The social stresses of peers, sports, and school can be hard enough for any child, but for students at risk of failing their classes, it can be downright overwhelming. Read more
Meet schools in person, ask real questions, and find the best fit all in one afternoon.
Private School Expo - Fall 2025 Yes, I want to attend
Access school reviews, insights, and comparisons through our comprehensive reports below.
These are the leading schools that Our Kids editors have covered most extensively so far, providing detailed insights and thorough analysis of their programs, student life, and more.
"No other high school in the world has developed more Elite, Junior, Collegiate, USPORT, NCAA, National, Olympic or Pro athletes with over 215 in the NHL alone. ND graduates attend the top ranked universities worldwide.
—From the school
|
|
Meet them at the Expo: Oct 04
"Our Beyond the Books approach provides opportunities for students’ academic & personal growth, nurturing students' confidence & self-esteem and willingness to take risks through the classroom & organized activities.
—From the school
|
|
Meet them at the Expo: Oct 04
"Havergal’s supportive environment drives academic excellence and cultivates confident leaders through unparalleled programs, empowering students to pursue their passions, take initiative and thrive.
—From the school
|
"Whytecliff is a safe, empathetic & supportive place for teens with a diverse range of learning needs / personal challenges. Our positive community & high-growth environment pulls each child up to be their very best!
—From the school
|
|
Meet them at the Expo
Oakville, Ontario QEW Highway/403 Highway "Walden International School is the only private school in Halton region that is authorized to deliver the IB PYP and MYP programmes. Walden is committed to Making Good People. And, from goodness arises greatness." —From the school
|
|
Victoria, British Columbia "We identify experiences that enhance learning, empowering individuals while fostering a community of collaborative contributors. This is achieved through interdisciplinary projects that are seamlessly integrated." —From the school
|
|
Belleville, Ontario "We are a therapeutic boarding school for Gr. 3-12 students requiring individualized academic, clinical, and behaviour-management solutions in small class sizes and professional home stay or boarding environments" —From the school
|
|
North York, Ontario Avenue Road/Lawrence Avenue "Through our dynamic individual education plans, mentorship, and therapeutic counselling we ensure all students feel comfortable, respected and cared for, so they stay actively engaged in their educational journey." —From the school
|
|
Brampton, Ontario "Ontario eSecondary School (OES) offers fast, flexible and fully online courses supported by certified staff with free 24/7 tutoring. 8/10 of our students achieve over 85% in their course(s)." —From the school
|
|
Breslau, Ontario "Woodland combines academic excellence, spiritual growth, and community engagement. With a Christ-centered education, diverse curriculum, dedicated faculty, and supportive culture, it's an ideal choice for families." —From the school
|
|
Meet them at the Expo
Toronto, Ontario Yonge/Eglinton "We go beyond curriculum expectations to provide opportunities for students to earn admission into their university of choice using our AP accreditation, staff expertise and individualized goals in small classes." —From the school
|
|
Toronto, Ontario "MIA is proud to foster a family environment through our small class sizes and close knit academic community. Our support for students goes far beyond the classroom to best prepare them for life after graduation." —From the school
|
|
London, Ontario "Matthews Hall aims to inspire academic excellence and a lifetime of joyful learning in the students we serve. We offer a trusted and balanced journey of academic, character and leadership development to our students." —From the school
|
|
Toronto, Ontario Yonge/Finch "Monarch Academy is a private school for children with autism, rooted in a culture of belonging. We offer a strength-based, individualized approach that supports each child’s academic, social, and emotional growth." —From the school
|
|
Toronto, Ontario Bathurst St./Eglinton Ave. West "Please bring your child for a free trial and let him or her experience the difference. Don't be surprised if he or she doesn't want to go home at the end of the day! SUMMER CAMP PROGRAMS AVAILABLE!" —From the school
|
|
Ottawa, Ontario Baseline Rd./Woodroffe Ave. "Bishop Hamilton Montessori School, a not-for-profit independent school in Ottawa, provides an authentic Christian Montessori approach for children 3 months to 14 years." —From the school
|
|
Toronto, Ontario York Mills/Leslie "Hawthorn is the only independent, Catholic-inspired, all girls school in Toronto that provides character education, personal mentorship, and a classical liberal arts education that is university preparatory." —From the school
|
|
Rosthern, Saskatchewan "RJC is a Grades 9-12 boarding school accredited by the Saskatchewan Ministry of Education. RJC is student and community-focused all while offering excellent academics and exceptional athletic and fine arts programs." —From the school
|
|
Toronto, Ontario Queen/Silver Birch "The Cole Academy welcomes students of all genders and orientations and their families. Using stories of under-represented communities, TCA prepares students socially, emotionally, and academically for future schooling." —From the school
