OTTAWA REAL ESTATE
Ottawa Best Private Schools: Tuition, Grades & Neighbourhoods
Families researching the best private schools in Ottawa are usually weighing two decisions at once: which school fits their child, and which neighbourhood puts that school within a reasonable drive or bus ride. This guide compares Ottawa’s leading private and independent schools — co-ed, all-girls, French-curriculum, faith-based, and special-needs programs — by grade range, approximate tuition, and location, so a family can plan the school year and the address at the same time. It draws on years of helping families relocate to Ottawa and Kanata specifically for schooling, so the neighbourhood context is grounded in what actually affects a daily commute, not just a school’s brochure.
Private education in Ottawa spans everything from IB boarding schools in Rockcliffe Park to bilingual day schools in Alta Vista and central Ottawa. Tuition, class size, and program focus vary widely, and so does the drive time from Kanata or Stittsville. The sections below break down each school, then connect the decision back to where a family should be looking for a home.
Ottawa Private Schools at a Glance
The table below summarizes grade range and school type for the schools covered in this guide. It’s a starting point for narrowing the list before booking tours.
| School | Grades | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Ashbury College | 4–12 (boarding 9–12) | Co-ed, IB/AP, boarding |
| Elmwood School | PK–12 | All-girls, IB |
| Lycée Claudel | PS–12 | Co-ed, French curriculum |
| Turnbull School | JK–8 | Co-ed day |
| Revel Academy | K–12 | Co-ed, personalized learning |
| Heritage Academy | Varies | Special needs (SMT method) |
| Académie St-Laurent | Daycare–12 | Co-ed, bilingual |
| International School of Ottawa | Varies | IB, international |
Neighbourhood and approximate tuition matter just as much as grade range once a family starts comparing schools seriously.
| School | Neighbourhood | Approx. Annual Tuition* |
|---|---|---|
| Ashbury College | Rockcliffe Park | Day ~$40,900 / Boarding ~$87,700 |
| Elmwood School | Rockcliffe Park | ~$30,000–$35,000 |
| Lycée Claudel | Alta Vista | ~$15,000–$17,000 |
| Turnbull School | Central Ottawa | ~$22,000–$26,000 |
| Revel Academy | Central Ottawa | Contact school |
| Heritage Academy | Ottawa | Contact school |
| Académie St-Laurent | St-Laurent | Contact school |
| International School of Ottawa | Ottawa | Contact school |
Tuition is approximate and changes annually. Confirm current fees directly with each school before budgeting a move around them.
Traditional Academic Excellence: Ashbury, Elmwood and Lycée Claudel
Ashbury College, in Rockcliffe Park, is a co-educational day and boarding school for Grades 4–12, with boarding available from Grade 9. It runs IB and AP programs and has one of the longest academic track records among Ottawa’s private schools, with day tuition around $40,900 and boarding around $87,700 per year. Families choosing Ashbury are typically comfortable with either a Rockcliffe Park-area home or a longer commute from the west end in exchange for the program.
Elmwood School, also in Rockcliffe Park, is an all-girls IB school covering PK through Grade 12, with tuition running roughly $30,000 to $35,000 annually. It emphasizes personal development alongside academics and draws families specifically seeking a girls-only environment through to graduation.
Lycée Claudel, in Alta Vista, offers a full French curriculum from preschool through Grade 12 at a noticeably lower tuition band, roughly $15,000 to $17,000 per year. It’s the most common choice among families who want their children to be fluent bilingual for future study or work, and Alta Vista’s central location makes it workable from a wider radius of the city than Rockcliffe Park.
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Specialized and Alternative Programs
Not every family is looking for a traditional academic track, and Ottawa’s private school market has real depth beyond the big-name day schools. Turnbull School, in central Ottawa, is a co-ed day school for Junior Kindergarten through Grade 8 known for small class sizes, with tuition around $22,000 to $26,000. Revel Academy, also central, serves Kindergarten through Grade 12 with a personalized, less traditional approach to instruction.
Heritage Academy specializes in the Simultaneous Multisensory Teaching (SMT) method, built specifically for students with learning differences, and is worth a direct conversation with the school on fit and fees. Académie St-Laurent, in the St-Laurent area, runs a bilingual program from daycare through Grade 12 with an emphasis on critical thinking and character development. Providence Antonine Sisters Academy is a Catholic school combining a Montessori approach with a faith-based curriculum, appealing to families who want religious education paired with independent learning.
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Boarding and International Programs
Ashbury College is Ottawa’s primary boarding option, hosting students from across Canada and internationally from Grade 9 onward, alongside its day program. Boarding suits families who want the Ashbury program without needing to live near Rockcliffe Park year-round, though most still prefer proximity for visits, activities, and the transition years.
International School of Ottawa runs an IB curriculum for a diverse, internationally-minded student body, with a focus on global citizenship. It tends to draw families relocating to Ottawa from abroad or from other provinces who want continuity with an IB program their child was already following.
Factors That Actually Change the Decision
Curriculum and reputation get most of the attention, but a few practical factors tend to decide the outcome once families start touring schools. Class size and student-teacher ratio affect how much individual attention a child gets, and this varies more between schools than marketing materials suggest. Extracurricular depth, facilities, and school culture matter too, but they’re best judged in person rather than from a website.
