Private day schools offer endless opportunities
Find a list of the top day schools
Experts discuss the widespread appeal of day schools. To many it might be an obvious choice but there are more reasons than immediately apparent.
Experts discuss the widespread appeal of day schools. To many it might be an obvious choice but there are more reasons than immediately apparent.
Parents seeking a quality education for their child often find this and more at an independent or private day school.
Because attending a day school doesn't require a child to be physically separated from his or her family—outside regular school hours, that is—most parents enjoy the fact that they can remain actively involved in their child's daily life. No homesickness (or "kidsickness") or missed occasions required.
"There's a significant group of parents who like to have their children educated in their communities and have brought forward a bulk of new independent day schools," says Robin Hinnell, Executive Director of the Independent Schools Association of BC. "Parents these days don't want to send their child away. They want them to be closer to their homes."
While some parents choose day schools to keep kids nearby, others take their commutes into consideration.
"Some parents choose our day schools because it's closer to where they work, rather than where they live," says Katherine Poyntz, Executive Director of the Canadian Council of Montessori Administrators, which has 160 day schools as members. "That allows them to come and see their children at lunch and be close to them."
Under the day school umbrella, parents can pursue nearly every type of education model—academic, specialty, alternative, or faith-based.
In addition, day school programs would suit the majority of students.
"It would be a rare and extreme case for a day school to not work for a child," says Poyntz.
Whether or not students pursue boarding school as they grow older, day schools remain an obvious choice for the very young. "Our schools begin with very young students—a few of them are 18 months [old]," says Poyntz. "The day school environment answers the needs of very young children in that age group."
George Briggs, Executive Director of the Conference of Independent Schools of Ontario, says that parents can be confident that their child will receive a high quality, university preparatory education in an environment with dedicated teachers and excellent resources.
"Our schools control class sizes to ensure that all students are known by their teachers and are supported in their learning" he says.
He points out out that day schools also offer students a wide range of co-curricular activities in the arts, athletics and social service opportunities.
"Given the current economic situation, I believe parents will continue to seek the best learning environments for their children," he says.
Hinnell also notes that parents value the variety of program options offered at day schools, such as the International Baccalaureate Programme and Advanced Placement courses.
"Parents find them very attractive for academics, the arts and athletics," he says. "They are a lot more selective these days. The key is to choose a school that best suits their child."
Poyntz agrees that parents select day schools primarily because of the type of education they want for their children.
"Even if it means longer drives and fiscal sacrifices," she says.
Many parents select day schools as a more economical alternative. When it comes to private education, day schools are generally less expensive than the costs of sending a child away.
"Especially with families of three kids," Hinnell says. "When you start comparing the cash total of day schools versus boarding, for some families, the cost of boarding can be prohibitive."
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Access school reviews, insights, and comparisons through our comprehensive reports below.
These are the leading schools that Our Kids editors have covered most extensively so far, providing detailed insights and thorough analysis of their programs, student life, and more.
"Our Beyond the Books approach prioritizes academic success & personal growth, using success to nurture students' confidence & self-esteem to develop a willingness to take risks in the classroom & school activities.
