If you have been looking for private schools in Canada to enroll your child, then Toronto is the most likable place to start from.
Toronto is one of the most diverse cities in the world, and its private schools reflect that. The city’s public schools face budget cuts year after year and have a hard time keeping up with the demand for more space, but private schools in Toronto have always been able to provide what parents want for their children—a safe environment, an enriching curriculum, and smaller class sizes.
The great part about enrolling your kids in private schools in Toronto is the cost affordability mixed with the excellent education systems that they offer. We have scoured the internet for the best private schools in Toronto that many parents recommend.
Continue reading to find out our 18 picks.
Overview of Private Schools in Toronto
Private schools in Toronto are an excellent option for parents to consider if they want the best possible education for their child. The city is home to some of Canada’s best private elementary, middle, and high schools, whose students consistently perform well on standardized tests and graduate with an impressive list of extracurricular achievements.
Statistically, when compared with public schools in Toronto, students in private schools in this region perform significantly higher than their counterparts in public schools. Private schools in Toronto are considered schools controlled by entities that are not government-related. This may include IB, Anglican, or catholic schools in Toronto.
However, one major discouragement about private schools in Toronto is the cost of their education. Although the government swoops in to provide subsidized fee costs in some of these schools, there are still some parents who may not still be able to afford this.
Without a doubt, if you can afford a private school in Toronto for your child, it is definitely the better investment.
So, with that out of the way, if you’re looking for a top-rated private school in Toronto, look no further than these 18 options.
Related: Art Schools in Toronto
Why Enroll Your Kid in a Canadian Private School?
There are so many reasons why parents prefer a private school for their child. Some prefer the education pattern, the independence of these schools, and the parental involvement that these private schools offer.
But here are a couple more reasons of our own:
- Privacy. Some of the best schools in Toronto are private, which means you’ll have a better chance of getting your child into one of these schools if you apply early.
Private school students are usually taught in smaller classes and given more individualized attention than public school students—and they’re also shielded from certain distractions that can come with being around other children who aren’t as focused on their studies.
- Safety. Public schools have a limited number of staff members, so it’s easy for teachers to be overworked and spread thin when it comes to keeping tabs on all the kids at once.
In private schools, however, there are fewer students overall (which means less distraction), so there’s more time for teachers and administrators alike to focus their attention on making sure each kid is safe from harm or undue pressure.
Even better, there are some private schools in Toronto called alternative schools. These are schools intended for students who struggle in traditional schools. They typically feature therapeutic sessions and counseling that will come in handy for these kids.
See also: 34 Top Private Special Needs Schools in Toronto
List of the Top-Rated Private Schools in Toronto
There are more than 80 private schools in Toronto for you to select from. But here are 18 schools that no parent seems to be shutting up about. We are sure you will find our list helpful.
Metropolitan Preparatory Academy
If you’re looking for a private school in Toronto that offers top-notch academics and encourages students to explore their interests, Metropolitan Preparatory Academy could be the right fit.
Located in the heart of downtown Toronto, this school has a student body of approximately 500 students, nearly 50 percent of whom are enrolled in its gifted program.
Established in 1982, it’s one of Canada’s oldest independent schools, offering programs from kindergarten through Grade 12. Students at MPA have access to an array of extracurricular activities including athletics and fine arts programs such as music lessons and theatre productions.
In terms of cost, the tuition fee at MPA is 11,980 per semester for Canadian students and $33,250 for international students (excluding application fees and study-related expenses). Annually, parents should expect to pay in excess of $23,960 (Canadian students) and $66,500 (international students).
Havergal College
Havergal College is a private boarding/day school for girls, grades 5-12. Located in Toronto, Ontario, Havergal College was founded in 1894 and has been educating students for over 120 years. The school’s motto is “Thriving today and leading tomorrow”, which is reflected in all aspects of the institution’s curriculum.
The school’s mascot is the HaverGator, an alligator dressed in the Havergal uniform. In terms of academic performance, Havergal is one of the leading prestigious private schools in Toronto. The school has produced excellent alumni like the late Canadian-American, Margot Robbie; the hockey player, Gillian Apps; and Canada’s decorated author, Susan Swan.
