Emma WhiteOttawa is one of Canada’s best places to learn given its wide array of music schools, art classes, cooking courses and such. However, as a parent, having this variety is a double-edged sword as you don’t know which establishment to choose for your child—that’s where I come in!
With each school offering different types of learning environments and unique strengths, one could easily be overwhelmed. To help you find the best one or at least narrow your choices, we’ve compiled a list of the top schools in Ottawa.
| How much do tuition fees cost in schools in Ottawa? The cost of tuition fees in Ottawan schools ranges from 900 CAD to 15,000 CAD per semester. This fully depends on a variety of factors such as the course to be taken, the school itself, level of education, etc. |
How We Chose
1. Heritage Academy
– Media credit: pupperpalacevan
Company logo here
Curriculum offered: Elementary to Secondary
Extracurriculars: Jiu-jitsu, space and science, badminton, archaeology, debate club
Location: 207 Bayswater Ave, Ottawa, ON K1Y 2G5, Canada
Contact: +1 613-722-0133
Business hours: Monday to Friday: 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM
Heritage Academy is among the top schools dedicated to honing students with dyslexia and other language-based exceptionalities. During our interviews with some of the parents who chose this school, many highlighted and praised the school’s unorthodox teaching styles.
One of the best examples of this is their use of Simultaneous Multisensory Teaching (S.M.T.), which is a method that primarily helps students struggling with phonemic awareness.
They’ve been around for 35+ years and with a quick visit, we’re confident that your child will be in good hands. Moreover, we got to meet some of their caring and passionate teachers, whom we’ve already heard good things about.
Lastly, we loved what we saw in their selection of extracurricular activities, as we can see these helping their students flourish in other aspects and not just strictly academics. These range from special clubs and classes like sports, science, jiu-jitsu and more.
One thing they could improve upon, however, is the classrooms, as some of them are showing their age.
Extremely grateful for the support I received
“I highly recommend it. I attended Heritage Academy from Grades 6 to 12 and just graduated from University. I am extremely grateful for the support I received from the Teachers and the Principal.
Their support facilitated my transition to the University, leading to my graduation with honours!
-Tony S., https://g.co/kgs/eFVrjty
The teachers are amazing and caring
“Heritage Academy gave my daughter a fighting chance in this very rough world. The teachers are amazing and caring and able to adapt to the needs of the students.
If it weren’t for the entire staff, teachers upper management(principal and vice) the support staff my daughter would not have succeeded!! Amazing people there for the right reasons, so our kids can move on !”
-Steve Taylor, https://g.co/kgs/uL4mPKg
2. Elmwood School
– Media credit: elmwoodschool
Company logo here
Curriculum offered: Prekindergarten to Grade 12
Extracurriculars: Athletics, arts, global engagement, signature experiences, trips and exchanges
Location: 261 Buena Vista Rd, Ottawa, ON K1M 0V9, Canada
Contact: +1 613-749-6761
Business hours: Monday to Friday: 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
As someone who values extracurriculars, this was the first thing that we inquired about when we reached out to Elmwood School. So, imagine our surprise when they told us they feature over 60 clubs!
Academics-wise, they’re the only school in the region that offers all three levels of the international baccalaureate programme.
Furthermore, we also took a look at their comprehensive curriculums from early formative years to senior school and we were impressed with how in-depth each of them was!
What grew our excitement further was their regular field trips. For instance, they offer a trip to New York for students who are planning to enter arts and fashion.
One thing that we couldn’t get our minds off of was the hefty tuition so we had to ask about financial aides. Fortunately, they offer different types of scholarships for both new and existing students.
One of the best examples of this is their merit-based scholarship, which also helps the school asses the student’s skills.
Academically advanced
“Great effort is put into forming all-round students. Academically very advanced and rated in the top 3% of schools in North America. Our daughter has been thriving at Elmwood.”
-Julie Dumas, Google Review
The theatre at school is fantastic!
“Elmwood, where I attended in middle school, is a fantastic example of how an all-girl environment benefits female students academically.
The school activities are enriching, and the majority of the girls are quite inclusive. (The theatre at school is fantastic!) I advise new students to participate in as many different curricular activities as possible.”
-Lang Zou, Google Review
3. Ashbury College
– Media credit: woofandmeowspa
Company logo here
Curriculum offered: Prekindergarten to Grade 12
Extracurriculars: Athletics, speech and debate, coding, robotics, choir, art club, math club
Location: 362 Mariposa Ave, Rockcliffe Park, ON K1M 0T3, Canada
Contact: +1 613-749-5954
Business hours: Monday to Friday: 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Right off the bat, Ashbury College’s rigorous framework immediately caught our attention during our initial inquiry. More specifically, we were interested in how they feature small-scale classes to ensure focus and intense (yet fun) learning sessions.
These classes are helmed by their world-class teachers who they advertise as knowledgeable and passionate. After meeting some of them on the tour arranged by the school itself, I can vouch for these positive claims!
Furthermore, we’ve learned from our interviews with some of their alumni that teachers exert extra effort in individualising their students. They added that this type of teaching help make the class all the more engaging—instant A+!
Going back to our initial inquiry, the staff member stated that the school offer tons of co-curricular programs that differ based on the current season. For instance, students can enrol in sports like tennis and gold during Fall and come wintertime, they can practice alpine skiing.
