By
Nick Labrosse
Do you know that 84% of Canadian parents want to check out the schools in the neighbourhood before they decide to buy or rent a house? It’s also observed that the cost of homes near better-performing schools is 20% to 36% higher than properties further away. If you’re one of those people who prioritise purchasing a home in proximity to a quality high school, then this guide is for you.
Ottawa has a wide range of high schools — from IB and AP programs to arts magnets and trades pathways — spread across public, Catholic, and private boards. Whether you’re relocating or simply planning ahead for Grades 9–12, this guide helps you compare the best options and understand how catchment boundaries, program access, and school culture all factor in.
If you’re planning a longer-term move (or choosing a neighbourhood with school continuity in mind), it helps to map the full path from early years to graduation: start with our guide to top elementary schools in Ottawa for younger students and boundary realities, and if you’re also weighing paid options for specialized programs, smaller class environments, or a different school culture, compare choices in our best private schools in Ottawa roundup — then come back here to shortlist the right high school fit for Grades 9–12.
Our real estate experts have conducted comprehensive research to find the best high schools in Ottawa using the Fraser Institute Report Card on Ontario’s Secondary Schools 2025, which ranks 747 schools based on academic indicators derived from province-wide EQAO test results (2023–2024 school year data).
Rankings refreshed using the latest publicly verifiable 2025 Fraser data plus current board and program information.
Important Information About These Rankings:
These best public high schools in Ottawa, Canada, that have made it to our list are free of cost. It’s important to note that high Fraser Institute scores or rankings aren’t the only criteria for choosing schools for this list. Some schools excel in Catholic education, others are renowned for their IB programmes, and some offer exceptional AP, arts, or trades programmes.
Depending on your unique situation and preferences, you can choose a school that suits your family and look for a house in the neighbourhood.
This guide focuses on Ottawa’s public + Catholic high schools. If you’re comparing tuition-based options (e.g., Ashbury), see our Best private schools in Ottawa guide. Private schools use different admissions rules than catchment boundaries, so your shortlist process will look different.
Planning as a family? Start with our Ottawa relocation guide.
If you’re also planning earlier grades, see Ottawa elementary school rankings.
Comparing tuition-based options too? See Best private schools in Ottawa.
Want help matching schools to neighbourhoods? Contact a relocation specialist.
Ottawa High School Rankings
Compare top Ottawa high schools by Fraser Score, program type, area, school board, and boundary notes. Use this as a quick shortlist before choosing a neighbourhood.
Fraser Score: 8.9 (Rank #23 in Ontario, #1 in Ottawa)
Address: 2381 Ogilvie Road, Ottawa, ON K1J 7N4
Phone: 613-745-9411
Principal: Trevor Grills
Enrolment: approximately 1,090
Attendance Boundary: English & Immersion Grades 9-12 | IB Programme Boundary
Colonel By is consistently Ottawa’s top-ranked high school and one of the strongest in the province. Located in Gloucester, it belongs to the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board and is one of two English public schools in Ottawa to offer the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. The IB program is a two-year rigorous pre-university course that provides an internationally accepted education for entry into higher education.
More than 75% of high school students in the school are enrolled in the IB Program. The school also offers the Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) in Arts and Culture: Digital Media.
Important note on access: The IB programme requires an application process, even for students within the general catchment boundary. Colonel By is non-semestered, which suits some learning styles better than others. If your child thrives in a high-academic, IB-centric environment, this is a great fit — but it’s worth visiting to confirm it matches your child’s approach to learning.
Colonel By is one of the most important schools to verify before buying because there are two access questions: the regular school boundary and the IB program process. Students who live in the Colonel By boundary may be eligible for the regular program, but IB is handled separately through an application process. That means a home inside a preferred area does not automatically solve every program-access question. Families considering Beacon Hill, Gloucester, and nearby east-end neighbourhoods should confirm the current OCDSB boundary map, IB application dates, and whether the school’s rigorous pre-university style fits their child.
