Finding the right private school starts with knowing what’s available. Below are directories and search tools, by province, to help parents locate private/independent schools. Parents might also consider Canada-wide platforms such as OurKids.net, topprivateschools.ca and CAIS (Canadian Accredited Independent Schools).

British Columbia

There are over 350 independent schools in BC. The BC Ministry of Education provides a comprehensive list of independent schools. According to the Ministry, there are 4 groups of independent schools. Group 1 and 2 are not-for-profit institutions that are eligible for partial provincial funding, whereas schools in Group 3 and 4 are not.

About 330 schools (representing 95% of the students attending independent school) are members of the Federation of Independent School Associations in BC (FISA BC). The website features a “Find a School” tool where you can search for independent schools by location, religious affiliation, or program type. FISA BC’s member schools are grouped into five categories

• Association of Christian Schools International in British Columbia (ACSIBC): 21 evangelical Christian schools.
• The Associate Member Society of the FISA BC (AMS): 150 schools (Montessori, Waldorf, IB, special needs, First Nations, Jewish, Sikh, Muslim, etc.)
• The Catholic Independent Schools of British Columbia (CISBC): 78 schools, organized according to Archdiocese of Vancouver and the Dioceses of Kamloops, Nelson, Prince George, and Victoria.
• The Independent Schools Association of British Columbia (ISABC): 27 schools
• The Society of Christian Schools in British Columbia (SCSBC): 38 schools of various Christian denominations

The Canadian Accredited Independent Schools (CAIS) website maintains a directory of top-tier independent schools (typically elite, university preparatory schools), subject to membership (about 25 in BC).

BC maintains a searchable database of Provincial Online Learning Schools at this link.

Alberta

There are about 180 private schools in the province (150 school authorities). Among these, registered private schools are not eligible for funding, whereas accredited private schools and those with special designations may be funded by government. The Alberta government maintains a list of private options at this link.

An easy resource to check for non-government education options that might fit your family’s needs can be found at educationchoices.ca, where you can search for independent schools by location, religious affiliation, or program type.

In addition, the Alberta government also has a list of private options.

The Canadian Accredited Independent Schools (CAIS) website maintains a directory of top-tier independent schools (typically elite, university preparatory schools), subject to membership (just over 5 in Alberta).

Saskatchewan

There are six types of independent schools in Saskatchewan.

• Registered Independent Schools
• Alternative Independent Schools
• Associate Schools
• Historical High Schools
• Qualified Independent Schools
• Certified Independent Schools

The Ministry of Education maintains a list of schools in these categories that can be found at this link.

The Saskatchewan Federation of Independent Church Schools provides additional information for five independent church schools in the province.

The Canadian Accredited Independent Schools (CAIS) website maintains a directory of top-tier independent schools (typically elite, university preparatory schools), subject to membership (one in Saskatchewan).

Manitoba

In Manitoba, independent schools are primarily classified as Funded and Non-Funded.

Page 56 of the Schools in Manitoba book provides contact information for funded independent schools.

Page 60 of the Schools in Manitoba book provides contact information for non-funded independent schools.

The Manitoba Federation of Independent Schools (MFIS) provides information on Manitoba’s funded independent schools. It lists about 50 independent schools across the province (including Winnipeg’s many faith-based and specialty schools). The Manitoba Education website also lists all funded independent schools. Through these resources, parents can find details on schools like St. John’s-Ravenscourt (Winnipeg), Mennonite schools, French international schools, etc. Manitoba’s independent schools are largely in Winnipeg and a few regional centres; MFIS’s directory is a great way to see what options exist and get contact info in one place.

The Canadian Accredited Independent Schools (CAIS) website maintains a directory of top-tier independent schools (typically elite, university preparatory schools), subject to membership (under five in Manitoba).

Ontario

The Ministry of Education maintains a private schools search tool on its website where you can find all private schools that have submitted a notice of intent to operate. There are two main types of private schools in the province: inspected (which follow the the curriculum towards Ontario Secondary School Diploma) and non-inspected.

The Canadian Accredited Independent Schools (CAIS) website maintains a directory of top-tier independent schools (typically elite, university preparatory schools), subject to membership (almost 50 in Ontario).

The Ontario Federation of Independent Schools (OFIS) lists member schools (often smaller independent schools).

Quebec

Quebec has many private high schools (often called “collèges”) and some private elementary schools. Private schools are extensively represented by the Fédération des établissements d’enseignement privés (FEEP) – which includes a school finder (“Trouver une école”) for Quebec’s collèges and écoles privées (both Francophone and some Anglophone). The FEEP’s directory enables search by region and school type.

The Quebec Association of Independent Schools (QAIS) lists English-language independent schools in the province.

The Canadian Accredited Independent Schools (CAIS) website maintains a directory of top-tier independent schools (typically elite, university preparatory schools), subject to membership (just over 10 in Quebec).

New Brunswick

New Brunswick has relatively few independent school options. While there isn’t a single NB-only directory, parents can use national tools like OurKids.net (which does list Atlantic Canada schools) or the CAIS directory (although there are few members of CAIS in NB). The NB Department of Education can also provide a list of registered private schools if asked.

Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia has a small independent school sector. The government lists 22 private schools that can grant the Nova Scotia High School Leaving Certificate here. 

Prince Edward Island

PEI has five private schools which can be found on the provincial government’s website.

Newfoundland and Labrador

Newfoundland and Labrador currently have very few independent K-12 schools. While the government website search tool currently lists none, Lakecrest Independent School and St. Bonaventure’s College are examples of independent school options which exist in Newfoundland (St. John’s).

The Canadian Accredited Independent Schools (CAIS) website maintains a directory of top-tier private schools (typically elite, university preparatory schools), subject to membership (just one in Newfoundland and Labrador).

Charter schools teach the provincial curriculum, and they are funded by government, but they are non-profit organizations run by autonomous boards. Charter schools do not charge tuition, so they are generally accessible to families/students of diverse income levels. Where charter schools often differ from government-run public schools is how they teach subjects (pedagogy) and their focuses. For example, parents in Calgary can send their children to charter schools that focus on STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), the classics and more. The government maintains a list of charter schools at this link.

Just like public schools, private schools are included in the Fraser Institute’s annual rankings of schools in B.C., Alberta, Ontario and Quebec. The Fraser Institute’s school rankings site doesn’t distinguish public vs private in the results – it simply ranks schools by academic performance.

PAT data for schools in Alberta are also available directly here.

SecondStreet.org is not aware of publicly available information for test results for students in independent schools outside of the four provinces noted above. However, parents can always directly ask schools if they have test result data.

Finding reviews or feedback about independent schools can be a bit different than for public schools, but there are resources:

OurKids.net

Besides being a directory, OurKids.net also features reviews and testimonials from parents and students. They often have a “Reviews” tab on a school’s profile where families have shared their experiences. This can provide insight into the school culture, teacher engagement, and overall satisfaction.

RateMyTeachers

RateMyTeachers.com includes independent schools as well, so you can see teacher ratings for a private school similar to a public one.

Social Media and Forums

Many independent schools have active parent communities. Check if the school has a Facebook page or group, or even an unofficial parent-run group. Additionally, searching Reddit or other forums with questions like “Is XYZ Academy a good school?” can garner some useful results. These informal sources sometimes provide candid opinions. 

School Websites (Testimonials)

Independent school websites often cherry-pick positive testimonials, but they can still be informative. Seeing what points are highlighted (community, academic challenge, support, etc.) in testimonials can indicate what the school prides itself on. Some schools will publish results from parent satisfaction surveys or quotes.

Google Reviews

Often, independent schools have Google business listings where reviews can be left. These may be fewer in number (since independent schools often encourage direct communication over public reviewing), but they may be worth checking.

When considering independent schooling, keep in mind a few additional points that can help financially or otherwise:

Scholarships and Bursaries

Many private schools have bursary programs to assist families who cannot afford full tuition. These are essentially financial aid and are often needs-based. It’s worth asking each school about bursaries; some top private schools allocate significant funds to help middle-income families access their programs. Many private schools also offer discounts for siblings who attend the same institution.

There are also external scholarships – organizations like Prosper Canada’s “Education Foundation” or local community foundations sometimes offer scholarships to students.

In addition, some schools offer scholarships or subsidies to students with exceptional academic performance. 

Extracurricular Tax Credits

While not significant, some provinces offer tax credits for children’s extracurricular activities. If your private school charges a separate fee for, say, piano lessons or a hockey program, that might be something you can claim under a fitness or arts credit (where still applicable, e.g., Manitoba and New Brunswick have such credits).

Always consult a tax professional or financial advisor

The information in this section does not constitute tax advice.  We recommend consulting with a professional accountant in your province for the most up-to-date and accurate tax information related to sending your child to a non-government school. It may also be useful to directly contact your school admissions officer.

British Columbia

For homeschooling, BC distinguishes between registered homeschoolers and online learning (formerly distributed learning). Registered homeschoolers get no direct public funding but have freedom in curriculum (and can sometimes borrow resources from boards). Public schools receive $250 per registered homeschooler, while independent school online learning students are considered “enrolled students” with either a government-run or independent school, and receive support and programming accordingly. 

Public schools in BC receive a $250 grant per year for each registered homeschooled child.

Alberta

There are two types of home education programs in Alberta: supervised (funded) and not-supervised (unfunded). Parents can find out more about these options here.

Alberta also supports homeschooling families: if you register with a supervising school board or willing private school, the government provides about 25% of the per-student funding to the school, half of which is passed on to the parent as a reimbursement for educational expenses. This means, generally, parents get approximately $850–$900 per child per year to offset costs of home education in Alberta. (This applies to traditional home education programs; there are also blended options with online/at-distance schools).

Saskatchewan

For homeschooling, Saskatchewan offers registered home-based educator grants, the amounts for which vary depending on the school division. For example, Regina Public Schools offer $800 per elementary student and $550 per high school student for educational materials. Homeschool families must register with their local school division to be eligible.

