Private Christian schools

Private Christian schools are one kind of religious-affiliated or faith-based school. These schools educate students in the Christian faith and teach them Christian values, such as community, family, respect, and responsibility. They do this through their curriculum and extracurricular activities.

That said, most private Christian schools in Canada, even ones affiliated with a particular Christian denomination, don’t require students to be Christians. And, some admit students from a wide range of backgrounds.

Religious studies
Most private Christian schools have a strong secular curriculum, focusing on traditional academic subjects. Students get a strong grounding in subjects such as math, science, English, French, and history. Moreover, these subjects are typically taught by dedicated instructors with secular educations. Many of these instructors have an undergraduate degree (specializing in the subjects they teach) and a teacher’s college certificate (for instance, from Ontario’s College of Teachers).

The curriculum of Christian schools, like other religious-affiliated schools, has a religious component. Most schools have at least one or two required religion or Bible study classes a term, or several a year. Some schools, though, have many more required Christian study classes (which can make up more than a third of the entire curriculum).

Religion classes give students the opportunity to get a broad and deep grounding in Christian theology and faith. Lots of different questions are looked at. These include: What is Christianity? What is God? And, who is Jesus Christ?

Students engage in Bible study and learn Christian values, beliefs, and principles. They may also discuss, interpret, and debate issues from the Bible. In some schools, bible study includes memorizing passages from the Bible. This gives students a strong foundation in Christian thinking and morals.

In many Christian studies programs, students learn about the history of Christian and Christianity today. For perspective, they may also learn about different world religions and faith perspectives.

Most private Christian schools have a strong secular curriculum, focusing on traditional academic subjects.

In many Christian schools in Canada, even secular classes are infused with a Christian or faith-based perspective. And, lots of schools encourage students to integrate Christian values into everyday life. This is part of a classical Christian education.

For instance, at Northmount School, in Toronto, Ontario, students receive character education. They also meet with an advisor once a month to learn about and discuss Christian and Catholic virtues. And, they’re also urged to contribute to charitable causes, and do much needed work in the community.

As Peter Bacardi, teacher and chaplaincy coordinator at Northmount, points out, this is part of an attempt to integrate the faith-based perspective into the overall curriculum and student life:

“We integrate the use of scripture with other areas of school life, such as the liturgies, character lessons, and daily prayer. Catholicism is a ‘comprehensive way of life’ that should animate every aspect of its activities and its curriculum. To deliver on the promise to provide students with a Catholic education, we must foster love for wisdom and truth, and must integrate this with faith, culture, and life.”

Extracurriculars: Christian prayer and other religious practices
In addition to coursework, kids typically go to church or chapel, which may be on campus. This is often at least a couple times a week, though may be as much as every day. At church, kids attend services with a traditional liturgy. They’ll usually pray with their peers and teachers.

Students may also go to assemblies, Bible study, devotionals, and participate in other religious activities. These events give them an opportunity to talk with peers and teachers about Christianity and God. These events can also supplement their religious education, and help them learn more about the Christian faith in general, and specific Christian denominations. Finally, this enables many students to feel part of a supportive community, one with common beliefs and values.

Parents are sometimes also invited to attend religious services, and to volunteer at school functions. This allows families to be an integral part of the school community.

Jeremy Belanger, whose daughter Haylee, 12, goes to Burlington Christian Academy (BCA) in Burlington, Ontario, enjoys this part of his daughter’s school.

“We go to the school chapel with our daughter. We also volunteer at school events. Since we also have many of the same beliefs and values as other families at BCA, we really feel part of a strong community. And, our involvement in this community pushes us to be more invested in our children’s education.”

Christian values
An important part of Christian education is the teaching of values. Schools teach students traditional Christian values, such as honesty, charity, responsibility, and kindness. And, they teach these values in a variety of different ways. The aim is not to indoctrinate students, but to teach them how to live a good Christian life.

Raphaela So appreciated this aspect of her education at Wesley Christian Academy, in Markham, Ontario. A good set of values, and the ability to reflect on them, Raphaela points out, is essential when going out into the world.

“I have to determine what is right and what I should do. I’ll probably, like, take a second, take the time to think about what I’m going to do, instead of going right ahead and doing it without thinking about it.”

