The private school ecosystem is thriving in Canada, which means you have many school-types to consider.
Living Arrangements
Gender
Age Range
Curriculum or focus
Boarding schools provide board and lodging to both their students and faculty. Once considered outdated and a privilege reserved for the elite, several have now become an affordable schooling alternative open to all seeking excellence in primary and secondary education. Boarding schools are often located in rural locations on expansive grounds, though some are found in big cities and feature both boarding and local day students. Students attend boarding school to receive an immersive educational experience and develop critical life skills like independence and leadership. Boarding students often come from out-of-town (sometimes even from a different country), but many students local to the school also choose to live in residence. [Read More]
Private day schools come in all shapes and sizes -- the common theme being that, unlike at boarding schools, students go back to their homes at the end of the day. The majority of private schools listed on this site are day schools. Many private day schools also offer boarding, meaning both local and residential students mix in the classroom and on the field. While boarding is typically only offered to older students (grade 8+), private day schooling is available from K to 12. [Read More]
Homestay is an informal term that schools use in reference to billeting programs. It is an alternative form of student accommodation, and while popular with international students, is available to domestic students as well. Most typically, schools will offer homestay options when they don't have on-campus boarding, though at times it is offered in addition to on-campus boarding.
Through homestay programs, students stay with a host family living near the school. Often, the program is organized and managed by the school administration—the school recruits host families, assigns students to them, and maintains frequent, direct contact with the families and students throughout the school year. Host families apply to be part of the program, and are screened by the school. Further, host families are required to adhere to provincial homestay guidelines, including a police screen for any person resident within the home who is 18 years of age or older. [Read More]
Available throughout much of Canada and at all ages, all-girls schools have remained popular with parents who want their daughters to develop a strong sense of themselves and their abilities as women. Proponents of single-sex schools say it allows educators to tailor the curriculum and environment specifically to girls' unique needs. They also say it frees girls from the social distraction of boys. Critics argue the presence of boys broadens the intellectual and recreational environment and reflects the "real world" girls face upon graduation. [Read More]
Like girls schools, all-boys schools have remained popular with parents who value the unique environment it provides their sons. Proponents say all-boys schools allow boys to develop a passion for learning and excellence -- without the distracting influence of girls -- and allows educators to tailor the curriculum specifically to boys. All-boys schools have sometimes been touted as an antidote to the growing achievement gap between boys and girls, (and the "feminization" of the public school curriculum, according to some advocates). Critics argue -- like in the case of all-girls schools -- that the co-presence of boys and girls better reflects the "real world" and offers boys a broader intellectual and recreational environment. [Read More]
Schools that have both male and female students are the norm in the public system, and the majority of private schools are coed as well. Proponents of coed schools say the presence of both genders creates a diverse intellectual and extracurricular environment for students and best reflects the world students will encounter as adults. Critics argue this increased diversity has a cost, which is the curriculum and environment can't be specialized to the unique needs of boys and girls. [Read More]
The traditional (or "mainstream") private schools can be found here, classified as "academic" schools. These schools can range anywhere from kindergarten to grade 12. A common feature of private academic schools is the belief that all students are capable of pursuing university studies upon graduation -- a belief embedded in the school's culture. [Read More]
"Alternative Schools" is a broad term that encompasses a number of school-types classified here, such as Montessori schools, Waldorf schools, special needs schools, and so on. These kinds of schools can be found at all age levels, and are distinguished mainly by their philosophies on education, which are markedly different from the mainstream. [Read More]
Particularly popular in the younger grades (preschool to elementary), but sometimes available all the way up to high school, Montessori schools offer an alternative vision to the standard lesson format of most classrooms. Lessons are highly decentralized: children typically work individually (though sometimes with others) on specialized "Montessori materials" -- without interference from the teacher. The materials are self-correcting and teach the student something about the subject at hand. The method's goal is to develop children's innate desire to learn, while freeing up time for teachers to help children individually, as needed. [Read More]
Special needs schools are specifically tailored for students with any type of communicative, mental, physical, social or learning difficulty. Different schools offer varying levels of support to children with ADHD/ADD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and attention deficit disorder), dyslexia, autism spectrum disorder, Asperger's syndrome, deafness, exceptional abilities and so on. The degree of support offered varies depending on the school. There are a number of private schools that exclusively focus on teaching and supporting special needs children. [Read More]
For families where faith is a priority, faith-based schools -- whether Christian or Catholic, Jewish, Islamic, or Sikh -- offer a welcome alternative to the mainstream. In these schools the faith's perspective and cultural background is infused into much of the curriculum. Faith-based private schools are found across Canada and in varying shapes and sizes. [Read More]
