Choosing the right alternative education option for your child depends on their learning style, interests, needs, and your family’s values. There are several options to choose from in Calgary and it can be overwhelming.
When considering alternative education options in Calgary, it's essential to research each institution or program thoroughly to ensure it aligns with the student’s way of learning and the family’s goals. Admission requirements, application processes, and program availability are also important factors to consider.
Here are some notable institutions and programs in our city:
Bilingual, Immersion, and Language Minority Programs
Calgary is home to a wide variety of program options for parents who wish to expose their children to one or more non-English languages during the regular school day. Bilingual programs offer approximately 50 percent instructional time between English and the second language; immersion programs offer between 50 percent and 100 percent instruction in the second language. Language and culture programs offer both language and cultural instruction.
Offered through the Calgary Board of Education:
Offered through the Calgary Catholic School District:
Offered Privately/Charter:
Fine Arts Programs
Many schools in Calgary offer additional resources, school time, and programming to suit students with an exceptional interest in the fine arts (music, dance, drama, etc.) or offer unique courses or extracurriculars.
Offered through the Calgary Board of Education:
Offered through the Calgary Catholic School District:
Offered Privately/Charter:
Single-Gender Programs
There are several single-gender program choices available in Calgary for parents who feel a single-gender environment is right for their children. Boys-only programs often employ a more active, hands-on learning approach with added emphasis on personal responsibility; girls-only programs tend to focus on community- and group-based learning, with an emphasis on women’s studies, female achievement, and leadership.
Offered through the Calgary Board of Education:
Offered through the Calgary Catholic School District:
Offered Privately/Charter:
Gifted Programs
Gifted programs are specifically designed to assist children with exceptional academic performance, learning rate, depth of knowledge and reasoning compared with other children their age.
Offered through the Calgary Board of Education:
Offered through the Calgary Catholic School District:
Offered Privately/Charter:
Schools with Gifted Classes:
Montessori Programs
The Montessori Method is a child-centred educational approach which employs mixed-age classrooms, student choice of activity, uninterrupted blocks of focused work time, ‘discovery-based’ education (rather than direct instruction), freedom of movement, and exploratory learning.
Offered through the Calgary Board of Education:
Offered Privately/Charter:
Religious Programs
Calgary has many schools that offer religious education and observance as an integral part of their programming. Often, these schools will have academic time set aside for formal religious instruction.
Offered through the Calgary Catholic School District:
Offered Privately/Charter:
Science and STEM-focused Programs
Some schools in Calgary offer additional resources, school time, and programming to suit students with an exceptional interest in the STEM field (science, technology, engineering, and math) or offer unique courses or extracurriculars.
Offered through the Calgary Board of Education:
Offered Privately/Charter:
Self-Directed Learning
Self-directed learning is a broad category featuring learner-focused, individualized programs, which meet each student at their own level. Often, self-directed programs take place in a multi-age setting. They require self-motivation and discipline but allow for open-ended projects and student-led exploration.
Offered through the Calgary Catholic School District:
Offered Privately/Charter:
Sports Programs
Sports programs are designed specifically to support high-level athletes who would not otherwise be successful in their academic endeavors due to insufficient time for school or who wish to devote a greater percentage of their time to the development of skills in their chosen sport.
Offered through the Calgary Board of Education:
Offered through the Calgary Catholic School District:
Offered Privately/Charter:
Traditional and Preparatory Education Programs
There are several school options in Calgary that focus on sequential, whole-group instruction with traditional and rigorous approaches to math and literacy. Academic achievement and university preparation is emphasized. Traditional programs often feature uniforms, a focus on discipline and structure, community involvement and volunteerism, and sometimes allow for students to be grouped by achievement rather than age.
Offered through the Calgary Board of Education:
Offered Privately/Charter:
Waldorf/Steiner Programs
Waldorf education focuses on imaginative and holistic instruction which emphasizes age-appropriate learning. Some unique features of Waldorf education include a lack of technology in the classroom, frequent celebrations of traditional Germanic folklore, storytelling, artistic and creativity-focused classroom learning, and a strong connection to the natural world.
Offered Privately/Charter:
Inclusive School Programs
Inclusion in school is not just about learners with special needs. It is an attitude and approach that embraces diversity and learner differences, and promotes equal opportunities for all learners.
Offered through the Calgary Board of Education:
Offered Privately/Charter:
Homeschooling
Homeschooling is the education of school-aged children at home or a variety of places other than a school. Usually conducted by a parent, tutor, or online teacher, many homeschool families use less formal, more personalized and individualized methods of learning that are not always found in schools.
Offered through the Calgary Board of Education:
Offered Privately/Charter:
Other:
This is a non-exhaustive list of program options. Thoroughly research your options before making a final decision. CCM
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