Gifted Schools and Programs in Canada

Find the right school for your gifted child. We list the top gifted schools and programs in Canada. This includes dedicated gifted schools, and schools with dedicated gifted classes, in-class accommodations, and accelerated curricula. Click on a school profile to learn all about it and decide whether it’s the right fit for your child.

We also provide an introductory discussion of gifted education in Canada. We cover different kinds of gifted programs and support, the pros and cons of public vs. private programs, and how to choose the right option for your child.

1	List of schools with gifted programs

Dedicated gifted schools
Schools with dedicated gifted classes
Schools with in-class accommodations
Schools with accelerated curricula

Dedicated gifted schools

These are self-contained gifted schools, where 100% of the students are gifted. Teachers and staff can focus on tailoring the environment to gifted students, without compromise.

Schools with dedicated gifted classes

These schools have a separate, dedicated class (or classes) where 100% of the students are gifted. These gifted classes can be either full-time or part-time, and exist in parallel to regular, non-gifted classes.

Schools with in-class accommodations

These schools offer support for gifted students within the regular classroom. Gifted students stay with regular learners, while receiving special, individualized programming.

Schools with accelerated curricula

These schools offer no formal program for gifted students, but have an accelerated baseline curriculum. This means all students—gifted or not—do the work of older peers at other schools. For highly gifted learners (those in the 99th percentile), this alone is likely not enough to support their needs.

Gifted education in Canada

An introductory discussion of gifted schools and programs in Canada

Contents:

Quick Summary

Detecting giftedness

Learning needs of gifted children

Types of gifted programs

Comparing program options
- Dedicated gifted environments versus in-class adaptations
- Acceleration vs. enrichment

Public versus private schools

Subject-specific giftedness

Gifted education at different ages

Choosing and applying to schools
- Questions to ask prospective schools
- Getting into gifted programs

Scholarships for gifted students

Comparing schools with gifted programs
- Table: compare gifted programs at schools
- Table: compare availability of financial aid at schools

Important resources

Gifted Schools

United States gifted schools

1	Quick Summary

Giftedness can be hard to detect. In fact, gifted children often do poorly in school before their need for more stimulating work is spotted. Abilities can also change over time, so parents need to stay on top of their child’s performance. Psychoeducational testing is the gold standard for identifying gifted learners.
Gifted children can’t “make it on their own.” They can’t be treated like just any other student. If they aren’t properly challenged or stimulated, they often disengage from school.
There are two main ways to support gifted students in the classroom. (1) Dedicated gifted programs are self-contained classes or schools where students learn alongside other gifted ones. (2) In-class adaptations, on the other hand, enrich or accelerate studies in one or more subjects for an individual student. The adaptations can be offered in a regular class—alongside regular learners—or in a dedicated gifted program.
The right kind of support will depend on a student’s learning abilities, social needs, and other factors. Often, students who are either highly or profoundly gifted, gifted in only one subject, or gifted in some subjects and weak in others will need some kind of in-class adaptation.
Public school boards are required by provincial law to support gifted students, although the boards can choose who qualifies for that support and what the support looks like. Private schools, on the other hand, are under no obligation to offer gifted programs. It’s up to parents to determine whether a school is capable of, or willing to, support gifted students. Many private schools don’t. But private schools that do have gifted programs can be ideal choices.
We list private schools with gifted programs on this site, and provide tools for comparing those schools. Moreover, our parent discussion forum allows you to discuss options and get answers to your questions.

The Our Kids podcast: what might surprise you about giftedness

2	Detecting giftedness

Gifted children have learning abilities which are deemed “exceptional”—they are so far ahead of the norm that their needs cannot be met in a regular classroom. Often, this is classified as being in the 98th percentile or above in terms of learning ability.

This does not mean, though, that gifted children have advanced learning abilities across the board. They often have areas of weakness as well. For example, a child may be advanced in math and science, but struggle with English and literature. Joanne Foster and Dona Matthews, two of Canada’s leading authorities on gifted education and authors of Being Smart about Gifted Education (2009), put it this way: “gifted learners have exceptionally advanced subject-specific ability at a given point in time.” [emphasis ours]

“At any given point in time” is significant. Giftedness—and the needs of gifted students—is more fluid than you might think. This is especially true for developing children. Students can be doing fine with regular programming one year and then, after a developmental spurt, race past their peers the next year. Students can also be weak in certain subjects and later become strong in them, and vice versa.

When a student’s abilities far exceed what’s asked of them in the classroom, even if only in one subject or for a limited period of time, they can easily become disillusioned and underachieve at school.

Is my child gifted?

Sometimes it will be obvious that your child is gifted and should be given bigger challenges. Often, however, it’s not obvious. This is partly because gifted kids often struggle in school, which can be surprising. After all, if someone is a talented learner, shouldn’t they love school and do well in it? And if they really want more challenge, shouldn’t they show off their abilities by impressing everyone? This thinking underestimates the depth of a child’s boredom when placed in an unstimulating classroom, and just how far ahead of their peers gifted students really are. It also projects onto kids a level of maturity and sophistication they often lack.

The fact is, sometimes misbehaving and underachieving in school can be a symptom of a lack of challenge (just as it can be a symptom of too much challenge, or a fear of testing oneself and coming up short).

Although it can be difficult to detect, giftedness often comes with certain characteristics. The Young Gifted Child: A Guide for Families (2010) outlines some of these. You should be on the lookout for them in your child. Note that a child doesn’t need to exhibit all, or even most, of these characteristics to be gifted:

Advanced use of words and language.
Early reading skills.
Keen observation and curiosity.
Good memories.
Periods of intense concentration.
Talent in the arts.
Sticking with complex tasks.
Understanding complex concepts.
Thinking beyond the obvious.
Challenging or questioning teachers.
Being bored in class.
Struggling with some or many subjects in school.
Behavioural issues in school.
Difficulty relating to and interacting with peers.

It can be especially hard to detect giftedness in preschool kids. Again, The Young Gifted Child guide outlines some of the signs you should be on the lookout for in your young child:

Understanding the meanings and use of words better than other children of the same age.
Curiosity about many things and asking questions often.
Being adept at working puzzles or solving problems.
Good memories.
Interest in challenging concepts such as time and space.
An active imagination that may include imaginary friends.
The ability to concentrate on certain activities much longer than other children of the same age.
Reading or figuring out math-related problems at an early age.
Showing talent in music, art or drama.

Formal gifted assessments

A gifted test or assessment can remove some guesswork from the equation. It should provide detailed information about your child’s learning strengths and weaknesses. It also can provide important data about their social and emotional makeup. Thus, gifted tests can play a crucial role in your decisions about schooling options for your child (whether they’re a gifted learner or not).

There are two main options for assessing your child for giftedness: a condensed gifted test or a comprehensive psychoeducational assessment. Either assessment must be administered by registered educational psychologists.

As Toronto-based educational psychologists Valentin and Blackstock point out, a condensed gifted test usually involves:

A meeting with a psychologist.
A test of cognitive ability.
A brief screening of academic skills, such as reading and writing.
A brief screening of social and emotional issues.
An oral feedback session with the psychologist.
A written report of findings.

A psychoeducational assessment, meanwhile, is much more comprehensive. It includes each part of the gifted test, but also assesses your child’s academic and reasoning skills, problem-solving abilities, memory, attention, and other cognitive measures. Assessments can take a full day or more.

Further below, we list credible psychoeducational assessment centres in Canada.

3	Learning needs of gifted children

As discussed above, keeping a gifted child in a regular classroom, without adaptations, typically leads to a mismatch between the curriculum and the child’s learning needs. The child will feel bored and frustrated as a result—not to mention the frustration created for parents, teachers, and school staff. This can give rise to social problems, such as conflicts with teachers and parents, and being excluded from peer groups.

Moreover, research suggests these problems can emerge at a young age. The well-known Marland Report on gifted children in 1972, the first of its kind, reports that

“Because the majority of gifted children’s school adjustment problems occur between kindergarten and fourth grade, about half of gifted children became ‘mental dropouts’ at around 10 years of age.”

It adds that

“Gifted and talented children are, in fact, deprived [if they remain in unsuitable learning environments] and can suffer psychological damage and permanent impairment of their abilities to function well which is equal to or greater than the similar deprivation suffered by any other population with special needs.”

For these reasons, gifted children usually shouldn’t remain in a classroom without significant modifications. Programs should be put in place to tailor the curriculum to their strengths and weaknesses. And, these programs should be administered by teachers with the right training (ideally, specialized training in gifted education).

Gifted students can’t be treated like all other students. They typically need special attention and tailored instruction to keep them engaged.

4	Types of gifted programs

Here we begin our review of the different types of programs for gifted kids. We first outline the options, along with their strengths and weaknesses. Further down the page, we synthesize this into a comparison table and look at what types of students might fit what type of program. Much further down, we offer advice on choosing a specific program, including questions to ask yourself about your child. Further down still, we provide tools for comparing those schools in terms of the specific accommodations they offer.

(i) Dedicated gifted programs	(ii) In-class adaptations	(iii) Other options
Schools for gifted kids only, where the curriculum is enhanced or accelerated for all students. or Full-time, dedicated gifted classes, in parallel to regular classes. The curriculum is enhanced or accelerated for all students.	Individualized support provided within a regular classroom, alongside regular learners, through a variety of strategies. or Adaptations can also, in theory, be used in dedicated gifted environments to better tailor curricula to individual learners.	Whole-grade acceleration (grade skipping). Note: some schools’ curricula are accelerated for all their students, whether formally gifted or not. or Part-time withdrawal gifted classes or support. or A variety of other, less common strategies.

(i) Dedicated gifted programs

One common form of gifted education is a dedicated program for gifted kids. Dedicated gifted programs are self-contained gifted schools or classes. In this environment, students work exclusively with other gifted learners. All the students in a dedicated gifted learning environment will have their curriculum enhanced, accelerated, or both.

Dedicated gifted learning programs typically provide a standardized curriculum: each student will work at the same (likely accelerated) pace and have their curriculum enriched in the same ways. Moreover, the curriculum will usually be accelerated and/or enriched in all subjects. That said, in some cases, it may be possible for teachers to make special curricular adaptations for individual students in this setting.

Dedicated gifted schools:

If your child’s a gifted learner, one option is to place your child in a school for gifted kids only. In these schools, all the children will be advanced learners. The curriculum is accelerated or enriched in various ways, to suit the needs of the students as a whole.

Dedicated gifted schools can provide gifted kids with the right kind of challenge, as well as the chance to meet and interact with students of like abilities and interests. Also, they can give students the chance to work with teachers who have some kind of focused training in gifted education.

On the other hand, if the curriculum is highly standardized, the learning needs of each child may not be taken into proper account—and often, gifted children have very different needs from one another. For some gifted students, then, being in an environment with other gifted children may not be enough: they may need individually tailored support, such as in-class adaptations (which we will outline further below). This is especially true for students who are highly gifted (who are above the 98th percentile), or who aren’t gifted in all core subjects. If you think your child might need tailored support, it’s important to make sure the school provides it.

Also, there are some social concerns with dedicated gifted schools. For starters, being in a segregated environment can reinforce a child’s self-image as “gifted” (and “different”), potentially in a negative way. These children might also experience social exclusion.

