Throughout our website we caution against any focus on rankings. Schools themselves, even when they are ranked well by the Fraser Institute (for example), will express aversion to school rankings. However, parents still ask us for rankings at the Calgary private school expo and elsewhere. The expo itself is a much better tool for parents than rankings. You can meet school representatives face-to-face, sit in on informative Q&A seminars, and gain insight into vital topics in making the right school choice. In one afternoon. Click here for details and to RSVP.
That said, we can see how some rankings lists can be helpful for parents, if used properly and with a healthy level of skepticism. That means:
Your ultimate school decision should be well-advised, richly informed (fully investigate school profiles that interest you) and fully considered (we suggest that you use tools such as our school comparison and more). When consulting rankings, parents always risk over-determining the value of simplistic data, giving it too significant a role in the school decision process.
Bear that in mind, as you review these Calgary school rankings, which do indeed highlight advantages offered by private schools.
Low acceptance rates might indicate that the school has a high number of applicants, and turns away potential students on the basis of an academic assessment. However, there are other factors that affect admission rates.
In any case, it's far more important for parents to focus on how well a school meets the distinct needs of their child(ren). Rankings list (and academic assessments, for that matter) are not going to tell you how well your child is going to fit in and like a school. This list can be helpful to parents who want a glance at their children's chances of getting into some local private schools.
| 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% |
Some parents view the cost of private school tuition as a measure of how good the school is. Of course, this is oversimplified thinking. Many excellent private schools in Calgary charge very reasoanable tuition rates. In any case, many other aspects should have a higher priority for you, in your search for the best school for your children. For interest's sake, below is a list of Calgary's most expensive private elementary and secondary schools.
| School | Location | Grades | Tuition | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | West Island College (Calgary) | Calgary, AB | 7 to 12 | $21,596 to $28,186 |
| 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 | $12,100 to $21,400 |
| 5 | Calgary Academy & Calgary Collegiate | Calgary, AB | K to 12 | $15,625 to $20,300 |
| 6 | Banbury Crossroads Academy | Calgary, AB | 1 to 12 | $18,800 |
| 7 | Banbury Crossroads School | Calgary, AB | JK to 12 | $16,800 to $18,800 |
| 8 | Calgary French & International School | Calgary, AB | NS to 12 | $9,200 to $18,570 |
| 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 |
The age of a school is a sign of prestige by some parents. However, this is not a credible indicator of whether a school is right for your child. For interest’s sake, we provide this list as some measure of the stability of specific schools.
| 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 Academy | Calgary, AB | 1 to 12 | 1979 |
| 5 | Banbury Crossroads School | Calgary, AB | JK to 12 | 1979 |
| 6 | Foothills Academy | Calgary, AB | 3 to 12 | 1979 |
| 7 | Glenmore Christian Academy ✝ | Calgary, AB | JK to 9 | 1980 |
Listed below are Calgary private schools that have produced the most notable alumni. Influence is measured by whether alumni have been granted a Wikipedia page. We consider this a credible indicator of achievement, today. We also urge parents to put the needs of their children first and take many other factors into consideration as they choose a school.
| 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 Calgary private schools good?
We interviewed both parents and students. You can read reviews about Calgary private schools on this page.
What is the most expensive Calgary private school?
West Island College (Calgary) has the highest tuition fees from $21,596 to $28,186 per year with an average tuition of $24,891 per year.
Which Calgary private school has the lowest acceptance rates?
The Calgary private school with the lowest acceptance rate is Glenmore Christian Academy. The school has an overall accepance rate of 50%.
What is the oldest Calgary private school?
Strathcona-Tweedsmuir School is the oldest Calgary private school. The school was founded in 1905.
How school size impacts the student experience at TCS [Read more]
TCS’s service learning program provides the hands-on experience of giving back [Read more]
What language education at Alexander von Humboldt German International School Montreal provides [Read more]
How HTS is building a state-of-the-art online education platform that focuses on student relationships [Read more]
How The Linden School paves the way for global change through their STEM programs [Read more]
How a new on-site theatre will support Villanova College’s rich arts programming [Read more]