Fraser Score: 8.6 (Rank #39 in Ontario)
Address: 4 The Parkway, Kanata, ON K2K 1Y4
Phone: 613-592-3361
School Board: Ottawa-Carleton District School Board
Grades: 7–12
Enrolment 2024–2025 (Preliminary): 1,715
Attendance Boundary: English & Immersion Grades 9–12
Earl of March is one of Ottawa’s largest and most comprehensive high schools, serving the Kanata community since 1970. With a 7–12 structure (intermediate and secondary under one roof), the school offers an unusually broad range of programs. It combines strong academics with one of the most extensive extracurricular programs in the region — over 30 sports teams, multiple arts productions, and 50+ clubs. A new two-storey addition with 25 classrooms and 575 pupil places is under construction, scheduled to open September 2026.
Always confirm attendance boundary and current program eligibility before buying nearby.
Fraser Score: 8.3 (Rank #52 in Ontario)
Address: 574 Broadview Avenue, Ottawa, ON K2A 3V8
Phone: 613-722-6551
Email: [email protected]
Principal: Tracy Shapiro
Enrolment: approximately 1,240
Attendance Boundary: English & Immersion Grades 9-12
Nepean High School, established in 1922, has built a remarkable 100+ year legacy of educational excellence in Ottawa’s Westboro neighbourhood. Known for maintaining an ideal balance between rigorous academics and comprehensive co-curricular activities, NHS boasts that 94% of graduates pursue higher education, with 53% achieving Ontario Scholar status.
Families often like Nepean because it gives strong students room to stretch without feeling like a single-program school. The big appeal is balance: enriched courses, AP preparatory options, French Immersion, arts, science, technology, athletics, and clubs all in one west-end setting. For buyers, the key neighbourhood question is usually whether Broadview, Westboro, Carlington, McKellar Park, or nearby areas fit the family’s budget and commute. Nepean can be a strong match for students who want academic challenge, but still care about sports, music, friendships, and a classic community high school experience.
Fraser Score: 8.3 (Rank #52 in Ontario)
Address: 3088 Dunrobin Road, Dunrobin, ON K0A 1T0
Phone: 613-832-2773
School Board: Ottawa-Carleton District School Board
Grades: 9–12
Enrolment 2024–2025 (Preliminary): 1,290
Attendance Boundary: English & Immersion Grades 9–12
West Carleton Secondary School serves Ottawa’s rural west end from its location in Dunrobin. Opened in 1988, the school has built a strong reputation for academics, particularly in its French department where students can earn DELF (Diplôme d’études en Langue Française) certification — a European-recognized language proficiency diploma. The school underwent a major expansion in 2018, adding classrooms, a dance room, and additional gym space to serve its growing community.
Always confirm attendance boundary and current program eligibility before buying nearby.
Fraser Score: 8.1 (Rank #79 in Ontario)
Address: 29 Lisgar Street, Ottawa, ON K2P 0B9
Phone: 613-239-2696
Email: [email protected]
Enrolment: approximately 950 students
Attendance Boundary: English & Immersion Grades 9-12
Lisgar Collegiate Institute, established in 1843, is Ottawa’s oldest secondary school. Located in downtown Ottawa by the Rideau Canal, this Gothic Revival limestone building has maintained a long tradition of academic excellence. Situated near Parliament Hill, Lisgar serves students from Sandy Hill, New Edinburgh, Centretown, and Rockcliffe Park, though many students transfer due to its strong reputation. Lisgar’s Advanced Placement program and Specialized Gifted Programme (one of the first in Ontario, since 1957) continue to attract high-achieving students.
Lisgar stands out because it combines a central Ottawa location with a long academic tradition. Families often shortlist it for advanced learning, downtown access, and proximity to neighbourhoods like Centretown, Sandy Hill, New Edinburgh, Rockcliffe Park, and Old Ottawa East. The school’s central setting can also give students access to museums, universities, government institutions, transit, and cultural resources. For buyers, Lisgar is less about chasing a score alone and more about whether your child would thrive in a busy urban school environment with strong academics, arts, athletics, and a broad mix of students.