Private Christian schools are united in the aim of giving students a balanced education, and instilling in them strong Christian values. That said, there are some important differences between these schools. Some of the main ways they can be distinguished are the following:

• Christian denominations
• Christian observances
• Living arrangements
• Gender
• Grade levels

Christian denominations
Many Christian schools in Canada are non-denominational, meaning they’re not affiliated with a specific sect of Christianity. Others schools are denominational: they are affiliated with one Christian faith. For instance, they might be Catholic, Protestant, Anglican, Baptist, Unitarian, Presbyterian, Methodist, Episcopalian, Lutheran, Quaker, Greek Orthodox, or some other denomination.

That said, very few schools admit students from only one Christian sect. In fact, many Christian schools, denominational and non-denominational, accept students from a wide range of backgrounds, including students who aren’t Christian.

Christian observance
In most Christian schools in Canada, students aren’t expected to be religiously observant. Students may be asked to pray or perform other religious rituals or rites at school, but this is unlikely to be a requirement. And outside of school, there’s typically no expectation for students to observe religious customs or perform religious rites.

In many schools, students will celebrate Christian holidays, such as Christmas and Easter. Outside of school, though, there’s typically no expectation for students to observe religious holidays or customs.

One exception is some very traditional Christian schools. Some of these schools may expect a certain level of religious observance, both in and outside of school. But even these schools rarely require students to engage in any religious practices.

Living arrangements
Some Christian schools are regular day schools, where students go to school each day, and then return home. Some, on the other hand, are boarding schools. In boarding schools, students live on campus in residence with their peers, either five or seven days a week. And, some schools offer both day and boarding school options.

Gender
Most Christian schools in Canada are coed, and have a full complement of boys and girls. There are some Christian boys' schools, though. There are also Christian girls' schools.

Grade levels
There are Christian schools covering every grade level. The two main ones, though, are Christian grade schools and Christian secondary schools. Christian grade schools are elementary schools, offering grades 1 to 6. Christian secondary schools include middle schools, offering grades 7 and 8. They also include Christian high schools, offering grades 9 to 12.

Private Christian schools, like all private religious-affiliated schools, have numerous benefits. One of their main benefits is the skill and dedication of their teachers.

Jeremy Belanger see lots of evidence of this at his daughter’s school, Burlington Christian Academy. The teachers at this school, he points out, are very impressive: they go above and beyond the call of duty.

“The teachers are very invested in our children’s education. They’re very good at communicating expectations for assignments, and they post specific criteria for assessment online, for us to see. We always know how our children are doing at school, and if there are any problems or concerns, we’ll always be told about them right away.”

Beth Duffy agrees with this general sentiment. She’s been extremely pleased with the teachers at her daughter Rachel’s school, Villanova College, in King City, Ontario.

“The teachers are amazing. They set the tone for the amazing community. Rachel can approach any teacher after school for academic or personal help. They’re always willing to devote more time and energy for their students.”

Private Christian schools have lots of other benefits, though. Some of the main ones are outlined below:

• Christian values: Kids acquire a strong background in the Christian faith. They learn about Christian theology and the Bible. They also learn traditional Christian values, such as the importance of community, family, respect, and honesty.


• Community and cohesiveness: Students work and interact with classmates who have similar backgrounds, interests, and values. This can enable them to forge strong, long-lasting relationships, and a close-knit community. This can promote happiness and stability, in students and their families.


• Dual-track curriculum: The dual-track curriculum of Christian schools (similar to all religious-affiliated schools) is very challenging. Many students also find it rewarding and stimulating. And, there’s some evidence that it leads to positive academic outcomes. Indeed, studies indicate that, on average, students from Christian schools outperform students from public schools on standardized tests and university entrance exams.


• Safety: Christian schools, like many private schools, tend to provide a safe learning environment. They normally have zero tolerance for violence, bullying, verbal abuse, or sexual impropriety. And, their strong community ethic also reduces these threats.


• Benefits of private schools: There are other important benefits of Christian schools that are also benefits of private schools in general. These schools tend to have smaller classes, lower teacher-to-student ratios, more specialized instruction, good technological resources, and lots of extracurricular opportunities, among other benefits.


