Ontario’s top independent schools are academically demanding from day one. This guide breaks down the best private schools in Ontario by region — Toronto, Ottawa, Hamilton, London, and the GTA’s western and eastern suburbs — along with what each school looks for and how to prepare your child to get in and thrive.
How Ontario Ranks Its Independent Schools
Before getting into specific schools, it’s worth understanding how Ontario’s private schools are — and aren’t — formally ranked.
Unlike public and Catholic schools, most of Ontario’s academically selective independent schools do not appear in the Fraser Institute’s annual school rankings. The Fraser Institute’s Ontario report card is built from EQAO and OSSLT data, and most of the province’s top private schools are not required to administer EQAO tests, so they simply don’t generate the data the ranking depends on. This is a common point of confusion for parents who go looking for Upper Canada College or Havergal College on a Fraser Institute list and don’t find them.
That means ‘best’ in the private school context relies on a different set of signals: university placement rates and destinations, IB and AP results where applicable, reputation among education consultants and current families, selectivity at entry, and a school’s own published outcomes data. The schools below are grouped by region and reflect the institutions most consistently cited across these measures.
For families who also want to understand how public and Catholic school rankings work — useful context if you’re considering both sectors — our guides to the Ontario high school ranking system and high schools in Ontario cover that in detail.
Best Private Schools in Toronto
Toronto has by far the largest concentration of academically elite independent schools in Ontario, and arguably in Canada.
Upper Canada College (UCC) (Boys, Grades 3–12) is widely regarded as Canada’s most prestigious boys’ school. Located in midtown Toronto, it offers a full IB Diploma option alongside the Ontario curriculum, with an exceptional university placement record including consistent Ivy League, Oxbridge, and top Canadian university acceptances. Highly selective, particularly at Grade 9 entry.
Branksome Hall (Girls, JK–12) offers the complete IB continuum — PYP, MYP, and Diploma — and is one of the most academically respected girls’ schools in the country. Located in Rosedale, with strong outcomes across STEM and humanities pathways.
Bishop Strachan School (BSS) (Girls, JK–12, day and boarding) is known for rigorous academics, a strong arts programme, and competitive athletics. Long-established and well-regarded among Toronto’s independent school community.
Havergal College (Girls, JK–12) is one of Canada’s oldest girls’ schools, with a consistently strong university placement record and boarding options for senior students.
The York School is one of the few Toronto schools offering the IB exclusively across PYP, MYP, and Diploma, co-educational from JK to Grade 12.
Crescent School (Boys, Grades 3–12) has a strong reputation for both academics and a structured leadership and character development programme.
For a full breakdown of Toronto’s independent school landscape, including admissions timelines and fee ranges, see our dedicated guide to Toronto private schools. If you’re weighing private against public options in the city, our best high schools in Toronto guide covers the top public and Catholic schools for comparison.
Best Private Schools in Ottawa
Ottawa’s independent school sector is smaller than Toronto’s but includes several well-regarded options, often appealing to diplomatic and government-connected families given the city’s international character.
Ashbury College (Co-educational, Grades 4–12, day and boarding) is Ottawa’s most internationally recognised independent school, offering the IB Diploma alongside the Ontario curriculum. A significant proportion of its student body comes from diplomatic and international families, giving it a notably global culture.
Elmwood School (Girls, JK–12) is Ottawa’s leading girls’ independent school, also IB-affiliated, with a strong academic reputation and an emphasis on leadership development.
Lycée Claudel serves Ottawa’s francophone and Francophile community, offering a French-language curriculum alongside Ontario requirements, popular with diplomatic families and those seeking bilingual education at an advanced level.
Turning Point School and several smaller specialised independent schools also operate in the Ottawa area, generally serving students with specific learning needs or smaller class-size preferences rather than competing directly with Ashbury or Elmwood on academic selectivity.
Hamilton and Burlington
The Hamilton-Burlington corridor has fewer nationally recognised independent schools than Toronto, but several strong regional options serve the area.
Hillfield Strathallan College (HSC) in Hamilton is the standout school in the region — co-educational, JK to Grade 12, with a strong academic reputation, IB Diploma option, and consistently good university placement. It is the school most frequently mentioned when families in the Hamilton-Burlington-Oakville corridor ask about top independent options.
Saltfleet District High School and other strong public options exist in the area, but for families specifically seeking independent schooling, HSC is the dominant choice within a reasonable commute of both Hamilton and Burlington.
Families slightly further west toward Oakville also often consider Appleby College, a well-regarded boarding and day school, given its proximity.
London Ontario
London’s independent school sector is smaller, but includes a couple of schools with solid regional reputations.
Western University-adjacent independent options are limited compared to the GTA, but St. George’s School in London (not to be confused with the Vancouver school of the same name) and a small number of Catholic independent and faith-based schools serve the city’s families seeking alternatives to the public system.
For most academically ambitious families in London, the practical reality is that the closest top-tier independent schools comparable to Toronto’s are a meaningful drive away. This is part of why structured academic enrichment outside school hours is a popular option for London-area families who want their children performing at a level competitive with GTA independent school applicants, without relocating.
Mississauga and Brampton
Mississauga and Brampton have a growing independent school sector, reflecting the population growth in Peel Region over the past decade.
Mentor College and TFS – Canada’s International School (the latter actually based in Toronto but drawing significant Mississauga enrolment) are among the more academically recognised options accessible to Peel Region families. TFS in particular offers French-English bilingual IB programming and has a strong reputation among internationally minded families.