There’s also a concern that schools where all kids are gifted may lead to a kind of “hothouse” or “sheltering” effect. The worry is that there may not be enough opportunities to interact with a broad range of people, something that’s crucial to future success within and outside of school.

School breakdown:
Gifted support

Dedicated programs (12%)
In-class adaptations (24%)
No specialized support (64%)

Dedicated gifted classes:

Another option for gifted kids is a full-time, self-contained gifted classroom which exists parallel to non-gifted classes in the school. As with schools for gifted children, in this setting, your child learns exclusively with other gifted kids. This enables your child to interact with peers with similar abilities and interests. And your child will be instructed by teachers with focused training in gifted education.

There is a lot of support for this approach in Canada and the United States. Nancy Robinson (2003) describes these kinds of classes as “singularly inexpensive and ... probably constituting the easiest and most effective way to meet the needs of many (certainly not all) gifted children.”

The potential educational concerns for gifted classes are similar to those for gifted schools. Dedicated gifted classes—if their curriculum is highly standardized—may still not meet the needs of each student. Again, gifted students often have quite different learning needs from one to another. The teacher must have the right training to distinguish between the learning needs of different students and make the necessary adjustments.

Also, gifted classes can present the same social concerns as gifted schools. Children labelled as “gifted” and segregated from other students can be subject to social exclusion from the broader school population. And there’s the same concern that gifted classes don’t provide enough chances for kids to interact with a broad range of people—people they’re likely to encounter in different stages of their lives.

(ii) In-class adaptations

A different approach to gifted education involves making certain kinds of in-class adaptations for individual children. Provided the teacher has the right training and resources, these adjustments can be made within a regular classroom, alongside regular students. Instead of a full-time gifted class or school, then, you might choose a regular school or class that can support the needs of your child. (Not all schools provide this support, so it’s important to find a school that does).

In-class adaptations can also be used in dedicated gifted environments—that is, in full-time gifted classes and schools. Some gifted students need custom programming, even when in a class with other gifted students.

There’s a wide range of in-class adaptations that can be made for your gifted child. They include the following (see Being Smart about Gifted Education by Dona Matthews and Joanne Foster for a thorough discussion of these):

Curriculum compacting
Single-subject acceleration
Single-subject enrichment
Guided independent study
Project-based learning
Cross-grade resources
Cyber learning
Peer coaching
Career exploration

Adaptation	Frequency (% of schools)
Curriculum compacting	11%
Subject enrichment	21%
Guided independent study	16%
Cyber-learning	14%

Curriculum compacting:

Gifted children can often learn with far less instruction and practice than other students. In curriculum compacting, studies are condensed for those who need to work less on the basics.

Using less time to study some subjects frees up time and energy for other learning opportunities. As Matthews and Foster point out, it also gives some students the chance to explore areas of interest in deeper ways and to master material they otherwise wouldn’t have the time for.

This has the added benefit that it can reduce the boredom that stems from having to relearn material that’s already been mastered. It can also lead to improvements in behaviour, social skills, and emotional outlook.

Single-subject acceleration:

It’s rare for an advanced learner to require adaptations in all subject areas. As Matthews and Foster point out, focusing on just one subject area can be a good way to encourage a love of learning and a powerful engagement with school for many students.

Single-subject acceleration involves increasing the pace of studies for a student who excels in a subject. For example, a student gifted in science might be given an accelerated science curriculum tailored to the student’s strengths.

This could mean “skipping a grade” in a single subject. If the child is exceptionally gifted in that subject, it could mean skipping many grades.

In middle and high school, a student might pursue learning at a faster pace through Advanced Placement courses, International Baccalaureate programs, and other high-level options.

Single-subject enrichment:

In this case, studies in a single subject are enriched rather than accelerated. This means gifted students are allowed to explore similar topics as their peers, and at a similar pace, but with far more depth and breadth.

Single-subject enrichment can be done within the classroom or on a pull-out basis. It may be managed by a teacher, a librarian, or another member of the school staff who’s willing and able.

Guided independent study:

In independent study, students pursue interests beyond the classroom with the help of teachers or parents. Examples include learning about a period in history, the effects of carbon emissions on the environment, to the side effects of certain kinds of drugs. Because it’s independent, gifted students can pursue high-level, rigorous study of a subject they have a special interest in.

Project-based learning:

Project-based learning can be used in almost any subject and can be a great way to teach different subjects in an engaging way to advanced learners. Project-based learning involves learning by doing: students are challenged with real-world problems and asked to provide solutions that matter. It works with gifted students because of its inherent flexibility: there isn’t a ceiling to how sophisticated the student’s solution can be (provided that the original problem is interesting enough). Project-based learning can be done individually or in groups.

Cross-grade resources:

One effective in-class approach to gifted teaching involves using resources available to students in higher grade levels. For example, a student advanced in the area of languages might meet twice a week with a Spanish teacher and older students to speak Spanish and discuss Spanish books. The student might find that the discussion and debate in the regular meetings are enough to sustain their interest in Spanish.

Cyber learning:

If done well, cyber learning can supplement work done in class, enabling students to deepen and broaden their knowledge via computers and the internet. Of course, as Matthews and Foster say, there’s nothing wrong with some of a student’s learning taking place through websites, discussion forums, blogs, or any other online resource. What would be problematic, though, is if all of a student’s learning took place online.

Peer coaching:

Peer coaching involves working with other students of mixed strengths, with the help of teachers when needed. Gifted students can deepen their knowledge of topics by teaching them to others. However, for it to work, peer coaching must be tailored to the individual learning needs of the student being coached and to the learning objectives of the task.

Career exploration:

Advanced students might be given the chance to explore career options of special interest. This might involve meeting with adults to discuss their careers, doing thorough research on a career, or being in a co-op program where one spends part of the day or week working as an intern. Career exploration can enhance the interest in and relevance of school for gifted learners.

(iii) Grade skipping and other options

Dedicated programs for gifted kids and in-class adaptations are the two main approaches to gifted education. There are other options as well, though. One of these options is whole-grade acceleration or “grade skipping.” Another is withdrawal or “pull-out” gifted classes. In addition to these two options, there are several other less common approaches to gifted education. These less common approaches offer either full-time gifted programming or are intended to supplement a gifted student’s ordinary curriculum.

Whole-grade acceleration:

Sometimes children who are gifted students have their studies accelerated by skipping one or more grades. On the other hand, a child might skip a grade or more in just one subject, enter a program early, or be put in a split-grade classroom where the child progresses at approximately the same level as the older grade(s).

Acceleration of any type enables gifted students to move through school more quickly than usual. It can help to resolve the lack of stimulation felt by many gifted learners, as well as the social problems this can give rise to.

On the other hand, acceleration can impede a child’s social progress by preventing the child from being with children of the same age. Acceleration can also lead to gaps in knowledge, given the fast pace of learning and the practice of skipping over subjects other students look at more closely.

Keep in mind that many of the private schools listed on this site, even those not labelled “gifted,” have an accelerated curriculum for all their students. In these schools, students of the same age, whether they’ve been formally classified as gifted or not, do the work of older peers. This approach may be enough on its own for some gifted students, specifically those who are well-rounded and already well-adjusted. However, learners who are either highly gifted or whose strengths aren’t balanced across all core subjects will need a more tailored approach, such as in-class adaptations.

Adaptation	Frequency (% of schools)
Accelerated curriculum (school-wide)	10%

Withdrawal gifted classes:

Sometimes parents place their gifted child in a withdrawal gifted class or program. In withdrawal gifted classes, students are taken out of their regular class on a part-time basis to receive some kind of advanced instruction.

There’s been lots of skepticism about part-time gifted programs. Many, including Matthews and Foster, claim that the gifted learning needs of children are too important to be restricted to the day(s) on which their gifted class is scheduled.

Furthermore, as they also point out, children can be penalized for missing their regular class (for example, by missing a class field trip), and sometimes teachers resent the pull-out teacher taking the strongest students out of their class. Perhaps most worrisome, the work in withdrawal gifted classes is often not differentiated for learning needs or properly integrated into children’s other studies.

Less common approaches to modifying instruction:

There are also some less common teaching strategies that go beyond basic in-class adaptations. They include the following (for further discussion, see Matthews and Foster):

Second language immersion and dual-track programs: Language immersion programs and other programs focused both on general studies and more in-depth study of a subject, language, or skill.
Specialty subjects: In-depth classes or programs on subjects such as music, drama, dance, or computers.
Specialized schools: Schools with a specific focus on a subject or skill such as the performing arts, applied sciences, technology, or languages.
Alternative curricula: Schools that value a special type of achievement such as the International Baccalaureate or Montessori schools.
Homeschooling: Addressing gifted needs at home, using an approach that may not be used in the private or public school system.
Extracurricular activities: Supplementing school with activities that children find fun or stimulating.
Mentorships: Getting expert guidance in one or more areas of interest.
Books: Reading as a way to expand and deepen one’s interests and hobbies.
Travel: Exploring different places as a way to broaden one’s horizons.

5	Comparing program options

Dedicated gifted programs versus in-class adaptations

The two main kinds of gifted programs are dedicated gifted environments and in-class adaptations. Each option has its benefits and potential drawbacks. To help your search for the right program, we summarize some common arguments used in support of each option. These arguments are generic, in that they aren’t tailored to your child. Moreover, it’s often just as important to look at the specific school or program as it is to look at the type of program.

	Arguments for dedicated gifted programs	Arguments for in-class adaptations
Pedagogical	The curriculum is challenging across the board—in all subjects. Gifted students are likely to find this curriculum stimulating. This is particularly true for either students gifted in more than one core subject, such as math, science, or the language arts, or students who aren’t highly gifted (in which case they’ll need further accommodations). Students can learn and interact with other gifted students. This can be ideal for some gifted learners. Students may find working with other gifted learners highly rewarding. Teachers are likely to have specialized training in gifted education. This means they’re more likely to be proficient at differentiation—at tailoring their teaching style to the learning needs of each student. This is extremely important in gifted education.	These programs target students’ unique learning needs and interests. Instead of being given a “one-size-fits-all” curriculum, education is accelerated or enriched in only certain subjects—the ones students are advanced in. Since gifted learning abilities are often subject-specific, this has obvious advantages. Students are less likely to fall behind in certain subjects or develop gaps in knowledge. Students who are exceptionally gifted can still be supported, due to the inherent flexibility of in-class adaptations. Students are less likely to feel the pressure that sometimes goes with the “gifted” label. This allows them to simply focus on their schoolwork in a healthy way.
Social	Students interact with peers who are likely to have more in common with them. This increases their chances of finding friends among their classmates. Particularly for gifted schools, students are less likely to feel excluded in social situations. When gifted students aren’t in the minority, they’re less likely to be bullied or ostracized, at least for being gifted. On the other hand, being in a “different” school or class can reinforce a child’s idea that they themselves are “different.” This self-labelling can hurt their social development, depending on how they internalize it.	Students are less subject to the “hothouse effect.” They’ll be able to learn and interact with students with a wide range of abilities and interests. This can promote healthy, well-rounded social development. Students don’t have to be labelled as “gifted,” and thus don’t have to be labelled as “different.” They can feel a part of the regular class—and be treated by their peers as such.

