school near you without scrolling through the whole state.

In Sheridan County, the database lists three entries, including Normative Services Inc at 5 Lane Lane in Sheridan. In Johnson County, Buffalo has two schools: Big Horn Christian Elementary School and Learning Tree Christian School at 25 Patch Road. Big Horn Christian Elementary lists a PO Box instead of a street address, so call 307-684-9062 for directions before you visit.

Sweetwater County in the southwest has two listings, Holy Spirit Catholic School in Rock Springs and Green River Bible Baptist Church in Green River. Fremont County has Smart Start Academy in Riverton. Goshen County has St. Joseph's Children's Home in Torrington. Park County has Park Christian Schools in Cody, and Washakie County has Colter High School in Worland.

Private schools in a state this size open, merge and close more often than large districts do. Treat every listing as a starting point. Confirm the phone number, the grades served and current enrollment status directly with the school before you drive any distance.

In general, Wyoming does not license private day schools the way it certifies public school teachers and programs. The Wyoming Department of Education in Cheyenne focuses on public districts. Most private schools choose their own curriculum, hire their own staff and set their own calendars. Many pursue voluntary accreditation through national, church-affiliated or regional bodies. Because there is no single state seal of approval, ask each school about accreditation, teacher qualifications and how it reports student progress. For the exact legal requirements, read Title 21 of the Wyoming Statutes or call the department.

Wyoming's compulsory attendance law, found in Title 21 of the state statutes, starts at age seven and continues into the mid-teens. Enrolling in a private school satisfies the requirement, as does public school or a home-based program. The legal starting age is later than many parents expect, so younger children are often enrolled by choice. Some schools on this page, including Montessori School Of Cheyenne, may take younger students, so ask about age ranges. Confirm current limits with your school district office or the Wyoming Department of Education, since statutes can be amended.

Cheyenne has six listings, all in Laramie County. Laura E Mason Christian Academy is at 723 Storey Boulevard, phone 307-287-3325. Noah Webster Christian School is at 3411 Cleveland Avenue, phone 307-635-2175. St Mary's Catholic School is at 2200 O Neil Avenue, phone 307-638-9268. Trinity Lutheran Church and School is at 1111 East 22nd Street, phone 307-635-2802. Montessori School Of Cheyenne is at 5401 Yellowstone Road, phone 307-635-2012. Southeastern Wyoming Juvenile Center is a facility rather than an enrollment-based school. Call ahead about grade levels, tuition and tours.

Teton County has four listings in our database. Jackson Hole Community School is at 1715 High School Road in Jackson, phone 307-733-5427. Red Top Meadows is listed in Wilson, phone 307-733-9098; call to confirm what kind of program it offers before you plan around it. Jackson is a small, high-cost market with a limited number of seats, so ask about waitlists and application deadlines as early as you can. If you are relocating, contact the schools before you finalize housing.

Yes. Wyoming's Catholic parishes belong to the Diocese of Cheyenne, which covers the entire state. Our database lists St Mary's Catholic School in Cheyenne, St Anthony Tri-Parish Catholic School in Casper (307-234-2873) and Holy Spirit Catholic School at 210 A Street in Rock Springs (307-362-6077). Lutheran schools include Trinity Lutheran Church and School in Cheyenne and Mount Hope Lutheran School in Casper (307-234-6865). Admission and tuition policies, including any parish preference, vary by school, so ask the school office directly.

Much of Wyoming has no private school within a short drive. Towns such as Torrington, Worland and Thermopolis have very few listings. Your choices are to commute to the nearest school, which can mean a long drive on highways that close in winter, to use your public district, or to set up a home-based program through your local school district. Start by calling the district office in your county to learn its enrollment process. Then call the private schools on your county page, and check the Wyoming Department of Transportation travel information before winter trips.