Below, find OUR KIDS' rankings of private schools in Greater Calgary and the surrounding area. OUR KIDS cautions against putting too much weight on rankings. In fact, top-ranked schools are averse to them. Don't over-determine the value of simplistic data or give it too much weight in the school decision process.
Explore the complete list of Calgary private schools on OUR KIDS, the guide families trust to make the right choice.
That said, some rankings can be helpful for parents if used properly and with a healthy level of skepticism. That means:
Your ultimate school decision should be well-advised, richly informed (fully investigate school reports that interest you), and fully considered (we suggest that you use tools such as our school comparison and more). Attend the Calgary Private School Expo, where you can meet school reps, join Q&A seminars, and get clarity on key decision-making factors—all in one afternoon. Click here for details and to RSVP.
The list below ranks some of the top private schools in Calgary strictly based on the number of students accepted into major universities. It does not consider the size of schools' graduating classes. It focuses on graduates' placement in 12 of the world's top universities (Harvard, Yale, Princeton, University of Pennsylvania, Dartmouth, Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Stanford, University of Chicago, Oxford, or Cambridge) in the last five years. So, beware that this list is limited, a very narrow way of assessing schools.
Consult each school's report to learn more about what it offers. Each has details about placement in American and all other Canadian universities. But more importantly, each OUR KIDS report provides a richly detailed portrait of the whole school.
| School | Location | Grades | Grads in Top US/UK Schools (5 yrs) |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rundle College | Calgary, AB | K to 12 | 6 |
| 2 | Strathcona-Tweedsmuir School | Foothills, AB | K to 12 | 5 |
| 3 | West Island College (Calgary) | Calgary, AB | 7 to 12 | 5 |
| 4 | Calgary Academy & Calgary Collegiate | Calgary, AB | K to 12 | 1 |
Low acceptance rates might indicate that the school has many applicants and turns away potential students based on an academic assessment. However, other factors affect admission rates. It's far more important for parents to focus on how well a school meets the distinct needs of their child(ren). Rankings list (and academic assessments, for that matter) will not tell you how well your child will fit in and like a school. This list can help parents understand their children's chances of getting into some local private schools.
| School | Location | Grades | Acceptance rate |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Glenmore Christian Academy ✝ | Calgary, AB | JK to 9 | 50% |
| 2 | Foothills Academy | Calgary, AB | 3 to 12 | 50% |
| 3 | Rundle College | Calgary, AB | K to 12 | 70% |
| 4 | Clear Water Academy ✝ | Calgary, AB | JK to 12 | 75% |
| 5 | Calgary French & International School | Calgary, AB | NS to 12 | 75% |
| 6 | Banbury Crossroads School | Calgary, AB | JK to 12 | 75% |
| 7 | North Point School | Calgary, AB | K to 12 | 75% |
| 8 | Strathcona-Tweedsmuir School | Foothills, AB | K to 12 | 80% |
| 9 | Lycée international de Calgary | Calgary, AB | PS to 12 | 85% |
| 10 | River Valley School | Calgary, AB | PS to 6 | 90% |
Small class size is the impetus for many parents to start searching for a private school. Calgary private schools listed below are ranked by the smallest average class size. Again, avoid focusing too much on this one aspect. Many private schools in the area offer exceptional education without emphasizing small classes.