Ultimately, neither approach— dedicated environments nor in-class adaptations—is “better” than the other. What matters is the fit between the approach and your child. Below, we outline which students might be suitable for which approach. Remember: there is a lot more to picking a school than just the points below. This table is meant to stimulate your thinking, not replace it. Note that your child might display signs from both columns.

Dedicated gifted environments may be suitable for students who:	In-class adaptations may be suitable for students who:
Are gifted in one or more core subject, such as math, science, or the language arts. Feel unchallenged in many school subjects. Have few, if any, subjects they’re below or well-below average in, especially in the core curriculum. Are high achievers with a strong academic focus.	Are gifted in only one subject. Are advanced in a subject that’s not a part of the “core curriculum,” such as music, the fine arts, or a sport (such as tennis). Are below or well-below average in one or more core subjects. Are highly gifted in one or more subjects. Are academically oriented, but well-rounded with an active social life. Are likely to benefit from exposure to students with a wide range of abilities, interests, and backgrounds.

Dedicated gifted environments may be suitable for students who:

In-class adaptations may be suitable for students who:

Are gifted in one or more core subject, such as math, science, or the language arts.
Feel unchallenged in many school subjects.
Have few, if any, subjects they’re below or well-below average in, especially in the core curriculum.
Are high achievers with a strong academic focus.

Are gifted in only one subject.
Are advanced in a subject that’s not a part of the “core curriculum,” such as music, the fine arts, or a sport (such as tennis).
Are below or well-below average in one or more core subjects.
Are highly gifted in one or more subjects.
Are academically oriented, but well-rounded with an active social life.
Are likely to benefit from exposure to students with a wide range of abilities, interests, and backgrounds.

To discuss which option might be best for your child, go to our parent discussion forum, frequented by other parents, schools, and education experts.

To start looking at schools, see our list. You can also compare schools by the specific programs they offer (including what kind of in-class accommodations they offer).

Acceleration versus enrichment

While our focus thus far has been on distinguishing between dedicated gifted programs and in-class adaptations, there’s another distinction that cuts across these approaches. Janyce Lastman, a Canadian education consultant and case manager, draws an important distinction between acceleration and enrichment. Some programs, whether dedicated or in-class, emphasize acceleration; others emphasize enrichment.

In acceleration, the student completes studies in less time. This approach increases the pace of learning, as students move quickly to topics normally reserved for older students. It includes options such as whole-grade acceleration, single-subject acceleration, curriculum compacting, early entrance to school, Advanced Placement courses, and International Baccalaureate programs.

In enrichment, on the other hand, students cover topics at more or less the same pace as their age-peers. However, they cover these topics in both a broader and deeper manner than regular students. This approach includes options such as independent studies, project-based learning, mentorships, career exploration, cross-grade resources, dual-track programs, and specialty subjects.

Some approaches to gifted education can involve either acceleration or enrichment, or both. These include cyber learning, peer coaching, and extracurricular activities.

There is no one learning environment that’s suitable for all gifted students. What really matters is the fit between the student and the environment.

	Acceleration approach	Enrichment approach	Both approaches
Dedicated gifted environments	Some dedicated schools and programs emphasize acceleration over enrichment	Some dedicated schools and programs emphasize enrichment over acceleration	Many dedicated schools and programs balance both acceleration and enrichment
In-class adaptations	Single-subject acceleration Curriculum compacting	Independent studies Project-based learning Mentorships Career exploration Cross-grade resources Dual-track programs Specialty subjects	Extracurricular activities Peer coaching Cyber learning
Other	Whole-grade acceleration Early entrance to school AP courses and the IB curriculum are other acceleration approaches. That said, they aren’t dedicated gifted programs, given that their students don’t need to be formally identified as gifted. Nor are they in-class adaptations, given their level of standardization.

6	Public versus private gifted schools

What’s a better bet for your gifted child: a private school or a public one? Well, it depends on the private school you’re looking at, along with what’s available in your public school district.

Public school boards are mandated by provincial law to provide some kind of gifted programming for kids who need it. School boards vary, however, in who they deem gifted and in need of programming, and in what that programming looks like. Sometimes, gifted programming takes the form of a dedicated gifted class. Students enrolled at a school without separate gifted classes might be asked to switch to a school which does have those classes. Sometimes gifted programming involves in-class adaptations, assuming the teacher is qualified in gifted education. Some school boards in Canada also have dedicated gifted schools, though this is less common in the public system.

Some public schools offer the GATE program, which stands for Gifted and Talented Education. The GATE program is designed to address the learning styles of students identified as talented and gifted. In Canada, there is a GATE program offered in Calgary, Alberta, by the Calgary Board of Education (CBE).

In Toronto, there are also schools and programs for gifted students. The Toronto District School Board (TDSB) has 38 schools with a gifted program. A TDSB gifted program is a great option for many students.

Private schools, unlike public schools, are under no such obligation to support gifted students. It’s up to parents to find out if a private school will make special accommodations for their child. Many schools don’t. Remember, public schools are expected, at least in theory, to try to accommodate everyone.

Private schools, on the other hand, can be more narrowly focused. They can choose their “type” of student, and don’t have to compromise when designing education programs specifically for that type. (It can be inefficient to try to be all things to all people). This, in fact, is one of the virtues of private schools: they offer a wide array of niche choices.

What that means, however, is not all private schools will be the right choice for your child. Gifted children are by definition “exceptional”—they don’t fit the norm. It’s up to you, then, to find a private school that’s able and eager to be flexible in supporting a gifted student. Luckily, in most areas of Canada, there are private schools that do support gifted students, whether they offer dedicated gifted programs or in-class adaptations.

Of course, the benefits of private schools—assuming they support gifted children—are numerous. The right one can be an excellent way to get individualized support for your gifted child. In particular, you should look for a private school that’s attentive and responsive to the learning needs of your gifted child.

Whether you’re looking at private or public schools, though, the quality of gifted programming will have a lot to do with the teachers. Look for schools with teachers who are trained in educating gifted children. Unfortunately, in Canada, the federal and provincial governments provide little funding for teacher training in gifted education (or for gifted education itself).

For more general information on private schools, see our private school basics guide. You can also visit the parent discussion forum.

From a young age, gifted students enjoy taking on tasks that are challenging. This can enable them to improve their reasoning and problem-solving abilities.

7	Subject-specific giftedness

As we’ve discussed, gifted students tend to have advanced learning abilities that are subject-specific. Often, they are gifted in some subjects, while possessing average to below-average abilities in other subjects. It’s less common that a student is equally advanced across the board. This makes it important to find the right gifted program for your child, one tailored to their unique learning strengths and weaknesses.

As a rule, students with very subject-specific giftedness are better off in a classroom that makes tailored adaptations for them. In this setting, students can have their studies accelerated, curriculum compacted, or studies enriched in a single subject.

Dedicated schools or programs for gifted kids, on the other hand, are not usually devoted to one subject. They’re generally more suitable for students who are gifted in many subjects. Having said that, if a student is gifted in a “core” subject—such as math, science, or the language arts—dedicated gifted programs can still be a good fit. This is especially true if the student’s learning abilities are at least average in most other core subjects.

Below, we look more closely at some of the options available for students with common forms of subject-specific giftedness.

Advanced math and science

Some students have gifted learning abilities in only math or science. These students might be given subject-specific accelerations in which they skip a grade in math or science, or in which their math or science studies are condensed. They might also be offered different kinds of enrichment: they might study with a high-level math or science teacher, or participate in a math or science study group with other advanced students.

There are also extracurricular opportunities for these students. For instance, there are after-school math enrichment programs or camps, such as Math Spirit, located in many cities in Canada.

There are also plenty of enrichment programs for advanced science students. In Toronto alone, for instance, there are part-time science programs provided by the Ontario Science Centre Science School and the University of Toronto Da Vinci Engineering Enrichment Program (DEEP). They offer lectures and classes in physics, biology, chemistry, engineering, and computer science.

When choosing a school, make sure to look into their approach to teaching math for gifted students. Some students do well with traditional math instruction, while others prefer the discovery approach. We identify the math approach of each school we profile on this site.

The same can be said of science instruction: some students do well with expository instruction, while others thrive with the inquiry approach. We also identify the science approach of each school we profile on this site.

Advanced language arts

Some students have advanced learning abilities in only the language arts. These students might have their studies accelerated or curriculum condensed in English or a second language, such as Spanish or French. The teacher might also offer some kind of out-of-class enrichment to help these students improve their language abilities. For instance, they might be given the chance to attend a Spanish discussion group or a reading group focusing on Spanish novels.

There are also extracurricular opportunities for students with advanced learning abilities in the language arts. For instance, they might attend an after-school second-language class in Spanish or French, or join a summer camp for language acquisition.

Advanced in non-core subjects

Some students are advanced learners in a subject not considered part of the “core curriculum.” For instance, some students are advanced in one of the fine arts, such as painting or sculpting. Other students are advanced in some area of music, such as composition or playing the piano. Yet other students are advanced in a sport, such as soccer.

These students would not be considered gifted based on provincial ministry standards, and likely wouldn’t be eligible for a dedicated gifted program. And given how specific their advanced learning abilities are, they likely wouldn’t be a good fit. These kinds of students are often better off obtaining in-class adaptations of the kind we’ve discussed: subject-specific acceleration, curriculum compacting, independent studies, mentorships, and the like.

Some of these students may also benefit the most from extracurricular opportunities. A student who’s a talented pianist may be better off, in some cases, taking after-school piano lessons, rather than obtaining in-class adaptations. A student who’s a talented painter might be better off taking after-school art classes or doing an apprenticeship, instead of receiving in-class adaptations. A student who’s a great soccer player might be best off playing on the school soccer team (if there is one), attending soccer camps, or both.

Students with very subject-specific giftedness are better off in a classroom that makes tailored adaptations for them.

8	Gifted education at different ages

Preschool

It’s extremely difficult to identify giftedness in preschool-age children, and indeed it often goes undetected in the early years. This is partly because these kids haven’t been in school for long (if at all), so there is a short history from which to spot patterns. Moreover, young kids are less able to communicate their thoughts and needs, and signs your child might be gifted can be confusing at the preschool age.

Yet, just like older children, these kids often end up feeling unchallenged and develop social and emotional problems. It’s important, then, to identify your child’s needs as early as possible, and offer various enrichment opportunities, if those are called for.

As the parent of a gifted toddler or preschool child, you’re faced with a few main options:

Trying to meet your child’s learning needs at home.
Placing your child in a preschool to provide a challenging and engaging learning environment.
Placing your child in a preschool and supplementing this with out-of-school enrichment.

If you decide to place your gifted child in a preschool, you’ll have to consider the type of preschool you want. There are no full-time, dedicated gifted programs or schools for preschoolers, but there are other options to consider. There are academic, play-based, Montessori, Waldorf, and Reggio Emilia preschools. We compare preschool and daycare approaches one-to-one in three separate articles: Montessori vs. Waldorf, Montessori vs. Reggio Emilia, and Waldorf vs. Reggio Emilia.