Tuition affordability has to be weighed against the rest of a family’s housing budget, not considered in isolation — a $30,000-a-year tuition commitment changes what mortgage a family can comfortably carry. Special needs support, where relevant, should be a direct conversation with the school about experience and resources rather than an assumption based on program name. Alumni networks and parent involvement culture round out the picture for families thinking beyond the K–12 years alone.
How School Choice Should Shape the Home Search
Once a family has a shortlist of two or three schools, the next question is almost always where to live. A Rockcliffe Park or Alta Vista address puts Ashbury, Elmwood, and Lycée Claudel within a short drive, but it’s a different housing market and price point than Kanata or Stittsville. Families relocating from outside the city, including many moving from Toronto to Ottawa, often need to weigh school proximity against the broader affordability and lifestyle trade-offs covered in a guide to relocating to Ottawa.
For families already in the west end, a longer school commute is sometimes the more affordable choice, and understanding the cost of living in Ottawa alongside private school tuition is essential before committing to either. Anyone weighing the trade-offs of city life generally, including commute time against private school access, may also find it useful to review the pros and cons of living in Ottawa and the broader living in Ottawa guide. Families who’ve raised kids through a school already and are now considering a smaller home once children are grown often look at downsizing in Kanata as the next step.
Budgeting for tuition alongside a mortgage is worth doing early and honestly. The Financial Consumer Agency of Canada publishes budgeting tools that help families model large, recurring costs like private school tuition against a mortgage payment before house-hunting starts. Families saving toward tuition in advance may also want to look at the Government of Canada’s Registered Education Savings Plan grants, which apply regardless of whether a child ultimately attends a public or private school.
Choosing Where to Live Around Ottawa’s Private Schools
Rockcliffe Park and Alta Vista carry a premium tied partly to proximity to Ashbury, Elmwood, and Lycée Claudel, while central Ottawa neighbourhoods near Turnbull and Revel Academy tend to offer more housing variety at a range of price points. Families anchored in Kanata or Stittsville who choose a school further into the city are usually trading a longer school-day commute for west-end housing value, larger lots, and newer construction. There’s no universally right answer — it depends on whether the family prioritizes school proximity, home size, or overall budget.
The Ontario Ministry of Education oversees the registration requirements private schools must meet in this province, which is worth understanding before assuming all private schools operate under the same oversight. Families can also cross-reference a target neighbourhood’s broader housing supply directly through REALTOR.ca once a shortlist of schools and areas starts to take shape, and check current mortgage affordability guidance through CMHC before setting a firm budget. Ottawa’s ongoing population growth, tracked by Statistics Canada, has kept demand steady in the neighbourhoods closest to the city’s top-rated private schools.
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Jason describes his role as helping clients avoid a timing mistake first, then optimizing price second, which matters especially for families coordinating a school year start with a home closing date. His background includes hands-on trades experience and a Bachelor of Commerce in Marketing and Finance, and he’s available seven days a week for families juggling school tours, work, and a home search at the same time. For families who need more structured support relocating into the city, his Ottawa relocation services are built around exactly this kind of multi-factor move. Reach out through his About page to start the conversation about which neighbourhood fits both the school list and the budget.
Ottawa Private Schools (FAQs)
Tuition for private schools in Ottawa typically ranges from about $15,000 a year at French-curriculum schools such as Lycée Claudel to over $40,000 for day students at Ashbury College, with boarding fees reaching roughly $87,000. Most schools also charge extra for registration, uniforms, technology, and trips, so request a full fee schedule when you apply. Confirm current figures directly with each school, as tuition changes annually.
Many private schools in Ottawa have a strong reputation for academic excellence and rigorous curricula. They often offer advanced placement (AP) courses, International Baccalaureate (IB) programs, and other specialized programs to challenge high-achieving students. However, the level of rigour can vary between schools, so it’s important to research individual institutions to find the best fit for your child’s needs.
Yes, private schools in Ottawa generally offer a wide range of extracurricular activities to cater to diverse interests. These may include sports, clubs, arts programs, and community service opportunities. Participating in extracurricular activities can help students develop new skills, build friendships, and explore their passions.
Class sizes in private schools tend to be smaller than in public schools, allowing for more individualized attention from teachers. This can benefit students who require additional support or prefer a more intimate learning environment. However, the exact class size can vary depending on the school and grade level.
Choosing the right private school for your child involves careful consideration of several factors, including academic programs, extracurricular activities, facilities, tuition fees, and the school’s overall culture and values. It’s recommended to visit schools in person, speak with school administrators, and tour the facilities to get a better sense of the environment. Additionally, you may want to consult with other parents or education experts for advice.
Ashbury College is generally the most expensive private school in Ottawa, with boarding tuition of roughly $87,000 per year and day-student tuition around $40,900. Elmwood School and other independent schools follow, while French-curriculum schools such as Lycée Claudel are typically more affordable at around $15,000 to $17,000 per year.
Yes. Lycée Claudel in Alta Vista offers a full French curriculum from preschool through Grade 12, and Académie St-Laurent provides bilingual education from daycare to Grade 12. Both are popular choices for families seeking French-language or bilingual private education in Ottawa.
Yes. Heritage Academy specializes in the Simultaneous Multisensory Teaching (SMT) method and supports students with learning differences in a structured, inclusive environment. When considering any school for a child with special needs, ask about its experience, dedicated resources, and student-teacher ratio.
