By Jason Polonski, REALTOR® with Right at Home Realty · Last updated: October 2026
What schools are in Barrhaven? Barrhaven is served by four school boards: English public (Ottawa-Carleton District School Board), English Catholic (Ottawa Catholic School Board), French public and French Catholic. Its secondary schools include John McCrae and Longfields-Davidson Heights (OCDSB), Mother Teresa and St. Joseph (OCSB), and École secondaire catholique Pierre-Savard (French Catholic), with a new OCDSB secondary school funded for Half Moon Bay. Because Barrhaven is still growing, catchments change, so always confirm the exact address with the board before you buy.
Why Do Schools Shape Where Families Buy in Barrhaven?
For many families, the school catchment decides the street before the house does. Barrhaven’s young-family population means demand for spaces is high, new schools open regularly in the south end, and boundaries are redrawn as they do. A home that sits in a popular catchment, or within walking distance of an elementary school, typically draws more buyer interest.
That makes school research part of due diligence, not an afterthought. This guide is a starting point, built from board information and public sources. The final word on any address always comes from the school board.
Which School Boards Serve Barrhaven?
| Board | Language and system | Where to check |
|---|---|---|
| Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB) | English public, including French Immersion programs | OCDSB school locator |
| Ottawa Catholic School Board (OCSB) | English Catholic | OCSB school directory |
| Conseil des écoles catholiques du Centre-Est (CECCE) | French Catholic | Board school finder |
| Conseil des écoles publiques de l’Est de l’Ontario (CEPEO) | French public | Board school finder |
Ontario’s Find a school tool searches all boards by address.
What High Schools Are in Barrhaven?
| School | Board | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| John McCrae Secondary School | OCDSB | Opened 1999 |
| Longfields-Davidson Heights Secondary School | OCDSB | Opened 2009, in Longfields |
| Mother Teresa High School | OCSB | Opened 1998; Grades 7–12 |
| St. Joseph High School | OCSB | Opened 2002; Grades 7–12 |
| École secondaire catholique Pierre-Savard | CECCE | French Catholic secondary; École intermédiaire Pierre-Savard serves Grades 7–8 |
| École secondaire publique Pierre-de-Blois | CEPEO | French public secondary; Grades 7–12 |
Coming soon. In December 2025 the province committed $77.7 million for a new OCDSB secondary school on Cambrian Road in Half Moon Bay, with nearly 1,500 student spaces. Its opening will reshape secondary catchments for families in Half Moon Bay and Stonebridge. Across the river in Riverside South, construction began in December 2025 on a new CECCE French Catholic high school expected for the 2027–2028 school year, which the board says will relieve enrolment pressure at Pierre-Savard and Franco-Cité.
What Elementary Schools Are in Barrhaven?
Barrhaven has many elementary schools across its four boards. These are among them (not a complete list):
English public (OCDSB): Barrhaven Public School (the community’s first school, opened 1968–69), Berrigan, Chapman Mills, Farley Mowat, Half Moon Bay, Jockvale, Mary Honeywell, Adrienne Clarkson, and Wazoson Public School, which opened in January 2024 at 989 Kilbirnie Drive with English and Early French Immersion from JK to Grade 6.
English Catholic (OCSB): Monsignor Paul Baxter, St. Andrew, St. Benedict, St. Cecilia, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, St. Emily, St. Juan Diego, St. Luke and St. Patrick.
French public (CEPEO): École élémentaire publique Michaëlle-Jean and École élémentaire publique Des Visionnaires.
French Catholic (CECCE): École élémentaire catholique Jean-Robert-Gauthier, École élémentaire catholique Pierre-Elliott-Trudeau and École élémentaire catholique Sainte-Kateri.
Names, grades and programs change. Use the board tools above for the current list near a specific home.
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How Do You Confirm a School Catchment Before You Buy?
Catchment mistakes are expensive and avoidable. Before firming up an offer on a Barrhaven home:
- Look up the exact address. Use the OCDSB school locator or the relevant board’s tool, not the neighbourhood name. Two sides of the same street can be in different catchments.
- Check the program, not just the school. English, Early French Immersion and other programs can have different designated schools for the same address.
- Ask about capacity and holding schools. In growing areas, students may be temporarily housed at another school until a new one opens, as Wazoson students were at a temporary site before moving to Kilbirnie Drive.
- Check transportation eligibility. Busing for Ottawa’s English boards is run by the Ottawa Student Transportation Authority, with eligibility based on distance and grade.
- Call the school or board if the home is near a boundary. Boundary reviews are published by the boards, and the OCDSB posts its planning reviews online.
If a specific school is a must, Jason can make the purchase offer conditional on the buyer confirming the catchment, so the decision rests on the board’s answer.
What French-Language Education Is Available in Barrhaven?
Ottawa’s bilingual job market makes French a major factor for many Barrhaven families. There are two routes:
- French Immersion within the English boards. The OCDSB offers Early French Immersion at schools like Wazoson, and the OCSB offers its own French programs. These are open to all students.
