Private vs. independent schools: what's the difference?
Find a list of schools
Though often confused, independent schools and private schools are two distinct alternatives to public education.
Though often confused, independent schools and private schools are two distinct alternatives to public education.
Both address the needs of students who desire something different than what public education offers. However, there is a key difference between what institutions are designated private or independent. This distinction lies in their structure and their acquisition of funding.
Private schools are generally understood to be for-profit organizations established and controlled by one or more persons.
Independent most often signifies a not-for-profit school that is accountable to a board of trustees, which operates at arm’s length from the administration. As well, schools referred to as independent often point to their accreditation by a peer review body.
Five provinces where independent schools receive public funding require that they be recognized as accredited by a government body. But in Ontario, for example, independent schools share no across-the-board accreditation. Most independent schools are affiliated with associations that demand specific standards of their members.
Most independent schools are affiliated with associations that demand specific standards of their members.
According to recent statistics, around 119,000 students in Ontario alone attend independent schools and about 349,000 students across Canada. Some of these schools have even been around since the early 1800’s.
The art of providing holistic learning environments for teens [Read more]
How school size impacts the student experience at TCS [Read more]
TCS’s service learning program provides the hands-on experience of giving back [Read more]
What language education at Alexander von Humboldt German International School Montreal provides [Read more]
How HTS is building a state-of-the-art online education platform that focuses on student relationships [Read more]
How The Linden School paves the way for global change through their STEM programs [Read more]
How a new on-site theatre will support Villanova College’s rich arts programming [Read more]
Regina Christian schools
Find the top private and independent Christian schools in Regina (May 16, 2024)
Concord schools
Find the top private and independent schools in Concord (May 16, 2024)
Kimberley schools
Find the top private and independent schools in Kimberley (May 16, 2024)
Riverview schools
Find the top private and independent schools in Riverview (May 16, 2024)
Balancing academics and social-emotional well-being
The art of providing holistic learning environments for teens (May 13, 2024)