| School | Location | Grades | Avg. class size | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Banbury Crossroads Academy | Calgary, AB | 1 to 12 | 6 to 8 |
| 2 | Rundle Academy & Rundle Studio | Calgary, AB | 4 to 12 | 6 to 12 |
| 3 | Banbury Crossroads School | Calgary, AB | JK to 12 | 8 to 12 |
| 4 | Foothills Academy | Calgary, AB | 3 to 12 | 12 to 14 |
| 5 | Rundle College | Calgary, AB | K to 12 | 13 to 16 |
| 6 | North Point School | Calgary, AB | K to 12 | 13 to 18 |
| 7 | Lycée international de Calgary | Calgary, AB | PS to 12 | 14 to 18 |
| 8 | Clear Water Academy ✝ | Calgary, AB | JK to 12 | 15 to 20 |
| 9 | Calgary French & International School | Calgary, AB | NS to 12 | 16 to 20 |
| 10 | Calgary Academy & Calgary Collegiate | Calgary, AB | K to 12 | 16 to 20 |
| School | Location | Grades | Tuition | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Agate Private School | St. Catharines, ON | NS to 12 | $350 |
| 2 | Glenmore Christian Academy ✝ | Calgary, AB | JK to 9 | $3,210 to $7,595 |
| 3 | Jehovah Jireh Christian School ✝ | Caledon, ON | JK to 12 | $4,000 |
| 4 | ABC Montessori | Mississauga, ON | NS to 5 | $4,576 to $11,650 |
| 5 | Bishop Hamilton Montessori School ✝ | Ottawa, ON | NS to 8 | $4,620 to $18,925 |
| 6 | Kuper Academy | Kirkland, QC | PS to 12 | $5,122 to $14,349 |
| 7 | Rosthern Junior College High School ✝ | Rosthern, SK | 9 to 12 | $5,250 to $9,250 |
| 8 | College Bourget | Rigaud, QC | PS to 12 | $5,330 to $15,700 |
| 9 | Toronto Waldorf School | Thornhill, ON | NS to 12 | $5,742 to $25,450 |
| 10 | Nile Academy | Toronto, ON | PS to 12 | $8,400 to $8,900 |
| 11 | École Montessori | Pickering, ON | NS to 6 | $8,400 to $17,000 |
| 12 | Maples Academy | Amaranth, ON | PS to 8 | $8,700 to $10,400 |
| 13 | Progressive Academy | Edmonton, AB | NS to 12 | $8,700 to $11,000 |
| 14 | Whytecliff Agile Learning Centre - Burnaby | Burnaby, BC | 8 to 12 | $8,900 to $19,500 |
| 15 | Whytecliff Agile Learning Centres | Langley, BC | 8 to 12 | $8,900 to $19,500 |
| 16 | Saplings Nature School | North Vancouver, BC | PS to 5 | $9,060 to $9,950 |
| 17 | Luther College High School ✝ | Regina, SK | 9 to 12 | $9,960 |
| 18 | Guiding Light Academy ✝ | Mississauga, ON | JK to 8 | $10,000 |
| 19 | Junior Academy | Toronto, ON | NS to 8 | $10,000 to $29,400 |
| 20 | Passages Centre for Self-Directed Learning | Toronto, ON | 5 to 12 | $10,250 to $12,800 |
Some parents see private school tuition as a sign of quality, but this is an oversimplification. Many top Calgary private schools offer excellent education at reasonable rates. Still, for those curious, the list below shows the city’s most expensive private elementary and secondary schools. Remember to focus on more than just cost when choosing the right school for your child.
| School | Location | Grades | Tuition | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | West Island College (Calgary) | Calgary, AB | 7 to 12 | $22,460 to $35,000 |
| 2 | Strathcona-Tweedsmuir School | Foothills, AB | K to 12 | $20,508 to $26,170 |
| 3 | Calgary Academy & Calgary Collegiate | Calgary, AB | K to 12 | $17,400 to $22,000 |
| 4 | Rundle College | Calgary, AB | K to 12 | $16,800 to $21,500 |
| 5 | Rundle Academy & Rundle Studio | Calgary, AB | 4 to 12 | $12,100 to $21,400 |
| 6 | River Valley School | Calgary, AB | PS to 6 | $16,450 to $19,390 |
| 7 | Lycée international de Calgary | Calgary, AB | PS to 12 | $16,990 to $19,260 |
| 8 | Banbury Crossroads Academy | Calgary, AB | 1 to 12 | $18,800 |
| 9 | Banbury Crossroads School | Calgary, AB | JK to 12 | $16,800 to $18,800 |
| 10 | Calgary French & International School | Calgary, AB | NS to 12 | $9,200 to $18,570 |
The age of a school is a sign of prestige for some parents. However, this is not a credible indicator of whether a school is right for your child. For interest’s sake, we provide this list as some measure of the stability of some schools.