Each type of preschool has its own underlying philosophy and way of addressing the needs of gifted children. It’s important not to get too consumed with picking the “best” preschool approach, and instead focus on the following:

The specific characteristics and needs of your child, and how those might or might not fit with a particular approach.
The specific practices of the school you’re investigating.

The Young Gifted Child guide outlines the following best practices for any preschool for gifted learners:

They should be willing and able to adjust teaching methods and curriculum to the needs of gifted and talented children.
They should help children pursue their interests and talents.
They should involve children in creative-thinking activities.
They should provide a variety of materials to explore, examine, or investigate.
They should encourage children to speak, question, discuss, and be actively involved in learning.
They should encourage parents to be involved.

You play a crucial role in fostering the learning abilities of your young gifted child. Again, The Young Gifted Child guide outlines some best practices:

Promote your child’s growing need for independence.
Set clear limits and guidelines.
Communicate clearly and with enthusiasm.
Expand your child’s vocabulary by using new words.
Provide a variety of learning materials.
Help develop special skills.
Find playmates who have similar interests.
Promote creativity and encourage your child to try new things.
Read to, engage with, and cultivate interests and passions with your child.

If you have a young gifted or precocious child, check out the excellent book Beyond Intelligence: Secrets for Raising Happily Productive Kids (2014). It provides a treasure trove of parenting insights by two Canadian experts in child development, Dona Matthews and Joanne Foster.

If you’re ready, you can look at our list of gifted programs and filter it for preschools.

Elementary school

At the elementary or primary school level, there are more reliable ways to identify gifted children. Since kids are in school at this age, there are more chances to identify their learning needs and, in particular, whether they have advanced needs in any specific areas.

It becomes increasingly important to identify the learning needs of kids at this level, since at this age they tend to be more engaged in the learning process. For parents who suspect their school-age child has advanced learning needs, a formal gifted test or assessment is often recommended. Usually, a formal test can determine whether there’s a mismatch between the learning needs of a child and the instruction provided. The mismatch can then be corrected by tailoring the curriculum to the child’s learning needs.

As already discussed, there is a wide variety of schooling options for gifted children at this level. These include dedicated gifted programs, such as self-contained gifted classes and schools. They also include adaptations made in a regular classroom, such as condensing the curriculum, accelerating the pace of study, and providing out-of-class enrichment opportunities.

When searching for an elementary school for your gifted child, you should choose a school that’s the right fit. This means choosing a school that can meet your child’s specific learning needs and gives them the best chance to thrive both academically and socially.

You’ll need to be diligent in trying to understand your child’s unique learning profile so that you can select the right school or program. Typically, though, the search for the right school or program for a gifted student is an ongoing process. Adjustments to curriculum and teaching methods often need to be made. In some cases, you may make the decision to move your child to a new school or program in order to adapt to their evolving learning needs.

If you’re ready, you can look at our list of gifted programs and filter it for elementary schools.

Middle school

At the middle school or junior high level, it’s recommended that children thought to be advanced learners be given a formal gifted test or assessment. Ideally, this assessment will determine whether there’s a mismatch between the child’s learning needs and their current instruction, and show how this mismatch might be fixed.

Unfortunately, if a gifted child hasn’t been given a formal gifted test by this time, there’s a good chance their learning needs are not being met and that they’re feeling unchallenged in school. These children may already have experienced a lot of frustration, which can lead to social and behavioural problems.

There’s a wide range of schooling options for gifted students at the upper levels.

There are lots of schooling options for gifted students at this level. These include dedicated gifted programs, such as self-contained gifted classes and schools. They also include in-class adaptations, such as condensing the curriculum, accelerating the pace of study, and providing out-of-class enrichment opportunities. Also, there are some enrichment opportunities at this level which are not always available at elementary school. These include project-based learning, independent studies, and peer coaching.

To select the right school or program for your child, you’ll need a strong understanding of their learning needs. Depending on your child’s age and maturity, it’s often a good idea to involve them in decisions about schooling at this level. But it may be necessary to frequently adjust programming for your child in response to evolving learning and social needs, just as it may be at the elementary school level.

If you’re ready, you can look at our list of gifted programs and filter it for middle schools.

High school

By the time high school begins, many advanced learners will already have been given a formal gifted test. If not, it’s imperative to do so, since any mismatch between your child’s learning abilities and their current instruction needs to be addressed right away. The assessment is all the more important for children with social or emotional problems, which may be due, at least in part, to unmet learning needs.

There’s an even wider variety of schooling options for gifted students at this level. There’s dedicated gifted programming, such as self-contained gifted classes and schools. There are also in-class adaptations, such as condensing the curriculum and accelerating studies. Also, there are even more out-of-class enrichment opportunities for high school students. These include project-based learning, independent studies, mentorships, and career exploration. There are also Advanced Placement courses and International Baccalaureate programs available at the high school level for gifted students (and students who aren’t deemed “gifted”), which we’ve already discussed.

To select the right high school program for your gifted child, you’ll need a strong understanding of their learning needs. At this level, it’s important to involve your child in the decision, given their ability to know their own learning needs. You should collaborate with your child to choose a school or program that gives them the best chance to thrive both academically and socially.

Gifted programs often provide good preparation for university, and many universities think highly of gifted programs. This means graduating from a high school gifted program can improve your child’s chances of both being accepted to a good university and excelling once they get there.

If you’re ready, you can look at our list of gifted programs and filter it for high schools.

Gifted learners often find alternative curricula stimulating and rewarding.

Young gifted children need lots of stimulation and plenty of learning opportunities.

9	Choosing and applying to gifted schools and programs

In your search for the right gifted program, it’s important to consult with teachers, education specialists, and (in some cases) your child.

Begin researching gifted programs early, as much as a year before applying. You can research private schools with gifted programs here on this site (starting with our list of schools), on individual school websites, at open houses, during on-site visits, at our annual school expos, and other venues.

You’ll need to reflect on several questions during this process.

Consider exactly what you’re looking for in a school or program, and why. Your focus should not be on the school, but on the fit between the school and your child. Your first step, then, is to develop a clear picture of your child’s personality, learning style, and academic abilities. This means being clear on both their academic strengths and weaknesses.

Here are some questions to get you started:

How is my child best intellectually challenged and stimulated?
Which subject(s) does my child excel in, and which does my child struggle in?
What kinds of academic interests or goals does my child have that are not being met in my child’s current class?
Does my child tend to learn better in groups or independently?
What are my child’s primary social needs and how might different programs accommodate these needs?
What type of social environment is most likely to promote my child’s development and growth as a person?

Then you need to start thinking about the following:

Whether to place your child in a dedicated gifted environment—in other words, a gifted school or class—or find a regular classroom that will make in-class adaptations for gifted learners.
Whether to choose a gifted program that emphasizes acceleration or enrichment.
Whether to seek or avoid alternative curricula often associated with advanced learning, such as language immersion, International Baccalaureate, Advanced Placement, or Montessori.
If you elect for a mainstream curriculum, whether your child would thrive in a more traditional or progressive curriculum. Or, whether a liberal arts curriculum might be a good option for your child.
Especially if your child is particularly strong or weak in specific subjects, whether there is a specific pedagogical approach they’d prefer. For example, whether your child who’s advanced in math is more likely to thrive learning traditional or discovery-based math.
Your essential must-haves, such as small class sizes or technological facilities.
School size: are you looking for a small or large school or program?
Program duration: are you looking for a school with an elementary and a high school program, where your child can stay for many years?
Whether your child has any special needs that will need support in the classroom (other than advanced learning abilities), such as a learning disability, autism spectrum disorder, behavioural problem, or physical disability.
The importance of out-of-class resources such as libraries, homework help, tutoring, and counselling services.
The importance you place on out-of-class enrichment opportunities.
If you’re leaning toward dedicated gifted programming: the importance you place on your child having opportunities to interact with a wide range of students, including some not enrolled in the gifted program.

You want to have an idea of the kind of environment your child will thrive in academically, socially, physically, and emotionally. Your idea can be tentative—but you should have it clear in your mind.

Questions to ask prospective schools

There are some standard questions to ask schools when investigating them.

Beyond those, there are also questions to ask schools about their gifted program. They include:

In-class adaptations	Dedicated gifted programs
Do you offer in-class accommodations for special needs students, and if so, which kinds? Do you offer in-class accommodations for students with advanced learning abilities (a particular kind of special need)? Does a student need to be formally identified as “gifted” to be given these accommodations? What kinds of accommodations do you offer for gifted learners? Do you offer accelerated studies or out-of-class enrichment opportunities? Are your accommodations offered on a continual basis (so that children will be able to receive them for their entire stay at the school)? Exactly what kind of training do your teachers have? What training do they have in gifted education? Are your teachers trained to differentiate between students according to learning needs? Print this list	Do your teachers have specialized training in gifted education, and will they be offered ongoing training in this field? In what specific ways is your curriculum different from ordinary curricula (for non-gifted students)? Is it accelerated (or condensed), and if so, how? Is it enriched, and if so, how? Are your standards of evaluation different than in non-gifted programs? Do you make any in-class adaptations for gifted students who don’t fit the typical mold of their fellow classmates? If your child needs it: do you offer in-class special needs support? Do you offer out-of-class enrichment opportunities such as independent studies, mentorships, specialty subjects, career exploration, and leadership opportunities? What kinds of resources are available to students (libraries, homework help, tutoring, and counselling services)? What opportunities are there to interact with students not in the gifted program? Are there any chances for students to do Advanced Placement courses? Print this list

In-class adaptations

Dedicated gifted programs

Do you offer in-class accommodations for special needs students, and if so, which kinds?
Do you offer in-class accommodations for students with advanced learning abilities (a particular kind of special need)?
Does a student need to be formally identified as “gifted” to be given these accommodations?
What kinds of accommodations do you offer for gifted learners?
Do you offer accelerated studies or out-of-class enrichment opportunities?
Are your accommodations offered on a continual basis (so that children will be able to receive them for their entire stay at the school)?
Exactly what kind of training do your teachers have? What training do they have in gifted education?
Are your teachers trained to differentiate between students according to learning needs?

Print this list

Do your teachers have specialized training in gifted education, and will they be offered ongoing training in this field?
In what specific ways is your curriculum different from ordinary curricula (for non-gifted students)? Is it accelerated (or condensed), and if so, how? Is it enriched, and if so, how?
Are your standards of evaluation different than in non-gifted programs?
Do you make any in-class adaptations for gifted students who don’t fit the typical mold of their fellow classmates?
If your child needs it: do you offer in-class special needs support?
Do you offer out-of-class enrichment opportunities such as independent studies, mentorships, specialty subjects, career exploration, and leadership opportunities?
What kinds of resources are available to students (libraries, homework help, tutoring, and counselling services)?
What opportunities are there to interact with students not in the gifted program?
Are there any chances for students to do Advanced Placement courses?

Print this list

It’s best to first discuss these questions with the admissions officer. You can then speak to school directors or principals, as well as teachers. It’s also a good idea to attend one or more classes to get a sense of how they’re run, teaching philosophies, school culture, and the like.

If you want to ask these questions of many schools in one place, look into attending one of our private school expos.

