We discourage all Alberta parents from over-determining or over-emphasizing rankings in their school decision. Any focus on rankings deters attention from unquantifiable things that are often much more important, namely how well your child fits in at the school or how much he or she will like the school. We urge families to engage in an immersive school search process, following the best advice, understanding the full scope of their options, working toward finding a school that will help their child(ren) thrive.
Other sources who profess to list "best schools" might mislead parents into making the wrong choice for their child(ren). Along with Alberta schools that list with us, Our Kids believes that a proper choice should focus on matching schools with your own values, not someone else's. Families need to investigate every aspect important to them, whether that is academics, pedagogical philosophy, extracurricular acitivities, special needs support and/or gifted programming.
That said, rankings can have their place, as presented below (albeit reluctantly). We hope parents use lists like these with a view toward discovery. Hopefully, you'll find great private schools below that you may not have considered, and which in fact meet some of your top concerns. We have worked closely with Alberta private schools for many years, helping them elaborate their unique value, with the intention of helping parents find the school that most closely matches their needs. Please use these lists with that in mind: one aid in a much fuller process focused on finding a school that is best for your family.
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 simply have better marketing; others have a perceived prestige that may be based on a long history. No matter, be assured that 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 | Glenmore Christian Academy ✝ | Calgary, AB | JK to 9 | 50% |
| 2 | Foothills Academy | Calgary, AB | 3 to 12 | 50% |
| 3 | Rundle College | Calgary, AB | K to 12 | 70% |
| 4 | Clear Water Academy ✝ | Calgary, AB | JK to 12 | 75% |
| 5 | Calgary French & International School | Calgary, AB | NS to 12 | 75% |
| 6 | Banbury Crossroads School | Calgary, AB | JK to 12 | 75% |
| 7 | North Point School | Calgary, AB | K to 12 | 75% |
| 8 | Strathcona-Tweedsmuir School | Okotoks, AB | K to 12 | 80% |
| 9 | Lycée international de Calgary | Calgary, AB | PS to 12 | 85% |
| 10 | West Island College (Calgary) | Calgary, AB | 7 to 12 | 90% |
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 chosen by their parents solely on the basis of 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 that will propel them to success.
| School | Location | Grades | Tuition | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | West Island College (Calgary) | Calgary, AB | 7 to 12 | $20,568 to $26,843 |
| 2 | Strathcona-Tweedsmuir School | Okotoks, AB | K to 12 | $20,508 to $26,170 |
| 3 | Rundle College | Calgary, AB | K to 12 | $16,800 to $21,500 |
| 4 | Rundle Academy & Rundle Studio | Calgary, AB | 4 to 12 | $11,525 to $20,350 |
| 5 | Calgary Academy & Calgary Collegiate | Calgary, AB | K to 12 | $15,625 to $20,300 |
| 6 | Progressive Academy | Edmonton, AB | NS to 12 | $8,700 to $19,500 |
| 7 | Calgary French & International School | Calgary, AB | NS to 12 | $9,200 to $18,570 |
| 8 | Banbury Crossroads School | Calgary, AB | JK to 12 | $16,500 to $18,500 |
| 9 | Lycée international de Calgary | Calgary, AB | PS to 12 | $16,150 to $18,310 |
| 10 | Clear Water Academy ✝ | Calgary, AB | JK to 12 | $6,300 to $17,400 |
Below is a list of Alberta private schools ranked by their date of foundation. 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 cautions against focus on ranking, above.
| School | Location | Grades | Founded | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Strathcona-Tweedsmuir School | Okotoks, 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 | Banbury Crossroads School | Calgary, AB | JK to 12 | 1979 |
| 5 | Foothills Academy | Calgary, AB | 3 to 12 | 1979 |
| 6 | Glenmore Christian Academy ✝ | Calgary, AB | JK to 9 | 1980 |
| 7 | Calgary Academy & Calgary Collegiate | Calgary, AB | K to 12 | 1981 |
| 8 | West Island College (Calgary) | Calgary, AB | 7 to 12 | 1982 |
| 9 | Progressive Academy | Edmonton, AB | NS to 12 | 1983 |
| 10 | Calgary Waldorf School | Calgary, AB | JK to 9 | 1985 |
Listed below find 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 over this, if you are indeed looking for the best school for your child. The list below ranks private schools by how many graduates 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 |
| 2 | Banbury Crossroads School | Calgary, AB | JK to 12 | 1 |
Are Alberta private schools good?
We interviewed both parents and students. You can read reviews about Alberta private schools on this page.
What is the most expensive Alberta private school?
West Island College (Calgary) has the highest tuition fees from $20,568 to $26,843 per year with an average tuition of $23,706 per year.
Which Alberta private school has the lowest acceptance rates?
The Alberta private school with the lowest acceptance rate is Glenmore Christian Academy. The school has an overall accepance rate of 50%.
What is the oldest Alberta private school?
Strathcona-Tweedsmuir School is the oldest Alberta private school. The school was founded in 1905.
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