Christian versus Catholic schools
Comparing Christian and Catholic schools in Canada
What’s the difference between Christian and Catholic schools? And which option is better for your child?
What’s the difference between Christian and Catholic schools? And which option is better for your child?
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Below, we compare Christian to Catholic schools in Canada, in terms of many criteria. We also discuss the main similarities and differences between these schools.
This should help you decide which option, if either, is right for your child. It may also help you decide whether you should pursue a private or public school education, whether Christian or Catholic.
Catholicism is a Christian denomination. Other Christian denominations include Protestantism, Anglicanism, Baptism, Unitarianism, and Methodism.
This means that all Catholic schools are Christian schools, by default. Some Christian schools aren’t Catholics schools, though, since they’re not affiliated with the Roman Catholic church. Instead, they may belong to another sect of Christianity or be a non-denominational Christian school.
There are many public Catholic schools in Canada. Despite the separation of church and state, some Catholic schools, in many Canadian provinces, receive full or partial funding from the government. These schools are considered public and are part of the Catholic School Board.
There are no public Christian schools in Canada that aren’t Catholic, though. For instance, there are no public Baptist, Lutheran, Greek Orthodox, or other Christian denominational or non-denominational schools.
There are, though, lots of private Catholic and Christian (non-Catholic) schools to choose from in Canada. This includes Catholic and Christian boarding schools. Parents will need to pay for these schools, unlike public schools. These schools are also unconstrained by provincial guidelines, though many follow them closely.
There is a wide variance in the approach to religious education among both Christian and Catholic schools. Some of these schools have many required religious courses, while others have few. Some integrate religious with secular education, while others keep these distinct. This goes for both private and public Christian and Catholic schools.
One difference is that Catholic schools, to a greater or lesser degree, focus on Catholicism in their religious teachings. This may include Catholic doctrines such as the seven holy sacraments of Catholicism, as well as the theology of the body and communion. Christian schools, meanwhile, don’t teach these Catholic doctrines or focus on them much less.
Christian and Catholic schools also vary widely in their approach to secular education. They may or may not integrate secular with religious education. And some schools use a more traditional approach to delivering the curriculum, while others use a more inquiry or discovery-based approach.
Normally, though, both Christian and Catholic schools in Canada provide a strong secular education. They offer a wide range of demanding courses, from core subjects, like math, science, and the language arts, to less mainstream offerings, like technology, foreign languages, and music. Indeed, these schools often have a curriculum that surpasses provincial standards.
Christian and Catholic schools both have many great features. If they’re private, they’ll share many of the same benefits of other private schools. This includes small class sizes, individualized learning, dedicated teachers, academic enrichment opportunities, and great resources and extracurriculars.
As faith-based schools, though, Christian and Catholic schools tend to have other unique advantages. This includes intensive religious instruction, a dual-track curriculum (focusing on religious and secular studies), a close-knit community, and a safe and warm school environment. And normally these traits can be found in both private and public Christian and Catholic schools in Canada.
Private Christian and Catholic schools charge fees, and like other private schools, may have other costs not covered by these fees. These schools tend, though, to be on the cheaper side of private school tuition. Many charge between $10, 000 and $20, 000 a year. And some offer substantial subsidies to defray costs.
Public Catholic schools, meanwhile, normally don’t charge tuition. If you send your child to one of these schools, your main costs will be extras like school supplies, after- or before-school programs, lunch programs, and the like. This is one of the unique advantages of the Catholic school system in Canada.
So, what’s right for your child: a Christian or Catholic school? This will depend on a lot of factors.
If you’re Catholic, you’re more likely to choose a Catholic school, right? Not necessarily. Many Catholic students go to Christian schools and vice versa. And most Christian and Catholic schools admit students who don’t practice either religion.
What’s really important, then?
Consider the features of religious education that mean a lot to you: e.g., form of religious instruction, approach to teaching the bible, religious practices, degree of religiousness, etc. You should also consider the traits that seem integral to any kind of school: e.g., school size, location, cost, community, culture, reputation, etc.
