The Montreal family decision journey: Choosing the right independent school

Kevin attended private school as a child, so when it came time to consider options for his own two sons, he hoped they could have a similar experience. “Just the notion of class size and support were the two biggest attractions,” he says, along with enrichment opportunities—both academic and social.

With two sons now in Grades 4 and 7, Kevin and his wife see clear differences between their current schools and the public system, especially when it comes to student-teacher ratios. “When we went to visit Kells Academy for the day, the class sizes being what they were was really a great win for us,” he recalls.

The private school setting also created opportunities for his boys to expand their horizons. With a variety of athletic offerings at Kells, Kevin says the school encouraged one child—who is not particularly interested in sports—to try new skills he otherwise would not have been convinced to attempt.

“The environment and the school are very inclusive and supportive, and he wants to go and watch the teams play, he wants to see his friends, and that’s really nice because you don’t often see that,” says Kevin.

Even through the often tough teen years, students in older grades befriend those in younger grades, creating multi-grade friendships and ties. For many families, that’s part of the appeal of smaller schools and classes—and the warm community culture that can develop.

From administrators to teachers to students, Kevin says, “they walk the talk on inclusivity, on values. That’s probably the greatest thing that we found about the school.”

At Kells Academy, high school principal Tom Malone agrees that this kind of connection is a core attraction for many Montreal families. “The Kells community—there’s a vibe at the school that is very positive, connected, and achievement-oriented,” he says.

As families compare environments, they often start by identifying the right school stage—private elementary, middle, or high school—and then narrowing based on culture, learning style, and the kinds of support available.

Montreal has long had a popular private school system, but in recent years, demand has risen in both French and English schools.

Parents are opting for private schools “as we’ve never seen before,” says Michael Hayes, founder and CEO of SchoolAdvice consulting—especially in light of the growing popularity of Grade 12 options. In many cases, families are looking for reliability, structure, and an education tailored to their child’s needs. Smaller classes can help support.

“Every parent has a checklist of things that are important to them when choosing a private school,” says Kevin, noting that this checklist shapes the decision-making process. He initially wanted an all-boys school for both sons, but found it was a better fit for his younger child, while his eldest has thrived in a co-ed environment.

At Trafalgar School for Girls, Nadine Paree, associate director of admissions, says that for many parents, seeing the benefits of a single-sex setting can be decisive—including for her own family.

“We’re not structured in a way where the kids are scared to interact with anyone on any level,” she says. “We’re all close—we are legitimately close. We don’t just say it.” Paree moved her own daughter to Trafalgar after witnessing the confidence and growth of students at a school of about 100 students, with classes of 12 to 15 students.

For many families, “fit” also includes program type and philosophy, including Montessori, Waldorf, Christian, Catholic, and Jewish options, as well as choices around Boarding and broader boarding schools pathways.

Across Montreal private schools, many admissions teams are also working to make the process less stressful for families. Some schools are placing less emphasis on entrance exams, drawing instead on report cards and hosting students for a day so they can experience the school culture first-hand.

“It’s meant to be a much more welcoming process,” says Paree. “We often get calls after our assessment day from parents saying, ‘My kid was absolutely terrified about going to high school, and then they came in, and now they cannot wait—they won’t stop talking about it.’

“We remove the fear,” she adds. “You come for the day, you sit in the cafeteria with all the kids, and get a chance to ask other students about their experiences.”

At Kells Academy, Malone says similar care is taken at the outset, with parents submitting report cards and then having discussions with admissions.

“We do interviews as well,” he notes. “We don’t have to interview everyone—we could have a student in Turkey who doesn’t have a Zoom (video call), or sometimes it is very difficult when they are overseas. But we like to have an interview, because we like to hear from the family what they are looking for, to make sure it’s a good fit and to describe what we offer.”

After that, students undergo placement assessments, which are not admissions tests but rather a way to determine the appropriate level of study—particularly in English, French, or math.

Candida, whose daughter is enrolled at a Montreal independent girls’ school, says she found the public system frustrating and that class disruptions left her wanting more. Her daughter “wanted a bigger challenge,” and in seeking an all-female environment, she liked that the school was “so diverse in their academics and their clubs,” as well as what it offered “in terms of giving back to the community.”

To prepare, many parents use a checklist of questions to ask, and some find it helpful to start with a broader guide to how a child’s traits can shape school choice.

Lower ratios can allow teachers more time to customize learning. At Kells Academy, Malone describes this as the appeal of a “personalized approach.”

“Students arrive at Kells from basically all over the world,” he says. “We have a 50–50 Canadian, international contingent of students, and teachers are skilled in figuring out what their profile is, what’s the best way to approach lesson planning and assignments with the students that I have in my classroom. We’re flexible.”

With most classes around 18 students, Malone says, “this means that students receive individualized attention. Teachers can really zoom in on how students are progressing, what they’re understanding, and how their skills are developing, provide extra support, and really connect with them. “Our teachers are very skilled and strong in connecting with kids, figuring out their learning profile, and then designing instruction to meet needs.”

For families navigating the Montreal private school decision journey, that combination—fit, support, and daily relationships—can make all the difference.

As part of that fit, families often weigh a child’s mental focus, academic focus, social tendencies, and physical activity level, as well as interests in the arts or STEM.

For some students, the right setting also depends on targeted supports for giftedness and Gifted programming, or on access to services related to special education, learning disabilities, and social-emotional challenges.