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Montessori high schools

Find the top Montessori high schools in Canada.

On this page, we cover private Montessori high schools. This includes schools in Toronto, Ottawa, Mississauga, Pickering, and Scarborough, Ontario, and across Canada.

For a more complete guide to Montessori education, including a thorough discussion of the Montessori method and philosophy, check out our introductory guide.

Montessori high schools include students aged 14 to 18, the equivalent of grades 9 to 12 in most schools. In Montessori high schools, students do lots of independent and group work. They also begin note-taking, assignments, and tests, to prepare for university. Below, we list Montessori high schools. These schools can be filtered for several different features.

2. Choosing a school

For general advice on how to choose private schools, check out our choosing a school guide and read advice from leading education experts. For advice specific to choosing Montessori schools (including high schools), see our Montessori choosing guide. You can also read our guides to questions to ask private schools and questions students get asked at school interviews.

Private school expos

Private school expos are a great way to find a school, Montessori or otherwise. We have annual private school expos in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Ottawa, Calgary, and Halton-peel. These expos allow you to speak with tonnes of private schools in Canada. Many of these are Montessori schools (some of which are high schools). Find a Montessori high school near you.

Parent discussion forum

Another important tool in your school search is the Our Kids parent discussion forum. The forum is a great place to discuss options and debate topics related to Montessori education and private schools. Take advantage of our community of parents, education experts, and school officials. They can help answer your most pressing questions.

Open house events

Open houses are another effective way to learn about private schools. For general advice on open house visits, check out our guide on school visits.

3. Tuition at Montessori high schools

The cost of Montessori high schools tends to be lower than the cost of other private high schools. In fact, Montessori schools are usually on the lower side of private school tuition in general. Private school tuition can range from $5,000 to over $30,000 per year for day students.

Some Montessori high schools offer needs-based financial aid, such as bursaries or tuition relief. Some offer scholarships (a form of merit-based financial aid). Check out our financial aid guide for more on these options.

Below, you’ll find the range of costs for Montessori high schools:

Academics

Special needs support

Montessori high schools have lots of self-directed learning, group projects, and challenging work. Overall, their approach to education is progressive, and constrasts with more mainstream schools. 

For further discussion of Montessori high school (not to mention preschool, middle school, and elementary school), see our main Montessori school guide.

Montessori school curriculum

In some Montessori high schools, students have long uninterrupted work periods, of two to three hours. During these periods, students can often work on their own chosen tasks.

On the other hand, Montessori students need to work through a challenging curriculum. They must master material in compulsory subjects such as math, science, history, and English. And, they’ll have the option of taking other subjects, such as geography, economics, and psychology.

Montessori high schools prepare students for university or college. Unlike preschool and elementary schools, they give students tests and assignments. They also grade many of these (though less than in mainstream schools).

Students are also given credits and grades for courses. Like mainstream high schools, for students to graduate with a diploma, their curriculum must meet the standards of the Ministry of Education.

For more details, see our guide to Montessori curriculum.

Montessori teaching approach

Montessori high schools have an interesting teaching approach. Some lectures are given, though less than in mainstream high schools. Teachers must ensure students master the basics, especially in required subjects. Usually, though, the teacher doesn’t stand in the front of the classroom, and students don’t sit at desks.

Teachers use textbooks in some courses. Often, though, each student will have their own textbook, tailored to their special learning level. Rarely will there be one textbook for the entire class.

Students have the option to work alone or in groups to complete some projects, with some guidance from the teacher. Moreover, teachers give them quite a bit of freedom to choose their tasks and work at their own pace.