—From the school
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 Caledon, Ontario Hwy 10/Old School Road "The Hill Academy is Canada's premier independent school for students in K-12/PG. Students are challenged in a supportive environment to explore the boundaries of their academic, athletic and leadership potential." —From the school
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 Toronto, Ontario York Mills/Leslie "Learning is not one to many. It's many to one. From the teachers to the principal to the coaches and beyond, learning at WillowWood is a team approach." —From the school
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 Belleville, Ontario "We are a therapeutic boarding school for Gr. 3-12 students requiring individualized academic, clinical, and behaviour-management solutions in small class sizes and professional home stay or boarding environments" —From the school
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 Toronto, Ontario Yonge/Eglinton "We go beyond curriculum expectations to provide opportunities for students to earn admission into their university of choice using our AP accreditation, staff expertise and individualized goals in small classes." —From the school
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 Montreal, Quebec De Maisonneuve West/Park Row West "At Kells, flexibility is key. We develop programs allowing students to work within their comfort zone, which may be above, below or at grade level. The result is students who outperform even their own expectations." —From the school
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 Kelowna, British Columbia Hwy 97/John Hindle Drive "Here, curious, driven students thrive in an environment that balances academic excellence with arts, athletics, and character development. Cutting-edge STEM labs, creative studios, and new Athletics Centre!" —From the school
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 Toronto, Ontario Don Mills/York Mills "Westfield is a focused, future-driven private school for ambitious students. We offer rigorous academics, elite university prep, and a high-performance culture for families who value discipline, excellence, and outcomes." —From the school
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 Calgary, Alberta "A member of the Third Schools system, ursa extends our principles of independent, inspiriting, and inclusive beyond the traditional classroom to learners wherever they may be." —From the school
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 North Vancouver, British Columbia Harbourside Drive/ "A globally oriented university-preparatory day and boarding school combining BC academics, diverse perspectives, and structured pathways that evolve with students from Grades 8–12." —From the school
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 Vancouver, British Columbia Beatty/Robson ""Learn. Serve. Lead." Dedicated to helping hard-working students get accepted into the world's top Universities." —From the school
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 Montreal / Westmount, Quebec "Our community inspires students to discover joy and passion in their learning, purpose in their lives, and the confidence to express their unique selves in a nurturing, inclusive, and collaborative environment." —From the school
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 St. Catharines, Ontario Ontario St./Welland Ave. "Heuristic & autodidactic, inspired by Sudbury & democratic models. Students are self-directed, and holistically empowered. Voluntary attendance, year-round calendar, agency, & consent inspire free learning. Also Forest" —From the school
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 Neuchâtel, Switzerland • Toronto, Ontario "Neuchâtel Junior College offers a transformative Grade 12 or gap year in Switzerland. Students study Canadian curriculum, immerse themselves in French Swiss culture, and gain independence and a global perspective." —From the school
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 Breslau, Ontario "Woodland combines academic excellence, spiritual growth, and community engagement. With a Christ-centered education, diverse curriculum, dedicated faculty, and supportive culture, it's an ideal choice for families." —From the school
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 Kitchener, Ontario "Incorporating academic excellence, service and peace-making, Rockway is a diverse learning community of students in Grades 7 to 12 including a dynamic international student exchange program." —From the school
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 Vancouver, British Columbia West Georgia Street/Robson Street "We aim to create the opportunity for students to achieve their learning goals. In collaborative learning spaces, students explore content, ideas and perspectives to better understand the world around them." —From the school
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 Hamilton, Ontario Rymal Road West/Glancaster Road "HDCH, founded in 1956, is an imaginative, innovative learning environment. Our programs are designed to challenge a wide range of learners. We welcome local and international students into our Christ-Centred community!" —From the school
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 Woodbridge, Ontario Kipling/Highway 7 "You belong here! At TDChristian, we celebrate each student’s unique gifts in a safe, supportive, and engaging environment. With faith, learning, and belonging at our core, we engage, enfold, and empower every student." —From the school
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 Oshawa, Ontario Wilson Road/Adelaide Ave "At G.B.MS, D.E.P.S and Durham Academy Secondary school focus is on each individual student and helping them meet their unique potential and goals. We believe in excellent customer service and families have a voice. Throughout the year we enhance our programs through program enhancement and enrichment." —From the school
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 Calgary, Alberta Garrison Blvd SW/33 Ave SW "Vision : Cultivating citizens who shape the future, locally and globally. Mission: Fostering a challenging, transformative bilingual education in a multicultural environment, bringing out excellence in every student." —From the school
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 Toronto, Ontario York Mills/Leslie "Hawthorn partners with parents to form well-rounded young women rooted in the Catholic faith. Through personalized attention, students excel in academics, leadership, and character, with exceptional university placement." —From the school
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 Vaughan / Woodbridge, Ontario "At Vaughan College instructions are embedded with strategies appropriate to the students' unique needs. We develop students' confidence and their urge to do better, which results in a high university acceptance rate." —From the school
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 North York, Ontario Leslie Street/401 "Enriched STEM, Arts, and AP learning environment with individualized programming, small classes, and personalized support built around each student’s strengths, university goals, and future success." —From the school
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 Markham / North York, Ontario Don Mills Road/York Mills Road "For over a decade, Merit College has been helping thousands of talented students from local communities and around the world reach their full potential and gain admission to top universities." —From the school
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Day schools vs. boarding schools
Comparing day and boarding schools (October 17, 2019)
All-boys day schools
Find a list of the top boys' day schools in Canada. (August 13, 2019)
All-girls day schools
Find a list of the top all-girls day schools in Canada. (August 13, 2019)
Day schools: expert advice
Expert insights on day schools (June 26, 2019)
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