Research 1 shows that currently, Canada has around 1700 independent and private schools.
Every parent and student would agree that it's quite a figure to choose from and the next question follows, "How should we choose the right private school?"
In this article, we will discuss the top considerations when choosing a private school in Canada through these details:
- Overall reputation and reviews of the private schools
- Accessibility and range of special programs
- Location and costs for different private schools
- School culture and community
- The journey to the final decision
Evaluate Private School's Reputation & Overall Reviews
With so many private schools in Canada, what sets them all apart is none other than their respective reputations and students' reviews about their overall learning experiences there.
A popular website that allows parents and students to research and evaluate private and independent schools in Canada comprehensively is Our Kids.
This online platform enables anyone to find private schools by location from provinces like British Columbia, Ontario, and Alberta as well as the types of schools, whether it's boarding school or day school. Not only that, parents and students can read the user-submitted reviews — featuring parents and alumni from different private schools across Canada to get a glimpse of what it's actually like to study there.
Most importantly, this website offers easy overview comparison (direct- one-to-one) between private schools in Canada and also in-depth reports of individual private schools. For example, if you are interested in learning about all-boys private schools in Ontario, you can compare Upper School Canada and St. Michael’s College School, which are among the top private schools in Canada.
Additionally, you can also find out about the latest venues and times of private education expos where you get to meet with the admission representatives from the participating schools and private education experts — all in one day, and one place.
Here are some of the scope of questions that you can expect to engage with them.
Check The Range Of Learning Programs For Different Students
Granted that every child may have different learning styles, paces, and strengths, parents need to consider various aspects before picking the right school in Canada — public, private or independent.
Many parents tend to look into specialized aspects such as subject courses, global learning programs, and learning methods (for example, Montessori education).
Global learning programs are not only popular among local students, but among international students who pursue private education in Canada. That's because these programs are highly recognized in many universities from the UK, the US and even among European countries.
Private schools in Canada generally offer the International Baccalaureate (IB) program or the Advanced Placement (AP) for students seeking academic enrichment and the opportunity to earn university credits while they are still studying in high school.
On the flip side, some parents are keen to find schools that offer comprehensive special needs support with their children's best interests in mind. For example, a parent with an autistic kid would prefer a more flexible and personalized one-on-one learning experience for their child.
Generally, private schools have smaller class sizes and student-teacher ratios than public schools in Canada, leading students to have better support — especially for students with various learning, developmental and physical disabilities. Not only that, private schools are usually well equipped with more learning resources and facilities to support students with special educational needs.
That's why many parents with special needs children in Canada view private schools as great schooling options for their kids, regardless of their age.
Refer to the table below for examples of private schools in Canada that provide special needs support.
| Private school | Location | Type of school |
|---|---|---|
| Bishop 's College School | Sherbrooke,Quebec | Co-educational (day and boarding) |
| Branksome Hall | Toronto, Ontario | All-girls (day and boarding) |
| Harvegal College | Toronto, Ontario | All-girls (day and boarding) |
| Northstar Montessori Private School | Mississauga, Ontario | Co-educational (day) |
| Westmont Montessori School | Victoria, British Columbia | Co-educational (Day) |
Compare The Location & Expenses For Different Private Schools
The next consideration that parents and students should review is the location and expenses of the private schools.
If you are solely considering day schools, you should compare the proximity of the school's location to your home and check the public transportation accessibility around your neighbourhood.
This also applies to local and international students who are planning to enrol in private schools with boarding options to ease the travelling process once the semester is over.
The location of private schools in Canada will also indirectly influence the amount of tuition fees annually. Private schools located in urban areas like Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver usually have higher tuition expenses as compared to those in suburban or rural areas.
Apart from tuition fees, parents and students also need to take into account other expenses such as uniforms, field trips, resources fees (extracurricular activities, facility maintenance) and transportation.
The rule of thumb for the cost of private schools in Canada is this: Students who opt for boarding options will have a higher tuition fee than day students while international students will be charged a higher tuition fee than local students.
International students who enrol in day or boarding schools must arrange their health and medical coverage in Canada. For example, the purchase of a medical plan.
To make private education more accessible, almost every private school in Canada offers a wide range of scholarships and financial aid programs to help alleviate the financial burdens on families.
Parents and students can learn more about the application process for different kinds of scholarships — academic, athletic, art, or extracurricular activity achievements at private school expos or review them via the respective school's websites.
Fitting In With The Overall School Culture and Community
At the end of the day, every student needs to feel safe, comfortable, welcome and fulfilled at whichever private school they are in. There needs to be a strong sense of belonging, pride and social connection with the school community as students thrive in their academics or extracurricular activities.
Diversity and Inclusion
It's important to find schools that welcome students from different backgrounds — ethnicity, religion, socioeconomic background, and nationality. As you compare and review the different private schools, you can take a look at the diversity of the school staff, student body and overall school policies such as anti-racism and anti-discrimination practices.
This is something that international students should take note of so that they will always feel valued and respected throughout their years of study in the private school that they are in.
Another thing to look out for is the availability of wellness support systems for students in terms of professional counselling and peer support programs. These would help students to adapt well to the new school and also create a conducive and safe learning environment.
Extracurricular Activities and Student Life
Another key component that parents and students can pay attention to is the range and focus of extracurricular activities offered by private schools in Canada. Many times, they serve as a reflection of the school's culture and what the school values beyond the classroom.
For example, St. Andrews College, an all-boys independent boarding and day school in Ontario is well known for the school's sports culture and competitiveness in sports like football and ice hockey.
Conversely, Appleby College, an independent international school in Ontario is famous for its leadership culture and focus on global citizenship through its club programs like Model United Nations and Round Square Council.
The Journey to The Final Decision — Start Preparing Now
After going through the above information, you should have an idea of what you should look for in a private school be it from a parent's or student's perspective.
Whether it's the school's reputation, range of learning programs, locations and expenses or the overall school culture, each of them comes together like a puzzle to guide you as you make the final decision.
For some of you, the application process to a private school may not take place immediately due to several reasons. That's totally fine too. Visit several school expos to compare as many private schools as possible in Canada.
Additionally, you can take this time to get some reviews and advice from other parents or alumni of your desired private school on what to expect. Perhaps, some of them may even advise you to enrol in certain academic or non-academic lessons to build up your skills.
That's because part of the admission process to private schools in Canada requires students to submit their report cards (for the last 2 years) and overall extracurricular activity participation. If you feel the need to take advanced lessons in languages like English or French or sports, you can do so by finding an experienced private tutor near you at Superprof.
Superprof Canada connects students and private teachers from all across the country in just a few clicks. Once you head to the Superprof homepage, you can view as many tutors' profiles as possible and learn about their teaching experience, teaching qualification, teaching specialization, teaching mode (physical or online lessons) and also their hourly rates.
Whether you are based in Ontario or British Columbia, you can find a good private tutor to teach you anything regardless of your age and learning level.
With the right preparation (academically) and also the right information on the admission process, you will certainly find the right private school with ease!
References
- Ourkids.net. (n.d.). About private schools, fast facts. About Private Schools, Fast Facts. https://www.ourkids.net/school/facts-figures-and-reports
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