You’ll then want to look at specific schools, and visit and compare them (if you want to compare specific schools one-to-one, visit our compare hub). In the end, the right school, Christian or Catholic, private or public, will address your most pressing needs, goals, and desires.
While there’s no such thing as the perfect school, there is such a thing as a great fit. You should aim to find the best school for you, your child, and your family.
Small class sizes, inquiry-driven learning, and a focus on well-being have created an environment that nurtures confident and curious learners
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"We strive to take the best aspects of Catholic teaching & interpret it in a modern context for the confident young woman of today. They are imbued with a strong work ethic, sense of purpose & a desire to change the world
—From the school
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"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
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Toronto, Ontario Spadina/St Clair Ave W "The Bishop Strachan School is a leading independent JK-Grade 12 day & boarding school for girls. Students build academic skills to thrive at university and beyond. Over $2 million available in financial assistance." —From the school
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Toronto, Ontario York Mills Road/Don Mills Road "We value partnership with parents, creating a genuinely warm and friendly community. We raise the academic bar on academic excellence, and expectations of character, helping the boys become the best that they can be." —From the school
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King City, Ontario Keele St./King Rd. "Villanova College is York Region's only independent Catholic school offering Grades 4 to 12 in King City, Ontario. Average class size is 18 students. Specialty programs include STEM, AP and Domestic ESL." —From the school
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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
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Fort Erie, Ontario Townline Rd./Niagara Parkway "Niagara Christian Collegiate offers both middle school and secondary school programs from Grades 6-12. Graduating students achieve top university placements around the world. We accept both day and boarding students." —From the school
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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
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Richmond Hill, Ontario Bayview Avenue/Elgin Mills Road E "HTS offers a remarkable opportunity for students from JK-12 to shape their own experience through our comprehensive academic and co-curricular programming, led by our incredible faculty and staff." —From the school
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Etobicoke, Ontario Burnhamthorpe Road/Kipling Avenue "We have a Christian-based perspective that builds the whole child. We teach them how to ask questions about the world around them while encouraging interest in bettering themselves and their communities." —From the school
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Hamilton, Ontario Rymal Road West/Glancaster Road "HDCH, founded in 1956, is an imaginative, innovative learning environment. Our programs are designed to challenge a wide range of learners. We welcome local and international students into our Christ-Centred community!" —From the school
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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
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Ottawa, Ontario Donald St/Frances St "Promote academic excellence that stimulates the acquisition of language skills, the development of scientific and artistic competencies as well as the formation of a critical mind, in a multicultural environment." —From the school
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Calgary, Alberta 162 Ave SW/24 St SW "Glenmore Christian Academy (GCA) is a private school in Calgary with specialist educators in academics, arts, and athletics. Our mission is to Teach Truth, Inspire Excellence, Experience Christ and Serve through Love." —From the school
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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
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Regina, Saskatchewan "Luther College prepares students to be compassionate, creative, and critical thinkers who go on to create a more grace-filled, just, and joyful world. Luther College is the only IB World School in southern Saskatchewan." —From the school
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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
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Caledon, Ontario "JJCS' globally-promoted curriculum is designed to help students perform and accelerate at their level and pace. Students are not held back nor passed through the school system beyond their skill level." —From the school
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Burlington, Ontario King Road/North Service Road "BCA provides a transformative JK-8 education, blending Christian faith, values, and academic excellence. Our nurturing environment, diverse programs, and dedicated faculty inspire each student’s passion and potential." —From the school
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Toronto, Ontario Dufferin St/Lawrence Ave W "LDVA provides foundational education and challenges students to develop to their full potential. Officially recognized by the Italian Government, our unique curriculum incorporates Italian language and culture." —From the school
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Montreal, Quebec The Boulevard/Côte-des-Neiges Road "The Priory School specializes in early childhood education, a place where childhood is cherished, and where meaningful learning takes place in an enriched and nurturing learning environment." —From the school
