Regardless of their teaching philosophies – from rigorous academics to outdoor education – these Canadian private schools put the E in Elite. Their basic tuition fees may make your jaw drop (nevermind the families with more than one child in attendance) but they’re really just the beginning. Other costs – from “personal service fees” to “wireless internet costs” add up, making a degree from Harvard seem downright affordable in comparison.

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Ridley College
Name: Ridley College
Where: St. Catharines, Ontario
Yearly tuition: $16,500–$65,700
Grades: JK to 12
Number of students: 700+
Claim to fame: Ridley was founded in 1889 and has students from more than 45 countries.
Where: St. Catharines, Ontario
Yearly tuition: $16,500–$65,700
Grades: JK to 12
Number of students: 700+
Claim to fame: Ridley was founded in 1889 and has students from more than 45 countries.

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SMUS (St. Michael’s University School)
Name: St. Michael’s University School
Where: Victoria, B.C.
Yearly tuition: $18,500–$38,590
Grades: K to 12
Number of students: 995
Claim to fame: Founded in 1906, SMUS counts politicians, writers, entertainers and sports stars like NBA great Steve Nash among its alumni.
Where: Victoria, B.C.
Yearly tuition: $18,500–$38,590
Grades: K to 12
Number of students: 995
Claim to fame: Founded in 1906, SMUS counts politicians, writers, entertainers and sports stars like NBA great Steve Nash among its alumni.

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Montcrest School
Name: Montcrest School
Where: Toronto, Ontario
Yearly tuition: $19,975–$39,300
Grades: JK to 8
Number of students: 300
Claim to fame: Montcrest School was founded in 1961 with only seven students. You can opt for the small class program, which ensures a small teacher to student ratio and individual attention.
Where: Toronto, Ontario
Yearly tuition: $19,975–$39,300
Grades: JK to 8
Number of students: 300
Claim to fame: Montcrest School was founded in 1961 with only seven students. You can opt for the small class program, which ensures a small teacher to student ratio and individual attention.

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Brentwood College School
Name: Brentwood College School
Where: Mill Bay, B.C.
Yearly tuition: $22,000–$69,600
Grades: 9 to 12
Number of students: 515
Claim to fame: Since its founding in 1923, Brentwood College School has produced 24 Olympians, 21 of whom participated in rowing events. The school hosts an annual regatta too.
Where: Mill Bay, B.C.
Yearly tuition: $22,000–$69,600
Grades: 9 to 12
Number of students: 515
Claim to fame: Since its founding in 1923, Brentwood College School has produced 24 Olympians, 21 of whom participated in rowing events. The school hosts an annual regatta too.

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Saints (St. George’s School)
Name: St. George’s School
Where: Vancouver, B.C.
Yearly tuition: $22,450–$68,085
Grades: 1 to 12
Number of students: 1,150
Claim to fame: Hong Kong billionaire Peter Lam, Korean rapper Tablo, Paralympic swimmer Donovan Tildesley and Bedouin Soundclash frontman Jay Manilowski are some of the school’s diverse alumni.
Where: Vancouver, B.C.
Yearly tuition: $22,450–$68,085
Grades: 1 to 12
Number of students: 1,150
Claim to fame: Hong Kong billionaire Peter Lam, Korean rapper Tablo, Paralympic swimmer Donovan Tildesley and Bedouin Soundclash frontman Jay Manilowski are some of the school’s diverse alumni.

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TYS (The York School)
Name: The York School
Where: Toronto, Ontario
Yearly tuition: $24,100–$31,100
Grades: JK to 12
Number of students: 600+
Claim to fame: Founded in 1965 as a nursery school, TYS was the first school in Canada to offer all three levels of the International Baccalaureate Program.
Where: Toronto, Ontario
Yearly tuition: $24,100–$31,100
Grades: JK to 12
Number of students: 600+
Claim to fame: Founded in 1965 as a nursery school, TYS was the first school in Canada to offer all three levels of the International Baccalaureate Program.

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TCS (Trinity College School)
Name: Trinity College School
Where: Port Hope, Ontario
Yearly tuition: $24,750–$65,250
Grades: 5 to 12
Number of students: 578
Claim to fame: TCS was founded in 1865 and its alumni include inventor and radio pioneer Reginald Fessenden and Life of Pi author Yann Martel.
Where: Port Hope, Ontario
Yearly tuition: $24,750–$65,250
Grades: 5 to 12
Number of students: 578
Claim to fame: TCS was founded in 1865 and its alumni include inventor and radio pioneer Reginald Fessenden and Life of Pi author Yann Martel.

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Branksome Hall
Name: Branksome Hall
Where: Toronto, Ontario
Yearly tuition: $31,915–$34,915
Grades: JK to 12
Number of students: 900
Claim to fame: Founded in 1903, Branksome Hall has produced politicians, journalists and entrepreneurs such as twin sisters Jennifer and Fiona Lees, founders of Balmshell Cosmetics. The all-girls’ school has a sister campus in South Korea.
Where: Toronto, Ontario
Yearly tuition: $31,915–$34,915
Grades: JK to 12
Number of students: 900
Claim to fame: Founded in 1903, Branksome Hall has produced politicians, journalists and entrepreneurs such as twin sisters Jennifer and Fiona Lees, founders of Balmshell Cosmetics. The all-girls’ school has a sister campus in South Korea.