Getting into gifted programs

If you’re seeking specific in-class adaptations for your child at their current school, no formal application process is usually involved. In some cases, you can simply make the request to the teacher. If the teacher is willing and able to make the necessary adaptations, they will do so (with your consent).

On the other hand, if your child is trying to get into a new school, there will be a formal application process. The application materials required will be similar to those required for any private school. These may include:

Photo identification.
Application fee or deposit.
Report cards from the student’s previous school(s).
Transcripts from the student’s previous school(s).
Portfolios of a student’s schoolwork.

In some cases, though, they may also include:

Standardized tests such as the SSAT.
IQ or aptitude tests such as the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC) or the Stanford–Binet Intelligence Scale (SB). (Scoring in the 98th percentile is a good rule of thumb for qualifying as “gifted,” though each private school will have its own criteria and way of interpreting results.)
Psychoeducational assessments.
Entrance essays.
Interviews with the child, parents, and previous teachers.
In-class teacher diagnoses.
Statement detailing student’s history, including personality, academic history, and parents’ financial standing.

The application process for different gifted schools and programs varies widely. Generally, when applying to gifted programs of any kind, the school will try to understand your child’s full cognitive, academic, and social/emotional profile. This helps in deciding how, or whether, a school can adapt its instruction to meet your child’s special learning needs—their strengths and weaknesses.

The right mindset to have is that the school is working with you, not against you. For more general advice on applying to private schools, see our “getting in” guide.

The role of teachers

The quality of gifted programming will always be closely linked to the quality of the teachers running it. Teachers with the expertise to tailor instruction to the learning needs of advanced students can often provide the right kind of programming. On the other hand, teachers without this expertise often can’t.

This is especially true in a regular class where instruction is modified. Teachers will need to be able to recognize that a student has unique learning needs and be able to make the necessary changes. Since teachers vary in their ability to do this, there will be great diversity in the quality of in-class gifted programming.

Thus it’s important to inquire about the credentials and abilities of teachers. You should ask school officials whether teachers have specialized training and experience in gifted education. You should also ask whether teachers are offered any form of ongoing professional development, such as classes, workshops, or seminars in gifted education.

10	Scholarships for gifted students

Some private schools offer needs-based financial aid or bursaries. This means that, if you can demonstrate a need for it, the school will cover either a part or all of tuition for your gifted child.

A school’s decision to grant needs-based aid is not tied to academic performance or giftedness. Nor does asking for aid affect your child’s chances of admission. In most cases, a school will first decide who they want to admit, and only then turn to the question of aid. Also, most schools will have a third party assess a family’s financial aid application. The third party will then recommend to the school how much aid, if any, they should offer.

Remember that schools offer aid because they want a diverse and talented student body. This is especially true for schools for gifted students.

If you are unsure if you would be eligible for aid, you should ask. Schools that offer aid often tell us parents underestimate the availability of aid. Paying for private school can strain even the most comfortable middle-class family, and schools know this.

Financial aid applications are typically very thorough, and you’ll need an organized record of your finances to apply. They often ask for information about family income, real estate assets, mortgages, vehicles, investments (including RRSPs), liabilities, expenses, and even information about child support received. Once again, typically this information is reviewed, confidentially, by a third-party company, who then makes recommendations to the school.

You should begin researching financial aid early by visiting private school websites and calling schools.

Merit-based scholarships

Some students receive scholarships for attending a private school, which is a merit-based form of financial support. Based on specific criteria, such as past academic performance, extracurricular activities, and potential to contribute to the school’s values, your gifted child may receive a scholarship to help finance their education.

That said, most schools don’t offer scholarships, and the scholarships that are offered often only provide partial coverage of private school costs (such as a reduction in tuition fees). We list some of the available scholarships here.

For general advice on affording private school, refer to our paying guide.

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11	Comparing schools with gifted programs

