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Merrick Preparatory School logo
in-depth report
The OUR KIDS Report: Merrick Preparatory School
Grades Gr. 9 TO Gr. 12 — Merrickville, ON (Map)

THE OUR KIDS REPORT:
Merrick Preparatory School
REPORT CONTENTS
Reviews
Analysis

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Student Body

What characterizes the students at Merrick Preparatory School—both individually and as a collective? How does it compare with other schools?

Facts and analysis

Total enrollment

80 students attend Merrick Preparatory School.

Merrick Preparatory School (Fulford Academy) has a smaller student body than 81% of all schools we cover.

  • Breakdown by grade

    Grade Enrollment
    Merrick Preparatory School Median of all other schools
    Gr. 91540
    Gr. 101540
    Gr. 112043
    Gr. 122043
  • Why it matters

    While some researchers have looked to uncover the "ideal" school size, these studies often generalize student preferences and behaviours. Your real goal is to find what best suits your child’s needs. Smaller schools can offer a school-wide sense of connection, while larger schools often provide broader programming and opportunities. Also, note that per-grade enrollment often tells a more meaningful story than total enrollment alone (read topic guide).


Gender

Both girls and boys attend.

This makes Merrick Preparatory School (Fulford Academy) like 91% of other schools we cover.

  • Why it matters

    A school’s gender composition influences its social, academic, and extracurricular experiences. Coed schools often encourage collaboration across genders, while single-gender schools (all-boys or all-girls) may focus on specialized learning approaches (read topic guide).


Boarding Population

75% of all students at Merrick Preparatory School are boarders.

Merrick Preparatory School (Fulford Academy) has a larger proportion of boarding students than 78% of its peer boarding schools.

  • Breakdown by grade

    Grade Boarding students as a percentage of total enrollment
    Merrick Preparatory School Median of all other boarding schools
    Gr. 967%38%
    Gr. 1067%48%
    Gr. 1175%51%
    Gr. 1275%53%
  • Why it matters

    The proportion of boarding students is an important factor in shaping a school’s culture. Large boarding populations may create an immersive environment, while smaller boarding communities may balance residential life with local engagement (read topic guide).


International Students

80% of students come from outside Canada.

See how this ranks Merrick Preparatory School (Fulford Academy) below.

  • Why it matters

    A diverse international student body offers opportunities for cultural exchange and a global perspective. These experiences can enhance your child’s understanding of different cultures and prepare them for a globalized world (read topic guide).


STUDENTS ON FINANCIAL AID

15% of students at Merrick Preparatory School receive financial aid.

The percentage of students on financial aid at Merrick Preparatory School (Fulford Academy) is higher than 82% of all schools we cover.

  • Breakdown by grade

    Grade Percentage of students on financial aid
    Gr. 915%
    Gr. 1015%
    Gr. 1115%
    Gr. 1215%
  • Why it matters

    Financial aid reflects a school’s commitment to accessibility and socioeconomic diversity. These programs aim to create a richer community by bringing together students from varied backgrounds and experiences (read topic guide).


 

Qualitative insights

These insights are based on conversations with parents, alumni, and school leadership. Handpicked and curated by our editor, they offer a close look at how the school is experienced and perceived by those who know it best.


Students join a vibrant and supportive community.

Reflections from students, parents, and alumni indicate that Merrick Preparatory School fosters a tight-knit, family-like community where students feel supported, respected, and included.

The sense of community at Merrick Preparatory School is one of the most important values we appreciate. The school operates as a community, making everyone feel included and involved. My daughter's language has changed to reflect this sense of belonging, always using "we" instead of "I." This community spirit is evident in how the school accommodates everyone and in the individual attention each student receives.
For parents seeking quality education and a strong sense of community for their children, Merrick Preparatory School is the place to go. The school fosters a family-like environment where everyone is involved, from teachers to students. The high academic standards and the numerous extracurricular activities contribute to the students' overall development. Investing in your child's education is crucial, and Merrick has proven to be a worthwhile investment for our family, and we highly recommend it.
Merrick felt like home, because we were always together, and there's always staff taking care of you or just there for you. I don't remember feeling homesick. And I always liked it when I went for Christmas breaks back home. I was so eager to go back and see my friends and then see the teachers because I love the school and I love the people there. Everyone was so nice to me because otherwise, I don't think I would be happy there. So everyone was really nice and it felt like home. That's the thing. It was very cozy even in the place and everything.

They thrive in a culturally diverse and inclusive environment.

Accounts from the student body and their families showcase Merrick Prep School’s commitment to embracing cultural diversity, fostering an inclusive atmosphere where everyone’s background and beliefs are respected.

Respect and inclusion are some of the most important values at school, and they're put into action by including everyone's cultural background into food, celebrations, and the genuine interest in everyone at school. Students and teachers alike contribute to this amazing environment. What connected us, families at Merrick, is the focus on strong academics and on shaping students who are global citizens who can think outside the box and are well-prepared for university.
The presence of students from different countries around the world interested me, because we wanted our children to learn how to interact with a diverse group of people.
Despite the initial language issue, she loved the school environment, including the food and the diverse student body. Her positive attitude and good reports from teachers encouraged us and made us feel that the effort to get her there was worthwhile. We were initially concerned that changing her curriculum from French to English would be difficult for her because she had been educated in French since she was little, even though we spoke English at home. I would ask her daily how she was adjusting to the new school and curriculum. Gradually, she responded positively, saying she found the switch manageable and actually enjoyed the quality of education at Merrick.

