Each year, the Toronto Private School Expo comes to the city to showcase its opportunities for qualifying students. I find the trade-show-like event to be a bit overwhelming, and so this year I decided to enlist the help of an educational consultant to get a better understanding of our options for Rosie and Rafi.
An educational consultant is a popular role in the US, where more children are enrolled in private schools. Here, the desire for an educational consultant is growing as a more affluent demographic hopes to enroll their child in a top private school in Toronto.
My educational consultant, Rebecca Greaves, the “Parent Advocate,” and I spent an hour discussing entry years, qualifications, & which schools specialize in what. Rebecca remained impartial when explaining the differences between the best public and best private schools in Toronto; her goal isn’t to sell you on either.
While not selling me on a particular stream, I already have a preference for private schools, as I attended one (briefly) and both my children have been enrolled in one for years. For me, the best private elementary schools in Toronto are the Montessori type. My children attend Liberty Prep Montessori School, and the education and community have been enriching and rewarding.
Now the Montessori way works well for someone like me, who values self-led learning and strong independence, while others prefer prep schools, or international schools.
Let’s take a closer look at where to find the best private schools in Toronto.
What is a private Montessori school?
Montessori, created and named after Maria Montessori in the early 1900s, is an alternative education model where children learn through hands-on exploration instead of top-down instruction. Students are grouped with multiple ages in one classroom as they independently focus on their love of learning at their own pace. Our Montessori private school has been monumental in providing a space where my children have excelled in their passions (Math and Art).
Montessori schools tend to be smaller and less expensive than the other top private schools in Toronto.
Calling all parents in Toronto! Here are a few more posts you and your kids might find interesting:
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What is a Toronto prep school? Where are most of them located?
A private Toronto prep school is a private school that is designed to prepare students for admission to the top competitive universities worldwide. I went to Trafalgar Castle School in Whitby, a school that offers advanced placement courses and prepared us well for post-secondary education – I enjoyed small class sizes and passionate teachers.
Talented educators tend to flock to the best private high schools in Toronto because they’ve usually had the same children enrolled from JK.. Schools like UCC, Bishop Strachan, Havergal, and Branksome Hall all prefer your children enroll in Kindergarten so the children can grow within the values, academic style and traditions of the school. These schools tend to have a very strong parent community that supports the school long term and they come with a more expensive tuition.
Rebecca let me know that many of the all-boys best private schools in Toronto also have entry points in Grade 3. Schools like Crescent, St Michael’s Choir School and Royal St George’s College fall under this category. Sending your child in grade three allows for 4 years of financial relief, phew! Our son has had phenomenal experiences at Crescent School’s summer camps; and we may consider this for the future.
In the future, when I’m driving for 20-25 minutes each way to support my children’s learning I’ll most likely be driving up Bayview or Mount Pleasant as most of the best private schools in Toronto are located along those roads.
It’s important to consider the location of these schools when relocating and buying a home in Toronto from another city. Our traffic can be quite demanding; if a top private school in Toronto is important to you then you may want to consider these neighbourhoods to save on drive time:
- Leaside
- Lawrence Park
- Hoggs Hollow
- Rosedale
- Bennington Heights
- Forest Hill
- York Mills
Within close proximity to these neighbourhoods you’ll also find top-toronto private school TFS, Toronto French School, which falls under the category of “International Schools” along with The York School and Bayview Glen.
On the fence about where you should live with your family? Read my post “Where’s The Best Place to Live in Ontario” for a little insight.
What is an international private school?
An international school is a private school that offers the internationally recognized curriculum (International Baccalaureate) or IB program. These schools focus on global citizenship and place emphasis on international awareness, mobility and exchange. This model of private school is great for expat families who want to stay consistent with the education their children have received in a previous country. These schools are known for teaching multiple languages (mostly French in Toronto) but sometimes Spanish, Mandarin and German. My husband and I have a plan to spend 1 year travelling to a couple different countries, both of which we would plan to enroll our children at an international school.
Toronto’s top international private schools tend to be more affordable than the top Toronto prep-schools with the same class sizes.
Now there’s something very cool about living in a city that values innovation like Toronto does; experimental school courses. The best experiential private schools courses in Toronto tend to be outside of the Bayview corridor location, located in North York, Richmond Hill and at one of my favorite schools in The Beaches neighbourhoods.
Whether you have real-estate related questions or you’re looking for insight from a local pro, here are a few more resources you might find helpful:
What are experiential private school courses in Toronto?
Experiential school courses are non-traditional classes that go above the standard Ontario Curriculum. These focus on real-world problem solving in areas of science, technology and arts; a dream curriculum for a parent like me.
Some of the notable top experimental private school courses in Toronto are:
- The Genius Program at Metropolitan Preparatory Academy: Two of my best friends went to this school but painfully studied the faces of boys instead of the incredible biotechnology program they offer. This Toronto program is the only of its kind giving students hands-on experience with DNA sequencing and genetic engineering while using professional grade lab equipment. The program has industry leaders come and give presentations and hopes to breed the next generation of forward thinking scientists.
- Great Lakes College of Ontario – the Personalized Education Plan: This is one of the best private high school programs and is structured specifically to the student to prepare for university while aiming to achieve an A+ average. This program accepts students with high-levels of success and a passion for academic excellence.
Guidepost Academy – One on One coaching. This experimental private school program pairs each student with a life coach that helps them develop and achieve a personalized plan for academic and life success. While being a montessori there is a HUGE emphasis on practical-life actions and teens are encouraged to work in a real-life work setting once a week.
I don’t echo the sentiment that all schools have equal opportunities to foster genius. The best private schools in Toronto are taught by highly qualified, highly experienced educators who go above and beyond the standard Ontario curriculum. The only thing holding back anyone from sending their child to one of these top schools is finance and that too can be sorted out with financial aid opportunities.
If you would like to learn more about schools and their corresponding neighbourhoods feel free to reach out. Fill out the form on this page to get in touch or call/text me at 416-728-5401.