	Tuition (day school)	Students receiving financial aid	Grade eligibility for financial aid	Avg. aid package size (annual)
Fieldstone School Toronto, Ontario JK to 12 (Coed) eSchool school (10 students) Day school (200 students) $19,975 to $27,860	$19,975 to $27,860	10%	JK - 12	$5,000
Albert College Belleville, Ontario Preschool to 12 (Coed) Boarding school (99 students) Day school (204 students) $18,700 to $75,400	$18,700 to $36,900	15%	JK - 12	$7,746
The Country Day School King, Ontario JK to 12 (Coed) Day school (795 students) $31,250 to $31,250	$31,250
Rosseau Lake College Rosseau, Ontario 7 to 12 (Coed) Boarding school (81 students) Day school (39 students) $22,700 to $66,300	$22,700 to $32,700	10%	6 - 12	$10,000
Royal Crown School Scarborough, Ontario 7 to 12 (Coed) Day school (160 students) Boarding school (140 students) $22,800 to $22,800	$22,800		7 - 12
Upper Canada College Toronto, Ontario SK to 12 (Boys) Boarding school (80 students) Day school (1120 students) $36,750 to $71,875	$36,750 to $39,900	18%	5 - 12	$15,000
Crescent School Toronto, Ontario 3 to 12 (Boys) Day school (800 students) $39,590 to $39,590	$39,590	5%	5 - 12	$27,000
Hudson College Toronto, Ontario JK to 12 (Coed) Day school (420 students) $18,250 to $19,500	$18,250 to $19,500	8%	6 - 12	$5,600
Royal St. George's College Toronto, Ontario 3 to 12 (Boys) Day school (447 students) $35,320 to $35,320	$35,320	5%	7 - 12	$16,000
Montcrest School Toronto, Ontario JK to 8 (Coed) Day school (340 students) $28,150 to $35,185	$28,150 to $35,185
St. Margaret's School Victoria, British Columbia JK to 12 (Girls) Boarding school (50 students) Day school (225 students) $17,200 to $69,100	$17,200 to $32,200
Somerset Academy Markham, Ontario JK to 8 (Coed) Day school $14,300 to $14,300	$14,300	5%	1 - 8
Hillfield Strathallan College Hamilton, Ontario Nursery/Toddler to 12 (Coed) Day school (1275 students) Homestay school (30 students) $19,349 to $32,052	$19,349 to $32,052	10%	JK - 12	$4,500
Elmwood School Ottawa, Ontario Preschool to 12 (Girls) Day school (370 students) $15,540 to $29,700	$15,540 to $29,700	24%	6 - 12	$6,800
St. Michaels University School Victoria, British Columbia K to 12 (Coed) Day school (745 students) Boarding school (258 students) $21,095 to $75,360	$21,095 to $43,995	20%	K - 12	$11,685
La Citadelle International Academy of Arts & Science Toronto, Ontario Nursery/Toddler to 12 (Coed) Day school (150 students) $16,750 to $20,750	$16,750 to $20,750		Nursery/Toddler - 12
SPIRE Academy Geneva, Ohio(USA) 9 to 12 (Coed) Boarding school (90 students) $42,900 to $59,900	$42,900	35%	9 - 12	$15,000
Villanova College King City, Ontario 4 to 12 (Coed) Day school (540 students) $19,900 to $20,400	$19,900 to $20,400		4 - 12
The Element High School Ottawa, Ontario 7 to 12 (Coed) Day school (100 students) $18,810 to $21,905	$18,810 to $21,905
Laureate College Burlington, Ontario 9 to 12 (Coed) Day school (20 students) eSchool school (60 students) Boarding school (12 students) $9,600 to $44,800	$15,800 to $23,800		9 - 12
Westmont Montessori School Victoria, British Columbia Preschool to 12 (Coed) Day school (300 students) $9,565 to $14,945	$10,600 to $14,945	1%	Preschool - 12	$5,000
Blyth Academy Lawrence Park Toronto, Ontario 7 to 12 (Coed) Day school (90 students) $23,550 to $27,750	$23,550 to $27,750	4%	7 - 12	$6,500
Crestwood Preparatory College Toronto, Ontario 7 to 12 (Coed) Day school (540 students) $29,500 to $31,000	$29,500 to $31,000	5%	7 - 12	$10,000
Northmount School Toronto, Ontario JK to 8 (Boys) Day school (135 students) $19,000 to $36,000	$19,000 to $36,000	5%	JK - 8	$2,500
TFS - Canada's International School Toronto, Ontario Nursery/Toddler to 12 (Coed) Day school (1500 students) $22,180 to $37,630	$22,180 to $37,630		7 - 12	$35,000
St. Mildred's-Lightbourn School Oakville, Ontario JK to 12 (Girls) Day school (550 students) $25,180 to $32,310	$25,180 to $32,310	9%
Rothesay Netherwood School Rothesay, New Brunswick 6 to 12 (Coed) Day school (160 students) Boarding school (150 students) $25,130 to $70,830	$25,130 to $27,650	28%	6 - 12	$15,500
Nancy Campbell Academy Stratford, Ontario 7 to 12 (Coed) Day school Boarding school $15,750 to $37,275	$15,750	15%	7 - 12	$11,700
Glenlyon Norfolk School Victoria, British Columbia JK to 12 (Coed) Boarding school (24 students) Day school (746 students) Homestay school (30 students) $20,840 to $73,145	$20,840 to $39,005	15%	SK - 12	$2,000
Junior Academy Toronto, Ontario Nursery/Toddler to 8 (Coed) Day school (100 students) $22,500 to $30,000	$22,500 to $30,000	10%	JK - 8	$3,000
Hawthorn School Toronto, Ontario Nursery/Toddler to 12 (Girls/Coed) Homestay school Day school Day school $14,100 to $25,250	$14,100 to $25,250	35%	JK - 12	$1,800
Blyth Academy The Glebe, Ottawa Ottawa, Ontario 7 to 12 (Coed) Day school (113 students) $23,550 to $27,750	$23,550 to $27,750	4%	7 - 12	$6,500
Woodland Christian High School Breslau, Ontario 9 to 12 (Coed) Day school (325 students) Homestay school (30 students) $17,850 to $18,175	$17,850 to $18,175	20%	9 - 12	$2,500
Yip’s Music & Montessori School Unionville, Ontario Nursery/Toddler to SK (Coed) Day school $6,750 to $11,200	$10,850 to $11,200
Brookes Westshore Victoria, British Columbia 4 to 12 (Coed) Boarding school (150 students) Day school (150 students) $9,500 to $52,550	$9,500 to $16,400	10%	7 - 12	$5,000
Kenneth Gordon Maplewood School North Vancouver, British Columbia K to 12 (Coed) Day school (200 students) $29,900 to $30,900	$29,900 to $30,900
The Rosedale Day School Toronto, Ontario JK to 8 (Coed) Day school (175 students) $26,460 to $26,460	$26,460	10%	JK - 8	$5,000
Académie de la Capitale Ottawa, Ontario JK to 12 (Coed) Day school (65 students) $20,075 to $24,158	$20,075 to $24,158	6%	1 - 12	$6,500
Greenwood College School Toronto, Ontario 7 to 12 (Coed) Day school (500 students) $42,780 to $42,780	$42,780		7 - 12
TFS - Canada's International School (West Campus) Mississauga, Ontario Preschool to 7 (Coed) Day school (200 students) $12,130 to $30,180	$20,780 to $30,180		7	$28,000
King's Christian Collegiate Oakville, Ontario 9 to 12 (Coed) Day school (670 students) Homestay school (40 students) $17,100 to $17,100	$17,100	15%	9 - 12
Virtual High School Bayfield, Ontario 9 to 12 (Coed) eSchool school (8000 students) $299 to $579		2%	9 - 12	$579
King's-Edgehill School Windsor, Nova Scotia 6 to 12 (Coed) Boarding school (205 students) Day school (190 students) $18,800 to $58,800	$18,800	33%	6 - 12	$15,000
Meadowridge School Maple Ridge, British Columbia JK to 12 (Coed) Day school (660 students) $28,400 to $38,400	$28,400 to $38,400		9 - 12
Miss Edgar's & Miss Cramp's School Westmount, Quebec K to 11 (Girls) Day school (320 students) $19,050 to $22,160	$19,050 to $22,160	15%	6 - 11	$5,000
King's College School for Bright and Gifted Children Caledon, Ontario 2 to 12 (Coed) Day school (70 students) eSchool school (4 students) $19,500 to $22,000	$19,500 to $22,000	10%	2 - 12	$2,000
Trafalgar Castle School Whitby, Ontario 4 to 12 (Girls) Boarding school (50 students) Day school (190 students) $26,125 to $70,625	$26,125 to $29,930	14%	4 - 12
St. Michael's Choir School Toronto, Ontario 3 to 12 (Boys) Day school (250 students) $7,650 to $7,650	$7,650	5%	3 - 12	$1,000
The Abelard School Toronto, Ontario 7 to 12 (Coed) Day school (50 students) $20,000 to $22,000	$20,000 to $22,000	20%	9 - 12	$10,000
St. George's School of Montreal Montreal, Quebec K to 11 (Coed) Day school (460 students) Homestay school (15 students) $20,081 to $24,754	$20,081 to $24,754
Holy Name of Mary College School Mississauga, Ontario 5 to 12 (Girls) Day school (200 students) $23,695 to $24,495	$23,695 to $24,495	15%	5 - 12	$1
Toronto District Christian High School Woodbridge, Ontario 9 to 12 (Coed) Day school (395 students) Homestay school (30 students) $15,810 to $15,810	$15,810		9 - 12
Sudbury Christian Academy Sudbury, Ontario Nursery/Toddler to 8 (Coed) Day school (100 students) $55 to $7,950	$55 to $7,950	10%	JK - 8	$2,000
Blyth Academy Downsview Park Toronto, Ontario 4 to 12 (Coed) Day school (115 students) $20,325 to $24,785	$20,325 to $24,785	4%	4 - 12	$6,500
Bayview Glen Toronto, Ontario Preschool to 12 (Coed) Day school (1100 students) $20,950 to $31,050	$20,950 to $31,050		6 - 12	$5,000
Bishop's College School Sherbrooke, Quebec 7 to 12 (Coed) Day school (50 students) Boarding school (220 students) $30,000 to $75,710	$30,000 to $51,000	40%	7 - 12	$23,800
The Sacred Heart School of Montreal Montreal, Quebec 7 to 12 (Girls) Day school (10 students) Day school (210 students) Boarding school (10 students) $17,875 to $61,190	$17,875 to $37,877	22%	7 - 11	$8,350
St. Stephen's School, Rome Rome, --------------- 9 to 12 (Coed) Day school (250 students) Boarding school (50 students) $25,650 to $39,600	$25,650	13%	9 - 12	$9,996
The Mabin School Toronto, Ontario JK to 6 (Coed) Day school (150 students) $29,895 to $29,895	$29,895	5%	JK - 6	$5,000
Great Lakes Christian High School Beamsville, Ontario 9 to 12 (Coed) Boarding school (60 students) Day school (50 students) $8,400 to $45,000	$8,400 to $31,000	20%	9 - 12	$4,500
Hamilton District Christian High Ancaster, Ontario 9 to 12 (Coed) Homestay school (10 students) Day school (500 students) $18,125 to $18,125	$18,125	10%	9 - 12	$5,000
St. Michael's College School Toronto, Ontario 7 to 12 (Boys) Day school (1000 students) $22,250 to $22,250	$22,250	20%	7 - 12
Howlett Academy Toronto, Ontario JK to 8 (Coed) Day school (147 students) $15,000 to $19,000	$15,000 to $19,000
Academy of Thought and Industry Toronto Toronto, Ontario 7 to 9 (Coed) Day school (12 students) $18,000 to $18,000	$18,000		7 - 9
The Dalton School Toronto, Ontario JK to 8 (Coed) Day school (100 students) $23,950 to $23,950	$23,950		4 - 8
Aurora Montessori School Aurora, Ontario Nursery/Toddler to 8 (Coed) Day school (400 students) $19,400 to $22,150	$19,400 to $22,150	7%	Preschool - 8	$1,000
Meadow Green Academy Mississauga, Ontario Preschool to 8 (Coed) Day school (125 students) $15,990 to $15,990	$15,990
St. John's-Ravenscourt School Winnipeg, Manitoba K to 12 (Coed) Day school (870 students) Boarding school (20 students) $23,100 to $63,670	$23,100 to $24,160	10%	6 - 12	$10,000
Vancouver Independent School for Science and Technology Vancouver, British Columbia 8 to 9 (Coed) Day school (30 students) $1 to $23,400	$1 to $23,400	90%	8 - 9	$8,000
Blyth Academy Mississauga Mississauga, Ontario 9 to 12 (Coed) Day school (100 students) $20,325 to $24,785	$20,325 to $24,785	4%	9 - 12	$6,500
Bannockburn Toronto, Ontario Nursery/Toddler to 6 (Coed) Day school (200 students) $17,975 to $27,300	$27,300
Rosthern Junior College High School Rosthern, Saskatchewan 10 to 12 (Coed) Boarding school (50 students) Day school (40 students) Homestay school (Varies) $4,500 to $32,750	$4,500 to $20,000	30%	10 - 12	$2,500
Unisus School Summerland, British Columbia JK to 12 (Coed) Day school (100 students) Boarding school (60 students) $14,800 to $59,480	$14,800 to $17,980	30%	1 - 11	$3,000
Avalon Children's Montessori School Toronto, Ontario Preschool to 8 (Coed) Day school (90 students) $7,200 to $22,275	$14,725 to $22,275	5%	1 - 8	$10,000
Waldorf Academy Toronto, Ontario Preschool to 8 (Coed) Day school (150 students) $4,160 to $19,150	$17,700 to $19,150	20%	JK - 8	$9,000
Shawnigan Lake School Shawnigan Lake, British Columbia 8 to 12 (Coed) Day school (100 students) Boarding school (440 students) $28,500 to $71,300	$28,500	25%	8 - 12
Academie Providence Ottawa, Ontario JK to 8 (Coed) Day school (200 students) $10,670 to $12,320	$10,670 to $12,320	35%	1 - 8	$40
Athol Murray College of Notre Dame Wilcox, Saskatchewan 8 to 12 (Coed) Day school (30 students) Boarding school (275 students) $11,000 to $51,000	$11,000	50%	8 - 12
The Dunblaine School Toronto, Ontario 1 to 8 (Coed) Day school (40 students) $25,600 to $25,600	$25,600	10%	1 - 8	$6,000
Centennial Academy Montreal, Quebec 7 to 11 (Coed) Day school (300 students) $21,270 to $21,270	$21,270		7 - 11	$7,000
King Heights Academy Thornhill, Ontario Nursery/Toddler to 12 (Coed) Day school (175 students) $15,598 to $21,998	$15,598 to $21,998		1 - 12
Don Valley Academy Toronto, Ontario 9 to 12 (Coed) Homestay school (20 students) Day school (60 students) $13,200 to $14,800	$13,200 to $14,800
AIM Without Limits Richmond Hill, Ontario K to 8 (Coed) Day school (40 students) $19,000 to $19,000	$19,000
Ridley College St. Catharines, Ontario JK to 12 (Coed) Boarding school (377 students) Day school (334 students) $25,875 to $82,500	$25,875 to $39,500	16%	5 - 12	$16,000
Ashbury College Ottawa, Ontario 4 to 12 (Coed) Day school (635 students) Boarding school (112 students) Homestay school (Varies) $26,300 to $64,700	$26,300	8%	4 - 12	$6,700
Bishop Hamilton Montessori School Ottawa, Ontario Nursery/Toddler to 8 (Coed) Day school (200 students) $6,183 to $17,840	$6,183 to $17,840		Nursery/Toddler - 8
North Point School Calgary, Alberta K to 12 (Boys/Coed/Girls) Day school (125 students) Day school (30 students) Day school (10 students) $8,000 to $15,500	$13,500 to $15,500	20%	K - 12	$6,000
University of Toronto Schools Toronto, Ontario 7 to 12 (Coed) Day school (675 students) $31,000 to $31,000	$31,000	20%	7 - 12	$17,250
West Island College (Montreal) Montreal (DDO), Quebec 7 to 11 (Coed) Day school (470 students) $12,930 to $12,930	$12,930		7 - 11	$5,000
Mississauga Christian Academy Mississauga, Ontario JK to 8 (Coed) Day school (168 students) $14,602 to $18,760	$14,602 to $18,760		JK - 8
The Linden School Toronto, Ontario JK to 12 (Girls) Day school (120 students) $26,050 to $33,350	$26,050 to $33,350	20%	JK - 12	$6,000
Balmoral Hall School Winnipeg, Manitoba Preschool to 12 (Girls) Day school (470 students) Boarding school (40 students) $15,450 to $49,440	$15,450 to $19,210	15%	SK - 12	$8,333
Holy Trinity School Richmond Hill, Ontario JK to 12 (Coed) Day school (800 students) $32,214 to $32,214	$32,214	2%	SK - 12	$5,000
Glarea Elevated Learning Surrey, British Columbia K to 7 (Coed) Day school (90 students) $17,000 to $18,250	$17,000 to $18,250
Mulgrave School West Vancouver, British Columbia Preschool to 12 (Coed) Day school (1035 students) $26,850 to $30,290	$26,850 to $30,290	5%	7 - 12	$15,000
Lower Canada College Montreal, Quebec K to 12 (Coed) Day school (864 students) $19,425 to $25,970	$19,425 to $25,970	14%	7 - 12
De La Salle College Toronto, Ontario 5 to 12 (Coed) Day school (650 students) $16,500 to $16,750	$16,500 to $16,750	18%	5 - 12	$12,500
The Toronto Heschel School Toronto, Ontario Preschool to 8 (Coed) Day school (300 students) $8,500 to $19,950	$13,500 to $19,950	40%	JK - 8	$4,485
Brockton School North Vancouver, British Columbia JK to 12 (Coed) Day school (345 students) $25,900 to $29,100	$25,900 to $29,100		SK - 12
The Study Westmount, Quebec K to 11 (Girls) Day school (390 students) $22,860 to $25,810	$22,860 to $25,810	15%	4 - 11	$5,200
Rundle Academy & Rundle Studio Calgary, Alberta 4 to 12 (Coed) Day school (261 students) eSchool school (25 students) $9,850 to $18,450	$15,990 to $18,450
Kawartha Montessori School Peterborough, Ontario Preschool to 8 (Coed) Day school (100 students) $13,920 to $17,785	$13,920 to $17,785	1%	1 - 8	$3,000
Island Pacific School Bowen Island, British Columbia 6 to 9 (Coed) Day school (72 students) $20,925 to $26,507	$20,925 to $26,507	15%	6 - 9	$5,000