A number of smaller independent and faith-based schools operate across Mississauga and Brampton, varying considerably in academic focus and selectivity. For families specifically researching this corridor, our dedicated guide to the best private schools in Mississauga covers the full landscape in more depth, including fee ranges and admissions specifics.
Best Private Schools in Markham and Scarborough
The eastern GTA has a smaller but notable independent school presence, often serving families who want strong academics without the longer commute into central Toronto.
Holy Trinity School in Richmond Hill, just north of Markham, is a well-regarded co-educational Anglican independent school offering IB and strong university placement, popular with families across Markham and the broader York Region.
Toronto Montessori Schools operates a campus in the Markham-Richmond Hill area, extending Montessori education through to the secondary level — one of relatively few options in the GTA offering Montessori beyond elementary.
Scarborough’s independent school options are more limited than Markham’s, with families in the area often considering either a commute into central Toronto or strong public and Catholic alternatives within Scarborough itself.
What the Best Private Schools in Ontario Look For
Across every region covered above, Ontario’s most selective independent schools are assessing applicants against a broadly similar set of criteria.
Academic readiness, particularly in mathematics. Math performance is one of the clearest, most comparable signals admissions teams have, since it’s less subject to grading variation between schools than some humanities assessments. Students who are working above grade level in math stand out clearly in a competitive applicant pool.
Standardised test performance. Most of Ontario’s selective schools, particularly for Grade 7, 9, and 11 entry, use the SSAT as part of their admissions process. Strong quantitative scores carry real weight. Our SSAT Guide for Canadian Students covers what the test measures and how it’s scored.
A consistent academic record. Schools weigh sustained strong performance more heavily than a single strong test result. Report cards, teacher references, and classroom engagement all factor into a holistic admissions decision.
Demonstrated interest and fit. Most schools interview applicants, sometimes alongside parents. Genuine, specific interest in what a particular school offers — rather than a generic application sent to every school on a list — comes through clearly to experienced admissions officers.
Extracurricular and leadership involvement. Academic ability alone rarely secures a place at the most selective schools. Schools are looking for students who will contribute to the broader school community, not just the classroom.
Think Academy students consistently perform above grade level in math — exactly what admissions teams look for. That’s not a coincidence; it’s the direct result of building strong mathematical foundations early, well before an application is on the table.
How to Prepare Your Child
Getting your child into a strong Ontario independent school is the first hurdle. Thriving once they’re in is the real test — and the schools above all share a pace and academic intensity that goes well beyond a typical public school baseline.
Build above-grade-level math skills early. Across every region covered in this guide, mathematical ability is one of the most consistent differentiators in competitive applicant pools. This isn’t something that can be built in the weeks before an application — strong number sense, algebraic reasoning, and problem-solving ability take sustained work over months or years, not weeks.
Get a clear, honest picture of current performance. Before targeting a specific school or test date, it’s worth understanding exactly where your child’s skills currently sit relative to what selective schools expect. Guessing leads to either under-preparation or unnecessary anxiety; a clear diagnostic removes the guesswork.
Practise under realistic test conditions. If the school you’re targeting uses the SSAT or its own entrance assessment, timed practice under exam-like conditions makes a measurable difference to performance on the actual test day.
Start well before the application window. Ontario’s most competitive schools typically open applications in the autumn for the following September, with the strongest applicant pools applying a full year or more in advance of their intended entry point. Foundational preparation should start even earlier than that.
If your child is aiming for one of Ontario’s top independent schools, the time to start building above-grade-level math skills is now, not the term before the entrance exam.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best private schools in Ontario?
Among the most consistently recognised are Upper Canada College, Branksome Hall, and Bishop Strachan in Toronto; Ashbury College and Elmwood School in Ottawa; and Hillfield Strathallan College in Hamilton. ‘Best’ depends significantly on fit, programme offering (IB vs Ontario curriculum), and whether a family is prioritising day or boarding options.
Why don’t Ontario’s top private schools appear in the Fraser Institute rankings?
Most academically selective Ontario independent schools are not required to administer EQAO assessments, which is the data the Fraser Institute’s Ontario rankings are built from. As a result, schools like UCC, Branksome Hall, and Havergal simply don’t generate ranking data, even though they are widely regarded as among the strongest schools in the province.
How much do the best private schools in Ontario cost?
Fees at Ontario’s most prestigious day schools generally range from $30,000 to $45,000+ per year. Boarding adds substantially more, often bringing total annual costs to $60,000–$75,000 at schools like UCC or Appleby College. Regional schools outside Toronto and Ottawa are often somewhat lower, though still a significant investment.
Do all of Ontario’s top private schools require the SSAT?
Most of the academically selective schools listed in this guide use the SSAT for at least some entry points, typically Grade 7, 9, and 11. Requirements vary by school and by entry grade, so it’s worth confirming directly with each school you’re applying to.
Is a private school in a smaller Ontario city as competitive as one in Toronto?
Generally no — the depth and selectivity of the applicant pool in Toronto and, to a lesser extent, Ottawa, tends to exceed that of smaller centres like London or Hamilton, simply due to population density and the concentration of high-achieving families. That said, schools like Hillfield Strathallan College in Hamilton maintain genuinely strong academic standards and should not be underestimated.
For more on Ontario’s school landscape, see our guides to private schools in Ontario, Toronto private schools, best private schools in Mississauga, and the Ontario high school ranking guide.
Ready to give your child the academic edge Ontario’s top private schools expect? Think Academy offers structured, curriculum-aligned math programmes for students in Grades 1–12. Book a free trial lesson and see what a difference being above grade level makes.
