Welcome to the OUR KIDS guide to gifted schools in Edmonton—your resource for finding programs that stretch and inspire advanced learners. Gifted schools in Edmonton provide enriched academics, individualized instruction, and opportunities for students to pursue their interests in depth, helping them thrive both academically and socially.
On this page we highlight private schools in Edmonton, Alberta that offer gifted programs and support. This includes gifted schools and programs in downtown Edmonton, Sherwood Park, St. Albert, Beaumont, Ridgewood, Strathcona, Westmount, Garneau, Glenora, Allendale, Cloverdale, and Dovercourt.
For nearly 30 years, OUR KIDS has worked with schools, educators, and families to share reliable insights into what makes each program distinctive. On OurKids.net, you’ll find detailed school profiles, parent reviews, comparison tools, and expert articles to guide your decision. For a more complete guide to gifted education, including a discussion of private vs. public options, start with our guide to gifted schools.
Private schools are not obligated to support gifted learners with special programs. Many private schools don't — even ones with strong academic reputations. The schools listed on this page, however, do. We organize the schools into groups: dedicated gifted schools, schools with dedicated gifted classes, and schools offering in-class gifted support. Then, in the fourth group, we identify schools that don't offer formal gifted support but have accelerated curricula for all their students.
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.
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Edmonton, Alberta Groat Road/107 Avenue "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." —From the school
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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.
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Calgary, Alberta "Calgary French & International School's immersive language learning environment and enriched curriculum inspires a deep curiosity, respect and exploration of the world for children aged 19 months to 18 years." —From the school
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Calgary, Alberta Bowness Rd NW/Bow Crescent NW "Independent Pre-JK–Grade 6 school in Calgary where childhood is cherished, every child is known, and wonder inspires learning." —From the school
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These schools offer support for gifted students within the regular classroom. Gifted students stay with regular learners, while receiving special, individualized programming.
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Calgary, Alberta 17th Ave SW/Richmond Road SW "In addition to academics, our focus on mentorship, hands-on learning in and outside the classroom, and character development, will allow our students to thrive academically and personally as they discover who they are." —From the school
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Our gifted education guide has advice specific to finding gifted programming. For insights that are more general (on how to evaluate school options), we recommend you review our hub on choosing a school, as well as advice from top experts. You can also read our guides to questions to ask private schools and questions students get asked at school interviews.
Private school expos are a great starting point for finding a school. We have annual private school expos in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Ottawa, Calgary, and Halton-peel. These expos allow you to speak with many private schools, some of which have gifted programs—all in one place. Find a gifted school near you.
Attending open houses is a great way to learn more about a school and get a feel for the environment. For some general advice on open house visits, go here. For questions to ask that are specific to gifted programs, check out our main gifted education guide.
Broadly speaking, the cost of a gifted school in Edmonton reflects private school tuition in general. Day student tuition can range from $5,000 to over $30,000 per year, depending on the school and program offerings.
There are many affordable private schools in Edmonton for gifted kids. More economical schools often provide an excellent education by focusing on core classroom instruction. You don’t need to spend a fortune on extras—the most important factor is ensuring your child receives individualized support. That said, higher-cost schools typically offer a wider variety of in-class and extracurricular opportunities, and they may be larger and more established. For most schools, teacher salaries remain the largest operating expense.
Many Edmonton gifted education programs also offer financial aid, including needs-based assistance (bursaries, tuition relief, or tuition assistance) and merit-based scholarships. You can read more about financial aid and scholarships in our dedicated guide. Generally, larger and more expensive schools provide the most aid, and even middle-class families can qualify—so don’t hesitate to inquire about support regardless of your situation.
