Alberta private school rankings

Lowest admission rates

A low admission rate might seem a simple, straightforward measure of which private schools are the best. However, other mitigating factors affect schools' acceptance rates. Some Alberta private schools have better marketing; others have a perceived prestige that may be based on a long history. Regardless, many excellent schools have a 100% acceptance rate and will help your child(ren) thrive. As said above, we encourage you to focus your school search efforts on finding the school that matches the needs of your child(ren).

	School	Location	Grades	Acceptance rate
1	Clear Water Academy ✝	Calgary, AB	JK to 12	31%
2	Glenmore Christian Academy ✝	Calgary, AB	JK to 9	50%
3	West Island College (Calgary)	Calgary, AB	7 to 12	65%
4	Calgary French & International School	Calgary, AB	NS to 12	75%
5	North Point School	Calgary, AB	K to 12	75%
6	Strathcona-Tweedsmuir School	Foothills, AB	K to 12	80%
7	Lycée international de Calgary	Calgary, AB	PS to 12	85%
8	River Valley School	Calgary, AB	PS to 6	90%
9	Progressive Academy	Edmonton, AB	NS to 12	100%

Smallest average class sizes

Many parents focus on class size as the most important factor when considering the private school option. However, the teacher-student ratio is only one aspect of overall school life. Many Alberta private schools with standard class sizes offer an excellent education. Below, find private schools ranked in terms of the average class size they report to OUR KIDS.

	School	Location	Grades	Avg. class size
1	Calgary Jewish Academy ✡	Calgary, AB	PS to 9	12 to 22
2	North Point School	Calgary, AB	K to 12	13 to 18
3	Lycée international de Calgary	Calgary, AB	PS to 12	14 to 18
4	Clear Water Academy ✝	Calgary, AB	JK to 12	15 to 20
5	Calgary French & International School	Calgary, AB	NS to 12	16 to 20
6	Calgary Academy & Calgary Collegiate	Calgary, AB	K to 12	16 to 20
7	Progressive Academy	Edmonton, AB	NS to 12	17 to 22
8	River Valley School	Calgary, AB	PS to 6	18 to 20
9	West Island College (Calgary)	Calgary, AB	7 to 12	18 to 22
10	Glenmore Christian Academy ✝	Calgary, AB	JK to 9	20 to 25

Most expensive private schools

It can seem easy (even simplistic) to equate cost with quality. It may seem implicit that schools charging the highest tuition offer the best education, being able to provide the best facilities, hire the most qualified teachers, and facilitate the best sports programs, etc. However, other factors affect the overall school environment, of course.

More importantly, many students will not fare well in an environment their parents choose solely based on expense. We encourage parents to use common sense and focus on choosing a school where their child(ren) will thrive personally, academically, spiritually and socially. Many Alberta private schools with very reasonable tuition rates will offer your child(ren) the ideal learning environment to propel them to success.

	School	Location	Grades	Tuition
1	Strathcona-Tweedsmuir School	Foothills, AB	K to 12	$20,508 to $26,170
2	Calgary Academy & Calgary Collegiate	Calgary, AB	K to 12	$18,400 to $22,900
3	West Island College (Calgary)	Calgary, AB	7 to 12	$22,460
4	Calgary French & International School	Calgary, AB	NS to 12	$10,610 to $21,820
5	Lycée international de Calgary	Calgary, AB	PS to 12	$17,700 to $20,070
6	Progressive Academy	Edmonton, AB	NS to 12	$8,700 to $19,500
7	River Valley School	Calgary, AB	PS to 6	$16,450 to $19,390
8	Clear Water Academy ✝	Calgary, AB	JK to 12	$10,439 to $19,100
9	North Point School	Calgary, AB	K to 12	$8,000 to $16,500
10	Calgary Jewish Academy ✡	Calgary, AB	PS to 9	$8,550 to $13,925

Oldest private schools

Below is a list of Alberta private schools ranked by their date of founding. Parents may view the age of a school as a sign of its prestige, but many other factors should be part of your school decision process. Please review the cautions against focusing on ranking above.

	School	Location	Grades	Founded
1	Strathcona-Tweedsmuir School	Foothills, AB	K to 12	1905
2	Lycée international de Calgary	Calgary, AB	PS to 12	1966
3	Calgary French & International School	Calgary, AB	NS to 12	1969
4	Renfrew Educational Services	Calgary, AB	PS to 6	1974
5	Glenmore Christian Academy ✝	Calgary, AB	JK to 9	1980
6	Calgary Academy & Calgary Collegiate	Calgary, AB	K to 12	1981
7	West Island College (Calgary)	Calgary, AB	7 to 12	1982
8	Progressive Academy	Edmonton, AB	NS to 12	1983
9	Calgary Waldorf School	Calgary, AB	JK to 9	1985
10	Calgary Jewish Academy ✡	Calgary, AB	PS to 9	1987

Private schools with the most notable alumni

Listed below are Alberta schools ranked by the most notable alumni. Parents choosing a private school might be understandably swayed by this factor. However, many other factors should take precedence if you are looking for the best school for your child. The list below ranks private schools by the number of graduates who have Wikipedia entries. Although there is doubt about its consistent reliability, we consider biographical entries that meet Wikipedia’s notability criteria a reasonable measure of influence.

