MANOTICK REAL ESTATE
Manotick Schools: A Parent's Guide for Home Buyers
By Jason Polonski, REALTOR® with Right at Home Realty · Last updated: October 2026
Manotick schools include Manotick Public School and St. Leonard Catholic School for the early grades, and St. Mark Catholic High School for grades 7 to 12, all in the village. English public students go on to Kars on the Rideau Public School for the middle grades and South Carleton High School in Richmond for high school. French-language families are served by schools in the wider south end.
Ottawa has four publicly funded school boards, and each has schools that serve Manotick. This guide sets out each pathway, how busing and boundaries work in a semi-rural village, and what to check before you buy a home for a particular school.
For the wider picture of village life, see the Manotick village guide. For homes by area, see the Manotick real estate market guide.
English Public Schools Serving Manotick (OCDSB)
The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board pathway for most Manotick addresses runs through three schools.
- Manotick Public School (JK to Grade 5). On Long Island at 1075 Bridge Street, built in 1942, with about 270 students. It offers full-day bilingual kindergarten, an English program with daily Core French, and French Immersion.
- Kars on the Rideau Public School (to Grade 8). In Kars, south of Manotick. Manotick Public School students join here in Grade 6.
- South Carleton High School (Grades 9 to 12). In Richmond, with about 1,160 students from Manotick, Stittsville, Richmond, Kars, North Gower and nearby. It offers English and French Immersion, plus Specialist High Skills Majors in Manufacturing, Health and Wellness, Hospitality and Tourism, and Transportation.
Programs are changing. In May 2025 the OCDSB approved an elementary program review that, from September 2026, offers both English and French Immersion at almost every school and retires Middle French Immersion. Check current program availability for your grade before you buy.
Catholic Schools in Manotick (OCSB)
The Ottawa Catholic School Board has two schools in the village itself, which makes the Catholic pathway unusually convenient for Manotick families.
- St. Leonard Catholic School. The village’s Catholic elementary school, serving kindergarten to the junior grades with English and French instruction.
- St. Mark Catholic High School (Grades 7 to 12). On Dozois Road in Manotick. It opened in 1980 as a junior high for grades 7 and 8 and added grades 9 to 12 over the following years.
With both in Manotick, a Catholic-school family can stay in the village from kindergarten through Grade 12, which few rural Ottawa communities offer. Catholic board schools are open to students who meet the board’s eligibility requirements. Check with the OCSB for current rules.
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French-Language Schools for Manotick Families
Ottawa’s two French-language boards, the Conseil des écoles publiques de l’Est de l’Ontario (CEPEO, public) and the Conseil des écoles catholiques du Centre-Est (CECCE, Catholic), serve Manotick from schools in the wider south end. Minto’s Mahogany school guide names Michel-Dupuis and Sainte-Kateri among the French elementary schools within reach.
French-language secondary options are growing. In August 2026, construction began on a new CECCE French-language Catholic high school in Riverside South, planned to open for the 2027–2028 school year.
French-language schools have admission criteria under Ontario’s French-language education rights. Contact the board directly to confirm eligibility and which school serves your address.
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Busing, Boundaries and What to Check Before You Buy
School boundaries in a semi-rural village like Manotick can follow roads, the river or older township lines, and they change as new communities like Mahogany grow. Never rely on a listing description or a neighbour’s experience.
- Check the address. Use the OCDSB school locator and the OCSB’s school finder for the exact property, not just the street.
- Confirm the program. French Immersion, English and specialist programs aren’t offered at every grade in every school.
- Check busing. Most Manotick students outside walking distance are bused. Eligibility and routes are set by the Ottawa Student Transportation Authority.
- Ask about future schools. Minto has reported plans for new schools in Mahogany. New schools can redraw boundaries for nearby streets.
- Visit at school hours. Drop-off traffic on Bridge Street and around the village core is worth seeing before you commit.
Considering private school? See our guide to Ottawa’s best private schools. Preschool options in the village include Manotick Nursery School and a Montessori program.
How Schools Shape Home Values and Demand in Manotick
For many move-up families, schools are the reason Manotick makes the shortlist. Being able to walk to Manotick Public School or St. Leonard, or to stay in the village through high school at St. Mark, is a real draw, and homes in walking distance of the village schools tend to attract more family buyers.
The trade-off is the longer trip for public high school students, who travel to Richmond. Families weighing Manotick against Barrhaven or Riverside South often compare this directly, so it’s worth testing the morning routine before you buy.