|
|
Milton, Ontario "At Oxford Learning Academy, our teachers will use the proven scientific approach of Cognitive Development to teach our students new ways of thinking and understanding what they are learning and how they are learning." —From the school
|
|
Bayfield, Ontario "After 20+ years of teaching courses online, VHS is unrivaled in experience, credibility, and expertise. Our student-centred model provides a world-class educational experience for thousands of Ontario students each year." —From the school
|
|
Toronto, Ontario Danforth/Broadview "Passages is an alternative school that empowers young people to shape their education. Supported by adult mentors, learners follow their interests, contribute to a democratic community and feel engaged in learning again." —From the school
|
|
Cambridge, Ontario Franklin Blvd/Myers Road "OAK BRIDGE ACADEMY is an alternative, not-for-profit school. Our highest priority is to provide financially accessible, highly specialized education to every child with Autism Spectrum Disorder & other neurodiversities." —From the school
|
|
Meet them at the Expos
Burlington, Ontario Lakeshore Rd/Brant St "Blyth Academy Burlington, located in Village Square in the heart of downtown Burlington, offers not only our outstanding Grades 9–12 program but also a middle years program and facilities for students in Grades 5–8." —From the school
|
|
St. Catharines, Ontario Ridley Road/Henrietta Street "At Ridley College, an IB World School and one of the largest boarding schools in Canada, our mission is to teach students a foundation of skills and habits to pursue their dreams and build fulfilling careers." —From the school
|
|
St. Catharines, Ontario Ontario St./Welland Ave. "Heuristic & autodidactic, inspired by Sudbury & democratic models. Students are self-directed, and holistically empowered. Voluntary attendance, year-round calendar, agency, & consent inspire free learning. Also Forest" —From the school
|
|
North York, Ontario Don Mills Road/York Mills Road "For over a decade, Merit College has been helping thousands of talented students from local communities and around the world reach their full potential and gain admission to top universities." —From the school
|
|
Woodbridge, Ontario Kipling/Highway 7 "You belong here! At TDChristian, we celebrate each student’s unique gifts in a safe, supportive, and engaging environment. With faith, learning, and belonging at our core, we engage, enfold, and empower every student." —From the school
|
|
North York, Ontario Bathurst/Wilson "Magnificent Minds Inc. caters to students whose needs are not being met in traditional school environments, pursuing personal best through a balanced approach to education." —From the school
|
|
Markham, Ontario Denison/Warden "Our curriculum are designed to build essential skills and concepts that help with the cognitive, social, creative, emotional, and physical development of your child with the aim to be a successful learner for life!" —From the school
|
|
Meet them at the Expo
Mississauga, Ontario Lakeshore road/Southdown road "Rooted in Christian values, Meadow Green Christian Academy combines academic rigor, personal attention, and a safe, nurturing environment to empower each student’s unique potential." —From the school
|
|
Toronto, Ontario University Ave./Dundas street "Cornerstone students love to shape the future. They INSPIRE learning, DISCOVER their potential, EMPOWER themselves to be innovative citizens. Our boundless learning strategies open doors for successful learning." —From the school
|
|
Amaranth, Ontario "The Maples is an established private IB World School in Orangeville, Ontario providing exemplary education for students (Pre-School to Grade 8). French instruction in PS and Kindergarten with an academic focus." —From the school
|
|
Nepean, Ontario "R.I.S.E. Academy empowers youth with personalized, experiential learning rooted in equity and the UN SDGs.We focus on inquiry-based, culturally relevant education that fosters creativity, leadership, and community impact" —From the school
|
|
Markham, Ontario Brimley Road/14th Ave "Founded in 1990, Yip's Montessori Program caters to children from 1.5 to 5 years old. Yip's campuses are located in Markham and Unionville." —From the school
|
|
Mississauga, Ontario Dundas St. W/Erin Mills Pkwy "We will do whatever it takes to ensure every student has success. With our flexible support and guidance, our students overcome their challenges. They develop the confidence to make mistakes – and learn from them." —From the school
|
|
Etobicoke, Ontario Bloor/Shaver "Kingsley's small classes and personal approach help students reach their unique potential. Each child is seen, heard, and respected. French, music, and phys-ed round out a program which includes plenty of time outdoors." —From the school
|
|
Meet them at the Expo
Toronto, Ontario Yonge St/Sheppard Ave "Ontario Virtual School is an Ontario Ministry-inspected credit-granting institution offering Grades 6-12 courses in an interactive online format. Students can start anytime with 24/7 access." —From the school
|
|
Aurora, Ontario St. John Sideroad/Yonge St. "Aurora Montessori offers an enriched Montessori program for students, Toddler to Grade 8, with an option of an OSSD credit in Grade 9 Math. A unique Mindfulness and Technology program develops key 21st-century skills!" —From the school
|
|
