Buyers' and Renters' Guide to Public and Private Elementary Schools in Ottawa
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 is also observed that the cost of homes near better-performing schools is 20% to 36% higher than the properties far away. If you are one of those people who prioritise purchasing a home in the proximity of a quality elementary school, then this guide is for you.
However, Ottawa’s educational landscape is experiencing significant changes, with the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board implementing major restructuring starting September 2026.
Our real estate experts have researched and updated the rankings to find the best elementary schools in Ottawa for 2024-2025, incorporating the latest Fraser Institute rankings and upcoming OCDSB changes.
We have also found important information about these best Ottawa elementary schools like:
⚠️ IMPORTANT: OCDSB Changes Coming September 2026
Parents should be aware that the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB) is implementing significant changes to elementary programs starting September 2026. These changes include:
For detailed information about these changes and how they may affect your school choice, visit the OCDSB Elementary Program Review page.
These best public elementary schools in Ottawa, Canada, that have made it to our list are free of cost. It is also to be noted that Fraser Institute Score is not the only criteria for choosing schools for this list. Our 2024-2025 rankings incorporate the latest Fraser Institute Report Card on Ontario’s Elementary Schools (published August 2024), which evaluated 3,021 schools based on nine academic indicators. We also consider program diversity, community engagement, facilities, and upcoming changes to the Ottawa school system.
Some of the schools that have made it to our list offer excellent Catholic education or are known for their French immersion programs or their environmental focus.
Depending on your unique situation and preferences, you can choose a school that you like and look for a house in the neighbourhood.
Before we list our top elementary schools, let us briefly discuss the various options for elementary education in Ottawa. Parents can choose a school depending on their preference for a school board, an educational program or the special needs of their child.
There are four publicly-funded school boards: English Public, English Catholic, French Public and French Catholic. The list of their maps and schools is given below:
There are also some excellent private schools in Ottawa (1 of them is a part of our list). Many parents prefer them for certain reasons like their religious education program or their support for special needs children.
The schools can choose to offer one or more of the following elementary education programs:
Some parents prefer a school for an outstanding education program they are running, such as French immersion programs.
Now that we’ve covered the basics let’s get to what you came here for! Here’s a list of the top 10 elementary schools in Ottawa.
Fraser Ranking: 10.0
Address: 3025 Albion Road North, Ottawa, ON K1V 9V9, Canada
Phone: 613-526-0774
Email: info@abischool.com
Principal: Leila Rahal
Founded: 2000
Attendance Boundary: Private school – no boundary restrictions
Known for outstanding academic performance and Islamic education, Ahlul Bayt is a private, not-for-profit school that has consistently ranked among Ottawa’s top elementary schools. Their curriculum follows the guidelines of the Ottawa Carleton District Board, besides teaching the Quran and Fiqh (Islamic Jurisprudence) according to Shia teachings. Their focus is promoting good morals and Islamic values. The school has maintained its perfect 10.0 Fraser Institute ranking and was ranked #1 in Ottawa and #25 out of 2,900 elementary schools in Ontario.
Fraser Ranking: 9.9
Address: 50 Varley Dr, Kanata, ON K2K 1G7, Canada
Phone: (613) 592-4492
Founded: 1970s
School Board: Ottawa-Carleton District School Board
Feeder schools: Earl of March Secondary School
Attendance Boundary: JK to 6 Early French Immersion | English Program with Core French
This school is situated in the neighbourhood of Beaverbrook in North Kanata and has approximately 670 students as part of the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board. Its students represent many countries and many speak languages from nations such as South Korea, Russia, China, Vietnam, India, Iran, Grenada, Albania, Romania, and Greece. The school has experienced a remarkable improvement in Fraser rankings, rising to 9.9/10.