| School | Location | Grades | Founded | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Strathcona-Tweedsmuir School | Foothills, AB | K to 12 | 1905 |
| 2 | Lycée international de Calgary | Calgary, AB | PS to 12 | 1966 |
| 3 | Calgary French & International School | Calgary, AB | NS to 12 | 1969 |
| 4 | Banbury Crossroads School | Calgary, AB | JK to 12 | 1979 |
| 5 | Foothills Academy | Calgary, AB | 3 to 12 | 1979 |
| 6 | Banbury Crossroads Academy | Calgary, AB | 1 to 12 | 1979 |
| 7 | Glenmore Christian Academy ✝ | Calgary, AB | JK to 9 | 1980 |
Listed below are Calgary private schools that have produced the most notable alumni. Influence is measured by whether alumni have been granted a Wikipedia page. We consider this a credible indicator of achievement today. We also urge parents to put their children's needs first and consider many other factors when choosing a school.
| School | Location | Grades | Notable alumni |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Banbury Crossroads School | Calgary, AB | JK to 12 | 1 |
| 2 | West Island College (Calgary) | Calgary, AB | 7 to 12 | 1 |
| School | Location | Grades | Students | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vancouver Independent School for Science and Technology | Vancouver, BC | 8 to 12 | 70% |
| 2 | Passages Centre for Self-Directed Learning | Toronto, ON | 5 to 12 | 60% |
| 3 | Foothills Academy | Calgary, AB | 3 to 12 | 40% |
| 4 | Bishop's College School | Sherbrooke, QC | 7 to 12 | 40% |
| 5 | The Hill Academy | Caledon, ON | JK to 12 | 40% |
| 6 | Academie Providence ✝ | Ottawa, ON | NS to 8 | 35% |
| 7 | Hawthorn School ✝ | Toronto, ON | NS to 12 | 35% |
| 8 | Trinity College School | Port Hope, ON | 5 to 12 | 33% |
| 9 | King's-Edgehill School | Windsor, NS | 6 to 12 | 33% |
| 10 | Stanstead College | Stanstead, QC | 7 to 12 | 30% |
| 11 | Rosthern Junior College High School ✝ | Rosthern, SK | 9 to 12 | 30% |
| 12 | YMCA Academy | Toronto, ON | 6 to 12 | 30% |
| 13 | Shawnigan Lake School | Shawnigan Lake, BC | 8 to 12 | 30% |
| 14 | Unisus School | Summerland, BC | PS to 12 | 30% |
| 15 | Sacred Heart School of Montreal ✝ | Montreal, QC | 7 to 12 | 30% |
| 16 | Athol Murray College of Notre Dame ✝ | Wilcox, SK | 8 to 12 | 30% |
| 17 | Lakefield College School | Lakefield, ON | 9 to 12 | 30% |
| 18 | Rothesay Netherwood School | Rothesay, NB | 6 to 12 | 28% |
| 19 | Brentwood College School | Mill Bay, BC | 8 to 12 | 27% |
| 20 | St. Andrew's College | Aurora, ON | 5 to 12 | 26% |
| School | Location | Grades | Endowment | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Upper Canada College | Toronto, ON | SK to 12 | $150,000,000 |
| 2 | Trinity College School | Port Hope, ON | 5 to 12 | $60,000,000 |
| 3 | Lakefield College School | Lakefield, ON | 9 to 12 | $41,751,462 |
| 4 | St. Andrew's College | Aurora, ON | 5 to 12 | $33,000,000 |
| 5 | St. George's School | Vancouver, BC | K to 12 | $25,000,000 |
| 6 | Crescent School | Toronto, ON | 3 to 12 | $21,000,000 |
| 7 | Brentwood College School | Mill Bay, BC | 8 to 12 | $20,000,000 |
| 8 | Ashbury College | Ottawa, ON | 4 to 12 | $17,000,000 |
| 9 | St. Michaels University School | Victoria, BC | K to 12 | $17,000,000 |
| 10 | Shawnigan Lake School | Shawnigan Lake, BC | 8 to 12 | $13,500,000 |
| 11 | Strathcona-Tweedsmuir School | Foothills, AB | K to 12 | $12,000,000 |
| 12 | Study | Westmount, QC | K to 11 | $10,000,000 |
