Choosing private school over public school is a significant decision. As a parent, you weigh many factors, including your child's learning styles, their need for structure and engagement, and the long-term benefits of an environment that not only provides rigorous learning but a well-rounded experience full of stimulating extracurriculars and community. Here are a few reasons to continue exploring whether a private school is right for your child:

1. Strong sense of community

Private schools are known for their focus on building school spirit and nurturing belonging.  That sense of community sticks with children from the day they enrol to graduation and beyond. Students must apply to join the school, so a good fit is determined from the start, and smaller class sizes and extracurricular bonding opportunities help them develop those deeper connections.

Parents are also encouraged to become part of the community, so school is a family affair. With regular communications between school and home,  parents are encouraged to participate in social and volunteer events and be involved in their child's learning journey. Meanwhile, students are increasingly encouraged to advocate for themselves, which contributes to a collaborative approach to their education. Find out more on our Parents page.

Alumni are the best ambassadors for the school because they identify with the school community for many years to come. Upon graduation, graduates become part of an alumni network thousands strong and ever growing. Learn more on our Alumni page.

2. Personalized attention from teachers and mentors

Private schools are typically smaller than public schools, leading to smaller average class sizes. At CDS, where the student population is around 806, teachers get to know their students' names, and say hello in the hallways. Teachers learn each student’s strengths and weaknesses, and provide personalized feedback and guidance. Small classroom settings also help students bond more with classmates, which results in more opportunities and increased comfort for sharing opinions or risking a guess at a question posed by a teacher.

Closer relationships with students also allow teachers to tailor their lessons to different learning styles. Students tend to feel more comfortable opening up about any struggles, and teachers also connect with parents to collaborate on any challenges. With many extracurricular opportunities led by teachers, students also get to know them as mentors outside of the classroom as club advisors and coaches, thereby gaining the confidence to form lasting mentor relationships with trusted adults.

3. Increased access to co-curricular opportunities

Private schools offer the opportunity for children to deepen current interests and discover new ones, from robotics to debating to social justice. This empowers them to connect with classmates in a different setting, learn from teacher mentors, and develop a well-roundedness that helps balance out academics and build character. At CDS, students can join a sports team, participate in the school musical or play in the orchestra. Visit our Extra-Curricular Program page to see the range of clubs and extracurriculars.

CDS also offers sports from soccer to hockey to ultimate frisbee and more, and encourages our students from Grades 4-12 to participate on a sports team in order to reap the rewards from learning about team building, sportsmanship, and how to have fun! CDS athletes have also taken their skills all the way to the Olympics, Team Canada, the OHL and NHL. Explore what teams your child can join on our Athletics Program page.

4. Support that leads to higher academic standards 

From an admissions process that requires students to meet an academic standard from the start, to small class sizes and more opportunities for individual attention, private schools challenge students to meet a higher academic standard. CDS is also an Advanced Placement school, which means that we offer university-level courses to high school students. Each course culminates in an examination that is externally evaluated, and many Canadian and American universities grant advanced placement and course credit to students who achieve excellent standings. See more on our Advanced Placement page.

5. Successful post-secondary launch and transition

In addition to providing an outstanding educational experience, many families choose private schools as a way to help set students up for success in post-secondary pursuits. Students from CDS, as with many other private schools, have gone to attend the top colleges and universities across Canada and beyond. A combination of rigorous academic expectations and talented educators creates an atmosphere that encourages students to succeed.

A full offering of extracurriculars helps students balance their academic strengths with a range of other interests, which leads students to be more well rounded. This is a factor that is increasingly attractive to the admissions departments at most post-secondary institutions. Learn more about University Placement at CDS.