The only problem you may encounter here is the pricey tuition fee. Fortunately, the school offers a comprehensive scholarship program that’s need-based.
Staff are exceptional and facilities are cutting edge
“Fantastic educational institution and this is an educational institution, not an alternative learning enterprise. Your children will be supported but will also be pushed. They are expected to excel and there are all sorts of supports to help them succeed but slackers are not entertained.
Our children’s education didn’t skip a beat during COVID. Staff are exceptional and facilities are cutting edge.
Probably the only thing I have not been impressed with has been the bus service to and from school as it is insanely expensive, it is good but you might as well buy your kids a car.”
-James Dolan, Google Review
Likely the best primary and secondary school in Canada
“Ashbury is likely the best Primary and Secondary school in Canada. It offers an extraordinary quality of education to its students.
Teachers and staff are carefully selected, have tremendous skill in their roles, all communicate extremely well, and all love the children with obvious sincerity.
The academic, social, sports, leadership, travel, extra-curricular, musical and other opportunities are so extensive that all students will find something unique for their own particular growth and development, while also meeting and greatly exceeding provincial standards that apply to everyone. It is a welcoming place where there is joy in learning.”
-Scott Procter, Google Review
4. Westboro Academy
– Media credit: westboro_academy
Company logo here
Curriculum offered: Kindergarten through Grade 8
Extracurriculars: Athletics, choir and band, leadership, field trips
Location: 1000 Brookfield Rd E, Ottawa, ON K1V 6J1, Canada
Contact: +1 613-737-9543
Business hours: Monday to Friday: 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM
We’ve interviewed 5 Westboro alumni and they all answered that the best thing about the school is its bilingual nature, offering both English and French courses for its students.
They added that this immediately gave them an edge in the real world as bilinguals have greater opportunities for better pay.
We also decided to take the school tour they offer online and boy were we glad we did so! For starters, we were taken aback by their use of cutting-edge technology to aid their students during their classes.
More specifically, they use sophisticated Apple devices such as Macbooks and iPads, which are among the fastest pieces of technology of their kind.
Aside from academics, we also discovered that they excel in extracurriculars, featuring tons of clubs such as music, arts and even robotics! Plus, there are several activities throughout the school’s academic year that allow students to hone their skills and discover their talents.
The only problem you have to face here is the hefty tuition fee. With its quality teachings and cutting-edge technology, however, you’ll be getting the best value out of your money!
Our children are very happy here
“Our children each started at this school in grade 1, the first in 2019. Throughout the pandemic, their schooling never suffered due to the dedication of the teaching and leadership staff.
The Ministry of Education curriculum is taught in its entirety (not 70-75% like in other educational systems) and our kids have flourished.
At Westboro Academy, there is a yearly science fair and a French-language heritage fair (grades 5-8) which provides students crucial experience in public speaking.
Our children benefit from a robust arts program including music, art and drama. Inclusivity is at the core of everything done at Westboro Academy. Our children are very happy here.”
-Vandana Parnandi, Google Review
Extremely happy with our children’s experience
“We have been extremely happy with our children’s experience at Westboro Academy. Teachers are innovative, fun, warm, and deeply committed. Administration is approachable, responsive, and open to feedback.
The small class size and bilingual environment are a huge plus, as are the dedicated instructors for specialty subjects. Highly recommend!”
Vanessa Macdonnell, Google Review
5. OMS Montessori
– Media credit: ballnbiscuit
Company logo here
Curriculum offered: Toddler, Casa, Elementary High School
Extracurriculars: Summer camp, arts and music, athletics
Location: 335 Lindsay St, Ottawa, ON K1G 0L7, Canada
Contact: +1 613-521-5185
Business hours: Monday to Friday: 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM
Of course, we had to include a Montessori on this list, and we couldn’t think of a better option in Ottawa than OMS! After talking on the phone, we can conclude that what differs this school (as with other Montessoris) is they promote independent learning and exploration to their students.
This became more evident to us when we went on a school tour and saw all the hands-on activities being done by the students instead of the traditional classroom learning experience.
We also saw how closely their teachers guided them. Speaking of, we were also impressed to learn that all their teachers are internationally certified by the Association Montessori Internationale.
Upon digging deeper, we discovered that some of their teachers have been around for more than 15 years, which speaks volumes about the school’s healthy environment. Plus, we could see this playing a crucial part in building a tight-knit community between teachers and students.
They also did a great job of creating a healthy and beautiful environment for their students, featuring things like small gardens and an extensive library.
We made the best decision
“We made the best decision to enrol our daughter in OMS. Her advancements on all fronts are evident and measurable.
All teachers, assistants, and staff are knowledgeable, caring, and friendly. The school facility is excellent also.
You can’t find any better if you are looking for Montessori Education. Thanks, OMS! We are honoured to be part of this community.”
-Reza Ghazi, Google Review
We’ve had a great experience
“We’ve had a great experience with our child in the toddler program at OMS.
We like that we can trust her education at an accredited and audited institution with a framework around giving children the freedom for autonomy, independence, and confidence in their abilities with the guidance of supportive teachers.
We have only great things to say about Montessori as an educative framework and want to sincerely thank OMS for the wonderful school option! Thank you!”
-Stef C, Google Review