For more on choosing a community around schools, see how to choose the right Ottawa neighbourhood for your family and the best family neighbourhoods in Ottawa. When you’re ready to look, browse Manotick homes for sale or read our guide to buying a house in Manotick.
Programs to Know: Immersion, Specialist Majors and Support
Program choices can matter as much as the school name. A few worth knowing in Manotick:
- Bilingual kindergarten. Manotick Public School offers full-day bilingual kindergarten, with about half the day in English and half in French.
- French Immersion. Offered from Grade 1 at Manotick Public School. Under the OCDSB’s program review, most schools will offer both English and French Immersion from September 2026, and Middle French Immersion is being retired.
- Special education. Manotick Public School has a learning support teacher and a language learning disabilities class. Ask each school what supports it offers for your child.
- Specialist High Skills Majors. South Carleton offers majors in Manufacturing, Health and Wellness, Hospitality and Tourism, and Transportation, plus co-op and the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program.
Visiting Schools: Questions to Ask
- Which programs are offered in my child’s grade next year, and are any changing?
- How full is the school, and are boundaries likely to change as Mahogany grows?
- What are the bus times and pick-up points for our street?
- What before- and after-school care is available on site?
- What extracurricular activities and sports does the school run?
School board websites list contact details and open-house dates. The CEPEO and CECCE handle French-language admissions.
Childcare, Activities and Getting Involved
Schools are only part of family life in Manotick. A few practical points for families moving in:
- Before- and after-school care. Many schools offer extended-day or third-party care on site, but spaces can be limited. Ask early, ideally before you close.
- Preschool and child care. The village has nursery school and Montessori options. Wait lists are common, so register as soon as you have a move date.
- Sports and recreation. The arena, community centre and parks host hockey, skating, soccer and other programs. The City’s recreation programs list registration dates, which can fill quickly.
- Library programs. The Manotick library branch runs story times and children’s programs.
- Getting involved. School councils and the community association are good ways to meet other families and learn about the village.
If you’re moving mid-year, talk to the new school before your closing date about registration documents and timing. Boards typically ask for proof of address, such as your purchase agreement or a utility bill, along with your child’s records.
How School Boundaries Affect Your Home Search
Many families start their search with a school in mind and then look for homes inside its boundary. In Manotick, that approach needs a little care, because boundaries can follow roads, the river or older township lines, and they can change as Mahogany grows.
- Check every address individually. Two homes on the same road can fall in different boundaries, especially near the edges of the village.
- Think about the whole pathway. A great elementary school matters, but so does where your child will go for Grades 6 to 8 and high school.
- Consider the trip. Walking distance to Manotick Public School or St. Leonard is a real daily benefit. Rural and estate homes mean a bus ride.
- Plan for change. If a new school opens in Mahogany, nearby boundaries may shift. Ask the boards about any reviews under way.
Homes within walking distance of the village schools tend to attract strong interest from families, which can affect both what you pay and how quickly the home sells later. Factor that into your search and your budget.
If you’re relocating from another city or province, contact the boards early. Registration usually requires proof of your new address, such as your purchase agreement, plus your child’s report cards and any learning or medical plans. Starting the conversation before your closing date makes the first day of school much smoother.
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I’m Jason Polonski, a REALTOR® with Right at Home Realty and more than 15 years in Ottawa real estate. My background in construction and the electrical trades means I look at a home’s systems, well and septic before we talk price. I also hold a Bachelor of Commerce from Concordia University with a double major in Marketing and Finance.
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Related Manotick guides: commuting from Manotick.
Manotick Schools FAQs
Manotick Public School (JK to Grade 5) on Long Island. Students then go to Kars on the Rideau Public School from Grade 6 and South Carleton High School in Richmond for grades 9 to 12. Confirm your address with the OCDSB school locator.
Yes. St. Mark Catholic High School on Dozois Road serves grades 7 to 12. English public high school students attend South Carleton High School in Richmond.
Yes. It offers full-day bilingual kindergarten, an English program with Core French, and French Immersion. OCDSB program changes start in September 2026, so confirm what’s offered for your child’s grade.
Yes. The CEPEO and CECCE serve Manotick from schools in the wider south end, and a new CECCE French-language Catholic high school is planned for Riverside South for the 2027–2028 school year.
Most students outside walking distance are bused. The Ottawa Student Transportation Authority sets eligibility and routes.
They can. Minto has reported plans for new schools in Mahogany, and new schools can redraw boundaries for nearby streets. Check with the boards before you buy.