| 13 | Country Day School | King, ON | JK to 12 | $9,000,000 |
| 14 | Rothesay Netherwood School | Rothesay, NB | 6 to 12 | $9,000,000 |
| 15 | St. Anne's School | Aurora, ON | 5 to 12 | $7,500,000 |
| 16 | Balmoral Hall School | Winnipeg, MB | PS to 12 | $3,750,000 |
| 17 | Athol Murray College of Notre Dame ✝ | Wilcox, SK | 8 to 12 | $3,000,000 |
| 18 | Havergal College | Toronto, ON | JK to 12 | $2,637,233 |
| 19 | Glenlyon Norfolk School | Victoria, BC | JK to 12 | $1,000,000 |
| 20 | Woodland Christian High School ✝ | Breslau, ON | 9 to 12 | $300,000 |
| School | Location | Grades | Enrollment | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ontario Virtual School | Toronto, ON | 6 to 12 | 12000 |
| 2 | College Bourget | Rigaud, QC | PS to 12 | 2085 |
| 3 | Ontario eSecondary School | Brampton, ON | 9 to 12 | 2000 |
| 4 | Columbia International College | Hamilton, ON | 9 to 12 | 1700 |
| 5 | Mentor College | Mississauga, ON | JK to 12 | 1500 |
| 6 | TFS - Canada's International School | Toronto, ON | NS to 12 | 1500 |
| 7 | Hillfield Strathallan College | Hamilton, ON | NS to 12 | 1285 |
| 8 | Upper Canada College | Toronto, ON | SK to 12 | 1280 |
| 9 | Collingwood School | West Vancouver, BC | JK to 12 | 1256 |
| 10 | St. George's School | Vancouver, BC | K to 12 | 1202 |
| 11 | Bayview Glen | Toronto, ON | PS to 12 | 1130 |
| 12 | Central Montessori Schools | Toronto, ON | NS to 8 | 1075 |
| 13 | Havergal College | Toronto, ON | JK to 12 | 1050 |
| 14 | Glenmore Christian Academy ✝ | Calgary, AB | JK to 9 | 1031 |
| 15 | Mulgrave School | West Vancouver, BC | PS to 12 | 1030 |
| 16 | St. Michaels University School | Victoria, BC | K to 12 | 1003 |
| 17 | Town Centre Private Schools | Markham, ON | NS to 12 | 1000 |
| 18 | Unionville College | Unionville, ON | PS to 11 | 1000 |
| 19 | Kuper Academy | Kirkland, QC | PS to 12 | 985 |
| 20 | Lycée Claudel | Ottawa, ON | PS to 12 | 980 |
| School | Location | Grades | Day enrollment avg | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alderwood Academy ✝ | Mississauga, ON | JK to 8 | 1 |
| 2 | Aurora Alternative Micro School | Toronto, ON | JK to 8 | 1 |
| 3 | Dunblaine School | Toronto, ON | 1 to 8 | 1 |
| 4 | The Cole Academy | Toronto, ON | JK to 8 | 1 |
| 5 | Passages Centre for Self-Directed Learning | Toronto, ON | 5 to 12 | 2 |
| 6 | Monarch Academy by Monarch House | Toronto, ON | K to 10 | 2 |
| 7 | Académie de la Capitale | Ottawa, ON | JK to 12 | 2 |
| 8 | Oakwood Academy | Mississauga, ON | JK to 12 | 3 |
| 9 | Elevate Learning Centre | Burlington, ON | 1 to 8 | 3 |
| 10 | Olivet School ✝ | Etobicoke, ON | JK to 5 | 3 |
| 11 | Summit Micro School | Toronto, ON | JK to 8 | 3 |
| 12 | Banbury Crossroads Academy | Calgary, AB | 1 to 12 | 3 |
| 13 | Erudite School | Toronto, ON | JK to 8 | 4 |
| 14 | Oak Learners | Etobicoke, ON | JK to 8 | 4 |
| 15 | Magnificent Minds | North York, ON | JK to 8 | 4 |
| 16 | InnovOak School | Kitchener, ON | PS to 12 | 4 |
| 17 | Vianney Academy ✝ | Mississauga, ON | SK to 12 | 4 |
| 18 | Adelfiha Christian Academy | North York, ON | PS to 6 | 4 |
| 19 | GlenOak Academy | Sault Ste. Marie, ON | SK to 8 | 4 |
| 20 | March Academy | Kanata, ON | 1 to 8 | 4 |
| School | Location | Grades | Enrollment avg | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brentwood College School | Mill Bay, BC | 8 to 12 | 111 |
| 2 | Shawnigan Lake School | Shawnigan Lake, BC | 8 to 12 | 110 |
| 3 | Lakefield College School | Lakefield, ON | 9 to 12 | 109 |
