Ottawa, the capital of Canada, is an excellent city, and has a lot of excellent high schools, both public and private, English and French. These schools do vary somewhat in quality, as is true in every city in the world; not every school can be the best, and some have more resources and opportunities for students than others.
These disparities can have a major impact on outcomes, with students at top high schools being much more likely to graduate on time, to have a solid understanding of the world around them, and to get into a higher ranked university. These are all things students and parents want (for obvious reasons), and so the question is often asked: which high school is best?
In this article, we’re going to be exploring the best high schools in Ottawa, both public and private. We won’t go over every school, nor is every school we list going to be the right fit for every student; our goal with this article is to give you a sense of what your options are, and to help you begin exploring some of the highest achieving high schools in this excellent city. Let’s jump right in!
The Best Public Secondary Schools in Ottawa
Ottawa consists of four school districts stacked on top of each other; English, English Catholic, French Catholic, and French. Unlike in many other countries, the Catholic districts and schools are public, and funded by the government; this means they do not charge students tuition. These schools are Catholic, and include principles of the faith in their instruction, but are open to students of any religious background, and are bound by governmental regulations on what must be taught, though they have their own administrative superstructure.
The French/English divide refers to the primary language of instruction, but as with other parts of Canada, students are expected to become fluent in both languages regardless of school. We will specify which district each listed school is part of, and include specific notes for each on how this influences their curriculum and culture.
Nepean High School
By Peregrine981 assumed (based on copyright claims). – No machine-readable source provided. Own work assumed (based on copyright claims)., Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=131546
Founded in 1922, Nepean is one of the older secondary schools in Ottawa, and is overseen by the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board. The school enrolls approximately 1,200 students, and is primarily English-speaking, though they have a French immersion program. Nepean is located in the Westboro neighborhood, and enrolls students who graduate from Broadview Elementary School; like most public schools, it is a neighborhood school, enrolling the students who live nearest to it geographically.
Nepean is well known for being strong academically, offering a number of AP and advanced/honors courses to students. Nepean also has a special High Skills Major in the Environment, a series of coursework students can take which earns them a special designation when they graduate to denote their environmental focus. Students looking for a more practical and less academic approach may engage with the cooperative program, which allows students to work with partners and receive credit for job training while enrolled in the school.
Nepean has a strong school community, and is noted for their athletic success. They regularly contend for top spaces in multiple sports; many students participate, though this is hardly mandatory. Nepean further has an award winning arts program, with both music and drama departments recognized regionally and nationally for their accomplishments.
Canterbury High School
By SimonP at the English-language Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=15913091
Founded in 1969, Canterbury is Ottawa’s magnet arts high school, covering both performing and visual arts. Originally intended as a general purpose high school, it switched to an arts focus in 1983, and now serves talented and dedicated students from across Ottawa. The school is overseen by the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board. It enrolls approximately 1330 students. Note that technically Arts Canterbury is a subsidiary program within the greater Canterbury high school, but all of the students at Canterbury are there for the arts program specifically. The primary language of instruction at Canterbury is English.
All students at Canterbury take a full suite of academic coursework in addition to their arts courses; students choose a particular arts specialty to audition for and take courses in, the options are: dance, drama, literary, music, and visual arts. The school also offers a Business High Skills major, a set of coursework students interested in business can take. There is a $250 annual fee to participate in the arts program, which helps subsidize the performing facilities and opportunities the school affords.
Applications for Canterbury open in November and are due at the start of December. After your application is submitted, you will be invited to audition, and must then get two letters of recommendation from current teachers. Audition dates are by discipline, with multiple dates available. Note that literary and visual arts require a portfolio submission and interview in place of an audition.
Lisgar Collegiate Institute
By The original uploader was Peregrine981 at English Wikipedia. – Transferred from en.wikipedia to Commons., CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2838855
Founded in 1843, Lisgar is among the oldest secondary schools in Ottawa, and is regularly ranked among the best in the province academically. It is located in downtown Ottawa, and serves locally zoned students. It is overseen by the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board, and English is the primary language of instruction. It enrolls approximately 900 students.
Lisgar offers a full suite of AP coursework, plus an additional gifted program, the first of its kind in Ontario. Students have access to a range of challenging coursework options, including a French immersion program. They have a well-developed arts program, and a cooperative/apprenticeship program for students who are looking to receive job training and work experience in high school. 40 hours of community service are required to graduate.
Enrollment at Lisgar is based primarily on address; students who live outside their catchment area may apply for transfer. This process is open at the end of January and start of February; you must be registered at your zoned school before you can apply to transfer. Note that if transfer admission is granted, students are required to supply their own transport to and from Lisgar each day. There are a very limited number of transfer seats available.
College catholique Samuel-Genest
Operated by the French-Catholic school board, Samuel-Genest operates primarily in French; while there are English language courses, the primary language of instruction is French; there is also not the equivalent to French-immersion offered at some English-language schools. Samuel-Genest is a combined junior high and high school; students generally enter at the start of junior-high and continue at the school until they graduate.