Fraser Score: 7.9 (Rank #95 in Ontario)
Address: 5115 Kanata Avenue, Kanata, ON K2K 3K5
Phone: 613-271-4254
School Board: Ottawa Catholic School Board (OCSB)
Grades: 7–12
Enrolment 2024–2025 (Preliminary): 1,035
Attendance Boundary: Contact OCSB for current boundary information
All Saints Catholic High School opened in 2002 to serve the Kanata and West Carleton communities. With a 7–12 structure under the Ottawa Catholic School Board, it provides Catholic education with a strong academic foundation. The school serves students from seven OCSB elementary feeder schools across the Kanata area. All Saints integrates faith-based education with comprehensive academic and extracurricular programming.
Always confirm attendance boundary and current program eligibility before buying nearby.
Fraser Score: 7.9 (Rank #95 in Ontario)
Address: 900 Canterbury Avenue, Ottawa, ON K1G 3A7
Phone: 613-731-1191
Email: [email protected]
Principal: Current Administration Team
Enrolment: approximately 1,140
Attendance Boundary: General Programme Catchment Area (Arts Programme: City-wide audition-based admission)
Canterbury High School stands as Canada’s #1 arts high school according to Maclean’s Magazine, offering both a comprehensive academic programme and the prestigious Arts Canterbury Programme established in 1983. Located in Ottawa’s southeast sector, this institution serves over 1,100 students through a unique combination of neighbourhood academic programming and specialised arts education that draws talented students from across the Ottawa-Gatineau region.
Arts Canterbury is a city-wide, audition-based program. Students apply to a specific arts discipline (Dance, Drama, Literary Arts, Music, or Visual Arts), and admission depends on audition or portfolio requirements rather than a publicly posted acceptance-rate figure. The school also has a full academic program for students in the general catchment area who are not in the arts stream. In online discussions, parents note that the school’s distinctive value is strongest for students who are accepted into the arts program — so it’s worth understanding which stream applies to your situation before making a housing decision.
Canterbury is often searched with “acceptance rate,” but families should be careful with that phrase. The Arts Canterbury program is audition-based, and the school does not publish a simple public acceptance-rate number that buyers should rely on. Students apply to one arts discipline, such as dance, drama, literary arts, music, or visual arts, and follow the school’s application and audition process. For real estate planning, this matters because living nearby may help with commute, but it does not guarantee entry into the arts stream. Confirm deadlines, audition details, and transportation before choosing a neighbourhood.
Fraser Score: 7.8 (Rank #111 in Ontario)
Address: 150 Abbeyhill Drive, Kanata, ON K2L 1H5
Phone: 613-836-2527
School Board: Ottawa-Carleton District School Board
Grades: 9–12
Enrolment: approximately 880
Attendance Boundary: English & Immersion Grades 9–12
A.Y. Jackson Secondary School is a community high school in the Glen Cairn neighbourhood of Kanata. Named after the famed Canadian painter and Group of Seven founder, the school was opened in 1976 and has built a reputation for strong drama productions, a well-rounded academic program, and a community-oriented culture. Feeder schools include W.O. Mitchell Elementary School, Glen Cairn Public School, and Katimavik Elementary School.
Always confirm attendance boundary and current program eligibility before buying nearby.
Fraser Score: 7.5 (Rank #142 in Ontario)
Address: 212 Glebe Avenue, Ottawa, ON K1S 2C9
Phone: 613-239-2424
Email: [email protected]
Principal: Robin Small
Enrolment: approximately 1,452 students
Attendance Boundary: Contact OCDSB for current boundary information
If your child is passionate about sports or athletics, Glebe Collegiate Institute is one of the best high schools in Ottawa. The school offers 35 intramural and interscholastic sports and was named “Sports School of the Year” four times over the last six years. Beyond athletics, Glebe maintains solid academic standing and offers one of the best music programmes in the city. Glebe’s strength is in its balance of student life, athletics, culture, and academics — making it a great fit for well-rounded students.