| 4 | Woodland Christian High School ✝ | Breslau, ON | 9 to 12 | 92 |
| 5 | St. George's School | Vancouver, BC | K to 12 | 92 |
| 6 | Upper Canada College | Toronto, ON | SK to 12 | 91 |
| 7 | St. Andrew's College | Aurora, ON | 5 to 12 | 82 |
| 8 | Ashbury College | Ottawa, ON | 4 to 12 | 81 |
| 9 | Crescent School | Toronto, ON | 3 to 12 | 80 |
| 10 | St. Michaels University School | Victoria, BC | K to 12 | 77 |
| 11 | Trinity College School | Port Hope, ON | 5 to 12 | 72 |
| 12 | Havergal College | Toronto, ON | JK to 12 | 70 |
| 13 | Athol Murray College of Notre Dame ✝ | Wilcox, SK | 8 to 12 | 62 |
| 14 | Strathcona-Tweedsmuir School | Foothills, AB | K to 12 | 58 |
| 15 | Glenlyon Norfolk School | Victoria, BC | JK to 12 | 57 |
| 16 | Country Day School | King, ON | JK to 12 | 55 |
| 17 | Bishop's College School | Sherbrooke, QC | 7 to 12 | 45 |
| 18 | Rothesay Netherwood School | Rothesay, NB | 6 to 12 | 44 |
| 19 | St. Anne's School | Aurora, ON | 5 to 12 | 38 |
| 20 | Study | Westmount, QC | K to 11 | 32 |
Kids entering high school who crave sports involvement may want to get into a school that boosts their competitiveness through its high number of sports teams and programs. With that in mind, this list ranks schools based on the number of sports offered (including only schools listed with OurKids.net). Of course, sports should only be one of many factors that eventually figure into what school you choose.
| School | Location | Grades | Total sports programs |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hillfield Strathallan College | Hamilton, ON | NS to 12 | 70 |
| 2 | St. Jude's Academy | Mississauga, ON | JK to 12 | 56 |
| 3 | St. George's School | Vancouver, BC | K to 12 | 56 |
| 4 | Bodwell High School | North Vancouver, BC | 8 to 12 | 53 |
| 5 | Mulgrave School | West Vancouver, BC | PS to 12 | 52 |
| 6 | Mentor College | Mississauga, ON | JK to 12 | 49 |
| 7 | Crescent School | Toronto, ON | 3 to 12 | 46 |
| 8 | WillowWood School | Toronto, ON | K to 12 | 45 |
| 9 | Académie St-Laurent Academy | Ottawa, ON | NS to 12 | 45 |
| 10 | Montcrest School | Toronto, ON | JK to 8 | 44 |
| 11 | Rosedale Day School | Toronto, ON | JK to 8 | 41 |
| 12 | Northmount School ✝ | Toronto, ON | JK to 8 | 41 |
| 13 | Linbrook School | Oakville, ON | JK to 8 | 41 |
| 14 | Trinity College School | Port Hope, ON | 5 to 12 | 40 |
| 15 | Lower Canada College | Montreal, QC | K to 12 | 40 |
| 16 | Bayview Glen | Toronto, ON | PS to 12 | 39 |
| 17 | Sherwood Heights School | Mississauga, ON | JK to 12 | 39 |
| 18 | Kingsway College School | Etobicoke, ON | JK to 12 | 38 |
| 19 | Upper Canada College | Toronto, ON | SK to 12 | 38 |
| 20 | Trillium School | Markham, ON | NS to 12 | 38 |
Are Calgary private schools good?
We interviewed both parents and students. You can read reviews about Calgary private schools on this page.
What is the most expensive Calgary private school?
West Island College (Calgary) has the highest tuition fees from $22,460 to $35,000 per year with an average tuition of $28,730 per year.
Which Calgary private school has the lowest acceptance rates?
The Calgary private school with the lowest acceptance rate is Glenmore Christian Academy. The school has an overall accepance rate of 50%.
What is the oldest Calgary private school?
Strathcona-Tweedsmuir School is the oldest Calgary private school. The school was founded in 1905.
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