Language immersion schools teach students a full academic curriculum but in a different language than English (or French in parts of Quebec). By the time students graduate from an immersion program, they should be fully bilingual in both their mother tongue (English/French) and in the language of instruction. Immersion schools are appropriate for bright students who welcome the extra cognitive and academic challenge. [Read More]
Often conflated with Montessori schools (incorrectly), Waldorf schools focus on developing the "whole child" -- emphasizing collaborative, hands-on learning, along with the arts and music, which are integrated into all areas of study. Waldorf schools are unmistakably "progressive". Their intellectual forefather is Rudolf Steiner, who believed the educator's first task should be to help students develop an aesthetic appreciation for life and learning. Waldorf schools are available from preschool to grade 12, though they are most popular at the younger ages. [Read More]
Many private schools offer one of the Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) diplomas. AP and IB programs are standardized -- meaning final tests and assignments (which account for the majority of a student's grade) are externally marked by a centralized body (AP is North American, while IB is world-wide). The programs typically go beyond the provincial curriculum, and upon completion of the AP or IB program in grade 12, students are awarded credits that transfer to first-year university. Both programs are renowned for their rigour, and students often take great pride in having "survived" the ordeal. AP is available in high school, while IB offers programs from elementary to grade 12. [Read More]
Arts schools, sports schools and military schools all fall under this category. Specialty schools allows students to pursue a particular focus or passion. The chosen focus is usually woven right into the curriculum, and schedules/classes are arranged to accommodate the practical needs of the activity. Students also usually have access to top coaches/instructors and facilities, further aiding their skill development. [Read More]
Schools focused on the needs of gifted children provide a fast-paced, enriched environment meant to keep advanced learners engaged and passionate about school. Schools for gifted kids are available at all age levels. [Read More]
What used to be called "boot camps" have now become a highly progressive and advanced rehabilitation option for parents of struggling teens. Troubled teens schools can be found in cities and rural "wilderness" areas, both in Canada and internationally. Providing the right guidance and care for struggling adolescents, these schools can be a family's godsend. [Read More]
Online schools listed on Our Kids provide students with provincial credits and can be used to either supplement or fully replace traditional schooling. Many traditional schools also offer online course credits to supplement their curriculum -- course credits which can be transferred to other schools and used towards a provincial diploma. [Read More]
Reggio Emilia programs are offered by some schools at the preschool and elementary level. Reggio Emilia emphasizes the role of the child in directing their own learning. Heavily intertwined with progressive ideals in education, the program espouses ideas such as child-centred classrooms, discovery learning, and 21st century education. [Read More]
Our Kids lists both schools from outside Canada and study-abroad programs available at local private schools. [Read More]
Some parents and students look to the private education system to pick up summer credits. Schools that offer summer credits are listed on Our Kids. [Read More]
Also referred to as nursery school, early-childhood education (ECE), daycare, and childcare, preschool is for children who are too young to attend junior-kindergarten or kindergarten programs (typically < 4 or 5). Though preschool is not mandatory in Canada, many educators think it helps a child's socialization and early intellectual development. It's also a convenience to working parents who need to send their kids somewhere. Preschool options include "traditional" preschools (a misnomer), Montessori Casa programs, Waldorf schools, Reggio Emilia schools, and more. [Read More]
We define elementary school as kindergarten to grade 6. A lot of the preschool categories actually carry over to the elementary level: parents choose from traditional schools, Montessori, Waldorf, Reggio Emilia, and more. However, the range of types really opens up in elementary school. Families can decide between single-sex and coed, and consider faith-based schools, special needs schools, gifted programs and language immersion. [Read More]
We define middle school as grade 7 to 8. Some elementary schools continue on to grade 7 or 8, and some high schools begin in grade 7 or 8 -- there aren't too many actual "middle schools". However, a distinction is usually made for this "pre- high school" phase. The focus in middle school is on preparing students for high school; important study habits, research skills, and math concepts are taught. Parents often have to pay attention to the timing of their child's transition from one school to another during this phase (if indeed a transition needs to be made). And marks, test scores, and letters of recommendation become increasingly important if families are targeting the more selective high schools. Some schools offer boarding and/or homestay programs at the middle school age, but this is less common than in high school. [Read More]
High school ranges from grade 9 to 12. At the high school level, private schools generally have a heightened focus on both university preparation and extra-curriculars. The choice between single-sex and coed schools takes on a new meaning for families, as students are entering their adolescent phase. By now families can consider boarding schools. Another decision includes whether to enroll in an advanced study program; programs that often grant university-level credits upon graduation. Tuition is often a bit higher at the secondary school level, and competition to get into the more selective schools is often -- though not always -- more difficult. [Read More]