Havergal is notorious for its mission to educate and empower its female students to become leaders in the most socio-economic impacted positions and become the beacon of inspiration for many other girls in the world.
However, studying at this school isn’t cheap. You’ll spend $36,950 if your child is enrolling as a day student; $67,560 as a boarding student; and slightly more if they are international students.
Upper Canada College
Upper Canada College is a private boys’ only school in Toronto; it was founded in 1829 and is one of the oldest private schools in Toronto.
The school is widely considered an elite preparatory school in Toronto for its excellent alumni network. It prepares its students for a successful career path ad offers education for kids from kindergarten through grade 12.
Students who attend this school are usually academically sound as seen in their EQAO OSSLT test. In addition, students who graduate from this school are awarded International Baccalaureate and OSSD Diplomas.
The cost of tuition is $36,750 to as much as $72,000, depending on your selection of either the day or boarding options.
Toronto Prep School
Toronto Prep School is a private, non-denominational, co-ed school for students in grades 6-12. With an emphasis on small class sizes and individual attention, the school provides a challenging and supportive environment for students to learn and grow.
The school’s mission is to provide each student with an outstanding education that will prepare them for the future.
Thoughts gathered from parents revealed that TPS is equally a place where every student is valued, every effort is celebrated and every accomplishment is celebrated. It’s a place where children will be challenged to think and grow, but never in a way that feels intimidating or overwhelming. It’s a place where they’ll learn to explore their interests and discover their passions, all while developing the confidence and independence they need to succeed in life.
The school has a student population of 430 averaging 14 to 16 students per class. It is no doubt sitting on top as one of the best private schools in Toronto. In terms of tuition, TPS is fairly affordable at $29,450.
Royal St. George’s College
Royal St. George’s College is a boys’ only, private boarding school in Toronto, Ontario. It is a co-educational school and has a large campus of over 20 acres. This college has been an academically challenging school ever since its inception.
The school boasts of being one of the top high schools in Canada with high standards, which means it can be very competitive to get into – especially when you’re applying as an international student.
The school averages 16 students per class; thus, prioritizing the personalized learning experience that American schools are known for. The cost of tuition at St. George is $35,880.
Prestige School – Toronto Campus
Prestige School-Toronto Campus is a private school in Toronto and Richmond Hill. The school has received reviews noting its high standards for academics and teaching.
Prestige School is one of the cheapest schools for your ward to enroll in. The cost of tuition at this school is $14,500 to $18,000, making it one of the most affordable private schools in Toronto.
Aside from its low cost, Prestige School provides an excellent education approach for its students via its curriculum that meets all requirements. It also encourages them to further pursue integrity and excellence in their careers. These are virtues that guarantee high performance.
Sunnybrook School
Sunnybrook School is an independent, co-educational school for children aged 3 to 13 years old. The school has a total of eight campuses across the GTA. Sunnybrook School offers a wide range of academic programs including French Immersion, Montessori, Steiner, and Waldorf education options.
Sunnybrook School also offers unique extra-curricular activities such as an after-school ski club at their Georgian Peaks campus in Barrie; songwriting workshops; photographic camps; computer programming courses; Mandarin Chinese classes; coding clubs for girls only at some campuses; robotics teams that compete nationally with other schools.
The cost of tuition at this school is $29,750.
The Bishop Strachan School
Bishop Strachan School is a private all-girls school in Toronto that offers a well-rounded education with a focus on academics, arts, and athletics. The school is known for its progressive utilization of the Reggio Emilia education approach which heavily hinges on collaborative learning.
By far one of the most popular schools in Toronto, it boasts excellent academic results and has earned a reputation as one of the top private schools in Canada.
Bishop Strachan School’s extracurricular activities include sports such as soccer, volleyball, basketball, and track & field events; clubs like drama club and student council; music lessons like piano classes; art classes like painting or drawing class; dance classes such as ballet class or jazz dance group class; cooking lessons such as baking cookies class, etc. This school has it all.