Manitoba

Manitoba requires registration with the Ministry of Education but does not provide direct funding to homeschool families. However, the government does offer access to curriculum guides and may allow homeschooled students to participate in certain public school programs or courses (at school board discretion.)

More information on homeschooling in Manitoba can be found here.

Ontario

Homeschooling in Ontario is legal and relatively easy. Parents must send a letter of intent to the school board, which must show evidence that the parents are providing satisfactory instruction at home (although investigations may be conducted based on evidence to the contrary). Homeschool families can sometimes join school board run classes or programs through permission from the board, however, there is no funding from the government. Homeschooled children may opt to participate in EQAO assessments and curriculum material (at no charge to the parent). Parents may also enroll their children in Ontario’s Independent Learning Centre (an administration fee applies).

Quebec

There is no direct funding to homeschooling families in Quebec, but school boards (now service centres) may offer some services (like access to learning materials or mid-year integration if needed). Quebec does, however, provide free access to some online courses via the “École à distance” for homeschoolers.

Atlantic Provinces

Although each of these provinces allow homeschooling, this option does not come with provincial funding. Newfoundland’s public school district has been known to loan curriculum materials to homeschoolers upon request. Parents must register in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick & Newfoundland and Labrador. Information about homeschooling in Prince Edward Island can be found here.

Note for all provinces

Parents across Canada may also find useful information and support for homeschool options at https://hslda.org

More alternatives:

Hybrid Homeschooling

Many public schools across Canada will allow students to register and only attend certain days of the week, while homeschooling on the other days, or only enroll in certain public school classes, and homeschool for the other subjects. Sometimes this is referred to as a “part-time” enrollment option. For example, in Nova Scotia, with the approval of the “education entity” (i.e. school) a child can take courses from a school while also homeschooling, per section 83 of the province’s Education Act. In Alberta, the Shared Responsibility Program is a blended, hybrid model, wherein a school is responsible for 20-80% of a child’s education and the rest is covered by homeschooling.

Some independent schools, especially religiously affiliated schools, offer hybrid models to blend formal schooling and homeschooling. Some homeschool support or curriculum programs are designed to offer scheduled classroom lessons on certain days for students who are part of that homeschool community.

Parents who are interested in a hybrid approach between formal schooling and homeschooling should contact their child’s preferred school, regardless of school type, to see what the options are, as this can vary based on province, district or specific school.

Learning Pods

A learning pod in Canada is a small group of students, usually 3 to 10, who learn together outside of the traditional school system, often in a home or community setting. Led by a registered educator or teacher, homeschooling parent, tutor, retired educator/tutor/homeschooler, student teacher, or extra-curricular teacher of any kind, these pods may follow provincial curricula, homeschooling programs, or customized lesson plans. They provide a more personalized, flexible learning environment and can operate either full-time or as a supplement to public or private education. Learning pods gained traction in Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic when many schools shifted to online or hybrid learning. Concerned about disruptions, some families formed pods to maintain consistent education and social interaction. Since then, some families in Canada have continued using pods for educational choice, especially in provinces with large homeschooling communities like Alberta and British Columbia.

Additional information on learning pods can be found at LearningPods.ca.

Micro Schools

Micro-schools are small, independently-run educational environments that serve a limited number of students, offering a more personalized and flexible alternative to traditional schooling. These schools often emphasize mixed-age learning, project-based instruction, and close student-teacher relationships. Micro-schools may operate in homes, rented spaces, or community centres, and can be led by certified teachers, private educators, or even parent educators, depending on the structure and provincial regulations. In Canada, micro-schools have gained interest among families seeking more tailored education options, especially in response to dissatisfaction with public systems and during the COVID-19 pandemic. They may follow provincial curricula or adopt alternative approaches such as Montessori, Waldorf, or inquiry-based learning. Some are fully private and tuition-based, while others operate as part of broader homeschool networks or cooperatives. Unlike tutoring or learning pods, micro-schools aim to function as full-time alternatives to conventional schools. 

A limited list of micro schools in Canada can be found here.

Parent Collectives

Parent collectives (also called homeschool co-ops) are grassroots groups formed by families who come together to co-educate their children, share resources, and support one another in delivering alternative forms of education. These collectives often operate informally, pooling the skills and time of participating parents to teach different subjects, organize activities, or bring in outside educators. The goal is to create a collaborative learning environment that reflects the values and priorities of the families involved. In Canada, parent collectives have become more common in homeschooling and unschooling communities, as well as among families seeking alternatives to the public system. Especially during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, some parents formed collectives to maintain consistent learning, provide social interaction, and share the workload of home education. These collectives vary widely in structure, from loose networks that meet weekly for group lessons or field trips, to more formalized arrangements with rotating teaching schedules and curriculum planning. Parent collectives offer flexibility, shared responsibility, and the chance to tailor learning to children’s needs and interests. However, they rely heavily on parent availability, organization, and resources, which can limit access for some families. In Canada, these collectives typically operate under the legal umbrella of homeschooling, which is regulated at the provincial level. As a result, the degree of oversight and support for parent-led education varies by province, influencing how these collectives can function.