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.
If you’re planning ahead, also see our Ottawa high school rankings.
Ottawa’s educational landscape is evolving. The original OCDSB Elementary Program Review (EPR) — which would have required thousands of students to change schools — was cancelled in October 2025. However, several program-level changes are still moving forward: Middle French Immersion is being gradually phased out (final intake September 2028), Early French Immersion now offers more flexible entry points starting September 2026, and Alternative programs are winding down. We explain the details below so you can plan with confidence.
Our real estate experts have researched and updated these rankings using the latest Fraser Institute Report Card on Ontario’s Elementary Schools 2025 (published January 8, 2026), which evaluates 3,052 schools based on nine academic indicators derived from province-wide EQAO test results.
Rankings refreshed using the latest publicly verifiable 2025 Fraser data plus current board and program information.
If you’re relocating, start with our Moving to Ottawa checklist.
We have also found important information about these best Ottawa elementary schools like:
⚠️ IMPORTANT: OCDSB Program Changes (2026–2028)
Parents should be aware of changes to OCDSB elementary programs now underway:
For detailed and up-to-date information, visit the OCDSB Elementary Program Review page and the OCDSB Elementary Programs page.
These best public elementary schools in Ottawa, Canada, that have made it to our list are free of cost (with one exception noted). It is also to be noted that Fraser Institute Score is not the only criteria for choosing schools for this list. We also consider program diversity, community engagement, facilities, and the evolving 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.
If you’re also comparing non-public options, see Best private schools in Ottawa.
Depending on your unique situation and preferences, you can choose a school that you like and look for a house in the neighbourhood.
Stephen Leacock Public School is an OCDSB JK–6 school in Kanata, with a French Immersion stream that many families use as a main decision factor. On a tour, ask where French entry starts for your child’s grade, how the school supports kids who join later, and what the class size mix looks like year to year. Also confirm practicals that shape daily life: before/after care availability, waitlists, and drop-off flow. Finally, validate the attendance boundary for your exact address using the OCDSB school locator.
Alta Vista Public School is an OCDSB elementary school commonly searched by parents weighing program fit and day-to-day supports. OCDSB boundary resources show Alta Vista with JK–6 Early French Immersion and also an English program with Core French, so the key is confirming which stream applies to your child and address. On a tour, ask about student supports (learning support process, newcomer/ESL pathways if relevant), how communication works with families, and what happens if your address is close to a boundary edge. Always re-check the official boundary map right before making housing decisions.
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. 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 Score: 9.7 (Rank #42 in Ontario)
Address: 50 Varley Dr, Kanata, ON K2K 1G7, Canada
Phone: (613) 592-4492
Founded: 1969
School Board: Ottawa-Carleton District School Board
Feeder schools: Earl of March Secondary School
Enrolment 2024–2025 (Preliminary): 745
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 is 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 maintained one of the strongest Fraser rankings in the entire Ottawa region, rising to 9.7/10 in the 2025 report.
Always confirm attendance boundary and current program eligibility before buying nearby.
Note: MFI at W. Erskine Johnston is being phased out. Final Grade 4 intake is September 2026, and the program will phase out as remaining cohorts complete it.
Fraser Score: 9.4 (Rank #67 in Ontario)
Address: 25 Leacock Dr, Kanata, ON K2K 1S2, Canada
Phone: (613) 592-2261
Principal: Suzie Robertson
Vice-Principal: Carey Lynn Asselstine
School Board: Ottawa-Carleton District School Board
Feeder schools: Earl of March Secondary School
Enrolment 2024–2025 (Preliminary): approximately 510
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 reflects the diversity of Canadian culture, making it an excellent environment for multicultural learning.
Always confirm attendance boundary and current program eligibility before buying nearby.
Fraser Score: 9.0 (Rank #110 in Ontario)
Address: 425 Terry Fox Dr, Kanata, ON K2T 0N3
Phone: (613) 591-6098
Email: [email protected]
School Board: Ottawa-Carleton District School Board
Grades: JK–6
Enrolment 2024–2025 (Preliminary): approximately 480
Program: Early French Immersion
Kanata Highlands Public School is a K–6 Early French Immersion school in North Kanata, adjacent to Trillium Woods. Opened in September 2016, it is one of the newer OCDSB schools and has quickly established itself as a high-performing option for families in the area. With just over 480 students, it offers the feel of a growing community school while maintaining strong academic results.
Always confirm attendance boundary and current program eligibility before buying nearby.
Fraser Score: 8.5 (Rank #199 in Ontario)
Address: 17 Hopewell Ave, Ottawa, ON K1S 2Y7
Phone: (613) 239-2348
Email: [email protected]
School Board: Ottawa-Carleton District School Board
Grades: JK–8
Enrolment 2024–2025 (Preliminary): approximately 750
Attendance Boundary: Contact OCDSB school locator
Hopewell Avenue Public School is located in Old Ottawa South, one of Ottawa’s most walkable and sought-after central neighbourhoods. The school traces its history back to 1910, with a major renovation and addition completed in 1996–97. Serving approximately 750 students from JK to Grade 8, it is one of the larger OCDSB elementary schools and offers multiple program pathways. After Grade 8, students feed into a variety of secondary options including Glebe CI, Canterbury HS, Lisgar CI, Ottawa Tech, or Colonel By’s IB program, depending on stream and eligibility.