They're shaped by quality education and personalized learning experiences.

Feedback from students and parents highlights the school's emphasis on providing quality education through small class sizes, dynamic teaching methods, and robust communication with parents.

Merrick's academics are very strong with students constantly achieving high marks in their work and being encouraged to challenge themselves in their academics. Merrick prepared me very well for my further education as I learned things in Merrick that I use daily in my major such as mathematical topics that my current peers are struggling with but I am breezing through due to what I learned at Merrick. Another highlight with academics is that students often help each other when someone is struggling which directly opposes the competitive environment often found in other schools. Students at Merrick are very much involved in ensuring everyone is doing their absolute best reinforcing the structure that helps everyone achieve what they are capable of achieving!
Because most students come from different parts of the world, they mostly are used to other school systems and methods. However, the school does a great job in having a standardized system for all students and still follow the Ontario school curriculum in order. It is worth mentioning that because the school has a great academic level, and its main goal is to help you get accepted to top-ranked universities, the workload is heavy. This does have an advantage, as students learn to become responsible and organized with their work so that it doesn't feel too hard. Classes are top-level with teachers expert in their subjects. And thus, learning is effective. For seniors, academics is somewhat different than other years, classes are more centered to your interest for university, this is so that you are prepared the following year for your career. Overall, academics are just right if you are organized and responsible for your work.
Sometimes we have a lot to do and sometimes not much so I think on a scale of ten the school work they give hard I will say 7 like not really easy and not really hard. The first year used to be really hard since my English was not that good and the program was new to me, like the Ontario curriculum, in general, was new and not easy but by now as I was in the school for a year and a half I think I am used to the program and the work the teachers give. Also, the relationship I make with teachers and friends is helpful if there is something challenging they all will be happy to help.

They benefit from opportunities for holistic personal development.

Feedback from families underscores Merrick Preparatory School's role in nurturing personal growth, helping students to become mature, organized, and responsible individuals prepared for future academic and life challenges.

Our son has responded very nicely to the school. He has become a self-organized, mature, responsible person. He really learned to live and learn in a multicultural environment with a lot of support. He learned to be creative, to access learning materials, to prepare for university, and to become a well-shaped young man.
Joining Merrick Preparatory School changed my son into a responsible young man. Academically he improved so much with the small number of students it felt like one-to-one teaching. My son is so happy at MPS it’s like a second family to him. He made friends with different age groups and multinational students had fun and played different sports from ice hockey to rafting...etc He worked on developing himself by listening to teachers and headmaster on ways to improve himself academically and personally. He became a more confident caring, responsible, discipline, honest, independent and mature person. MPS is a safe caring environment with strong core values supporting students all the way to university. A balanced life between fun, sports and achieving good grades and challenges. MPS was the best opportunity my son could ever get.
Extracurriculars are obligatory in the school, you have two different for a certain period of time every week, they are free to choose from a list. Or the school allows for suggestions, so if more people want to do a different one they can do it. The clubs and activities range from arts, sports, social, or academic. All depending on the number of students that sign to it. The way they manage extracurriculars is good, as students can interact with other peers from other grades with the same interests, and the constant rotation helps people choose and try new things.

They flourish with active family involvement and open communication.

Feedback from parents underscores that Merrick Preparatory School prioritizes active family involvement and consistent communication, providing detailed updates and fostering a collaborative environment between parents, students, and faculty.

The staff at Merrick Preparatory School were vigilant and communicated regularly with my family about my academic, physical, and mental well-being. This constant support reassured my parents and ensured that any issues were promptly addressed. The school's commitment to student care extended to medical needs, demonstrating their dedication to students' overall success.
The school clearly identifies with the important fact that parents are important stakeholders, and are as important as the children themselves. This is made clear right from the beginning, it be in the initial induction meetings or later during the school year. At every step of the way, parents are updated weekly on the class activities, in detail. Furthermore, a weekly progress report is sent explaining the progress of the child in every aspect of academia; it be his class work, class engagement, quizzes or exams. They also fully welcome parents and children to engage with teachers at any point and for any reason whatsoever. This provides us as parents with the confidence, knowledge and comfort to engage with the school at all levels and at all time.
The school keeps communication with parents on a weekly basis for updates on students' progress. They also discuss concerns and work with parents towards solving them before evolving into a more serious matter. After the pandemic, the online learning was excellent my son had quality synchronous learning. In small classes, all students are forced to engage and participate in classes and live online class teaching if my son was late or absent I would be directly informed by email. The class is video recorded. The students can re-watch lessons if they need some more time to process. And during office hours they can ask for teacher support if needed. At MPS you get international education with students from around the globe and gain entry into world-ranked universities.
 

THE OUR KIDS REPORT: Merrick Preparatory School


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