Parents and kids who focus on school rankings must proceed with caution. Any rankings list always provides a very narrow measure of schools' performance. No list can tell all Montreal parents what is the "best school" for their child or family. The great variety among Montreal private schools tells you that there are schools that excel in many different facets. Across our site, we present information and tools that help families make a decision focused on what is right for their child. It's all about finding the right fit, and a school search should be a long, deeply considered process.
Below, we look at some private school rankings in Montreal. We present this data tentatively, intended as a nominally helpful resource for parents, to expose people to choices they may be unfamiliar with, or just to appease curiosity. We have much more information on making the right school choice in our advice guide, and urge parents to choose the best school for their children based on many factors that go deep beneath superficial considerations like school rankings. Ranking lists should be a very minor part (if at all) of your family's school decision process. Read our fuller look at the proper skepticism parents should have for school rankings or download our ebook on how to find the best school.
Learn more at the Montreal Private School Expo
At the Montreal Private School Expo and in other work with parents, we often get asked for rankings, and we recognize that these lists can be discreetly helpful. The expo, though, gives parents and kids the chance to meet top schools face-to-face. It’s the kind of research tool you need to use. You can also sit in on informative Q&A information seminars led by education experts who’ll shed light on vital topics when it comes to making the right school choice. Meet with admissions teams from each school and gain valuable insights from current parents who have experienced the journey firthand. All in one afternoon. Click here for details and to RSVP.
Low admission rates would seem to indicate that the Montreal private school you're considering is difficult to get into. In turn, this would seem to indicate that that school has a strong reputation, and must be in high demand from parents. That said, this is a very simplified measure. Some schools have better marketing or limited facilities; various factors can affect a school's ability to accept applicants. A school's low admission rate is certainly no indication that it will be the best fit for your child(ren).
This list may be helpful to parents to understand your chances of getting into the schools here. And of course, there are many excellent private schools throughout Montreal with high acceptance rates.
| School | Location | Grades | Acceptance rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Study | Westmount, QC | K to 11 | 50% |
| 2 | Miss Edgar's & Miss Cramp's School | Westmount, QC | K to 11 | 60% |
| 3 | Priory School ✝ | Montreal, QC | K to 6 | 75% |
| 4 | Alexander von Humboldt German International School | Baie-D'Urfé, Montreal, QC | PS to 12 | 80% |
| 5 | North Star Academy | Laval, QC | 7 to 12 | 86% |
Some parents may believe that a private school's tuition is a relative measure of how good that school is. This is suitably over-simplified, of course. Many excellent private schools in Montreal are very reasonably priced. However, for interest's sake, we present a list of the city's ten most expensive private schools below.
| School | Location | Grades | Tuition | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sacred Heart School of Montreal ✝ | Montreal, QC | 7 to 12 | $19,347 to $65,828 |
| 2 | Kells Academy | Montreal, QC | K to 12 | $17,300 to $35,800 |
| 3 | North Star Academy | Laval, QC | 7 to 12 | $12,400 to $31,500 |
| 4 | Study | Westmount, QC | K to 11 | $26,200 to $29,380 |
| 5 | Lower Canada College | Montreal, QC | K to 12 | $25,365 to $27,660 |
| 6 | Miss Edgar's & Miss Cramp's School | Westmount, QC | K to 11 | $21,800 to $26,380 |
| 7 | St. George's School of Montreal | Montreal, QC | K to 11 | $20,081 to $24,754 |
| 8 | Centennial Academy | Montreal, QC | 7 to 11 | $21,270 |
| 9 | Priory School ✝ | Montreal, QC | K to 6 | $19,300 to $21,110 |
| 10 | College Prep International | Montreal, QC | 5 to 12 | $13,000 to $16,000 |
Here is a brief look at private schools in the city of Montreal, ranked by founding date. The date of establishment may be an important indicator of prestige to some parents, but this is one simple aspect of any school. We urge you to consider many different aspects in the school choice process.
| School | Location | Grades | Founded | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sacred Heart School of Montreal ✝ | Montreal, QC | 7 to 12 | 1861 |
| 2 | Lower Canada College | Montreal, QC | K to 12 | 1909 |
| 3 | Miss Edgar's & Miss Cramp's School | Westmount, QC | K to 11 | 1909 |
| 4 | Study | Westmount, QC | K to 11 | 1915 |
| 5 | St. George's School of Montreal | Montreal, QC | K to 11 | 1930 |
| 6 | College Prep International | Montreal, QC | 5 to 12 | 1944 |
| 7 | Priory School ✝ | Montreal, QC | K to 6 | 1947 |
| 8 | Centennial Academy | Montreal, QC | 7 to 11 | 1969 |
| 9 | West Island College (Montreal) | Montreal (DDO), QC | 7 to 12 | 1974 |
| 10 | Kells Academy | Montreal, QC | K to 12 | 1978 |
Below, we hesitantly offer a ranked list of Montreal private schools that have produced the most notable alumni. Our measure of this is whether alumni have been granted a Wikipedia page. All ranking lists have limitations, as does this one. We urge parents to engage in a deep research process that eschews external rankings or ratings, as they choose the right school for their child(ren).
| School | Location | Grades | Notable alumni | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Study | Westmount, QC | K to 11 | 8 |
| 2 | Lower Canada College | Montreal, QC | K to 12 | 8 |
| 3 | Sacred Heart School of Montreal ✝ | Montreal, QC | 7 to 12 | 4 |
| 4 | West Island College (Montreal) | Montreal (DDO), QC | 7 to 12 | 4 |
| 5 | Kuper Academy | Kirkland, QC | PS to 12 | 2 |
Are Montreal private schools good?
We interviewed both parents and students. You can read reviews about Montreal private schools on this page.
What is the most expensive Montreal private school?
Sacred Heart School of Montreal has the highest tuition fees from $19,347 to $65,828 per year with an average tuition of $42,588 per year.
Which Montreal private school has the lowest acceptance rates?
The Montreal private school with the lowest acceptance rate is Study. The school has an overall accepance rate of 50%.
What is the oldest Montreal private school?
Sacred Heart School of Montreal is the oldest Montreal private school. The school was founded in 1861.
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