Choosing the School that’s Right for You in Kanata
Blog • March 7, 2019
Whether you are moving or you have a little one ready to start kindergarten, choosing the school that’s right for your child (and family) can be a big decision. There are many factors to consider including location, program, and community but don’t worry, there are many great schools in Kanata to choose from. Here is your guide to making the right decision.
Check out the boundaries on the School Board websites
It is always recommended to choose the school that your home falls within the boundaries for. This will ensure that your child lives close to his/her peers from school, you won’t be responsible for transportation, and it will make the entire process so much easier as you won’t have to apply for transfers. This will create a short list of schools for you to consider. Each school board and school will offer different programs and locations that must be considered.
School Boards in Kanata
The Kanata area is serviced by 4 different school boards depending on language and religion. All boards are open to everyone but depending on capacity, some schools may have individual guidelines. For example, some schools in the French board will only accept children with at least one parent who is fluent in French or an over-capacity school in the Catholic certificate may require a baptismal certificate so it is important to understand these requirements. Here are the school boards for the area:
- Ottawa Carleton District School Board (English Public Board)
- Ottawa Catholic School Board (English Catholic Board)
- Conseil des ecoles publiques de l’Est to l’Ontario (French Public Board)
- Conseil Ecoles Catholiques Centre-Est (French Catholic Board)
Factors to Consider
There are many factors to consider when choosing a school and it can be overwhelming. Here are some of the most important things to look at:
- LOCATION – This can be a major deciding factor for many families. If they live across the street from a school, or within short walking distance, many families choose that school for the simple reason of not having to deal with school buses or transportation. In a more rural setting, the distances to schools can be very large so this is something to consider as well.
- PROGRAMS – Some of the key programs that parents consider when choosing a school include French program, special needs programs, and specialty programs at the secondary level. If any of these things are of interest to you, take the time to see what each school offers.
- SCHOOL COMMUNITY – This factor is a personal one and largely depends on what you are looking for in a school. Some school communities are very active with a parent council and many events where others are a lot quieter. To find out more about school communities, check out each school’s Facebook page and don’t be afraid to ask questions.
All Kanata Schools are Great!
While there are different studies that rank schools in Ontario, it is important to remember that they all follow the same curriculum and offer similar opportunities in terms of learning. Just because a school is not “top ranked” doesn’t mean that your child will be at a disadvantage. All our schools are filled with amazing teachers!