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School Name	Pace	Cost
Fieldstone School (est. 1997) JK to 12 (Coed) eSchool school (10 students) Day school (200 students) Traditional Toronto, Ontario As a Cambridge School, we teach a curriculum that sets the global standard for education designed to help students develop an informed curiosity and a lasting passion for learning. View profile The first school in Canada to offer a dual Cambridge-Ontario curriculum University pathways counselling and one-on-one support All students starting in Grade One learn how to play the violin, viola, or cello All students in JK to Grade Twelve learn a Shakespeare Play One of the top university preparatory private schools in Toronto $19,975 to $27,860 Our Kids Review User reviews (5) View profile	Student-paced	$19,975 to $27,860 Our Kids Review User reviews (5) View profile
Prestige School - Toronto Campus (est. 2003) Preschool to 12 (Coed) Day school (290 students) Traditional Toronto, Ontario Prestige School offers programs from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12 in Toronto. Its average class size is 10 to 18 students. View profile Our curriculum exceeds Ontario guidelines as a result of our individualized, accelerated learning. We are ministry inspected and a proud member of the Ontario Federation of Independent Schools. 100% university placement rate. French instruction beginning in junior kindergarten. Dedicated faculty that draw upon best practices. $14,500 to $18,000 Our Kids Review View profile	Accelerated	$14,500 to $18,000 Our Kids Review View profile
Academy for Gifted Children - P.A.C.E. (est. 1993) 1 to 8 (Coed) Day school (330 students) Traditional Richmond Hill, Ontario Academy for Gifted Children - P.A.C.E. is a private school for intellectually gifted students in Richmond Hill, Ontario, from grades 1 through 8. View profile $18,500 User reviews (3) View profile	Accelerated	$18,500 User reviews (3) View profile
St. Mildred's-Lightbourn School (est. 1891) JK to 12 (Girls) Day school (550 students) Progressive, Reggio Emilia Oakville, Ontario Oakville's SMLS continues to be a premier independent school for girls Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12 since 1891. "Millie" graduates take on the world with confidence and the knowledge that they can do anything. View profile $25,180 to $32,310 Our Kids Review View profile	Standard-enriched	$25,180 to $32,310 Our Kids Review View profile
Prestige School - Richmond Hill Campus (est. 2003) Preschool to 12 (Coed) Day school (65 students) Traditional Richmond Hill, Ontario Prestige School offers individualized programs from pre-school to grade twelve in Richmond Hill with an average class size of ten students. View profile $17,000 View profile	Accelerated	$17,000 View profile
Academie Jeanne d'Arc (est. 1954) JK to 8 (Girls) Day school (138 students) Progressive Ottawa, Ontario In our all-girls environment, academic achievement in both official languages is the norm. A Joan of Arc Academy bilingual education prepares the women leaders for the challenges of tomorrow. Come and see the difference. View profile $16,600 View profile	Standard-enriched	$16,600 View profile
Académie de la Capitale (est. 1998) JK to 12 (Coed) Day school (65 students) Progressive, International Baccalaureate Ottawa, Ontario Acadecap International School (Académie de la Capitale), an IB World School, offers bilingual and/or English programmes from JK to Grade 12. Students thrive in a growth mindset environment and a culture of excellence. View profile $20,075 to $24,158 User reviews (1) View profile	Student-paced	$20,075 to $24,158 User reviews (1) View profile
Peel Montessori School (est. 1992) Preschool to 8 (Coed) Day school (150 students) Progressive, Montessori Mississauga, Ontario Peel Montessori School and our Carrington College division students are encouraged to be engaged, inquisitive learners who think for themselves, display character strength, and learn to succeed on their own merits. View profile $8,500 to $18,500 View profile	Student-paced	$8,500 to $18,500 View profile
Progressive Academy (est. 1983) Preschool to 12 (Coed) Day school (340 students) Progressive Edmonton, Alberta Progressive Academy's programs inspire students from preschool to grade 12 in Edmonton, Alberta. Wonderful faculty, wide range of experiential opportunities and high expectations ignite a desire to learn. View profile $8,700 to $19,500 View profile	Student-paced	$8,700 to $19,500 View profile
Dearcroft Montessori School (est. 1968) Nursery/Toddler to 8 (Coed) Day school (170 students) Montessori Oakville, Ontario Offering Montessori programs from Toddler to Grade 8, Dearcroft is accredited by CCMA and staffed by dedicated teachers. View profile $9,900 to $23,900 View profile	Student-paced	$9,900 to $23,900 View profile
Agora Prep Academy (est. 2020) 1 to 12 (Coed) Day school (60 students) Day school (16 students) Progressive, Waldorf Aurora, Ontario Flexible, techy environment. Freedom of choice. ALL ABILITIES welcome and no ideals taught outside the scope of academia. We are a COMMUNITY of incredible future leaders with innate creative genius! View profile $18,000 to $20,000 User reviews (3) View profile	Student-paced	$18,000 to $20,000 User reviews (3) View profile
Dewey Institute (est. 2016) 7 to 12 (Coed) eSchool school (580 students) Day school (60 students) Boarding school (150 students) Traditional Bracebridge, Ontario Dewey’s educational goals follow the philosophies of John Dewey, preparing students through “student-centred learning" and "learning by doing", while emphasizing the cultivation of the "three New Liberal Arts". View profile $6,400 to $28,000 View profile	Standard-enriched	$6,400 to $28,000 View profile
King's College School for Bright and Gifted Children (est. 1994) 2 to 12 (Coed) Day school (70 students) eSchool school (4 students) Traditional Caledon, Ontario The King's College experience develops in students responsibility, accountability, and ownership of their own learning and a passion for making a difference. Students can attend in person or synchronously online. View profile $19,500 to $22,000 View profile	Standard-enriched	$19,500 to $22,000 View profile
École Montessori (est. 2014) Nursery/Toddler to 6 (Coed) Day school (75 students) Montessori Pickering, Ontario École Montessori is Durham Region's premier French private school dedicated to transforming your child into a BILINGUAL critical thinker with our enriched curriculum that fosters the genius within each student. View profile $8,400 to $17,000 User reviews (3) View profile	Standard-enriched	$8,400 to $17,000 User reviews (3) View profile
Sidney Ledson Institute (est. 1982) Preschool to 6 (Coed) eSchool school (38 students) Day school (80 students) Traditional Toronto, Ontario Building on internationally acclaimed preschool reading success, SLI has grown into a hub for ground-breaking student achievement in literary, STEM, and artistic achievement across Pre-K - Gr 6 (offered on site/ online) View profile $12,248 to $13,848 User reviews (6) View profile	Accelerated	$12,248 to $13,848 User reviews (6) View profile
St. Michael's Choir School (est. 1937) 3 to 12 (Boys) Day school (250 students) Traditional Toronto, Ontario St. Michael’s Choir School was founded in 1937 and provides sacred music for services at St. Michael's Cathedral Basilica. Located in downtown Toronto, SMCS is an all boys school from grades 3 through 12. View profile $7,650 View profile	Accelerated	$7,650 View profile
The Abelard School (est. 1997) 7 to 12 (Coed) Day school (50 students) Liberal Arts Toronto, Ontario Founded in 1997, the Abelard School is a small independent school for grades 7 through 12, located in downtown Toronto. It offers small class sizes and an enriched, integrated curriculum to bright, motivated students. View profile $20,000 to $26,000 View profile	Accelerated	$20,000 to $26,000 View profile
Wheatley School (est. 1986) Nursery/Toddler to 8 (Coed) Day school (180 students) Montessori, International Baccalaureate St. Catharines, Ontario We provide students with opportunities to explore real-world concepts and issues, broadening their sense of responsibility, develop their critical thinking skills, and empower them to take action in a global community. View profile $7,075 to $14,775 View profile	Student-paced	$7,075 to $14,775 View profile
Toronto French Montessori (est. 2000) Preschool to 8 (Coed) Day school (60 students) Day school (50 students) Montessori Whitchurch-stouffville, Ontario Toronto French Montessori offers French and English programs from pre-school to grade 8 in York Region. Its average class size is 15 students. View profile $7,620 to $16,350 User reviews (1) View profile	Accelerated	$7,620 to $16,350 User reviews (1) View profile
Bishop's College School (est. 1836) 7 to 12 (Coed) Day school (50 students) Boarding school (220 students) Traditional, International Baccalaureate Sherbrooke, Quebec Bishop's College School is an English boarding and day school for students in grades 7 through 12. Small in size and culturally diverse, BCS is an IB World School offering the IB Diploma Programme and Canadian curricula. View profile $30,000 to $75,710 View profile	Standard-enriched	$30,000 to $75,710 View profile
London International Academy (est. 2002) 9 to 12 (Coed/Girls) Boarding school (200 students) Boarding school (145 students) Traditional, International Baccalaureate London, Ontario A Canadian Private Secondary Boarding school, located in the heart of London, Ontario. LIA is authorized to grant the Ontario Secondary School and International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. View profile $28,000 View profile	Standard-enriched	$28,000 View profile
Guiding Light Academy (est. 2007) JK to 8 (Coed) Day school (100 students) Traditional, Montessori Mississauga, Ontario Guiding Light Academy is a Catholic private elementary school in Streetsville, Mississauga. We offer an enriched curriculum for JK, SK and Grades 1 to 8. We are located just minutes away from the Streetsville Go Station. View profile $11,000 User reviews (5) View profile	Accelerated	$11,000 User reviews (5) View profile
Oak Learners (est. 2016) JK to 8 (Coed) Day school (60 students) Progressive, Reggio Emilia Etobicoke, Ontario Oak Learners inspires meaningful learning every day for students in Kindergarten through Grade Eight. Passionate teachers nurture children’s natural curiosity about their world with hands-on experiences. View profile $9,132 to $19,250 User reviews (7) View profile	Student-paced	$9,132 to $19,250 User reviews (7) View profile
Aurora Montessori School (est. 1989) Nursery/Toddler to 8 (Coed) Day school (400 students) Montessori Aurora, Ontario Aurora Montessori offers an enriched Montessori program for students, Toddler to Grade 8, with an option of an OSSD credit in Grade 9 Math. A unique Mindfulness and Technology program develops key 21st-century skills! View profile $19,400 to $22,150 View profile	Student-paced	$19,400 to $22,150 View profile
Revel Academy (est. 2017) JK to 12 (Coed) Day school (50 students) Progressive Ottawa, Ontario Revel Academy is a learner-driven micro-school that utilizes adaptive and mastery-based technology, Socratic discussions, hands-on projects, and real-world apprenticeships in an innovative, character-forging community. View profile $15,250 User reviews (3) View profile	Student-paced	$15,250 User reviews (3) View profile
University of Toronto Schools (est. 1910) 7 to 12 (Coed) Day school (675 students) Liberal Arts Toronto, Ontario University of Toronto Schools (UTS) offers a transformative education to high-achieving students in Grades 7 to 12 from all backgrounds. UTS graduates take initiative and innovate as socially responsible global citizens. View profile $31,000 View profile	Accelerated	$31,000 View profile
College Bourget Preschool to 12 (Coed) Day school (1604 students) Boarding school (100 students) Traditional Rigaud, Quebec Collège Bourget is a day & boarding school situated between Montreal & Ottawa. The school offers Quebec's french program from Grade 7 till Grade 11 and english program from Grade 10 till Grade 12. View profile $4,700 to $35,000 View profile	Standard-enriched	$4,700 to $35,000 View profile
Astolot Educational Centre (est. 1997) 1 to 12 (Coed) Day school (40 students) Day school (25 students) Traditional Ottawa, Ontario Astolot Educational Centre is a day school with grades 1 to 12 in Ottawa, Ontario. Classroom teacher-student ratios are 1 to 10. Students have the ability to reach their full potential with Astolot programming. View profile $16,000 to $18,000 User reviews (2) View profile	Standard-enriched	$16,000 to $18,000 User reviews (2) View profile
De La Salle College (est. 1851) 5 to 12 (Coed) Day school (650 students) Liberal Arts Toronto, Ontario De La Salle College is a Catholic, co-educational, university preparatory school in Toronto from Grade 5 to 12, with an average class size of 20 students and tuition at $16,300 - $16,900. View profile $16,300 to $16,900 User reviews (7) View profile	Accelerated	$16,300 to $16,900 User reviews (7) View profile
Sherwood Heights School (est. 1989) JK to 12 (Coed) Day school (500 students) Progressive Mississauga, Ontario Sherwood Heights School offers Enriched Academic Programmes from Kindergarten to Grade 12, in Mississauga. The Programmes are Enriched and Comprehensive, delivered with Extra Attention and Care. View profile $12,870 to $16,150 View profile	Accelerated	$12,870 to $16,150 View profile
Rundle Academy & Rundle Studio (est. 1985) 4 to 12 (Coed) Day school (261 students) eSchool school (25 students) Traditional Calgary, Alberta Our Academy (in-person) and Studio (online) personalized programs are designed for students with a diagnosed learning disability to achieve their potential through outstanding support within and outside the classroom. View profile $10,350 to $19,675 View profile	Standard-enriched	$10,350 to $19,675 View profile

