Why Canadian parents send their kids to private school

Who chooses private education and why

Find a list of schools

"He's a totally different person. He's into his schoolwork. It's absolutely great to see."
— Father of a Grade 8 student, wrapping up his first year in private school 

Every family has a different reason for considering a private school education, but nearly all agree that private schools provide their children with:


Students who attend private schools can be more academically challenged, exposed to clearer value systems, given greater access to teachers, and may simply feel safer. Some features parents look for when they turn to the private system include:

Who chooses private school education?

Families who choose the private education system tend to be concerned with the development and all-round character building of their children. Studies show that families of all sizes and ethnic backgrounds have turned to the private system. Although the notion remains that private school families are very wealthy, studies show that children from both ends of the income distribution attend private schools; 29% of children who attend private schools are from families with incomes below $50,000, while 26% are from families with at least twice as much income. Statistics Canada, July 4, 2001

Study of private schools in Canada

In May 2007, The Fraser Institute conducted a study into the reasons parents choose private schools. The report, Ontario’s Private Schools: Who Chooses Them and Why? is based on a survey of 919 Ontario households with children attending private schools.

The study found that the top five reasons parents chose private school for their children were:

To read the full report, visit www.fraserinstitute.ca

What to expect from a private and independent school education

Realistic Unrealistic
Expect your child to receive a quality education. Assume he or she will automatically start to bring home straight A's.
Expect a school to be clear about its philosophy, rules, guidelines and code of conduct. Try to bend the rules the first time your child runs afoul of one.
Expect a nurturing and academically challenging setting. Expect an unmotivated child with poor study habits to be miraculously transformed into a good student without commitment on the child's part or parental support.
Expect boarding school to provide structure. Assume boarding school is a cure-all for wayward children.
Expect several schools will be a good fit for your child. Feel all is lost if your child does not get into a particular school.
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.