Our Kids lists numerous schools from across Alberta, including in Calgary, Edmonton, Banff, and Red Deer. There are several private and independent options in these cities, including Montessori, boarding, Christian, Waldorf, traditional, preschools, special needs schools, and others. Read more
Strathcona-Tweedsmuir School is an independent, private coeducational, full IB (primary, middle, and diploma programme) day school for Kindergarten - Grade 12 close to Calgary, AB.
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Venture Academy is a therapeutic treatment and education program for students who may be struggling with ADHD, learning challenges, underachieving, behavioural issues, and a variety of clinical diagnoses.
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Our school prioritizes wellness, empathetic leadership and social innovation. Our students spend a significant portion of each day outdoors and in nature learning through projects and hands-on experiences.
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Glenmore Christian Academy (GCA) is a private school in Calgary with specialist educators in academics, arts, and athletics. Our mission is to Teach Truth, Inspire Excellence, Experience Christ and Serve through Love.
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Rundle Academy (in-person) and Rundle Studio (online) offer personalized programs designed for students with a diagnosed learning disability or ADHD. We focus on academics, character, and co-curricular opportunities.
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Progressive Academy's programs inspire students from preschool to grade 12 in Edmonton, Alberta. Wonderful faculty, wide range of experiential opportunities and high expectations ignite a desire to learn.
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Foothills Academy is an independent school for students with diagnosed Learning Disabilities in grades 3 - 12. Small class sizes allow the experienced staff to create a positive learning environment.
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River Valley is an inclusive school that harnesses the innate curiosity in children to ensure that every student will flourish academically and socially.
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At Banbury, we teach and mentor each child individually. Students are happy and engaged in learning. We believe in small class sizes with multi-aged groups. 98% of our grads continue with post-secondary education.
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Our programs: Kindergarten, Academy, a strengths-based, remediation-focused program. Collegiate, for those at or above grade-level. Blended+, the best of online, in-person, & off-campus learning for independent learners.
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In addition to academics, our focus on mentorship, hands-on learning in and outside the classroom, and character development, will allow our students to thrive academically and personally as they discover who they are.
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Lycée international de Calgary is the only school in Calgary to teach the French Ministry of Education and Alberta Education curricula. 3-years-old to Grade 12. All linguistic backgrounds are welcome. Small class sizes.
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West Island College offers English and French Immersion with a focus on academics, leadership, athletics and global awareness. Students are curious, creative and innovative - able to impact the world.
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Established in 1991, Alberta Ballet School is recognized as one of Canada’s leading professional dance schools. with an annual enrollment of approximately 100 local, national and international students.
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Calgary Waldorf School’s rich and challenging curriculum carefully balances academic, artistic and practical activities to stimulate intelligence and encourage creativity.
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Rundle students enter into their post-secondary schools of choice thanks to our enriched academics and character, leadership, and wellness pillars. We proudly stand by our values, Together: Be Kind, Be Curious, Be Well.
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Be sure that all schools you research are registered with the Alberta Board of Education. Research all the web resources you can find. You can find video tours of some Alberta private schools linked to the profiles below. Learn all you can about the school's reputation and check parent references.
Alberta's private schools, especially private elementary schools, typically score very high on the Fraser Institute's Alberta rankings. In 2011, several private schools scored top spots out of 665 schools. Although the Institute's ranking system is far from perfect, rankings nonetheless are a useful introduction to the quality of private schools in this province. Our Kids also hesitantly offers some Alberta school rankings based on specific, verifiable factors including admission rate, cost, age and other factors.
Before you choose a private school for your child, you should fully understand Alberta's distinction between registered private schools and accredited private schools.
Registered private schools meet some essential provincial requirements such as code of conduct and property requirements but in most cases, private schools exceed government standards. Private schools offer more parental control in the classroom and schools exert more control over the student body. Graduates of private schools are more likely to feel greater accountability to their education, be better citizens, and score better on aptitude tests than they would at other types of schools.
Alberta's Accredited Private Schools are accredited under section 28(2) of the School Act. This category includes publicly funded private schools that must meet the requirements of the province that go beyond basic registration.
In addition, Designated Special Education Private Schools provide special education programs for qualified students. These two latter schools must follow the same standards as public schools in order to get public funding.
One further category is Heritage Language Schools. These are private schools that offer specialized language and cultural instruction. Such schools are not publicly funded, but may be funded under the Credit Enrollment Unit (CEU) funding system of Alberta.
Alberta's private schools have a broad range in tuition rates, from as low as $5,000 per year and up to $50,000 or higher. We offer a list of schools that provide you with scholarships and financial aid (i.e. bursaries). Some schools will cover a portion of your child's tuition, while others have scholarships and bursaries that cover 100% of the costs. However, when you are searching for an affordable school, you should be sure to inquire about hidden costs like textbooks, uniforms, and even information technology equipment, such as laptops.
If you're not from Alberta but are thinking of sending your son or daughter to a school in this nature-filled province, you will be happy to know that Alberta does not have provincial sales taxes.
The progressive Kindergarten program at Hudson College [Read more]
