Best-Rated Schools in Calgary: Public and Private
There isn’t one official ranking of the “best” Calgary schools. The list below uses the latest available Fraser Institute Report Cards: the 2026 elementary rankings, released November 10, and the 2025 high school rankings. They score academic results on a 10-point scale. Alberta cautions that provincial test results are only one way to assess a school, so use ratings alongside program offerings, student supports and your child’s needs.
In Alberta, Catholic separate schools and charter schools are publicly funded. I’ve grouped them with public options below, while identifying their school type. Public and private school ratings should be compared within the same grade level; elementary and high school scores come from different reports.
Elementary schools
Publicly funded
| School | Type | Fraser rating |
|---|---|---|
| Holy Name (Bilingual) School | Catholic separate | 10.0 |
| Horizon Leadership Academy | Public | 10.0 |
| Westmount Charter School | Public charter | 10.0 |
| Briar Hill School | CBE public | 9.2 |
| Foundations for the Future Charter Academy | Public charter | 9.1 |
| Nellie McClung School | CBE public | 9.1 |
Private and independent
| School | Fraser rating |
|---|---|
| Clear Water Academy | 10.0 |
| Webber Academy | 10.0 |
| Khalsa School Calgary | 9.9 |
| Rundle College Elementary School | 9.7 |
| Bearspaw Christian School & College | 9.3 |
| Calgary Jewish Academy | 9.2 |
Calgary’s highest scores include both private schools and publicly funded schools. The 2026 elementary report ranks 699 Alberta schools; the scores above are from the Calgary entries among its top-ranked schools.
High schools
Publicly funded
| School | Type | Fraser rating |
|---|---|---|
| Westmount Charter School | Public charter | 9.4 |
| Western Canada High School | CBE public | 9.0 |
| Ernest Manning High School | CBE public | 8.9 |
| FFCA South High School Campus | Public charter | 8.9 |
| Dr. E.P. Scarlett High School | CBE public | 8.8 |
| Sir Winston Churchill, William Aberhart and Henry Wise Wood | CBE public | 8.6 each |
Private and independent
| School | Fraser rating |
|---|---|
| Renert School | 10.0 |
| Webber Academy | 10.0 |
| Calgary French & International School | 9.6 |
| Rundle College | 9.6 |
| West Island College | 9.5 |
| Bearspaw Christian School & College | 8.8 |
| Master’s College | 8.8 |
The high school ratings are from the Fraser Institute’s 2025 report, based on the 2023–24 school year. Some Calgary public options, including Westmount and FFCA, are charter schools with application processes.
How to choose
For CBE and Catholic schools, check the designated school for the exact home address; boundaries and program availability can vary. Charter and independent schools generally use application or admissions processes, so living nearby does not necessarily guarantee a place. Westmount, for example, is a publicly funded charter school with a specialized program for gifted students.
When comparing schools, also look at program fit, learning supports, language options, class environment, commute and current enrolment availability. A high academic rating can help build a shortlist, but it can’t tell you which school will be the best fit for a particular child.