- French-language schools run by CECCE and CEPEO, where French is the language of instruction for everything. Admission is based on French-language education rights under the Canadian Charter, or through a board admission committee.
The difference matters for catchments and for long-term planning, so it is worth deciding which route fits before choosing a neighbourhood.
What Should You Ask When You Visit a Barrhaven School?
Test results and catchment maps only tell part of the story. When touring a school before buying nearby, ask:
- Is the school over capacity? Look for portables, and ask whether the board has a boundary review or a new school planned nearby.
- Which programs run here? English, Early French Immersion, gifted or special education placements can differ by school.
- Is there before- and after-school care on site? In Barrhaven these spaces fill quickly; ask about waitlists.
- How do most students get to school? Walking, busing or driving changes your morning routine, and busing eligibility depends on distance.
- Which secondary school do students usually go on to? This matters for families buying a home they plan to stay in for ten years or more.
What Child Care and Before- and After-School Programs Are Available?
Barrhaven’s large young-family population means licensed child care and school-age programs are in high demand. Many elementary schools host before- and after-school programs run by community operators, and Ontario’s participation in the Canada-wide early learning and child care agreement has lowered fees at participating licensed centres. The province’s early years and child care agreement page explains the program. Families relocating to Barrhaven should join waitlists as soon as they know their address, even before closing.
How Do Property Taxes Support Barrhaven Schools?
When you buy a home in Ontario, part of your property tax goes to education. The Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) records which school system you support: English public, English Catholic, French public or French Catholic. Families choosing a Catholic or French-language board should make sure their school support designation is updated after closing. Your real estate lawyer or MPAC can help.
Where Can You Find Test Scores and School Information?
Ontario’s Education Quality and Accountability Office, EQAO, publishes provincial assessment results for Grades 3, 6, 9 and 10. They give one snapshot of a school, alongside programs, extracurriculars, class sizes and how a child feels in the building. Visiting the school and speaking with the principal is still the best research.
Families considering independent schools can see Jason’s guide to Ottawa’s best private schools.
For families relocating from another province or country, school registration usually requires proof of address, such as a signed purchase agreement or lease, along with the child’s records and immunization documents. Because registration depends on the address, it helps to have a firm purchase date before contacting the school. Jason works with relocating families on that timing, including through his Ottawa relocation services.
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Which Barrhaven Neighbourhoods Are Best for Schools?
Every part of Barrhaven has schools nearby, so the “best” area depends on the board, the program and the stage of your children:
- Longfields and Davidson Heights: home to Longfields-Davidson Heights Secondary School and close to central elementary schools
- Old Barrhaven: near Barrhaven’s longest-established schools and the Walter Baker Sports Centre
- Chapman Mills: newer community with Chapman Mills Public School
- Half Moon Bay: the newest elementary schools, and the future OCDSB secondary school on Cambrian Road
- Stonebridge: established homes with south-end schools that will benefit from the new secondary school
For a broader comparison, see the best family neighbourhoods in Ottawa and the Barrhaven neighbourhood guide. Browse homes on Barrhaven homes for sale.
Buying in a Barrhaven School Catchment With Jason Polonski
Jason Polonski is a full-time REALTOR® with Right at Home Realty with more than 15 years of experience helping families buy across Ottawa’s west and south ends, including every part of Barrhaven. He builds a search around the school, program and commute first, then the house, and he can structure an offer so a buyer confirms the catchment before going firm. He is a Best in Ottawa Top REALTOR® seven years running and offers buyers up to $3,000 cash back at closing on qualifying purchases.
His construction and electrical trades background means families also get a clear read on the home itself, and his Bachelor of Commerce from Concordia University, with a double major in Marketing and Finance, keeps the budget and negotiation on track. For families moving up within Barrhaven, often to reach a different school, he sequences the sale and purchase first; see buying and selling at the same time. Call or text Jason seven days a week at (613) 601-9333, or visit his Barrhaven REALTOR® page and Google reviews.
Barrhaven Schools FAQs
Barrhaven’s secondary schools include John McCrae and Longfields-Davidson Heights (OCDSB), Mother Teresa and St. Joseph (OCSB), and École secondaire catholique Pierre-Savard (French Catholic). A new OCDSB secondary school on Cambrian Road was funded in December 2025.
Yes. In December 2025 the province committed $77.7 million for a new OCDSB secondary school on Cambrian Road in Half Moon Bay, with nearly 1,500 student spaces. Check the board for its opening date.
Enter the exact address in the OCDSB school locator or the relevant board’s tool, and check the specific program, since English and French Immersion can have different designated schools.
Yes. CECCE runs French Catholic schools, including École secondaire catholique Pierre-Savard, and CEPEO runs French public elementary schools such as Michaëlle-Jean and Des Visionnaires. The English boards also offer French Immersion.
Yes, especially in the south end, as new schools open. Boundary changes are published by the boards, so confirm before buying.
A buyer can include a condition to confirm school information before going firm. Jason can advise on whether it makes sense in a given market and how to word it.
