Private school registrations on the rise - find out why

Find a list of schools

Fast Facts About Private Schools In Canada

private school enrollment

  • Canada has more than 1,700 private and independent schools, with about 348,656 students.
  • About one out of every 16 children in Canada, or 6.4 percent, attended a private elementary or secondary school and it's rising. The enrolment level remains in the same range.
  • Five provinces provide some public money to private schools–Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Quebec. The arrangement varies from region to region.
  • The proportion of children who come from households with an annual income of $50,000 to $100,000 was about the same in both private and public schools–45 percent–in 1998-99.

For most parents, private school is about choice. Increasingly, parents from different ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds across Canada are choosing independent and private school so that they can find the school that is perfect for their child.


Private School Registrations On The Rise - Find Out Why
St. Andrew's College – Photography by Tory Zimmerman

The top reasons parents choose private school include: dedicated teachers, academic quality, student encouragement, safety and quality of teachers. Private school allows their sons and daughters to become fully engaged in their academics and extracurricular activities, helping them discover their abilities and excel in their post secondary education.

In a private school," says Bob Snowden, headmaster of St. Michaels University School in Victoria, British Columbia, "it's expected that teachers are going to be involved in the extracurricular life of the school."

Our Kids Media has recently interviewed parents across Canada to share their personal experiences with us: reasons for sending their child to private school, what the experience was like and what changes they have witnessed in their child since.

Private and independent schools come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Day, boarding, all-girls, all-boys, coed, and religious schools all have much for parents to consider. There are also many alternative and learning disabilities schools that offer an effective way to teach your child.

For students in high school, many independent and private schools offer advanced study programs such as International Baccalaureate, Advanced Placement, Round Square and Duke of Edinburgh. These programs expand what your child could learn, in an internationally recognized way. Some students are even able to earn university credits through Advanced Placement.

* * * * *

To get more insight and to meet with different schools, come to one of our Private School Expos, being held across Canada. The National 2011 tour schedule includes: Montreal: Sunday September 18, 2011- Hilton Montreal Bonaventure Toronto: Saturday October 15, 2011 - Roy Thomson Hall Halton-Peel: Sunday October 23, 2011 - Oakville Conference Centre Vancouver: Sunday November 27, 2011 - The Westin Bayshore

Find Private Schools:

In the spotlight:


Latest Articles

La Citadelle International Academy of Arts & Science. Fascicule de présentation Our Kids  
(March 19, 2024)

Out of the class and into the community  
TCS’s service learning program provides the hands-on experience of giving back (February 13, 2024)

The benefits of multilingualism  
What language education at Alexander von Humboldt German International School Montreal provides (February 1, 2024)

Profile of Carrie Hughes-Grant, Head of School, Holy Name of Mary College  
“It’s all about giving the girls a voice.” (December 14, 2023)

London autism schools  
Find the top private and independent schools supporting autism in London (December 13, 2023)

x

By logging in or creating an account, you agree to Our Kids' Terms and Conditions. Information presented on this page may be paid advertising provided by the advertisers [schools/camps/programs] and is not warranted or guaranteed by OurKids.net or its associated websites. By using this website, creating or logging into an Our Kids account, you agree to Our Kids' Terms and Conditions. Please also see our Privacy Policy. Our Kids ™ © 2023 All right reserved.