However, the downside to this school is that it is expensive. International students may be required to pay nearly $70,000. But Canadian students pay far less in tuition costs.
Branksome Hall
Branksome Hall is an all-girls school located in Toronto, Canada that was founded in 1879. It is a member of the International Coalition of Girls’ Schools (ICGS) – an organization empowering women to become ethical, global changemakers. The school prides itself on providing a high-quality education with small class sizes, personalized teaching experiences, and individualized programs to suit each student’s needs.
Branksome Hall offers students from Kindergarten through Grade 12 an opportunity to achieve at the highest level academically while being challenged athletically and artistically as well.
The cost of tuition at Branksome Hall is $37,130 to $70,020, depending on your selections.
The Clover School
The Clover School is a co-ed private school in Toronto, Ontario. Although the school has a rolling enrolment, they do require a non-refundable application fee deposit of $500. Their website states that they offer the International Baccalaureate program as well as an integrated program (which combines academic and arts classes).
They also have after-school sports programs, including soccer, basketball, volleyball, badminton, and track and field. Finally, they have small class sizes suitable for individualized teaching. The school incorporates the Montessori pattern that is designed to nurture the mind and heart of each child. The cost of tuition at this school starts from $14,500.
Royal Crown School
Royal Crown School is an international private (co-ed) school in Toronto. It has been educating students since 2005, making it one of the newest private schools in Toronto. The school is located on the west side of the city near High Park, so it’s convenient for those living there or nearby.
Royal Crown has about 300 students enrolled in grades 7 to 12; thus, each class averages 10 – 15 students per class. The school’s educational approach focuses on making its students agile and innovative through the provision of an energizing and academically-stimulating environment that unleashes the potential in every student.
It is one of the lesser-known private schools in Toronto, but it comes highly recommended to parents who are seeking a school that helps their children excel academically. The cost of tuition starts from $18,000.
St. Clement’s School
St. Clement’s School is an independent Anglican high school in Toronto, Canada. It was founded in 1901 by its first rector, Canon Powell, who wanted to create a school that would provide boys with an education similar to that offered at English public schools such as Eton and Winchester College.
The school has many interschool activities such as athletics, arts, drama productions, and music competitions with other schools around Toronto.
St. Clement’s School costs $34,500 to enroll your ward in.
Bond Academy
Bond Academy is an independent art school that was founded in 1978. Located in Toronto, the school offers liberal art programs and has a student body of approximately 350.
Bond Academy is located on two campuses – one downtown and one uptown. They are both equipped with state-of-the-art facilities such as science labs, music studios, and art galleries as well as outdoor spaces for sports like soccer or basketball.
The cost of tuition is $7,000 to $16,000.
Montcrest School
Montcrest School is a co-ed private school in Toronto, with an enrolment of around 300 students. It has a rich history that dates back to 1961 when it was ridiculously established as a school for the owner’s son who could not enroll in Kindergarten due to his date of birth. It changed its name from The January School to Montcrest School in 1963 and became co-educational three years later.
The school runs an admission pattern that focuses on children’s abilities and seeks to polish them further to seek inspiration and pursue their interests. The cost of tuition starts from $28,150.
Hudson College
Hudson College is a private school that offers students from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12 a range of programs. The facility boasts an academic focus on arts and athletics, with special attention given to co-curricular activities such as music, drama, and athletics.
Located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Hudson College is committed to providing students with a positive, collaborative (Reggio Emilia) learning environment where they can thrive academically while also balancing their personal development.
The school prides itself on providing opportunities for all children regardless of their background or abilities by offering specialized support services for those who need them most.
The curriculum at Hudson College is designed around personalized education plans developed by teachers based on each student’s strengths and weaknesses so they can get ahead academically while still having fun doing it.
The cost of tuition at Hudson ranges from $18,250 to $19,500.
Crescent School
Crescent School is a progressive private school in Toronto, ranked as one of the best private schools in the city. The school’s location—in the Annex area of downtown Toronto—is convenient for students who live in nearby neighborhoods such as Rosedale and Yorkville. The student population at Crescent School is about 800 students.