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Mississauga, Ontario Hurontario/Queensway "Shepherd Montessori Private Catholic School in Mississauga offers Casa Montessori programs for children a ged 2.5 to 6. Before- and after-school care and summer camps also available." —From the school
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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
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Etobicoke, Ontario Royal York/Eglington "Etobicoke, ON JK to 8 | Coed $13,500 International Baccalaureate, Christ-centered, nature-immersed, entrepreneurship-driven, academic excellence, real-world experiences, leadership development, holistic education." —From the school
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Calgary, Alberta Crowchild Trail/Flanders Ave. SW "Clear Water Academy is a private Catholic school in Calgary, offering education from Jr. Kindergarten to Grade 12. Our prep program has a 100% university acceptance rate, forming Christian leaders to transform society." —From the school
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Toronto, Ontario Bathurst St./St. Clair West "Canada’s only independent, Catholic school for boys in Grades 7-12, taught in the Basilian tradition of forming the mind, body, and soul. Since 1852, we have educated students in goodness, discipline, and knowledge." —From the school
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Toronto, Ontario 404/DVP/Sheppard Avenue "North Toronto Christian School offers a full day, co-educational program from junior kindergarten to grade 12." —From the school
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Whitchurch-stouffville, Ontario Ninth Line/Main Street "Toronto French Montessori offers French and English programs from pre-school to grade 8 in North York, and Toddler programs in Stouffville. Its average class size is 15 students." —From the school
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Burlington, Ontario "Willowbrook Heights: Teaching students how to learn so they can master anything—intellectually curious, practically skilled, and grounded in strong character. Join us in shaping thinkers and doers for a changing world." —From the school
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Markham, Ontario Woodbine Ave/Hooper Rd "Early Learning Centre to Grade 12. Discipline. Character. Respect. Complete your child's academic and spiritual foundation. Discover why PCA students excel!" —From the school
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Kitchener, Ontario "Incorporating academic excellence, service and peace-making, Rockway is a diverse learning community of students in Grades 7 to 12 including a dynamic international student exchange program." —From the school
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Caledon, Ontario "Brampton Christian School in Caledon, Ontario, offers an academic-based, JK to Grade 12 program, with average class sizes from 18 to 24 students and a one-student tuition cost of $12, 650." —From the school
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Kitchener, Ontario "Carmel New Church School provides a loving, peaceful place with indoor and outdoor classrooms where students are taught to become productive and caring people, both in this life and the next." —From the school
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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
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Halifax, Nova Scotia "With a global network of schools around the world, a rich and proud history, and a strong and unique set of core values, Sacred Heart offers not just an education but an experience that is unparalleled in Nova Scotia." —From the school
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Mississauga, Ontario "Guiding Light Academy is a Catholic private elementary school in Streetsville, Mississauga. We offer an enriched curriculum for JK, SK and Grades 1 to 8. We are located just minutes away from the Streetsville Go Station." —From the school
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Oakville, Ontario Lakeshore/Third Line "Oakville Christian School is committed to instilling confidence in young lives during their formative years, and cultivating in its students solid Christian character traits and values." —From the school
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Markham, Ontario McCowan Road/Highway 7 "Wesley Christian Academy offers programs from Toddler to Grade 8 in Markham. As we are a Christian school, we share our beliefs with all our students but we warmly welcome families from ALL faiths and backgrounds!" —From the school
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Montreal, Quebec Atwater/Docteur-Penfield "Since 1861, The Sacred Heart School of Montreal, the city’s only all-girls English Catholic high school, has been preparing girls to change the world. We offer grades 7 to 12, day school and boarding." —From the school
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Mississauga, Ontario ""Alderwood Academy nurtures the heart, mind, and soul of every child through holistic education rooted in love, culture, and Catholic values—where learning becomes a joyful journey."" —From the school
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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
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All-boys Catholic schools
Find a list of the top all-boys private Catholic schools in Canada. (August 14, 2019)
Christian schools for boys only
Find a list of the top all-boys Christian schools in Canada. (August 14, 2019)
Christian high schools
Find a list of the top private Christian high schools in Canada (June 26, 2019)
Christian elementary schools
Find a list of the top Christian elementary schools in Canada (June 26, 2019)
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