Below, you’ll find the range of costs at Edmonton gifted and talented education schools:
| Tuition (day school) | Students receiving financial aid | Grade eligibility for financial aid | Avg. aid package size (annual) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
North Point School | $14,500 to $16,500 | 20% | K - 12 | $6,000 |
Legend:
| DS | DC | SE | CC | IS | CL | AC | LI | AP | IB | SN | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Progressive Academy | |||||||||||
Calgary French & International School | |||||||||||
North Point School | |||||||||||
River Valley School |
| Founding date | Endowment | Admissions rate | Enrollment | Enrollment per grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Progressive Academy | 1983 | $0 | 100% | 400 | |
Calgary French & International School | 1969 | $0 | 75% | 890 | 56 |
North Point School | 2014 | $0 | 75% | 205 | 16 |
River Valley School | 2003 | $0 | 90% | 313 | 35 |
Primary curriculum | Secondary curriculum | Curriculum pace | Academic culture | Average class size | Language immersion | Special needs support | Tech integration |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Progressive Academy | Progressive | Student-paced | Rigorous | 17 to 22 | No support | Heavy integration | ||
Calgary French & International School | Progressive | International Baccalaureate | Standard-enriched | Rigorous | 16 to 20 | No support | Medium integration | |
North Point School | Progressive | Student-paced | Supportive | 13 to 18 | Resource Assistance | Heavy integration | ||
River Valley School | Progressive | Standard-enriched | Supportive | 16 to 20 | Resource Assistance | Medium integration |
Legend:
Progressive Academy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Calgary French & International School | ||||||||||||||||||||
North Point School | ||||||||||||||||||||
River Valley School |
| Admission deadline | SSAT required | Interview required | Acceptance rate | Next open house | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Progressive Academy | Day: rolling | Preschool - 12 | 100% | ||
Calgary French & International School | Day: rolling | Preschool - 12 | 75% | ||
North Point School | Day: rolling | 1 - 12 | 75% | ||
River Valley School | Day: rolling | Preschool - 6 | 90% |
Nursery/Toddler | Preschool | JK | SK | K | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Progressive Academy | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | ||
Calgary French & International School | 100% | 70% | 85% | 80% | 20% | 50% | 80% | 80% | 80% | 80% | 80% | 80% | 80% | 80% | 80% | 80% | 80% |
North Point School | 75% | 75% | 75% | 75% | 75% | 75% | 75% | 75% | 75% | 75% | 75% | 75% | 75% | ||||
River Valley School | 95% | 95% | 75% | 0% | 75% | 75% | 75% | 75% | 90% | 90% |
Nursery/Toddler | Preschool | JK | SK | K | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
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| Math | Science | Literature | Humanities Social Sciences | Foreign Languages | Fine Arts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Progressive Academy | Equal Balance | Equal Balance | Equal Balance | |||
Calgary French & International School | Equal Balance | Equal Balance | Equal Balance | Equal Balance | Communicative | Equal Balance |
North Point School | Equal Balance | Inquiry | Traditional | Equal Balance | Audio-Lingual | Creative |
River Valley School | Discovery Math | Inquiry | Equal Balance | Equal Balance | Equal Balance |
Student council | School newspaper | Yearbook | Radio club | Photograph club | Art club |
Choir | Band | Dance club | Yoga club | Drama club | Debate club |
Chess club | Math club | Science club | Robotics club | Computer club | Environmental club | Outdoor club | Community service |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Progressive Academy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Calgary French & International School | ||||||||||||||||||||
North Point School | ||||||||||||||||||||
River Valley School |
Badminton | Baseball | Basketball | Cricket | Equestrian | Football | Golf | Gymnastics | Ice Hockey | Lacrosse | Rowing | Rugby | Soccer | Softball | Squash | Swimming | Tennis | Track and Field | Volleyball | Wrestling |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Progressive Academy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Calgary French & International School | ||||||||||||||||||||
North Point School | ||||||||||||||||||||
River Valley School |
It’s important to understand that gifted kids have unique educational needs compared with typical students. These learners are often so advanced intellectually that a standard curriculum may not challenge them enough. Without tailored support, gifted students can become disengaged—or worse, experience frustration and even depression.
If your child is gifted or you suspect they might be, you’ll need to consider several key questions:
Other educational options to consider include alternative programs, such as language immersion programs, special needs schools, the International Baccalaureate, Advanced Placement courses for older students, and Montessori schools.
If these questions feel overwhelming, start with our introductory guide to gifted education. Once you understand the basics, you can return to explore the Edmonton-area schools that best suit your child.
Keep in mind that private schools are not legally required to provide support for gifted students—and many do not. However, some schools can offer highly individualized programs. The principle of “buyer beware” applies: you’ll need to ensure any school you consider is equipped to meet the needs of gifted learners. The list of private schools above is a good starting point for your search.