Fraser Score: 7.5 (Rank #142 in Ontario)
Address: 3333 Greenbank Rd, Nepean, ON K2J 4J1
Phone: 613-823-4797
School Board: Ottawa Catholic School Board (OCSB)
Grades: 7–12
Enrolment: approximately 2,500–3,000 students
Religious Affiliation: Catholic
Attendance Boundary: Contact OCSB for current boundary (boundary revision effective 2024–2025)
St. Joseph High School (commonly known as St. Joe’s) is a large Catholic high school in Barrhaven serving Grades 7–12 under the Ottawa Catholic School Board. Opened in 2002 to serve the rapidly growing Barrhaven community, the school has expanded to approximately 2,500–3,000 students, making it one of the largest high schools in Ottawa. The school integrates Catholic education with comprehensive academic programming and a strong community culture. Note that OCSB approved a boundary revision effective 2024–2025, redirecting some addresses to St. Mother Teresa HS — verify your boundary before buying.
Always confirm attendance boundary and current program eligibility before buying nearby.
While Fraser Institute rankings provide valuable academic performance indicators, consider factors such as:
Some schools require:
The Ottawa Student Transportation Authority (OSTA) provides:
Choose the best high school from the list mentioned above and consider purchasing a home in the neighbourhood to ensure your child receives the education that best matches their interests, abilities, and future goals.
Read More About Nick
A school is the foundation of knowledge. The education provided to your children in schools paves the way for a progressive society. The above-mentioned top 10 schools in Ottawa are free of cost for your children, providing not only quality education but also encouraging participation in extracurricular activities and programmes.
High school programmes in Ottawa typically serve Grades 9–12. Some schools, particularly Catholic institutions like All Saints and St. Joseph, also include Grades 7–8 within a 7–12 structure. Earl of March also operates as a 7–12 school.
Yes, public high schools in Ottawa are free of cost. Your child receives quality education along with access to facilities and activities at no charge. Some optional programmes or activities may have associated fees.
Earl of March Secondary School is one of the largest public schools in Ottawa, with approximately 1,715 students (2024–2025 preliminary). Canterbury High School also serves over 1,140 students and is renowned for its Arts Programme.
West Carleton Secondary School is located in Dunrobin, in Ottawa’s rural west end, under the jurisdiction of the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board. It has approximately 1,290 students.
Earl of March Secondary School has approximately 1,715 students (2024–2025 preliminary) in Grades 9–12, plus an intermediate wing for Grades 7–8. It is located in Kanata.
Applications for specialised programmes typically open in November–December. Contact schools directly for specific requirements, audition processes, and deadlines. The OCDSB website provides detailed information about application procedures. For IB at Colonel By, an application process is required even if you live within the general catchment. For Arts Canterbury, city-wide auditions determine admission.
Yes, through the Ottawa International Student Programme and OCENET. International students pay tuition fees and must meet specific admission requirements.
Sir Guy Carleton Secondary School remains Ottawa’s specialist trades/technological education school, offering programs in automotive, construction, culinary arts, hairstyling, welding, and more. It is not included in our top 10 due to its Fraser score (1.0 in the 2025 report), but this score reflects the school’s specialised focus rather than overall quality. If trades and hands-on career pathways are your child’s priority, Sir Guy Carleton is worth considering. Visit their website for details.
Hi, I'm Nick, I’ve helped 500+ buyers and sellers in Ottawa since 2008. Born and raised here, I know every neighbourhood—and where value grows. Before real estate, I completed Business Marketing at La Cité Collégiale and worked in finance at the National Research Council. Tenacious, confident, and creative, I’m always finding new ways to deliver standout service and get you better results.
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