WillowWood School offers a unique and personalized educational experience that caters to a diverse range of learning styles and needs. Established with the vision of providing a nurturing and supportive environment, the school emphasizes small class sizes, individualized attention, and a flexible curriculum. This approach allows students to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. The faculty at WillowWood is highly dedicated and skilled, providing a strong support system that helps each student reach their full potential. 

Recognizing that each student is unique, the school offers customized learning plans that address individual strengths and areas for improvement. This personalized approach ensures that students receive the appropriate level of challenge and support, promoting a love for learning and academic excellence. The curriculum is designed to be flexible and adaptive, incorporating a variety of teaching methods and materials to engage students and accommodate different learning styles.

Furthermore, WillowWood School also places a strong emphasis on holistic development. Beyond academics, the school prioritizes the social and emotional well-being of its students. Programs and activities aimed at developing interpersonal skills, resilience, and self-confidence are integral parts of the school experience. The inclusive and welcoming environment at WillowWood encourages students to express themselves freely and develop a strong sense of self-worth. 

Note though that the small class sizes and individualized attention, though advantageous, may limit the number of students the school can accommodate. These factors can be potential drawbacks for those considering the school. However, for families who value a nurturing and tailored educational experience, WillowWood School offers an exceptional environment for student growth and success.

Overall, the school’s resources and facilities further enhance the learning experience. WillowWood boasts modern classrooms equipped with the latest technology, providing students with access to a wide range of educational tools and resources. These opportunities for enrichment contribute to a well-rounded education and help students develop a broad set of skills.

Back in 1867, The Bishop Strachan School welcomed its first students. Interestingly, even though the University of Toronto didn’t open its doors to women until 1884, this school was ahead of its time, championing the education of young girls—quite the trailblazer.

What’s neat about it is that they’re prioritizing STEAM learning to gear up girls for leadership roles worldwide. But from what we’ve seen, it’s not just all tech and innovation – they’re also diving into music and literacy studies, rounding out the whole educational experience. 

From our surveys, we heard a lot of praise from their teachers when it comes to being accommodating and supportive when it comes to offering assistance to their students.

For instance, if a student wants to take an AP exam for a subject not taught at BSS, the teachers from the relevant department step in to help her prepare. It’s great to see that level of support in action.

Just a heads-up, we noticed that the workload for some of the tougher courses can get pretty intense. It’s not unusual for a student to juggle more than three significant assessments in a single day. 

Despite some challenges, we found that it’s hard to overlook the quality of education they offer, covering academics and other activities. Finally, we must mention that the Bishop Strachan School has quite the track record, with every single graduate snagging spots at universities and colleges worldwide.

A standout about The York School is that it’s an international school focusing on International Baccalaureate (IB) programs. They made waves as the first accredited school in Canada to offer IB programs, spanning from kindergarten through to college since 1965.

One thing we appreciate is that students here get the chance to team up with peers from around the globe, learning how to collaborate and gaining a deeper understanding of how interconnected our world is. 

From what we’ve heard, the teachers are all passionate about their work, and they teach lessons in a clear way that encourages lots of participation. And they’re staying on top of the game, especially with technology evolving rapidly—the teaching quality is just as you’d expect from a private school. 

On the flip side, we’ve noticed that the homework tends to pile up pretty fast each day. It’s part of the whole competitive atmosphere, especially for students taking those advanced courses and looking for a challenge.

All in all, we think The York School is a solid pick, especially if you’re eyeing a spot in university (they boast a 100% university placement rate). Plus, their location right on the Yonge subway line is highly convenient – lots of students hop on the TTC to get there.

Now, let’s talk about Fieldstone. What’s neat about this private co-ed Cambridge School is that it sparks inspiration for students to achieve big things. Being a Cambridge School, they roll out a curriculum that’s like the global gold standard.

Beyond just academics, we found that they go all out with extracurriculars—and this is something we appreciate! 

For instance, they’ve got a bunch of co-curricular activities, outreach initiatives, Horizons Week, service learning, an annual Shakespeare production, and even a big event to celebrate student success in everything they do.

However, we observed that Fieldstone is on the smaller side compared to other private schools on this list. While this has its perks, we must note that this must mean there’s a limit to how many students they can accommodate.

On the bright side, we think their small class sizes and tight-knit community mean their students get plenty of one-on-one attention and build solid relationships with classmates and teachers. 

Students we surveyed mentioned it felt more like a family, with strong support from everyone. Furthermore, we think it’s great that many mentioned how they liked that the administration knew each of them personally, so they didn’t feel like just a number.

To wrap it up, we’re impressed that not only do they offer a 100% university placement rate and a solid faculty and curriculum, but their rates and tuition fees are also quite competitive compared to other private schools—you can save about $4000 to $6000 just from the registration fee!

Here’s the lowdown on Upper Canada College (UCC): founded in 1829, it’s an IB Continuum World School with 1,200 students from Senior Kindergarten to Year 12, including 88 boarders from various countries. 

What’s impressive is that they offer financial assistance to about 20% of students through a program that allocates $5 million annually to Canadian students. 

Based on our research, UCC maintains an impressive 8:1 student-to-faculty ratio. This setup ensures personalized attention for each student, which can be especially helpful for addressing academic or other concerns.

On another note, we discovered that 100% of UCC graduates receive university offers, with approximately 46% pursuing STEM programs. We think this reflects the high level of education students attain during their time at UCC.

However, we did pick up on some sentiments from students, mentioning that it can get pretty competitive at UCC, which adds to the stress they’re already dealing with.

Moreover, note that UCC’s tuition fees are among the highest on this list, ranging from around $40,750 to $81,100. To give you some perspective, that’s nearly double what some others charge.

Nevertheless, based on what we’ve seen, we think UCC’s performance and offerings justify the higher fees. Plus, it’s worth noting that students may apply for financial assistance and scholarships to make the costs more manageable.

Now, moving on to Hudson College – it’s a co-ed, non-denominational private school right in the heart of midtown Toronto. What caught our eye is how they’ve got this cohesive approach to shaping the whole child at every grade level. 

For instance, we learned that they go beyond the classroom to open up opportunities for students. Clubs, activities, and school trips play a big role in building positive relationships and giving students a chance to safely explore new environments beyond the usual school and home scene. 

Whether it’s field trips in the GTA, camp weeks in Muskoka, or international adventures during spring break in places like Iceland and Greece, students in every grade get unique chances to connect with local and global communities. And we think this gives students an edge in the long run.

On the flip side, we picked that while Hudson College has smaller class sizes, they still have a larger average of about 13–20 students per class. That’s a bit higher than the average of around ten students at other private schools on this list. 

Lastly, it’s good to know that Hudson College is all about catering to different learning needs, especially if your child requires special attention. They’ve got a gifted program, after-school tutoring, one-on-one counselling, and workshops to ensure everyone gets the support they need.