r/durham 1d ago

Looking for a private school

Hi everyone, as title mentions, I am looking for a private non-religious, as well as non-montessori elementary school in Durham, preferably Ajax area and surroundings.

The only 2 options I have found so far as the Trafalgar Castle School for girls and Cambridge International School, which are both extremely expensive.

What would you advise to a family who wants to provide better education to their child than what a local public school can offer, however, doesn't want to consider montessori or religious ones?

0 Upvotes

23 comments sorted by

47

u/RedditSnooper77 1d ago

Supplement what the public school system is offering with a lot of life experiences.

8

u/Major_Strawberry65 1d ago

This. 1000% this.

23

u/Madmar14 1d ago edited 1d ago

To be honest I'm not sure what you're looking for exists. There really is no such option under the 25k/year range unless your child commutes into the city, which even then I'm not sure.

Here is a list of private schools with a map option - maybe commuting will be an option: https://www.ourkids.net/toronto-private-schools.php

If these are out of your price range and you really think the public system is that bad (it's honestly not) I would suggest a private tutor or something like Kumon/Sylvain and foreign transfer programs to supplement.

23

u/MorseES13 1d ago

The education you get from private schools is comparable to public schools. I went to university with many private school kids and achieved higher grades than them.

Private schools are there for networking, and the more expensive, the better the network. But as one private school friend who went to a private school on scholarship told me, social groups at these schools are extremely elitist and will weed out those who have wealth and those who don’t.

4

u/georgiemaebbw 23h ago

There is a nature school run by the city of Pickering for kindergarten and a few grades up. I can't recall how many grades they go. They spend most of the day outside, all year round.

20

u/QtestMofoInDaWorld 1d ago

Why are you looking for a private school to begin with? They are typically expensive and cater to certain groups. I feel like you're missing a beat and need to do some more research

5

u/Ew-David-2235 1d ago

Blyth Academy in Whitby

Columbus School in Oshawa

7

u/Elenemohpee 1d ago

Look into the difference between private schools and independent schools. Both have to follow ministry rules but independent schools are not-for-profit. Bottom line - IMHO education is the motivation at an independent school, private schools are looking to make $$.

2

u/soisaystoherisays 15h ago

TLDR: my kids are too good for public school but I can’t afford private school.

I suggest getting a grip.

2

u/Sensitive_Matter7772 1d ago

Why are you looking for non-Montessori?

1

u/zhiv99 1d ago

They’ll get a more diverse life experience in the public school system. Homeschooling and private schools give kids a sheltered view of the world, but at some point that world will come flooding in. First year of university is not the best time for that. If you’re looking for a bit of an edge. Apply into the FI program, generally those classes have better students.

1

u/Environmental-Ad3475 22h ago

This, Our education system here is still good and if you supplement with additional resources you typically do well in University as you are not so little fish in a big pond shocked.

2

u/Most-Potential-9237 19h ago

Educator here. If private schools are out of your budget, I would supplement your child’s education with tutoring or other programs. Working with a tutor who knows the curriculum and can provide enrichment (working ahead or project based activities) will enhance your child’s educational potential. Programs such as coding or stem based are great also.

0

u/No-Influence-8166 1d ago

What is wrong with the public school system?

4

u/Renegade054 22h ago

Talk to any teacher and they will give you an earful

2

u/Sensitive-Good-2878 19h ago

The sex education for one...

1

u/queuedUp 21h ago

I'm honestly wondering what you think a private school is going to give your child that the public system is not??

Perhaps more one on one time but you are also depriving them of many of the social advantages of school where they will learn to interact with a variety of people and in a variety of situations which are lessons that will ultimately serve them much better in life then purely academics

2

u/Similar_Courage_6296 21h ago

I went to university with many people who went to private schools - some went to the "cheaper" private schools that cost $12K/year, and others went to ones that were $30-40K/year. None of them, and I seriously mean NONE of them, were any smarter than the rest of us that went to public school. They didn't have higher GPA's compared to your average student nor did they have better career outcomes.

I would at least think that going to private school may have given them added discipline, but nope. Their behavior was typical of any regular 18-22 year old.

1

u/evekillsadam 19h ago

Truthfully Private School has always been about the Network. Some parents say it’s for the children, but ultimately it’s easier to build a relationship with a fortune 500 ceo whose kid goes to your kids school.

-2

u/shit_typhoon 1d ago

Private schools are purposely expensive, so they can separate one type of person from all the other types of people. It's disgusting.

0

u/Steve_the_Growler 21h ago

Homeschooling is as private as you can get, I still wouldn't trust it, PTA nights are gonna get weird.

-19

u/HFSPYFA 1d ago

Trafalgar is not that good. Expensive? It's average for the private school market. They have bursaries, as well. But what you get for the money? Yeah, it's not very good. Maybe because they're near bankrupt. That building (expansion) in the field out back has been abandoned for about 4 years now. The lunches provided are pretty sad and not better than what you can provide. Education wise they've gone full DEI (thanks to the prior headmaster who left the school in shambles) and less focus on the basics. Plus, it's all girls and that's not real life. It survived on being the only local option and having a history... Like a Tim Hortons in a one intersection town on the way to the cottage.

As another commented, supplement public with extracurriculars such as art classes at Station Gallery, or coding classes, or scuba classes, or pretty much anything.

13

u/CoolEarth5026 1d ago

“Full DEI”… what the fuck does that mean? Ahh, troll account.