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Alberta gifted schools

Find the top gifted schools and programs in Alberta.

On this page, we cover private schools in Alberta that offer gifted programs and support. This includes gifted schools and programs in Edmonton, Calgary, Red Deer, and Banff. 

For a more complete guide to gifted education, including a discussion of gifted tests and assessments, read our introductory guide.

Private schools are not obligated to support gifted children with special programs. Many private schools don't — even ones with strong academic reputations. The schools listed on this page, however, do. We organize the schools into groups: dedicated gifted schools, schools with dedicated gifted classes, and schools offering in-class gifted support. Then, in the fourth group, we identify schools that don't offer formal gifted support but have accelerated curricula for all their students.

2. Choosing a school

Our gifted education guide has advice specific to finding gifted schools, programs, and support. For more general advice (on how to evaluate school options), we recommend you read our guide to choosing a school and our expert advice on choosing a school. You can also read our guides to questions to ask private schools and questions students get asked at school interviews.

Private school expos

Private school expos are a great way to find a school. We have annual private school expos in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Ottawa, Calgary, and Halton-peel. These expos allow you to speak with many private schools, some of which have gifted programs—all in the same place. Find a gifted school near you.

Parent discussion forum

Word-of-mouth is another powerful tool in your school search. The Our Kids parent discussion forum allows you to discuss your options and related to gifted education and gifted schools. Take advantage of our community of parents, educational experts, and school officials to help answer your questions about lots of different topics.

Upcoming open house events

Open houses are a great way to learn more about a school and get a feel for the environment. For some general advice on open house visits, go here. For questions that are specific to gifted schools and programs, check out our main gifted education guide.

3. Tuition at gifted schools in Alberta

Broadly speaking, the cost of gifted schools in Alberta reflects private school tuition in general. Private schools can range from $5,000 to over $30,000 per year for day students.

There are quite a few affordable private schools for gifted children. Inexpensive schools can often provide an excellent education by focusing on the classroom basics. You don't need to spend a fortune on bells and whistles: the key is getting your child individualized support.

Having said that, the more costly schools tend to provide more in-class and extracurricular opportunities. They are also often larger and more established. For most schools, though, the largest expense is teacher salaries.

Many schools offer financial aid (also known as "bursaries", "tuition relief", or "tuition assistance") and scholarships. Financial aid is needs-based, while scholarships are given for some measure of merit (whether it be academic, athletic, or something else).

You can read more about financial aid and scholarships in our dedicated guide. You can also read about preschool costs and funding.

Typically, the larger and more expensive private schools provide the most aid. Even comfortable middle-class families can be eligible to receive aid. So, don't be afraid to ask a school about it—whatever your financial situation.

Below, you'll find the range of costs for Alberta private schools with gifted programs:

Gifted programming

Institutional metrics

Academics

Special needs support

Course pedagogies

Extracurricular clubs

Extracurricular sports (competitive)

Make no mistake: gifted children have different needs than typical students. These learners are often so advanced that they are outliers in the classroom: a normal curriculum and approach won't do.

When these students don't receive the custom support they need, they can disengage from school. This can sometimes lead to social and behavioural problems.

If you know or suspect your child is gifted, you're faced with the following questions:

• Does your child need specialized support for their giftedness?
• Should you look at private schools or go with the public system?
• Should you choose support in the form of (1) dedicated gifted schools/classes or (2) in-class adaptations?
• Should you choose a program that emphasizes (1) acceleration of content or (2) depth and breadth of inquiry? Should you consider having your child skip a grade?
• Which specific school or program should you choose?

You can also consider alternative options, like language immersion programs, the International Baccalaureate program, Advanced Placement courses (for older students), special needs schools, or other alternatives like Montessori schools.

To help navigate all the options for your gifted child, start with our introductory guide to gifted education. Having done that, you can come back to this page to check out your school options in Alberta.

Private school policies

Private schools are not required by law to provide support for gifted children—and many don't. On the other hand, some private schools are able to offer excellent programs and support for gifted students.

In the end, it's up to you to make sure school is properly set up for your gifted child. The list of private schools on this page (above) is a good place to start your search.