Calgary, Alberta "We offer a specialized, student-paced program for children with diverse learning needs, so that they can thrive! With ample academic support and an inclusive school culture, you can Become Your Best!" —From the school
|
|
North Vancouver, British Columbia Wellington Dr/Fromme Rd "Cousteau School offers a bilingual French-English education with a dual curriculum: the French Ministry of Education program and the BC curriculum, fostering academic excellence and global citizenship." —From the school
|
|
Calgary, Alberta Highway 1/Stony Trail East "Third Academy is a school with a heart. We are inclusive, supporting students with a variety of disabilities and disorders. Our sliding scale bursary program makes our services accessible to all families." —From the school
|
|
Toronto, Ontario "Aurora Alternative Micro School has created a curriculum that combines academic and creative experiences , engaging a child's head, heart and hands in an environment that is supportive, nurturing and rich in growth." —From the school
|
|
Victoria, British Columbia "Brookes Westshore is an IB World School on Vancouver Island, BC, offering small class sizes, engaging teachers and a caring community to boarding and day students from grades 4 to 12." —From the school
|
It’s common knowledge that no two students learn in exactly the same way. Yet school subject material can only be taught in one manner. This places some students at risk of falling behind their peers academically, resulting in a loss of self-confidence, a dislike for school, and increased stress and frustration. The accumulation of these feelings, poor grades at school, and the stresses children face in social situations at school then make it even harder to concentrate during daily lessons, leading to a potentially very damaging vicious cycle.
But just because a student is at risk of failing or is receiving poor marks in school, it does not make them in any way "dumb" or "stupid" as they may be called or feel personally. At-risk students are disproportionately male and of minority backgrounds, and tend not to participate in school activities or feel a personal connection to the school, but there are many, many reasons why a student at risk may have difficulty keeping up with their peers academically.
There are many ways to absorb information, and students need to discover for themselves what method works best for them. Once this happens, they can take their learning processes into their own hands and are usually at an age that will allow them to do so. However, younger children who have not yet discovered their process of learning are in the control of their teacher. And while they may try to incorporate all different kinds of teaching into their lesson plan, it is impossible to meet every child’s needs, leaving some to fall behind.
Sometimes a student at risk of failing a class has a physical reason for not being able to match their classmates in academics, like hearing or visual impairment, or a learning disability, like dyslexia or ADHD. Most schools offer special programs for children who exhibit diagnosed learning disabilities or require special attention, but these are usually lacking in resources and the first to be hit by any budget cuts. you can learn more about whether or not your child has a learning disability.
At-risk students who have aligned themselves with the wrong crowd and exhibit impulsive behaviour at school may see significant drops in their grades, even if they were straight-A students in previous years. Students at risk of failing also may be distracted by problems at home, drug addiction, pregnancy, and other serious problems that leave little time or energy for schoolwork.
Public schools can provide some help for at-risk students struggling in school, but their resources can be limited. At one of Canada’s many quality private schools, at-risk students receive the benefits that private and independent schools provide. Countless of at-risk students have already seen vast improvements in their academic achievement through the close attention that comes from small class sizes, the enthusiasm and support of passionate instructors and counsellors, individually-customized education based on each student’s learning needs, up-to-date technology, and unique programs designed specifically to help students at risk of failing grades, whether it be for the fault of a learning disability, a different learning style, special needs, or a troubled personal life.
With some material from: https://www.ericdigests.org/pre-928/risk.htm
Small class sizes, inquiry-driven learning, and a focus on well-being have created an environment that nurtures confident and curious learners
As math and science fields continue to evolve, especially with the rise of AI and advanced technologies, the demand for skilled STEM graduates grows.
The power of the Leonardo Da Vinci Academy of Arts & Sciences
How parents, teachers, and professionals can help
The art of providing holistic learning environments for teens
Turnaround in a new environment
Lives change inside private schools (June 25, 2019)
At-risk teen girls
Private school can be a great option for at-risk teen girls (May 2, 2019)
Troubled teen girls
Private schools can be a great option for troubled teen girls (May 1, 2019)
At-risk programs
The successes and benefits of at-risk programs (May 1, 2019)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
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 ™ © 2025 All right reserved.
