Private Elementary and Secondary Schools


In accordance with section 16 of the Education Act, operators of private schools in Ontario are required to notify the Ministry of Education annually of their intention to operate by filing a Notice of Intention to Operate a Private School. The ministry provides a list of registered private schools on this web site. Note: Inclusion of a private school in this directory does not imply that the instruction it offers has been approved by the ministry.

The Ministry of Education may inspect a private secondary school that has requested inspection in order to authorize the principal to grant credits in subjects leading to the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD). The inspection relates to the standard of instruction. Private secondary schools are authorized to grant credits only after a ministry inspection and this authority may be revoked following an inspection. The ministry does not inspect health, equipment, practices related to safety, or staffing issues.

The ministry does not conduct inspections of private elementary schools, unless a serious issue is brought to light. In such cases, investigations conducted by the ministry are authorized under section 16(6) of the Education Act.

Consumers are advised to exercise due diligence with respect to contracts with private schools as they would with any other business transaction. For questions related to consumers and business practices laws, marketplace rights and responsibilities, please refer to the Consumer Protection Branch of the Ministry of Small Business and Consumer Services at Consumer Protection Overview – Government of Ontario (Canada) or call: (Toronto) (416) 326-8800, or (toll-free) 1-800-889-9768.

It should be noted that principals and teachers in private schools are not necessarily certified by the Ontario College of Teachers. Certified teachers are listed on the College's public register at www.oct.ca. For information about disciplinary actions taken by the College, see investigations and hearings on the College website.

Note: The source of most of the information provided in this list is the Notice of Intention to Operate a Private School, submitted annually by a private school.