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IB Boarding Schools

Boarding schools offering the International Baccalaureate program

On this page we cover boarding schools that offer the IB program. For a complete guide to boarding, including information about admissions, please see our introductory guide.

Our mission is to prepare young men and women to become global citizens who have a passion for service and leadership."
—Andrea Spinner, Head of School, Brookes Westshore

2. Choosing a school

Our boarding school guide has advice specific to finding boarding schools in Canada. For insights that are more general (on how to evaluate school options) we recommend you review our hub on choosing a school. You can also read our guides to questions to ask private schools and questions students get asked at school interviews.

Private school expos

Private school expos are ideal launching pads for your school-finding journey. All expos are held in the fall at a number of centres across Canada. There are three expos hosted in Ontario, one in Toronto, one in Halton-Peel, and one in Ottawa. Expos are also held each fall in Vancouver, Montreal, and Calgary. All are opportunities to speak with administrators from leading boarding schools within the regions in which the expos are held.

Parent discussion forum

Word-of-mouth is another powerful tool in your school-finding arsenal. The Our Kids private school discussion forum allows you to discuss your options and debate topics around gifted education. You can use our community of parents, educational experts, alumni, and schools to help answer your questions and stimulate your thinking.

Upcoming open house events

Attending open houses is obviously a great way to learn more about a school and get a feel for the environment. For some advice on open house visits, go here. For questions to ask that are specific to boarding programs, refer to our main boarding school hub.

3. Tuition

Broadly speaking, the cost of boarding reflects the cost private school tuition in general, though with premiums added to cover housing and meals.

Many schools offer financial aid, including scholarships and bursaries. Financial aid is needs-based, and financial aid programs are created as a means of broadening the student base and attracting students, independent of means, who will contribute most to the culture of the school. Generally speaking, the larger and more expensive schools provide the most aid.

You can read more about financial aid and scholarships in our dedicated guide.

Below you'll find the range of costs at IB boarding schools:

Institutional metrics

Academics

Special needs support

Course pedagogies

Extracurricular clubs

Extracurricular sports (competitive)

Sending your child to a boarding school will offer the academic environment that he or she will need in the International Baccalaureate program.  With minimal distraction, students have the opportunity to focus on their studies.

The International Baccalaurete Diploma Programme is one of the most popular university entrance programs recognized throughout the world. Of schools offering the program about half are publicly funded and half are private.

If you have a child enrolled in an International Baccalaureate program in Canada, some courses are recognized as equivalent to university courses. Universities in Canada and the US may award first year credit for courses in the program.

The IB program curriculum consists of study in six subject areas, an essay of up to 4,000 words and at least 50 hours in each area of Creative, Action and Service requirements. Theory of Knowledge is one other important component of the IB curriculum.

Boarding schools may offer International Baccalaureate diplomas or specific programs including the middle years or primary years programs. Consult with each school to learn what depth of programs they offer concerning IB.

More about the IB program

The International Baccalaureate is a two-year advanced secondary school curriculum that was founded in 1968 and is now taught in schools in more than 140 countries, including many alternative institutions in Canada.

The IB curriculum was created for students aged 16 to 19. It is intended to provide a well-rounded, high quality, advanced course of study that delivers the basics of high school education while challenging students to apply their knowledge and skills through collaboration, discussion, and communication.

In order to earn an IB diploma students complete a course of study in six core subject areas (language and literature, language acquisition, individuals and societies, sciences, mathematics, and the arts) an essay of up to 4000 words, and sit standard, externally assessed exams. In addition to course work, students are also required to complete two formal projects and a minimum of 50 hours of community service.