Students at Crescent are taught by an experienced staff of educators who offer support for your child’s learning goals and individual needs. To ensure that all children receive an excellent education, Crescent uses a mix of traditional classroom teaching methods along with more innovative techniques such as peer teaching and project-based learning.
There are many opportunities for extracurricular activities at Crescent School: sports teams (including badminton, basketball, and volleyball), drama club productions (the school theatre hosts multiple shows every year), music lessons (piano and guitar), or band practice sessions; needless to say, there’s something for everyone.
The cost of tuition at Crescent School is $37,350.
Fieldstone School
Fieldstone School is a private coeducational school located in the Rosedale neighborhood of Toronto. It is home to both boys and girls and has been since its founding in 1997.
The school was founded on the basis of the firm belief in creating an environment where students would feel comfortable learning. This belief paid off when Fieldstone, a small private school at the time, grew to more than 200 students today – with 40 percent of this population being international students.
The school’s curriculum focuses on problem-solving and critical thinking skills while also providing opportunities for students to make connections between their studies and the real world around them through various field trips throughout the year.
The school costs about $19,395 to $27,050 in tuition and enrollment fees, thus making it one of the most affordable private schools in Toronto on our list.
The York School
The York School is a co-educational JK to Grade 12 independent private school located in Toronto, Ontario. Founded in 1965, the school has since earned the reputation of being one of the best private schools in Toronto.
The academic record of its students has been consistently high throughout its history and is one of the reasons why many families send their children to The York School.
In addition to its high academic standards and strong bond with alumni (many graduates return as teachers), this elite private institution also provides opportunities for students to explore different cultures through global initiatives such as travel programs and language classes.
However, it is a rather expensive school; as parents will be expected to pay $35,000 in tuition fees.
Are Private School Tuition Fees Expensive?
It depends on your child’s program and the school they attend. Most private schools in Toronto charge between $15,000 and $30,000 per year for elementary school students, while high school students can expect to pay between $20,000 and $40,000 annually. Generally, the tuition fee for most Toronto private schools hovers between the $25,000 to $35,000 region.
Do Private Schools Have a Higher Level of Academic Rigor Than Public Schools?
Definitely, yes! Private schools tend to be more rigorous than public ones because they are selective when it comes to accepting new students and must maintain their reputations as top-notch institutions by maintaining the standards they’ve set at entry levels.
For example, while all public high schools require you to take three years’ worth of math classes before graduating from high school, many private high schools require four years’ worth of math courses typically, or even more advanced levels like calculus or geometry. This is helpful when you apply to selective colleges and universities to continue your education.
How Does One Get Into a Toronto Private School?
Schools may have different admissions policies depending on their size (i.e., small vs large), but usually, parents must fill out an application form that asks questions such as:
Why do you want your child here? Are there any extracurricular activities in which your child has shown interest recently? etc., along with essays about why this particular institution would be best suited for their needs rather than another similar one nearby.
Final Thoughts
Private schools offer a variety of benefits, but there are a few things to consider before enrolling your child.
First, private schools tend to have higher tuition fees than public schools. However, these costs may be lessened by scholarships, if available.
Second, private schools have smaller class sizes than their public counterparts; this means that students receive more individual attention from the teachers and staff members.
Third, many private schools offer extensive extracurricular programs for students who wish to engage in activities like sports or drama after school hours (and sometimes during breaks). In case your child has shown a strong interest in extracurricular activities like hockey, it is always advisable to allow them to pursue that interest.
Fourth, most private schools require parental involvement; this can mean volunteering at fundraisers or helping out with classroom activities on weekends and evenings.
Finally, the best way to find out if any particular school is right for your family is by visiting the campus yourself, asking more questions from parents around you, reading the school ratings on websites like the Fraser Institute, and doing more research on your own.
Also Popular Among Our Readers:
Wrapping It Up
If your child is interested in attending a private school, then this list of top-rated institutions should be able to help you find one that fits your needs. We wish you good luck.