In this guide
The Canadian school market in 2026
For families moving to Canada, the first thing to understand is that the international school question is different here than in Dubai, Singapore or Madrid. Canadian public education is genuinely strong, consistently well ranked in global assessments, and free for permanent residents and citizens. As a result, the large majority of relocating families place their children in the local public or district school that serves their neighbourhood, often at no tuition cost at all. The private and international sector is a deliberate choice rather than a default, and it concentrates in two cities above all others: Toronto and Vancouver.
Where families do choose the private route, they tend to be after something specific. That might be a single sex school, a particular pedagogy such as Montessori, a foreign national curriculum for a diplomatic or expat community, or an internationally portable qualification such as the International Baccalaureate that travels well for a globally mobile family. For the city level picture, including neighbourhoods, board boundaries and the private school inventory, see our Toronto city guide and Vancouver city guide.
As a budget anchor, the established private and IB day schools in these two cities typically charge between 25,000 and 42,000 Canadian dollars per year before extras, while public boards charge international students on a study permit a much lower band, broadly 11,000 to 20,000 Canadian dollars. Most resident families pay neither figure, because the public system is free to them.
Curricula offered
The default curriculum in Canada is provincial. Education is a provincial responsibility, so there is no single national curriculum. In Ontario, secondary study leads to the Ontario Secondary School Diploma, the OSSD, which requires 18 compulsory and 12 optional credits, 40 hours of community involvement and a literacy requirement. In British Columbia, schools follow the BC curriculum, frequently paired with Advanced Placement courses in the senior years. These provincial pathways are the qualifications most Canadian children, including those at many private schools, actually graduate with.
Alongside the provincial route, the International Baccalaureate has a deep footprint. Canada has a large number of IB World Schools across both the public and private sectors, offering the Primary Years Programme, the Middle Years Programme and the Diploma Programme. Many of the best known private schools in Toronto and Vancouver are full continuum IB schools, and a number of public boards run IB programmes inside selected state schools. For the framework in detail, read our IB curriculum guide, and to weigh it against the alternatives use our tools to compare curricula.
There is one important point of confusion to clear up. A great many schools described online as Canadian international schools are not in Canada at all. They are overseas schools, located across Asia, the Middle East and elsewhere, that deliver a Canadian provincial curriculum, most commonly the Ontario curriculum leading to the OSSD or the British Columbia curriculum, under provincial inspection arrangements. Ontario alone certifies a roster of these offshore schools to grant credits towards the OSSD. They are a Canadian export, not a Canadian destination, and should not be confused with the schools you would actually attend inside the country.
Toronto: the deepest private cluster
Toronto holds the densest concentration of established private and IB schools in the country. Branksome Hall, in the historic Rosedale district, is an all girls IB World School running the full IB continuum from the early years through the Diploma, with an enrolment in the region of 900. Upper Canada College, founded in 1829 and located in Forest Hill, is the best known boys school and offers the IB Diploma Programme in its senior years. Both sit at the premium end of the market.
For families wanting a bilingual or foreign curriculum, the options are unusually good in Toronto. TFS, sometimes styled Canada's International School and historically the Toronto French School, is a co educational bilingual IB World School that blends French and Ontario programmes within the IB framework across two campuses. Smaller national schools, including a German international school and a French lycee, serve their respective diplomatic and business communities. The Toronto Montessori Schools and a wider Montessori network add a distinct pedagogical option for younger children.
Geography matters in Toronto. The premium independent schools cluster in the central and north central neighbourhoods such as Rosedale, Forest Hill and the midtown corridor, which are also among the most expensive residential districts. Families relocating on a public school basis instead choose their home around the catchment of a strong Toronto District School Board or Toronto Catholic board school. Our Toronto city guide sets out the board boundaries, the housing patterns and the private inventory in detail, and you can pull published numbers from our fees database.
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Vancouver: IB on the Pacific coast
Vancouver has a smaller but high quality private sector, weighted heavily towards the International Baccalaureate. Mulgrave School, set on the forested slopes above West Vancouver, is a full IB continuum school running programmes from the early years through to Grade 12, with a student body drawn from both expatriate and local Canadian families and consistently strong Diploma results. Stratford Hall, in east Vancouver, is a well established IB continuum school from the junior years through Grade 12, known for small classes and an inquiry led approach.
The wider independent landscape includes St George's School, a long standing boys school noted for strong academics, and West Point Grey Academy, a co educational independent school from the junior years through Grade 12 in the Point Grey neighbourhood. Several of these schools follow the BC curriculum with Advanced Placement in the senior years rather than the IB Diploma, so the curriculum on offer varies school by school and should be checked carefully against your child's onward plans.
Vancouver also illustrates the public route well. The West Vancouver and Vancouver district boards run respected international student programmes, charging international tuition to families on study permits while remaining free for residents. For the neighbourhood map, the board catchments and the lifestyle context, see our Vancouver city guide, and read first hand impressions in our parent reviews.
Canadian curriculum schools abroad
It is worth returning to the distinction between schools in Canada and Canadian schools abroad, because it trips up many families searching online. Across Asia, the Gulf and parts of Africa, a growing number of schools deliver the Ontario or British Columbia curriculum to local and expatriate students, and award genuine Canadian provincial credits and diplomas. These schools are inspected by the relevant Canadian province and can be an excellent route for a family living overseas who wants a recognised Canadian qualification.
