Ottawa private school rankings

Parents considering a private secondary school in Ottawa rightly want to know its university placement record. The list below ranks schools based on self-reported data about graduates' acceptance into 12 of the world's best universities (Harvard, Yale, Princeton, University of Pennsylvania, Dartmouth, Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Stanford, University of Chicago, Oxford, or Cambridge) over the last five years. Note: this list does not account for graduating class size—larger schools may place more students by volume. See individual school reports for placement in U.S. and other Canadian universities.

Granted, university placement is an important factor for parents, but it's still only one part of a school's overall character. Parents are encouraged to focus on finding the right fit for their child(ren).

Schools often have a low admission rate due to a strong focus on academics and a high number of applicants. Other factors that contribute to a low acceptance rate include the size of facilities, a focus on limiting class sizes, and others. In a general sense, though, this might be seen as an indication of how academically demanding a school is. Parents might also find this list helpful as it provides a quick snapshot of the child's chances of getting into some schools.

Here are Ottawa private schools ranked by their reported acceptance rates. Use this with caution:

• Please remember that the numbers are reported by the schools themselves and are not checked for accuracy by OUR KIDS. 
• Follow advice on finding the best school for your family, and focus your efforts on finding the best fit.

Many parents seek out private education because smaller class sizes offer several advantages. Some private schools promise smaller average class sizes than others. For interest's sake, the list below ranks Ottawa private schools on this basis.

It's important to remember that this is only one aspect of a school's overall environment. Many other factors will affect your child's academic and personal growth. Focus on the whole school and the whole child when assessing a school's fit for your child(ren).

Athletic-minded students entering the higher grades may want to be in a school with a high number of varsity and intramural sports programs. Below, find a list of Ottawa private schools with the highest number of programs, offering the most competition for high school athletes.

Parents often assume that higher tuition means a better school, but this view is simplistic. While more funding can mean better facilities and highly qualified staff, it doesn’t guarantee the right fit for your child. Many top Ottawa private schools offer excellent education at reasonable rates. For those interested, the list below offers a helpful starting point in comparing tuition costs.

Below, we list Ottawa’s oldest private schools. A school with a long history may seem appealing to some parents, considering this an indication of prestige. We urge you to go beyond superficial factors like this when searching for the best school for your child(ren).

Below, find a list of Ottawa schools that have produced the most notable alumni. In this case, a notable alumni is determined by whether someone has been granted a page on Wikipedia. That’s a credible yet simplistic indicator of influence and value contributed to society. In any case, we urge parents to go well beyond this and other ranking factors when deciding on the best school for your child(ren).