Fraser Ranking: 9.6
Address: 49 Iona St, Ottawa, ON K1Y 3L9, Canada
Phone: (613) 728-4653
Founded: 1928
School Board: Ottawa-Carleton District School Board
Attendance Boundary: JK to 6 Early French Immersion Attendance Boundary
Elmdale Public School is known for the tradition of volunteering and encourages active parent involvement in school council committees, fundraising events and extracurricular activities. Hundreds of volunteers contributed 7,000 hours of support to benefit the school. The school council raised over $38,000, which was distributed to support various activities and initiatives. The combined effort of parents and teachers has consistently improved learning opportunities for students.
Fraser Ranking: 9.4
Address: 25 Leacock Dr, Kanata, ON K2K 1S2, Canada
Phone: (613) 592-2261
Principal: Suzie Robertson
Vice-Principal: Carey Lynn Asselstine
Founded: 1970s
School Board: Ottawa-Carleton District School Board
Feeder schools: Earl of March Secondary School
Attendance Boundary: JK to 6 Early French Immersion | English Program with Core French
Stephen Leacock Public School serves the diverse Beaverbrook, Kanata Lakes, and Morgan’s Grant West communities in Kanata. Known for its Early French Immersion Centre, the school welcomes students from kindergarten to grade 6 with the goal of helping students communicate and interact with growing confidence in French. The school has approximately 910 students and reflects the diversity of Canadian culture, making it an excellent environment for multicultural learning.
Fraser Ranking: 8.8
Address: 4330 Spratt Rd, Ottawa, ON K1V 2A7, Canada
Phone: (613) 822-1116
Fax: (613) 822-9569
Email: Jerome@ocsb.ca
Founded: 2004
School Board: Ottawa Catholic School Board (OCSB)
Feeder schools: Catholic secondary schools in the OCSB system
Attendance Boundary: Contact OCSB for current boundary maps
Stephen Leacock Public School serves the diverse BeaverSt. Jerome Elementary School is a vibrant Catholic elementary school that has been serving the Gloucester community since 2004. The school is committed to providing quality Catholic education from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 6, with an enrollment of approximately 508 students. Located in the growing Gloucester area, St. Jerome emphasises both academic excellence and Catholic values, creating a nurturing environment where students can develop intellectually, spiritually, and socially.brook, Kanata Lakes, and Morgan’s Grant West communities in Kanata. Known for its Early French Immersion Centre, the school welcomes students from kindergarten to grade 6 with the goal of helping students communicate and interact with growing confidence in French. The school has approximately 910 students and reflects the diversity of Canadian culture, making it an excellent environment for multicultural learning.
Fraser Ranking: 8.8
Address: 6212 Jeanne d’Arc Boulevard, Orleans, ON K1C 2M4, Canada
Phone: (613) 824-8541
School Board: Ottawa Catholic School Board
Attendance Boundary: Contact OCSB for boundary information
This school, located in Orleans, belongs to the Ottawa Catholic School Board with English as the main language of instruction. Convent Glen is very active in activities that support the environment. They compost, recycle with black and blue boxes, collect used batteries, and promote litter-free lunches at least once a week. The school offers an extended day program before and after school for children from Kindergarten to Grade 6.
Fraser Ranking: 8.6
Address: 170 Stoneway Drive, Nepean, ON K2G 6R2, Canada
Phone: (613) 825-8600
Email: adrienneclarksones@ocdsb.ca
Principal: Pete Veurtjes
Founded: 2001
School Board: Ottawa Carleton District School Board
Feeder schools: Longfield-Davidson Heights Secondary School
Attendance Boundary: JK to 6 English Program with Core French and Early French Immersion | Grades 4 to 6 Middle French Immersion
This school has an outstanding French immersion program and runs several clubs and activities. They provide a positive learning environment and a strong sense of community amongst its multicultural student body. There’s a wide range of languages spoken among its students, such as Arabic, Mandarin, Hindi, Urdu, and Vietnamese. They also have a great EFL program.