School Name	Pace	Cost
Upper Canada College (est. 1829) SK to 12 (Boys) Boarding school (80 students) Day school (1120 students) Liberal Arts, International Baccalaureate Toronto, Ontario Located in the heart of Toronto, UCC provides transformational learning experiences with exceptional day and boarding programs. Our highly sought-after graduates are awarded International Baccalaureate and OSSD diplomas. View profile High-achieving, all-round students Challenging but rewarding IB program First rate academics, athletics and arts 19 different sports and 80+ clubs Boutique urban boarding program $36,750 to $71,875 Our Kids Review User reviews (3) View profile	Accelerated	$36,750 to $71,875 Our Kids Review User reviews (3) View profile
Elmwood School (est. 1915) Preschool to 12 (Girls) Day school (370 students) Progressive, International Baccalaureate Ottawa, Ontario Elmwood School is Ottawa's pre-eminent school for girls from PreK to Gr. 12. Our high academic standards, small class sizes and safe, supportive environment ensure that each girl is inspired to reach her full potential. View profile $16,160 to $30,900 Our Kids Review View profile	Accelerated	$16,160 to $30,900 Our Kids Review View profile
McDonald International Academy (est. 1994) 9 to 12 (Coed) Boarding school (30 students) Day school (200 students) Traditional Toronto, Ontario Located in the heart of Toronto, McDonald International Academy offers programs for grades 9 to 12 . Our average class size is 10 to 20 students. View profile $10,000 to $29,300 View profile	Accelerated	$10,000 to $29,300 View profile
Villanova College (est. 1999) 4 to 12 (Coed) Day school (540 students) Traditional King City, Ontario Villanova College is York Region's only independent Catholic school offering Grades 4 to 12 in King City, Ontario. Average class size is 18 students. Specialty programs include STEM and AP. View profile $20,700 to $21,000 User reviews (2) View profile	Accelerated	$20,700 to $21,000 User reviews (2) View profile
TFS - Canada's International School (West Campus) (est. 1962) Preschool to 7 (Coed) Day school (200 students) Liberal Arts, International Baccalaureate Mississauga, Ontario TFS - Canada's International School (West Campus) offers the Ontario, France and IB programs from Pre-Kindergarten to Grade 7 in Mississauga. View profile $12,130 to $30,180 View profile	Accelerated	$12,130 to $30,180 View profile
Meadowridge School (est. 1985) JK to 12 (Coed) Day school (660 students) Progressive, International Baccalaureate Maple Ridge, British Columbia Our practices in teaching and learning are exemplified by our outstanding academic results and are achieved through the active engagement of the head, heart, and hands. View profile $28,400 to $38,400 Our Kids Review View profile	Accelerated	$28,400 to $38,400 Our Kids Review View profile
Prince Edward Montessori School (est. 1995) Nursery/Toddler to SK (Coed) Day school (100 students) Montessori Toronto, Ontario Prince Edward Montessori School offers programs for various grades in Toronto. Its average class size is ten to 16 students. View profile $7,325 to $14,934 View profile	Accelerated	$7,325 to $14,934 View profile
Trillium School (est. 1991) Nursery/Toddler to 12 (Coed) Day school (320 students) Day school (50 students) Boarding school (30 students) Traditional, Montessori Markham, Ontario Trillium School is a private school that offers programs from pre-school to grade twelve in Markham with Montessori-based kindergarten. View profile $11,500 to $37,500 View profile	Accelerated	$11,500 to $37,500 View profile
Bayview Glen (est. 1962) Preschool to 12 (Coed) Day school (1100 students) Traditional Toronto, Ontario Bayview Glen is co-ed, multi-denominational and diverse. Our student, faculty and staff community mirror the diversity of our city. We have a culture of balance and openness that includes valuing different perspectives. View profile $20,950 to $31,050 View profile	Accelerated	$20,950 to $31,050 View profile
Braemar College (est. 1995) 9 to 12 (Coed) Homestay school (450 students) Day school (450 students) eSchool school (200 students) Progressive Toronto, Ontario Braemar College offers a warm environment in downtown Toronto for students with high academic ambitions. Flexible terms allow students to join anytime, providing fast and focused pathways into Canada’s top universities. View profile $13,800 to $30,000 User reviews (3) View profile	Accelerated	$13,800 to $30,000 User reviews (3) View profile
Richmond Hill Christian Academy (est. 1996) JK to 8 (Coed) Day school (300 students) Traditional Richmond Hill, Ontario Christ is the center of Richmond Hill Christian Academy. To know Him and to make Him known is our mission while at the same time, preparing the next generation for academic excellence in His service is our goal! View profile $9,900 to $12,500 View profile	Accelerated	$9,900 to $12,500 View profile
Meadow Green Academy (est. 1995) Preschool to 8 (Coed) Day school (125 students) Traditional, Montessori Mississauga, Ontario Meadow Green Academy provides a strong Christian education in a nurturing environment. Strong academics combined with sports, enriched music, visual arts, and dramatic arts programs provide a well-rounded experience View profile $9,300 to $16,490 View profile	Accelerated	$9,300 to $16,490 View profile
Bannockburn (est. 1993) Nursery/Toddler to 6 (Coed) Day school (200 students) Montessori Toronto, Ontario Bannockburn School leads in Montessori education by offering an exceptional, enriched Montessori curriculum in a nurturing environment carefully prepared to meet the needs of children in the formative years of childhood. View profile $17,975 to $27,300 View profile	Accelerated	$17,975 to $27,300 View profile
Wesley Christian Academy (est. 1988) Nursery/Toddler to 8 (Coed) Day school (350 students) Traditional Markham, Ontario Wesley Christian Academy offers programs from Toddler to Grade 8 in Markham. As we are a Christian school, we share our beliefs with all our students but we warmly welcome families from ALL faiths and backgrounds! View profile $11,600 to $14,150 User reviews (2) View profile	Accelerated	$11,600 to $14,150 User reviews (2) View profile
Ridley College (est. 1889) JK to 12 (Coed) Boarding school (377 students) Day school (334 students) Progressive, International Baccalaureate St. Catharines, Ontario Ridley College is an acclaimed co-educational IB boarding and day school that prepares meaningful and flourishing lives by teaching the habits of mind, body, and spirit, and the values needed to lead in a global society. View profile $25,875 to $82,500 Our Kids Review View profile	Accelerated	$25,875 to $82,500 Our Kids Review View profile
Ashbury College (est. 1891) 4 to 12 (Coed) Day school (635 students) Boarding school (112 students) Homestay school (0 students) Traditional, International Baccalaureate Ottawa, Ontario This traditional private school in Ottawa, Ontario offers Grades 4 to 12 with 100 boarding and 600 day school students. Tuition is from $30,585 to $71,720. View profile $32,110 to $74,230 View profile	Accelerated	$32,110 to $74,230 View profile
Pythagoras Academy (est. 2013) JK to 8 (Coed) Day school (220 students) Traditional, Reggio Emilia Richmond, British Columbia We emphasize critical thinking, as well as innovation, joy, and curiosity. View profile $21,400 to $25,800 User reviews (5) View profile	Accelerated	$21,400 to $25,800 User reviews (5) View profile
Glarea Elevated Learning (est. 2020) K to 7 (Coed) Day school (90 students) Progressive Surrey, British Columbia We understand the importance of developing a well rounded individual. Our Tech, Art and Sport Expert Streams are integrated with the Academic curriculum to amplify our students’ growth into capable and confident adults. View profile $17,000 to $18,250 View profile	Accelerated	$17,000 to $18,250 View profile

Gifted schools in Canada

Find the top gifted schools and programs in Canada

1

List of schools with gifted programs

Dedicated gifted schools

Schools with dedicated gifted classes

Schools with in-class accommodations

Schools with accelerated curricula

Gifted education in Canada

An introductory discussion of gifted schools and programs in Canada

Gifted Schools

1

Quick Summary

The Our Kids podcast: what might surprise you about giftedness

2

Detecting giftedness

Is my child gifted?

Formal gifted assessments

3

Learning needs of gifted children

4

Types of gifted programs

(i) Dedicated gifted programs

(ii) In-class adaptations

(iii) Grade skipping and other options

5

Comparing program options

Dedicated gifted programs versus in-class adaptations

Acceleration versus enrichment

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Public versus private gifted schools

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Subject-specific giftedness

Advanced math and science

Advanced language arts

Advanced in non-core subjects

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Gifted education at different ages

Preschool

Elementary school

Middle school

High school

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Choosing and applying to gifted schools and programs

Questions to ask prospective schools

Getting into gifted programs

10

Scholarships for gifted students

Merit-based scholarships

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Comparing schools with gifted programs

Gifted programming

Availability of financial aid

12

Important resources

Parent discussion forum

List of educational assessment centres

Useful articles

Survey

The Essential Parent Guide to Private Education

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