One of our leading private schools in Edmonton is The Waldorf Independent School of Edmonton (WISE). One of the reasons we like this school is because of its location—in a quiet neighbourhood so there won’t be too many distractions.

We found that WISE offers plenty of programs, from nursery to grade school. Our team also appreciates that the school provides home education facilitation and provides many resource links for homeschooling.

Furthermore, we commend the school for offering parent-child group learning, which is child-led play. Why? We believe this class helps with social development for children under two to four years old.

We also like that there are plenty of facilities for the students to use. There’s a gym, a music room, a yard, and two outdoor classrooms—and the indoor rooms are spacious and calming, too.

During our research, we found that there are plenty of activities outside the classroom. In our opinion, it ensures that the kids get to explore their interests and develop their skills beyond educational learning.

Plus, it’s commendable that WISE has a strict anti-racism and anti-discrimination policy. We found out during our surveys that the teachers and staff encourage diversity in the classrooms.

There’s a little hiccup, though. We learned that WISE doesn’t currently accept international and exchange students. 

Lastly, enrolling at WISE means you have to be a member, which is an additional $75 a year. The good news is this fee is per family and not per student.

Edmonton Academy earns a spot on our list because of its inclusive programs. It’s worth highlighting that it’s a private school that welcomes students with learning disabilities by providing a specialized education.

Plus, we were happy to learn that the school offers a specialized reading intervention that helps students struggling with reading. It was impressive that the teachers will use a multisensory program to improve learning.

We also want to note that the school offers individualized support and tutoring. During the course of our research, we found that the teachers are available for tutoring four days a week.

In addition, we highly appreciate the low student-to-teacher ratio, which allows for a more one-on-one approach. It impressed us that there’s only a 6:1 ratio for math, language, and arts subjects.

Another thing that caught our attention about Edmonton Academy is its strong support for enhancing skills and abilities. Every day, the students get physical education, which we see as a productive break from educational learning.

Furthermore, we appreciate that students aren’t grouped together too much. We also found that the teachers identify and support individual skills, which we believe allows the students to grow at their own pace.

But good things sometimes come with a price. Our team found that Edmonton Academy tuition fees are on the pricier side.

Nevertheless, many parents from our surveys mentioned that the high fees were worth every penny because of the individualized learning and inclusivity.

Crestwood Montessori School has earned a solid reputation in the community because, during our research, we learned that students get the true Montessori experience—self-directed and hands-on learning.

We like the individualized learning they provide for each student, which we believe helps build their confidence. Teachers will teach based on the student’s abilities and interests, which we think results in a more fun learning experience.

It’s also nice that classes are small, giving the teachers more time to approach each student. The parents we surveyed loved this, too, because each child gets plenty of attention from the teacher.

Part-time classes are also available, which is something we commend the school for. Young kids can enjoy learning without feeling too anxious about going to school every day.

Another thing we like about Crestwood Montessori School is the classrooms are air-conditioned, which we believe offers a more comfortable space for the kids. Also, the classrooms are equipped with snacks, learning materials, and craft supplies.

In addition, the classrooms have enough space for hands-on play, complete with colourful materials. They’re clean as well, which is essential, especially for young students.

While parents aren’t required to volunteer at the school, it’s nice that they can come to the classroom and see their kids in the Montessori environment.

But Crestwood Montessori School is only for preschool and kindergarten students. Parents of older kids will have to look for another good Montessori school.

Meadow Christian Academy is a private school in Edmonton founded in 2005. Despite almost two decades, we like that the school’s focus hasn’t changed.

Furthermore, we found that the school prioritizes biblical worldview and educational learning, something many Christian parents will approve of. We also like that students get to grow academically and spiritually.

While the school’s curriculum is well done, we do understand it can be restricting for some because there aren’t many outdoor activities included. Still, we found it’s a good choice for traditional learners.

Based on our findings, we also learned that Meadow Christian Academy encourages parental engagement. Our team found that this results in a positive learning environment for students, which many parents we conversed with agreed to.

In addition, we learned from parents that they’ve seen how caring the teachers were. They also mentioned that some teachers go above and beyond, especially for students struggling with some subjects.

We’re just quite bummed at the expensive registration fee for kindergarten students, which is $1,800 each.

On a good note, kindergarten students don’t have to pay tuition fees at all. Also, the registration fee will be split into two payments, allowing parents to save up until they have to pay.

What we like about Just Montessori, besides following the methods of Dr. Maria Montessori, is the environment. Upon entering the school, we love that students will be greeted by a bright and clean space.

The classrooms are spacious but filled with learning tools. We like that each area of the school feels safe and welcoming.

Just Montessori welcomes students aged 9 months to 12 years. It’s nice that age groups will have their own classes but also offer mixed-age group programs.

The programs of this Edmonton private school are pretty impressive, too, all with a low student-to-teacher ratio. There’s an out-of-school class, a summer program from July to August, and camp.

Furthermore, we really like that all programs have ample time for movement activities. There’s gym and outdoor play, providing breaks from educational learning, which is something we appreciate because it allows for self-guided learning.

We were also glad to know that part-time students are welcome to the Montessori program for 2.5 to 6 years. The parents we conversed with even mentioned that their kids loved this, especially first time learners.

From our surveys, we also recorded that the school accepts students of different races. Honestly, we love how diverse each class is because we believe it provides a welcoming environment.

A minor drawback, though, is that slots at Just Montessori are limited since this isn’t a big school. So, if you’re a parent looking for a good school, better hurry up and register once it opens.