The Best Public Schools in Calgary: Top Rated Schools

Basic education in Calgary is covered by Alberta’s provincial program for education. Out of all the primary and secondary schools in the city, 245 are run by the Calgary Board of Education (CBE). And at least 125,000 students are enrolled in these public schools.

Calgary takes up a big chunk of the top schools in Alberta. The ones on the list are mostly private schools, but there are also a number of public schools. They’re quite high up on the list, too.

If that doesn’t assure you of the quality of education your kids can get, we don’t know what will. Let’s explore some of the top-rated public schools in Calgary.

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The Best Public Elementary Schools in Calgary

Here are the top five public elementary schools in Calgary based on the Fraser Institute school rankings.

Sunalta School

The Sunalta School is ranked 9th overall in Alberta. There are four program elements in their curriculum—academic excellence, daily physical education, strong fine arts program, and social responsibility. They believe that these are important in having a balanced approach to learning.

Sunalta School offers a regular program for its students. They cater to students from kindergarten until Grade 6.

Hillhurst School

Hillhurst School fosters academic excellence through collaborative community efforts. They also focus on honing their students to be active, responsible, and compassionate citizens.

The school community is also friendly and inclusive. If you’re moving to Calgary from somewhere else, this school is sure to welcome your kids with open arms.

Hillhurst School offers two programs for the students—a K-6 community program and a gifted and talented program for grades 4 to 6.

Briar Hill School

Briar Hill School has a small and close-knit community. Their curriculum has a strong literary focus and academic rigor. They offer different styles of learning for their students to encourage them to pursue personal excellence.

The school has three important values that they always uphold—students come first, learning is the central purpose, and public education serves the common good.

Briar Hill School offers a regular program for its students from kindergarten through Grade 6. They also offer a specialization in Music.

Louis Riel School

The Louis Riel School encourages its students to achieve excellence in their daily learning. Besides the core academic subjects, the school also offers fine arts, physical education, and extracurricular activities to further enrich the students’ lives.

The Louis Riel School offers a Science alternative program from kindergarten until Grade 9. They also have a gifted and talented program for Grades 4 through 9.

Altadore School

In the Altadore School, learning is personalized so that all students can excel in class and further develop their skills. They are also committed to protecting the environment. Each class tends to their own plant bed in the school’s edible garden.

Altadore School offers a regular program for its students from kindergarten to Grade 6.

The Best Public High Schools in Calgary

Here are the top five public high schools in Calgary based on the Fraser Institute school rankings.

Western Canada High School

Western Canada High School helps students develop their individual potential through honing their critical and creative thinking skills. The school also instills a sense of personal responsibility in its students by upholding the respect, equality, and dignity of everyone in the school.

Besides the regular program, Western Canada High School also offers dual credit, International Baccalaureate, off-campus work experience, and many other programs. It caters to students from Grade 10 to Grade 12.

Ernest Manning High School

Ernest Manning High School focuses on teaching its students to be well-rounded citizens who excel academically and are responsible members of the community.

They offer Advanced Placement studies and alternative learning programs for the students. These can range anywhere from pre-engineering to outdoor leadership. The school aims to personalize the learning experience to cater to every student’s needs and skillsets.

Ernest Manning High School is one of the best senior high schools in Calgary.

Sir Winston Churchill High School

Sir Winston Churchill High School’s vision is to create competent, caring, productive, and responsible young adults who live successfully in a global society. The school’s curriculum is aimed at preparing its students for the outside world and its reality, especially in employment.

Sir Winston Churchill High School has an exemplary International Baccalaureate program for its students. It caters to students from Grade 10 to Grade 12.

William Aberhart High School

William Aberhart High School is a comprehensive high school in Calgary that offers an advanced placement program for Science, English, Mathematics, and many other subjects. They also have technical and business courses for their students.

The school aims to provide a learning environment where students can grow to be caring, autonomous, and lifelong learners who participate responsibly in society.

William Aberhart High School is also a senior high school in Calgary that offers several programs—including French Immersion and Spanish Bilingual—for its students.

Dr. E.P. Scarlett High School

Dr. E.P. Scarlett High School develops the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and responsibility of its students. This is to prepare them to be self-confident learners who are capable of enhancing their own lives and improving the quality of the world.

Dr. E.P. Scarlett High School provides a caring learning community to students from Grade 10 to Grade 12.

Living in Calgary

Image source: Brenda Coulter

If you’re planning to move to the city, this is your sign! Lock in your offer on a home with the current mortgage rates while the Calgary real estate market is still hot. Get in touch with a realtor to find a property that’s perfect for you and your family.

Moving to Calgary proves to have more pros than cons. Besides the cheaper cost of living compared to other major Canadian cities, Calgary also has a diverse and family-friendly community. And did we mention that the education system is also top-notch?

If you’re looking for a great school to send your kids to, here are the top-rated public schools in Calgary:

• Sunalta School: 9.6/10
• Hillhurst School: 9.3/10
• Briar Hill School: 8.7/10
• Louis Riel School: 8.7/10
• Altadore School: 8.6/10

• Western Canada High School: 8.8/10
• Ernest Manning High School: 8.7/10
• Sir Winston Churchill High School: 8.4/10
• William Aberhart High School: 8.4/10
• Dr. E.P. Scarlett High School: 8/10