Holy Name of Mary College School Student Makeup: Enrolment and Class Size

Student Body

What characterizes the students at Holy Name of Mary College School—both individually and as a collective? How does it compare with other schools?

Facts and analysis

Total enrollment

170 students attend Holy Name of Mary College School.

Holy Name of Mary College School (HNMCS) has about an average sized student body, enrolling more students than 43% of all schools we cover.

Breakdown by grade

Grade	Enrollment
Grade	Holy Name of Mary College School	Median of all other schools
Gr. 5	15	20
Gr. 6	15	20
Gr. 7	20	24
Gr. 8	30	25
Gr. 9	30	40
Gr. 10	35	40
Gr. 11	30	43
Gr. 12	25	43

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

Only girls attend.

This makes Holy Name of Mary College School (HNMCS) like 5% 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).

International Students

10% of students come from outside Canada.

See how this ranks Holy Name of Mary College School (HNMCS) 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 Holy Name of Mary College School receive financial aid.

The percentage of students on financial aid at Holy Name of Mary College School (HNMCS) is higher than 82% of all schools we cover.

Breakdown by grade

Grade	Percentage of students on financial aid
Gr. 5	15%
Gr. 6	15%
Gr. 7	15%
Gr. 8	15%
Gr. 9	15%
Gr. 10	15%
Gr. 11	15%
Gr. 12	15%

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.

There is a heartfelt spirit of sisterhood.

Observations from students and alumni suggest that Holy Name fosters an environment where girls are empowered to become strong, curious, and confident women through its close-knit and supportive culture.

Our school is often described as a sisterhood by the graduating class, it nurtures students into becoming strong women. Since starting at the school in 2019, I have witnessed this empowering environment firsthand, which challenges girls to be curious and explore their boundaries.

—Carrie Hughes-Grant, Head of School (see full interview)

I was surrounded by so many high performing people at Holy Name of Mary College. I loved group projects, it sounds unusual, but I enjoyed working with my classmates. I knew everybody was going to do their part. I felt safe to work with others.

—Laura, parent (see full discussion)

By sending your daughter to Holy Name, you're setting her up for success. She's going to be in a community that appreciates, respects, and loves her. And she's going to feel like she can do anything because all of the girls, now ladies, that I went to Holy Name with have done amazing things. The school, for me at least, made me believe that I could do anything.

—Caley Gibbs, alum (see full interview)

The only thing I could say that I somewhat disliked about my experience was that we didn't have older girls to look up to, which is not a problem at Holy Name anymore, because now all the grades are filled. But being in that learning curve of being the first graduating class, there were, I would say, some challenges.

—Caley Gibbs, alum (see full interview)

Students find a sense of unity through shared faith.

Conversations with students and parents highlight that shared faith and gender empowerment create a strong sense of unity and purpose at Holy Name of Mary College.

In terms of community, there was a lot of expectation based on our Catholic faith, but also based on being community leaders, and trying to strive towards becoming women in leadership. The importance of community and being a part of your community and giving back was so important.

—Caley Gibbs, alum (see full interview)

I think all of us at the school are united in our faith, as it’s a Catholic school. We are united in that belief, or else wouldn't be there. We're united because we all have girls. And we all believe that if boys can do it, girls can do it, too.

—Laura, parent (see full discussion)

The spiritual aspect of the educational environment at Holy Name of Mary College was really important to us. To my knowledge, there aren't any Catholic, all-girl schools in the area that would meet that requirement or check all those boxes. It's important to note that although Holy Name of Mary College is a Catholic school, there are a lot of different types of people and personalities at the school.

—Laura, parent (see full discussion)

I wanted a Catholic education. I wanted an all-girls education, but I wanted one that was founded on creativity, and not just academics. That's not because academics aren't important. Academics must be the default. Everyone knows that academics are important, but in conjunction with other things, like creativity, that are a complement to that.

—Laura, parent (see full discussion)

Diverse strengths and talents are celebrated.

Insights from students and alumni indicate that Holy Name appreciates and nurtures the diverse strengths and talents of its students, promoting a culture of friendly competition and collaboration.

We welcome many students to our school for different reasons. Some join for the small, personalized settings and the moral-based curriculum we offer. Some join for specific programs like robotics, choir, or athletics, confident in receiving a good education and developing into well-rounded young women.

—Carrie Hughes-Grant, Head of School (see full interview)

All students at the school are unique. We all bring different things to the table; we all have our strengths and talents. There was always a bit of friendly competition.

—Laura, parent (see full discussion)

There is a strong community with lots of parental involvement.

Feedback from parents and administrators highlights the vibrant, inclusive community at Holy Name, characterized by active parental involvement and a strong sense of belonging and support.

The vibrant culture and close-knit community involving parents and faculty form a vital part of our identity. We facilitate various communication channels to keep parents abreast of school events and happenings, fostering a supportive atmosphere for everyone.

—Carrie Hughes-Grant, Head of School (see full interview)

I would say a big differentiator about Holy Name is definitely the community. The parents are quite heavily involved. And so, the community around the school is what makes it so different because it makes you feel that you are really heard, and that you’re part of the heart of the school. I really look forward to being involved in the community, now that I am on the school’s Board of Directors. I'm so incredibly proud of the school and how they have continued to grow and evolve. And I'm really glad to be a part of that story.

—Caley Gibbs, alum (see full interview)

Holy Name of Mary College has the perfect size. It’s small enough for my daughter to feel known, not to feel left out, to know she's not a number. But it's also large enough that there are enough opportunities for her. She can grow within that environment.

—Laura, parent (see full discussion)

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Student Body

Page Contents

Facts and analysis

Total enrollment

Breakdown by grade

Why it matters

Gender

Why it matters

International Students

Why it matters

STUDENTS ON FINANCIAL AID

Breakdown by grade

Why it matters

Qualitative insights

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My Shortlist

BUILD YOUR SHORTLIST

EVALUATE YOUR SCHOOLS

TRACK IMPORTANT DATES

Student Body

Page Contents

Facts and analysis

Total enrollment

Breakdown by grade

Why it matters

Gender

Why it matters

International Students

Why it matters

STUDENTS ON FINANCIAL AID

Breakdown by grade

Why it matters

Qualitative insights

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