Fraser Ranking: 8.6
Address: 100 Penfield Dr, Kanata, ON K2K 1M2, Canada
Phone: (613) 592-2126
Founded: 1970
School Board: Ottawa-Carleton District School Board
Attendance Boundary: Beaverbrook, Kanata Lakes, Morgan’s Grant West
This school, located in Kanata, has 165 students and is part of the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB). It provides an inclusive learning environment that respects diversity and equity, and is committed to student learning and well-being. Due to its small size, children benefit from having many opportunities to participate in multi-aged group activities, which contributes to its strong sense of welcoming community.
Fraser Ranking: 8.5
Address: 148 Meadowlands Drive West, Nepean, ON K2G 2S5, Canada
Phone: (613) 224-3011
Email: Gregory@ocsb.ca
School Board: Ottawa Catholic School Board (OCSB)
Attendance Boundary: Contact OCSB for boundary information
Belonging to the Ottawa Catholic School Board, St Gregory aims to ensure that the teaching and Catholic values are integrated into all aspects of school life. This school, located in Nepean, is also a Gold-certified Eco School. It offers French instruction beginning in Junior Kindergarten as well as an extended-day child care program.
Fraser Ranking: 8.4
Address: 3490 Cambrian Rd, Nepean, ON K2J 0V1, Canada
Phone: (613) 692-6164
Fax: (613) 692-0073
Email: Cecilia@ocsb.ca
Principal: Jody Prevost
School Board: Ottawa Catholic School Board
Feeder school: St. Joseph High School
Attendance Boundary: Contact OCSB for boundary information
The school is located in Nepean and belongs to the Ottawa Catholic School Board. The language of instruction is English. The school aims to instill the Christian values of responsibility, respect, civility and academic excellence. The school also aims to incorporate global competencies of citizenship, character, communication, critical thinking, collaboration and creativity in its education system.
Sports:
Clubs:
Activities:
When selecting from these top elementary schools in Ottawa, consider:
With the upcoming OCDSB changes, parents should:
Read More About Nick
If you’re raising children, living near one of the best elementary schools in Ottawa will help your kids become well-rounded, academically successful, and socially aware young adults. They can also make friends and connections that will serve them throughout their lives.
However, with the significant changes coming to Ottawa’s school system in 2026, it’s more important than ever to work with knowledgeable real estate professionals who understand both the current school landscape and the upcoming transformations.
Our team of focused, reliable and expert real estate agents can help you find a house close to your preferred elementary school while considering the long-term implications of the OCDSB restructuring. We stay updated on all school-related changes and can guide you through this evolving landscape.
For the most current information on school boundaries, programs, and upcoming changes, visit:
Ahlul Bayt Islamic School currently holds the top ranking with a perfect 10.0 Fraser Institute score. For public schools, W. Erskine Johnston Public School leads with 9.9/10.
Yes. Many public and Catholic schools in Ottawa are known for their high-quality education, French immersion programmes, and comprehensive extracurricular activities.
The OCDSB is implementing major restructuring including elimination of alternative programmes, boundary changes, and a return to neighbourhood schools model. Visit OCDSB Elementary Program Review for details.
The 2024 rankings evaluated 3,021 Ontario schools using nine academic indicators from provincial test results. While comprehensive, parents should consider multiple factors including programme fit, location, and upcoming system changes.
Yes, but stay informed about the 2026 changes. Many programmes will continue, and the transition framework will accommodate most student preferences where space allows.
If we calculate the Ottawa living expenses for an individual, it would be approximately $1,790. For families planning to save money or enjoy some amenities, the estimated monthly cost would be between $2,500 to $3,000 for a single person.
Labrosse Real Estate Group
4366 Innes Road
Ottawa, ON, K4A 3W3
Direct: 613-227-6409
Email: Hello@LabrosseRealEstate.com
Office: 613-590-3000
Copyright © 2022 NICK LABROSSE
Nicholas Labrosse Courtier Immobilier Inc
Website created by Designful