The practical takeaway is twofold. If you are moving to Canada, these offshore schools are not relevant to your search; you will be choosing among public boards and domestic private schools. If you are living abroad and considering a Canadian pathway from there, the offshore Ontario and BC schools are a legitimate option, but you should verify the provincial certification directly rather than relying on a school's own marketing of the Canadian label.
Fees overview
The figures below are bands in Canadian dollars rather than exact quotes, because published tuition shifts each year and varies by year group. Treat them as planning ranges and confirm the current figure with each school. Use our fee comparison tool to line schools up side by side, and the fees database for published numbers where available.
| Segment | Example schools or boards | Annual fee band (CAD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Premium private and IB day schools | Branksome Hall, Upper Canada College, TFS, Mulgrave | 30,000 to 42,000 | Plus registration, capital and activity fees |
| Mid tier private and IB day schools | Stratford Hall, West Point Grey Academy and similar | 25,000 to 35,000 | Varies by year group and city |
| Public board, international students | Toronto District School Board, West Vancouver Schools | 11,000 to 20,000 | Study permit required; free for residents |
| Public board, residents | Provincial and district schools nationwide | Free or nominal | Standard route for most relocating families |
Top cities
The private and international market is concentrated in two cities. Most families choosing the fee paying route will be deciding between them, and the housing, commute and school geography differ in each.
- Toronto city guide: the deepest private and IB cluster, with single sex, bilingual and Montessori options concentrated in the central neighbourhoods.
- Vancouver city guide: a smaller, IB weighted private sector on the Pacific coast, alongside strong public international student programmes.
Admissions calendar
The Canadian academic year runs from early September to late June. The established private schools in Toronto and Vancouver run a structured admissions cycle for September entry, with the busiest application window falling in the autumn of the preceding year, broadly October to December, and assessment and offer decisions following through the winter. The most sought after schools and year groups, particularly the early years and the first secondary intake, can carry waitlists, so early application is sensible.
The typical application package mirrors the international school template: school reports for the recent years, references from the current school, an age appropriate assessment, an English language assessment for non native speakers where relevant, and a family or student interview. Mid year entries are possible at schools with spare capacity, and the timeline is generally faster and more flexible than in the most competitive Asian markets.
For families using the public system, enrolment is handled by the local district board and is tied to your home address within the catchment. Residents can usually register close to the move date, while international students enrolling on a study permit apply through the board's international programme and should allow time for the permit itself.
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Tell us your city, year group, budget and curriculum preference and our finder returns a shortlist built around the public versus private decision, not just the most expensive names.
Choosing a school
The first decision in Canada is public versus private, and it is a real decision rather than a formality. For families settling for the long term, especially with younger children, the public route is credible, free for residents and well integrated into the local community. The trade off is that you take the school that serves your address, with less control over pedagogy or peer group than a chosen private school offers. For families who want a single sex environment, a particular method, a foreign curriculum or an internationally portable qualification, the private and IB sector earns its fee.
The second decision, if you go private, is curriculum. The IB Diploma travels well for a globally mobile family and is widely recognised by universities in Canada, the UK, the US and beyond. The provincial routes, the Ontario OSSD and the BC curriculum, are strong and well respected, particularly for families likely to stay in Canada or apply to Canadian universities, and the BC route often pairs with Advanced Placement. Weigh the options with our tools to compare curricula before committing.
The third consideration applies to families arriving from overseas. Because every primary and secondary school in Canada is a designated learning institution, international students can study at both public boards and private schools, but a study permit is normally required before arrival for longer programmes. Public boards charge international tuition, while private schools charge their standard fees regardless of nationality. Confirm the immigration position early, as it shapes both the timeline and the cost. First hand context from other families is available in our parent reviews.
FAQ
Do I need an international school in Canada, or can my child use the public system? Most relocating families use the public system. Canadian public and district schools are strong, widely accredited and free or low fee for permanent residents and citizens. Private and IB international schools concentrate in Toronto and Vancouver and serve families who want a specific curriculum, a girls or boys school, or an internationally portable qualification.
How much do private and international schools cost in Canada? Established private and IB day schools in Toronto and Vancouver typically charge between 25,000 and 42,000 Canadian dollars per year, with the best known names at the top of that band. Add registration, capital, technology and activity fees. Public school boards charge international students on study permits roughly 11,000 to 20,000 Canadian dollars per year.
What is a Canadian international school abroad? Many schools described as Canadian international schools are actually overseas schools that deliver a Canadian provincial curriculum, most often the Ontario curriculum leading to the OSSD or the British Columbia curriculum. They operate in Asia, the Middle East and elsewhere under provincial inspection, and should not be confused with schools inside Canada.
Are there many IB World Schools in Canada? Yes. Canada has a large number of IB World Schools across both the public and private sectors, offering the Primary Years Programme, the Middle Years Programme and the Diploma Programme. Toronto and Vancouver hold the deepest concentration of full continuum IB private schools.
Can international students enrol in Canadian schools on a study permit? Yes. All primary and secondary schools in Canada are designated learning institutions, so students can study on a permit at both public boards and private schools. A study permit is required before arrival for longer programmes, and public boards charge international tuition while private schools charge their standard fees.