	School	Location	Grades	Notable alumni
1	West Island College (Calgary)	Calgary, AB	7 to 12	1

Best university placement

Below is a ranking of Alberta private schools based on recent university placements. While post-secondary outcomes matter to many families, they represent just one dimension of a school’s overall offering. This list reflects the number of graduates accepted into top global institutions—namely Harvard, Yale, Princeton, University of Pennsylvania, Dartmouth, Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Stanford, University of Chicago, Oxford, or Cambridge (UK)—over the past five years. Use this data as one lens in your evaluation, but keep your focus on finding a school that aligns with your child’s unique strengths, goals, and values.

	School	Location	Grades	Grads in Top US/UK Schools (5 yrs)
1	Strathcona-Tweedsmuir School	Foothills, AB	K to 12	5
2	West Island College (Calgary)	Calgary, AB	7 to 12	5
3	Calgary Academy & Calgary Collegiate	Calgary, AB	K to 12	1
4	Lycée international de Calgary	Calgary, AB	PS to 12	0
5	Calgary French & International School	Calgary, AB	NS to 12	0
6	Clear Water Academy ✝	Calgary, AB	JK to 12	0
7	River Valley School	Calgary, AB	PS to 6
8	Progressive Academy	Edmonton, AB	NS to 12
9	Glenmore Christian Academy ✝	Calgary, AB	JK to 9
10	North Point School	Calgary, AB	K to 12

Most affordable private schools

Alberta private schools offer lower costs, ranked in order of most affordable. Affordability helps, but when choosing a school, make sure you focus on the full picture: academics, values, and your child’s sense of belonging.

	School	Location	Grades	Tuition
1	Glenmore Christian Academy ✝	Calgary, AB	JK to 9	$3,210 to $7,595
2	Renfrew Educational Services	Calgary, AB	PS to 6	$4,500
3	Progressive Academy	Edmonton, AB	NS to 12	$8,700 to $11,000
4	Calgary Waldorf School	Calgary, AB	JK to 9	$10,600 to $12,130
5	Calgary Jewish Academy ✡	Calgary, AB	PS to 9	$13,925
6	North Point School	Calgary, AB	K to 12	$14,500 to $16,500
7	Clear Water Academy ✝	Calgary, AB	JK to 12	$16,060 to $19,100
8	River Valley School	Calgary, AB	PS to 6	$16,450 to $19,390
9	Lycée international de Calgary	Calgary, AB	PS to 12	$17,700 to $20,070
10	Calgary Academy & Calgary Collegiate	Calgary, AB	K to 12	$18,400 to $22,900

Wealthiest private schools

These Alberta schools lead in endowment size, which may signal long-term investment in academics and student life. Still, financial strength is just one factor—your child’s happiness and growth should remain the priority.

	School	Location	Grades	Endowment
1	Strathcona-Tweedsmuir School	Foothills, AB	K to 12	$12,000,000

Most financial aid

This list ranks Alberta private schools by the largest percentage of students receive financial assistance. Aid can open doors, but choosing the best school goes beyond cost—think about how well each school fits your family’s goals and your child’s needs.

	School	Location	Grades	Students
1	Clear Water Academy ✝	Calgary, AB	JK to 12	20%
2	North Point School	Calgary, AB	K to 12	20%
3	Strathcona-Tweedsmuir School	Foothills, AB	K to 12	11%
4	Lycée international de Calgary	Calgary, AB	PS to 12	5%
5	Calgary Jewish Academy ✡	Calgary, AB	PS to 9	0%
6	Calgary Waldorf School	Calgary, AB	JK to 9	0%
7	Renfrew Educational Services	Calgary, AB	PS to 6	0%
8	West Island College (Calgary)	Calgary, AB	7 to 12	0%
9	Calgary French & International School	Calgary, AB	NS to 12	0%
10	Calgary Academy & Calgary Collegiate	Calgary, AB	K to 12	0%

Smallest average enrollment per grade

Here are Alberta’s private schools with the smallest average enrollment per grade. A more manageable grade size can mean closer peer bonds and a less overwhelming social setting. Still, use this data alongside broader fit criteria.

	School	Location	Grades	Day enrollment avg
1	North Point School	Calgary, AB	K to 12	16
2	Calgary Waldorf School	Calgary, AB	JK to 9	20
3	Calgary Jewish Academy ✡	Calgary, AB	PS to 9	23
4	Progressive Academy	Edmonton, AB	NS to 12	24
5	Lycée international de Calgary	Calgary, AB	PS to 12	29
6	River Valley School	Calgary, AB	PS to 6	32
7	Clear Water Academy ✝	Calgary, AB	JK to 12	33
8	Calgary French & International School	Calgary, AB	NS to 12	52
9	Calgary Academy & Calgary Collegiate	Calgary, AB	K to 12	54
10	Renfrew Educational Services	Calgary, AB	PS to 6	55

Largest average enrollment per grade

Alberta schools listed here have the largest grade-level enrollment. This can translate into broader options and a lively student experience. Still, consider how well the school supports your child’s individual learning and social needs.

	School	Location	Grades	Enrollment avg
1	West Island College (Calgary)	Calgary, AB	7 to 12	113
2	Glenmore Christian Academy ✝	Calgary, AB	JK to 9	85
3	Strathcona-Tweedsmuir School	Foothills, AB	K to 12	64
4	Renfrew Educational Services	Calgary, AB	PS to 6	55
5	Calgary Academy & Calgary Collegiate	Calgary, AB	K to 12	54
6	Calgary French & International School	Calgary, AB	NS to 12	52
7	Clear Water Academy ✝	Calgary, AB	JK to 12	33
8	River Valley School	Calgary, AB	PS to 6	32
9	Lycée international de Calgary	Calgary, AB	PS to 12	29
10	Progressive Academy	Edmonton, AB	NS to 12	24