• Low cost: On average, private Christian schools tend to be cheaper than other private schools in Canada. In a sense, then, they offer the best of both worlds: an affordable education with many of the same benefits as other private schools (both big and small).


• Associations: Many Christian schools belong to an association supporting their mission. Many of the schools listed here belong to the the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI). Some also belong to Christian Schools International (CSI), or the Ontario Alliance of Christian Schools (OACS). ACSI accredits schools and certifies teachers. All three of these institutes provide lots of support for Christian educators.

In your search for the right Christian school, it’s important to speak with teachers, educators, and your child.

Start looking at these schools early, as much as a year before applying. You can research them here on this site (starting with our list of schools), on school websites, at open houses, during on-site visits, at our annual school expos, and other venues.

Questions to ask prospective schools
There are some key questions to ask schools you’re looking into. Beyond these, there are also specific questions to ask private Christian schools. These include:

There are some questions commonly asked about private Christian schools. Some of these have already been answered, and so won’t be addressed here. We’ll only answer those that haven’t yet been answered or fully answered.

Does my child need to be Christian?
Most private Christian schools don’t require their students to be Christian. Some very traditional schools, though, may require this.

Will my child need to pray or follow other Christian traditions?
Some traditional private Christian schools may require kids to pray or perform other religious rites at church or chapel. Less traditional schools don’t require kids to pray or perform other religious rites, though they may ask them to go to church.

Does my child need to believe in God?
Not typically. The vast majority of private Christian schools don’t require kids to believe or profess belief in God. On the other hand, some very traditional schools may assume their students believe in God. It’s unlikely, though, they’ll require them to profess their belief.

How strong is the secular curriculum?
Most schools meet and surpass the curriculum standards set by the government of Ontario. Moreover, some students find the dual-track curriculum of these schools challenging, especially if it involves learning a second language. Some also find it enriches their secular studies—in a way that can’t be achieved at many non-denominational schools.

Do private Christian schools have required religion courses?
Most have required religion studies courses, which often focus on Bible study. Some, though, have only optional religion courses. These schools, though, are usually at the secondary level, and have lots of extracurricular religious activities, such as prayers, scripture readings, and assemblies.

Most private Christian schools don’t require their students to be Christian. Some very traditional schools, though, may require this.

How do I know if a private Christian school is the right fit for my child?
You need to look for a good match between your child and the school in terms of religion, academics, culture, values, and the like. Keep in mind that there are different Christian denominations, and each school has different policies and philosophies.

As Barbara Bierman, executive director of the Ontario Federation of Independent Schools, puts it:

“Parents have to look for what best matches the environment in their home. That may be a cultural, religious, or pedagogical decision. They should be asking themselves: How does my child learn best? What sorts of schools match up to our faith system? Parents also need to consider the spectrum of different religious orders. For instance, Christianity has several denominations, so they need to look into that detail when considering faith-based schools.”

How much is tuition?
This varies, just as it does for all types of private schools. That said, on average, the tuition at private Christian schools tends to be lower than other types of private schools. And remember, many of these schools offer significant subsidies and tax breaks.

Are private Christian schools accredited?
High schools must meet provincial curricular requirements. And, some schools are accredited by independent institutions such as the ACSI, discussed above.

What kind of training should teachers have?
This varies based on the school and the subjects taught. To teach math and science, a strong background in these subjects is needed. To teach both secular and religious subjects, a proper secular and religious education (in the relevant subjects) is needed. Ideally, teachers will have undergraduate degrees specializing in the subjects they’re teaching. A diploma from the Ontario Teacher’s College and specialized training in religious studies are also big pluses.

Is French offered?
Private Christian schools, like all private schools in Canada, aren’t required to offer French. That said, almost all private schools do offer French, beginning in the early grades. In fact, most schools make French a required course up until grade 9, like public schools in Ontario.

Are there any required foreign languages besides French?
Not typically. Some schools offer Spanish, Latin, Greek, and other language courses. Very rarely are any of these courses required, though. One exception is Greek Orthodox schools, in which Greek is a required course.

Parent discussion forum

To discuss Christian schools and private school education in general, go to our parent discussion forum.

Relevant associations

The following associations provide support to Christian schools:

• Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI)
• Christian Schools International (CSI)
• Ontario Alliance of Christian Schools (OACS)