New To Milton? Private School Options

Education Editor, St. Jude’s Academy

New To Milton? Private School Options

Choosing the right school for their children is one of the most important decisions parents have to make. Unfortunately, moving rarely allows parents the luxury of getting to experience all of the school options available to them before the children have to spend time in one, leaving parents feeling hurried into a decision that they might later regret.

You’re probably well aware by now that Milton has grown in population by dramatic percentages over the past couple of decades, and it is likely to keep growing at a fast pace for some time. This fast growth has led to the opening of several new public schools in the area, which has been a real boon for the town. Unfortunately, private schools, which tend to take much longer to start and grow, have been slow to keep up with Milton’s phenomenal growth.

Here is a list of private schools in Milton:

• The Montessori Country School (Preschool to 6th Grade)
  An accredited Montessori program.
• Learning Blocks Montessori School (Preschool to age 6)
• Montessori School of Milton (Preschool to age 6)
• Building Blocks Montessori School (Preschool to age 6)
• Oxford Learning Academy (Preschool to 8th Grade)
  A full-day academic program that utilizes a homeschooling approach with the benefits of socialization in a small classroom environment. (Oxford Learning is primarily a tutoring program across Canada.)
• Milton Christian School (Preschool to 8th Grade)
  A religious Christian private school.
• Grade Learning (High School)
  An online high school program.

While seven different private schools is great, four of them are Montessori program schools (and only one of the four addresses the elementary grades.) If what you are looking for is found then by all means, contact the school(s) that interest you.

For most families, this list isn’t likely to satisfy their needs for a private school solution. First of all, none of the schools listed above is very large, although some are growing rapidly. Secondly, only one addresses the high school years at all, and the only option is an online program. That’s why many families in Milton bring their children with them in the mornings and drop them off at one of the more established private schools closer to where they work. If you work in Toronto, Mississauga, or Oakville, you have some excellent, full-service private school options available to you.

Some of the closest schools to Milton that offer what isn’t currently available within Milton town limits include:

• St. Jude’s Academy (Preschool to Grade 12 with approximately 500 students) $10,500*
  An International Baccalaureate Continuum co-ed school. Located just off Highway 401 in northern Mississauga.
• King’s Christian Collegiate (Grades 9 to 12 with approximately 650 students) $14,600
  A traditional co-ed private high school education from a religious perspective. Located in northern Oakville.
• Fern Hill School (Preschool to Grade 8 with approximately 400 students) $21,325
  An established co-ed school just off Highway 403 in southern Mississauga.
• Lynn-Rose Heights (Preschool to Grade 10 with approximately 300 students) $14,370
  An International Baccalaureate co-ed school near Highway 401 in northern Mississauga.

*Private school tuition figures are from Our Kids School Guide 2017.

Depending on what you are looking for, all four of these schools are well worth your consideration if you live in Milton and can’t find a private school solution within Milton. Bussing options are often also available, but depending on where you live your home may be out of bus range for these schools. The further east or south you go (South of the QEW or east of Highway 427) yields many more established private school options as well, but I understand that when it comes to schooling that closer to home is generally preferred. Many of the private schools in Milton offer private school newsletters. Check the websites of the schools listed above to find the latest newsletters online from these schools, and request a visit. There’s nothing like seeing the facilities and meeting the personnel firsthand to give you the confidence you need to entrust your children to a Milton private school staff.

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St. Jude’s Academy (JK-Grade 12) is the leading private university preparatory and IB School (PYP, MYP, DP) in Mississauga. Our faculty are world leaders in IB education, providing fundamental skills. Phys. Ed, Arts, and language specialists nurture the whole student which ensures 100% of our graduates are accepted into their chosen university. Supported by faculty and parents, our students are inspired to confidently make their mark in the world.