Always confirm attendance boundary and current program eligibility before buying nearby.
Fraser Score: 8.5 (Rank #199 in Ontario)
Address: 1445 Duford Dr, Orléans, ON K1E 1E8
Phone: (613) 744-8346
Email: [email protected]
School Board: Conseil des écoles catholiques du Centre-Est (CECCE)
Grades: Maternelle à la 6e année (JK–6)
La Source is a French Catholic school within the CECCE board that stands out for its personalized learning approach (“enseignement personnalisé”). The school focuses on autonomy, responsibility, student-centred progression, reflection, curiosity, and building durable skills. It integrates Catholic faith, French language instruction, and respect for differences into its daily programming. The school’s more differentiated structure means the learning environment may feel quite different from a standard neighbourhood elementary school.
Always confirm attendance boundary and current program eligibility before buying nearby.
Fraser Score: 8.5 (Rank #199 in Ontario)
Address: 500 Stonehaven Drive, Kanata, ON K2M 2V6
Phone: (613) 271-0308
Email: [email protected]
Principal: Joanne Blackburn
Vice-Principal: Anna Maria Frangione
School Board: Ottawa Catholic School Board (OCSB)
Grades: JK–6
Feeder high school: Holy Trinity Catholic High School
St. Anne is a JK–6 Catholic school in Kanata under the Ottawa Catholic School Board. After Grade 6, students attend Holy Trinity Catholic High School. The school provides a strong faith-based foundation alongside solid academic performance, with a focus on play-based learning in the early years and bilingual Kindergarten programming.
Always confirm attendance boundary and current program eligibility before buying nearby. Note: OCSB approved a St. James / St. Anne boundary update affecting the option area west of Stonehaven Drive.
Fraser Score: 8.3 (Rank #260 in Ontario)
Address: 3490 Cambrian Rd, Nepean, ON K2J 0V1, Canada
Phone: (613) 692-6164
Fax: (613) 692-0073
Email: [email protected]
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 instil 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.
Always confirm attendance boundary and current program eligibility before buying nearby.
Fraser Score: 8.2 (Rank #287 in Ontario)
Address: 49 Iona St, Ottawa, ON K1Y 3L9, Canada
Phone: (613) 728-4653
School Board: Ottawa-Carleton District School Board
Enrolment 2024–2025 (Preliminary): 565
Attendance Boundary: JK to 6 Early French Immersion
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.
Always confirm attendance boundary and current program eligibility before buying nearby.
Fraser Score: 8.2 (Rank #287 in Ontario)
Address: 4330 Spratt Rd, Ottawa, ON K1V 2A7, Canada
Phone: (613) 822-1116
Fax: (613) 822-9569
Email: [email protected]
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
St. 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. St. Jerome emphasizes academic development alongside Catholic values in a supportive environment where students grow intellectually, spiritually, and socially.
Always confirm attendance boundary and current program eligibility before buying nearby.
Fraser Score: 7.9 (Rank #392 in Ontario)
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.
Always confirm attendance boundary and current program eligibility before buying nearby.
When selecting from these top elementary schools in Ottawa, consider:
With the evolving OCDSB program landscape, 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.
With the OCDSB program landscape continuing to evolve, it’s more important than ever to work with knowledgeable real estate professionals who understand both the current school system and the changes underway. Our team can help you find a house close to your preferred elementary school while considering the long-term implications for your family.
For the most current information on school boundaries, programs, and upcoming changes, visit:
For a Fraser-first shortlist using the latest publicly verifiable 2025 data, W. Erskine Johnston Public School (9.7) and Stephen Leacock Public School (9.4) are among the strongest public options, with Kanata Highlands (9.0), Hopewell Avenue (8.5), La Source (8.5), and St. Anne (8.5) also standing out. The best school for your family depends on program fit, location, and your child’s individual needs.
Yes. Many public and Catholic schools in Ottawa are known for their high-quality education, French immersion programmes, and comprehensive extracurricular activities. Starting September 2026, OCDSB schools will offer more flexible entry into Early French Immersion at Grade 1, 2, or 3.
The original OCDSB Elementary Program Review was cancelled in October 2025, so the sweeping boundary changes that were proposed will not proceed. However, Middle French Immersion is being gradually phased out (final intake September 2028), EFI entry points are expanding (Grade 1, 2, or 3 from September 2026), and Alternative programs are winding down. No boundary changes are planned for 2026–2027. Visit OCDSB Elementary Program Review for the latest details.
The 2025 rankings evaluated 3,052 Ontario schools using nine academic indicators from provincial EQAO test results (2023–2024 school year data). While comprehensive, parents should consider multiple factors including programme fit, location, community culture, and the evolving program landscape.
Yes, but stay informed. The original EPR boundary changes were cancelled, and no boundary changes are planned for 2026–2027. The main things to watch are the MFI phase-out (final intake 2028), EFI entry point changes, and any future accommodation reviews. Verify your designated school using the official OCDSB school locator before making a purchase.
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.
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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