Before the late 1800s, most schools in Canada were private institutions that were administered by religious grooups. As a matter of fact, it was only in the last part of the 1800s that public schools were formed, now having reached numbers that far exceed Canadian private schools.

A brief history of Canadian private schools

Since the Constitution Act of Canada in 1867, Canadian private and independent schools have been regulated and respected by the educational authority of their province or territory, the Ministry of Education, and must meet those regulations in order to operate. Therefore, standards of private educational institutions share more similarities than differences.

At the federal level, the interests of Canadian private schools are represented by the Council of Ministers of Education Canada (CMEC), formed in 1967. The CMEC provides all educational ministers a progressive platform to discuss and cooperate on matters of mutual concern with each other and with departments within the federal government, but does not hold any constitutional power.

Issues of funding of some private schools

Some schools in Canada are privately funded but not necessarily by choice. Some religious-based schools run by Christians, Muslims or Jews, for example, fight for government funding in the province of Ontario. In other provinces such as Alberta, there is a strict distinction between charter private schools and religious private schools, which receive no public funding. In BC, about half of religious schools meet strict requirements for inclusion in public funding.

In most other provinces, religious schools receive some funding but not as much as public schools. Even though these are private schools, their reasons for being so are different from other schools.

Admission into Canadian private schools

Canadian private schools' admission relies on a number of factors. Often, a parent's ability to pay tuition is not the only determinant; acceptance also relies on the successful completion of an admissions test as academic, athletic, or creative expectations tend to be higher than those of public schools.

This is particularly true for specialty schools, which demand higher academic and non-academic standards from their students, with the majority of their graduates continuing on to university or college. In the case of religious private schools, you may be asked to demonstrate membership in a church or other organization.

When considering an educational institution for your child, explore the many advantages that Canadian private schools have to offer. From the rugged surroundings of the natural wilderness in the Western provinces to the bustling streets of Ontario's culturally stimulating metropolises, Canada furnishes the perfect backdrop for any of its many elementary and secondary private schools.

Canada's reputation for high tolerance combined with low crime rates and excellence in education is well-earned.

You can find out more at our website Canadian Private Schools.

For parents from abroad

Parents searching for a private school in Canada from abroad are generally looking for an education in English. Since you are going to have to pay for that education, you may consider a Canadian private school equal to or cheaper than having children attend a regular "public" school. Ourkids.net has a section of advice and listings in your language, coming soon.