{"id":62829,"date":"2026-05-29T18:40:31","date_gmt":"2026-05-29T10:40:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog-admin.thethinkacademy.com\/?p=62829"},"modified":"2026-05-29T18:40:32","modified_gmt":"2026-05-29T10:40:32","slug":"private-or-public-schools","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog-admin.thethinkacademy.com\/blog\/2026\/05\/29\/private-or-public-schools\/","title":{"rendered":"Private or Public Schools? A Canadian Parent’s Checklist"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Has the question of private or public schools ever come up?<\/em> If you are weighing between public vs private schools in Canada, you may be carrying a quiet worry: What if I choose the wrong environment for my child? That pressure is real \u2014 especially when you are comparing costs, class size, programs, and commute all at once.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This article breaks the decision into clear, verifiable facts and practical questions, so you can move from uncertainty to a confident next step.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Choosing a School Without Second-Guessing: Private or Public Schools?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Canada\u2019s K\u201312 landscape varies by province and territory, which means advice from a friend in another city may not match your reality. However, the core decision points are surprisingly consistent: funding and oversight, admissions, curriculum, learning supports, and total family cost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before you compare private and public schools, it helps to separate two things: what is required by your province and what is a school\u2019s own choice. For example, provincial curriculum sets learning expectations, while schools may differ in schedules, enrichment options, and extracurriculars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One factor many families overlook:<\/strong> if private school is on your list, entrance assessments like the SSAT (Secondary School Admission Test) may be part of the process. More on that below.<\/p>\n\n\n

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What is actually different: private or public schools in Canada<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

At a high level, public schools are funded by the government and run by publicly accountable boards or authorities. Private schools are independently operated and typically funded primarily through tuition, although rules and recognition vary by province. Your first step is always to confirm your province\u2019s definitions and requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Funding, oversight, and accountability<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Public schooling is financed through public funding and governed by provincial rules, making policies around reporting, curriculum expectations, and school board processes more standardised within a province.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Private schools must still follow provincial requirements, but the level of oversight can differ. Some provinces distinguish between independent schools that follow ministry requirements and other private learning settings. In British Columbia, for example, you can review how independent schools are classified through the BC Ministry of Education and Child Care<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Curriculum and what your child learns: Private or public schools?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The curriculum in Canada is set provincially, not federally. That means a public school in Ontario follows the Ontario curriculum, while a public school in Alberta follows Alberta\u2019s program of studies. Many private schools teach the provincial curriculum but may add particular approaches, extra subjects, or different pacing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ask this concrete question: Which curriculum does your school follow for math and language arts, and how do you report progress against it?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can review the Ontario government education pages<\/a> or your province’s equivalent for what learning expectations look like by grade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Admissions and who gets a seat<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Public schools typically serve students based on residential catchment boundaries. Check your local school board’s registration pages for boundary tools and required documents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Private schools usually require a formal application \u2014 and many competitive private schools require the SSAT (Secondary School Admission Test)<\/strong> as part of their admissions process. The SSAT is a standardised test for students applying to Grades 4\u201311 at independent schools across North America, including many top Canadian private schools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Is the SSAT and Does Your Child Need It?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If private school is a serious option, the SSAT is worth understanding early \u2014 ideally 6\u201312 months before your target entry year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What the SSAT covers:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n