Academically, the school is known for its strong STEM program; while they offer advanced coursework in a number of areas, they have a particularly broad range of science and technology courses available. This is a Catholic school, and the faith does inform the courses and viewpoints offered. That said, non-Catholic students may attend the school as well.
Admission to the school is based on residence. Students usually enroll in 7th grade, students wishing to enroll later must contact a guidance counselor at the school. This generally occurs when students move to the district, or transfer from one public school district to another.
St. Paul High School
Run by the Ottawa Catholic School Board, St. Paul is a Catholic public school serving approximately 950 students and offering instruction primarily in English (though there is a French immersion program). The school combines junior high and high school, serving students in grades 7 through 12. Located in Ottawa’s west end, the school has moved several times over its opening in 1978.
St. Paul offers an advanced curriculum, with a suite of AP coursework and honors available. They offer a dual credit program in cooperation with Algonquin College, which also allows advanced students to earn some college credit in select courses. They have a number of specialized business and technology programs for students interested in those fields, along with a co-op internship program to offer students job training.
Attendance to the school is based on address; they have a number of feeder schools from lower level Catholic schools. The general point of entry for the school is 7th grade.
Best Private Secondary Schools in Ottawa
Beyond some excellent public schools, Ottawa also has a significant number of excellent private institutions. Again, we don’t have time to cover every school, so we’re going to give a sampling of some standout options, to give you a sense of what’s out there. As with public schools, there are both English and French language options.
Elmwood School
By SimonP at en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=17793809
This is an all-girls secular day school serving approximately 400 students in grades pre-K through 12. Located in Ratcliffe Park, the school’s classes are primarily in English, though French immersion is available, and students can earn a certificate asserting bilingual fluency. The school is based on private schools in Britain in its traditions, and uniforms are required for all students.
Elmwood offers a full IB curriculum; this includes not just the upper level IB coursework available at most schools, but all three IB programs, including middle and primary school. The school is well known for its academic rigor and excellence, with something of a focus on STEM as well. Graduation requirements are based primarily on the IB diploma, but all students are also required to learn French and complete 40 hours of community service.
Tuition at Elmwood is $36,000 annually, though this is reduced for pre-K and kindergarten students. There are limited need and merit based scholarships available. Applications to Elmwood are competitive, and must be submitted online. Applications require an online form, an interview, an academic assessment administered by the school, and for international students only, SSAT scores.
Ashbury College
By Ottawa80 at en.wikipedia – Transferred from en.wikipedia to Commons by SreeBot.Original text: I (Ottawa80) created this work entirely by myself., Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=16000829
This is a coed, Anglican, boarding and day school serving students in grades 4-12. It enrolls approximately 580 students in the senior school. The school offers both the Ontario Secondary School Diploma and the Ashbury Diploma; students are generally expected to earn both. OSSD requirements are set by the province, so students graduating from public and private schools attain similar schools. While the school is technically Anglican, religion does not have a major influence on the school’s culture.
Ashbury offers an advanced IB curriculum, which all students are encouraged to take. Students may either take the full IB program, or may take up to three IB courses in addition to their normal courseload. Students are also encouraged to earn a bilingual certification, with many courses being offered in both English and French. In addition to the academic requirements, graduates are expected to complete 40 hours of community service.
Tuition at Ashbury is $38,970 for day students and $84,700 for boarding students generally. There is need based aid available; less than 5% of students receive merit based aid at Ashbury. Applications to the school must be completed online. These require the online form, a personal profile, transcripts, one letter of recommendation, and a school-administered academic assessment.
Lycee Claudel
A private coed day school, Claudel serves students in grades pre-K through 12, and enrolls approximately 1,000 students. The school offers all courses (with the exception of language courses) in French, and follows the French international curriculum. This terminates in a baccalaureate at the end of 12th grade.
The school offers an advanced academic curriculum, intended to prepare students for university. They follow the French international baccalaureate; students do get some choice in what coursework they take; they select one of nine areas in which they want to focus their studies, and do additional work in these areas. Their students boast a 100% success rate on passing the baccalaureate exams.
Tuition at Claudel is $16,860 annually, though this does vary by grade level; fees are reduced for younger children with older siblings attending the school. There is limited need-based aid available. Admissions open on October 1, and must be submitted online. Applications require an online form, grades from an accredited school, entrance exams, and an introductory meeting.
Final Thoughts
Canada is a multicultural and multilingual country, and this is clearly reflected by the secondary schools in the nation’s capital. Ottawa is a vibrant city, and the education available to students there is quite excellent. As with many cities, where you live does determine which particular schools you end up at, but there are plenty of excellent options, as we hope this article has illustrated.
Of course, we couldn’t evaluate every school, and each student has their own particular needs. If you want additional help reviewing high school options, or want to talk to an expert about any other aspect of your educational journey, then schedule a free consultation with us today. We have a long experience helping students find the best situation for them to succeed, and are always happy to hear from you.
