Below, we rank Canadian private schools on OUR KIDS, using information collected directly from schools. Ranking lists below focus on the criteria we consider the most helpful for parents. Across all of our rankings pages, though, we caution against parents’ tendency to over-rely on or even fall back on rankings as they make this foundational life decision. Read our fuller critique of school rankings.
Your goal is to find the best school for your child.Rankings should only serve as a reference point. Making the best decision for your child and yourself should take time (years, for many families) and should include many different factors. Make a final decision with confidence and clarity.
That’s where OUR KIDS’ comes in. We offer you a wealth of tools and information so that you can learn everything you need to know and research fully:
That’s still just the tip of the iceberg, and we’re always expanding the tools and information we offer you.
Use the rankings below with a mindset of curiosity. They give you one window onto the big picture of private schools in Canada. They can be a tool of discovery and insight. Use them as a tool, only, and nothing else.
Best university placement
Canadian private schools are ranked by university placement, below, based on how many graduates recently attended top universities: Harvard, Yale, Princeton, University of Pennsylvania, Dartmouth, Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Stanford, University of Chicago, Oxford, and Cambridge (UK). That's one measure of long-term academic outcomes, but don't let that outweigh the many other factors that shape your child's educational experience.
Canadian private schools with the lowest acceptance rates appear below, ranked from hardest to get into to more accepting. Selective admissions may reflect strong demand, limited enrollment, or a competitive admissions process, but not necessarily a better school. Use this ranking as insight but focus on the school that best suits your child.
We rank private schools by smallest class sizes below. Smaller classes can encourage stronger teacher relationships, individualized instruction, and easier classroom participation, certainly, but focus on the whole school and the whole child in your decision.
Canada's most affordable private schools are ranked below by tuition and available financial aid. Lower tuition can make an independent education more attainable, but cost is only one part of the equation. Balance affordability with academics, school culture, and the overall experience each school offers.
OUR KIDS ranks private schools by highest tuition fees, below. Higher tuition may reflect exceptional facilities, specialized programming, or extensive extracurricular opportunities, but price doesn't equal quality or—most importantly, fit with your child and family. Compare each school in-depth to see what each provides before deciding whether the added cost delivers value for your child. Note that this list is restricted to day schools and does not include boarding high schools.
Canada's oldest private schools are ranked below based on founding year. Established schools often have rich traditions and extensive alumni networks, certainly, but newer schools may have more innovative approaches, modern learning environments, or simply be more flexible. Use this ranking as one small insight in your overall decision.
Private schools with the most notable alumni appear below, based on graduates with Wikipedia pages. Public recognition like that offers one indication of a school's long-term influence, but it's a limited perspective. The best school for your child is the one that helps develop their own interests, talents, and ambitions.
Canadian private schools are ranked below, based on their endowment funds. Financial strength can support outstanding facilities, experienced faculty, and expanded programming, but focus on how much the school invests in students. Consider how each school translates its financial foundations into educational opportunities.
Schools with the highest percentage of financial aid
We rank private schools in Canada by the percentage of students receiving financial assistance, below. This ranking highlights how accessible schools are, but we urge you to combine this with research into academics, student support, and school culture.
Private schools ranked by total enrollment appear below. Larger schools often provide broader course offerings, more extracurriculars, and greater social diversity. However, smaller schools may offer closer communities and more individualized attention, right? And, as seen below, a school's overall enrollment is counted varyingly in different cases. Use this ranking mainly as a guide or discovery tool.
Schools with the smallest average enrollment per grade
Canadian private schools with the smallest average enrollment per grade are listed below. Smaller grade cohorts can foster stronger friendships, more personalized guidance, and a greater sense of belonging, but consider this alongside class size (since the two measures aren't always the same) and many other considerations.
Schools with the largest average enrollment per grade
OUR KIDS ranks private schools by the largest average enrollment per grade below. Use this ranking as one point of comparison while you evaluate which school community will help your child thrive.
Are good? We interviewed both parents and students. You can read reviews about on this page.
Which has the lowest acceptance rates? The with the lowest acceptance rate is Head Start Montessori School. The school has an overall accepance rate of 7%.
What is the oldest ? King's-Edgehill School is the oldest . The school was founded in 1788.