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BSS (Bishop Strachan School)
Name: Bishop Strachan School
Where: Toronto, Ontario
Yearly tuition: $32,060–$60,730
Grades: JK to 12
Number of students: 900
Claim to fame: BSS was founded in 1867 with the intention of educating girls to be leaders. Among the leading women who studied here was women’s rights activist Emily Murphy, the first female magistrate in the British Empire.
Where: Toronto, Ontario
Yearly tuition: $32,060–$60,730
Grades: JK to 12
Number of students: 900
Claim to fame: BSS was founded in 1867 with the intention of educating girls to be leaders. Among the leading women who studied here was women’s rights activist Emily Murphy, the first female magistrate in the British Empire.

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Havergal College
Name: Havergal College
Where: Toronto, Ontario
Yearly tuition: $32,750–$59,875
Grades: JK to 12
Number of students: 900+
Claim to fame: Founded in 1894, Havergal is considered one of Toronto’s top schools. Lois Lane – or rather, actress Margot Kidder – studied here, as did Rachel Blanchard and a host of pioneering women in politics, the arts and sports.
Where: Toronto, Ontario
Yearly tuition: $32,750–$59,875
Grades: JK to 12
Number of students: 900+
Claim to fame: Founded in 1894, Havergal is considered one of Toronto’s top schools. Lois Lane – or rather, actress Margot Kidder – studied here, as did Rachel Blanchard and a host of pioneering women in politics, the arts and sports.

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LCS (Lakefield College School)
Name: Lakefield College School
Where: Lakefield, Ontario
Yearly tuition: $32,800–$65,400
Grades: 9 to 12
Number of students: 365
Claim to fame: Founded in 1879, LCS counts royalty among its alumni: Prince Andrew was an exchange student and King Felipe VI of Spain went to high school here. Will Arnett also spent a semester here but due to his troublemaking ways he was asked not to return.
Where: Lakefield, Ontario
Yearly tuition: $32,800–$65,400
Grades: 9 to 12
Number of students: 365
Claim to fame: Founded in 1879, LCS counts royalty among its alumni: Prince Andrew was an exchange student and King Felipe VI of Spain went to high school here. Will Arnett also spent a semester here but due to his troublemaking ways he was asked not to return.

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Crescent School
Name: Crescent School
Where: Toronto, Ontario
Yearly tuition: $33,250
Grades: 3 to 12
Number of students: 740
Claim to fame: One of Canada’s leading boys’ schools, Crescent School was founded in 1913.
Where: Toronto, Ontario
Yearly tuition: $33,250
Grades: 3 to 12
Number of students: 740
Claim to fame: One of Canada’s leading boys’ schools, Crescent School was founded in 1913.

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RSGC (Royal St. George’s College)
Name: Royal St. George’s College
Where: Toronto, Ontario
Yearly tuition: $33,600
Grades: 3 to 12
Number of students: 425
Claim to fame: RSGC was founded in 1961 as an Anglican choir school for boys and is the only pre-university school in the country allowed to use “Royal” in its name.
Where: Toronto, Ontario
Yearly tuition: $33,600
Grades: 3 to 12
Number of students: 425
Claim to fame: RSGC was founded in 1961 as an Anglican choir school for boys and is the only pre-university school in the country allowed to use “Royal” in its name.

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Greenwood College School
Name: Greenwood College School
Where: Toronto, Ontario
Yearly tuition: $35,600
Grades: 7 to 12
Number of students: 450+
Claim to fame: Only founded in 2002, Greenwood has already produced alumni such as hockey player Tom Wilson and Olympian sailor Tom Ramshaw.
Where: Toronto, Ontario
Yearly tuition: $35,600
Grades: 7 to 12
Number of students: 450+
Claim to fame: Only founded in 2002, Greenwood has already produced alumni such as hockey player Tom Wilson and Olympian sailor Tom Ramshaw.

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UCC (Upper Canada College)
Name: Upper Canada College
Where: Toronto, Ontario
Yearly tuition: $32,650–$64,205
Grades: SK to 12
Number of students: 1,100+
Claim to fame: Founded in 1829, UCC is Canada’s third oldest independent school. Included in the boys’ school’s long list of notable alumni are premiers, mayors, parliamentarians, business leaders and The Mummy actor Brendan Fraser.
Where: Toronto, Ontario
Yearly tuition: $32,650–$64,205
Grades: SK to 12
Number of students: 1,100+
Claim to fame: Founded in 1829, UCC is Canada’s third oldest independent school. Included in the boys’ school’s long list of notable alumni are premiers, mayors, parliamentarians, business leaders and The Mummy actor Brendan Fraser.

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SAC (St. Andrew’s College)
Name: St. Andrew’s College
Where: Aurora, Ontario
Yearly tuition: $35,680–$66,375
Grades: 5 to 12
Number of students: 613
Claim to fame: Since its founding in 1899, SAC has produced an impressive number of Old Boys who can write OC or CC after their names. Probably the school’s most famous former student, however, is Kiefer Sutherland.
Where: Aurora, Ontario
Yearly tuition: $35,680–$66,375
Grades: 5 to 12
Number of students: 613
Claim to fame: Since its founding in 1899, SAC has produced an impressive number of Old Boys who can write OC or CC after their names. Probably the school’s most famous former student, however, is Kiefer Sutherland.

Ansgar Walk/Wikimedia Commons
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Appleby College
Name: Appleby College
Where: Oakville, Ontario
Yearly tuition: $36,510–$72,875
Grades: 7 to 12
Number of students: 750
Claim to fame: Founded in 1911 and located on the shores of Lake Ontario, Appleby College was the first high school to be named one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers. It’s also the only Canadian school to be a member of the G20 Schools.
Where: Oakville, Ontario
Yearly tuition: $36,510–$72,875
Grades: 7 to 12
Number of students: 750
Claim to fame: Founded in 1911 and located on the shores of Lake Ontario, Appleby College was the first high school to be named one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers. It’s also the only Canadian school to be a member of the G20 Schools.
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