Halton Region school rankings 2026: the parent’s guide to top schools, city by city
Fraser ratings for public and Catholic schools in every Halton city, the private schools families shortlist, and how to make sure your new address goes to the school you want.
By Inderpal Sidhu · Updated October 2026 · 9 min read
Hi, I’m Inderpal. Parents ask me the same question every week: “Which Halton Region neighbourhoods have the best schools, and how do I make sure we actually get in?” This guide answers both, city by city, with the latest Fraser Institute ratings for public and Catholic schools, the independent schools families shortlist, and the checks I do before any family offers on a home.
A note from Inderpal
Moving for a school is one of the biggest decisions a family makes. You are not just buying a house, you are choosing your kids’ friends, their walk to class and the next ten years of mornings. My job is to make sure the school you fall in love with is the school your address actually goes to. I check every home against the board’s locator, I tell you about holding schools and program boundaries before you offer, and I never pressure you to rush. Call or text me anytime at 647-338-6875.
How to read these rankings (kindly)
The ratings below come from the Fraser Institute’s latest Ontario report cards, published at compareschoolrankings.org. Elementary schools are rated on Grade 3 and Grade 6 EQAO reading, writing and math results (3,052 schools ranked, released January 2026). Secondary schools are rated on Grade 9 math and the Grade 10 literacy test (747 schools ranked). Ratings are out of 10.
Please read them kindly. A rating measures test results, not how happy or safe a child is, how good the teachers are, or how much a school helps kids who need extra support. Many great schools sit in the 6 to 8 range. Use the rating as a starting point for your list, then visit.
Top schools in Halton Region, city by city
Oakville
The highest-rated high school here is Iroquois Ridge HS (9.3/10, #8 of 747 in Ontario). For the younger years, Forest Trail Public School (Elementary) leads at 10.0/10. 29 rated public and Catholic schools here score 8 or higher.
Top-rated elementary schools
| School | Type | Rating /10 | Ontario rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forest Trail Public School (Elementary) | Public | 10.0 | #1 of 3,052 |
| Pilgrim Wood PS | Public | 9.7 | #42 of 3,052 |
| E J James PS | Public | 9.6 | #51 of 3,052 |
| New Central PS | Public | 9.6 | #51 of 3,052 |
| École élémentaire du Chêne | French Public | 9.4 | #67 of 3,052 |
Top-rated secondary schools
| School | Type | Rating /10 | Ontario rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iroquois Ridge HS | Public | 9.3 | #8 of 747 |
| Abbey Park HS | Public | 9.3 | #8 of 747 |
| École secondaire Gaétan Gervais | French Public | 9.3 | #8 of 747 |
Neighbourhoods, prices and commute: Oakville real estate guide · moving to Oakville
Burlington
The highest-rated high school here is Nelson HS (8.2/10, #65 of 747 in Ontario). For the younger years, Pauline Johnson PS leads at 9.1/10. 16 rated public and Catholic schools here score 8 or higher.
Top-rated elementary schools
| School | Type | Rating /10 | Ontario rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pauline Johnson PS | Public | 9.1 | #97 of 3,052 |
| Pineland PS | Public | 8.8 | #149 of 3,052 |
| Alton Village PS | Public | 8.6 | #182 of 3,052 |
| St. Timothy CES | Catholic | 8.6 | #182 of 3,052 |
| John T Tuck PS | Public | 8.5 | #199 of 3,052 |
Top-rated secondary schools
| School | Type | Rating /10 | Ontario rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nelson HS | Public | 8.2 | #65 of 747 |
| Corpus Christi CSS | Catholic | 8.1 | #79 of 747 |
| Dr. Frank J. Hayden SS | Public | 8.0 | #86 of 747 |
Neighbourhoods, prices and commute: Burlington real estate guide · moving to Burlington
Free school-zone home list
Tell me the school. I’ll send homes inside its boundary.
Name the school (or two), your budget and timing. I check every address on the school board’s own locator before I send it to you, so you are not guessing from a listing description.
Milton
The highest-rated high school here is Bishop Paul Francis Reding CSS (8.2/10, #65 of 747 in Ontario). For the younger years, École élémentaire Dyane-Adam leads at 9.4/10. 5 rated public and Catholic schools here score 8 or higher.
Top-rated elementary schools
| School | Type | Rating /10 | Ontario rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| École élémentaire Dyane-Adam | French Public | 9.4 | #67 of 3,052 |
| Our Lady of Fatima CES | Catholic | 8.5 | #199 of 3,052 |
| Chris Hadfield PS | Public | 8.2 | #287 of 3,052 |
| St. Benedict CES | Catholic | 7.5 | #589 of 3,052 |
| Boyne PS | Public | 7.4 | #643 of 3,052 |
Top-rated secondary schools
| School | Type | Rating /10 | Ontario rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bishop Paul Francis Reding CSS | Catholic | 8.2 | #65 of 747 |
| Milton DHS | Public | 8.0 | #86 of 747 |
| Craig Kielburger SS | Public | 6.8 | #254 of 747 |
Neighbourhoods, prices and commute: Milton real estate guide · moving to Milton
Halton Hills (Georgetown)
The highest-rated high school here is Georgetown DHS (7.7/10, #119 of 747 in Ontario). For the younger years, St. Francis of Assisi CES leads at 6.9/10. Ratings here are more mixed, which often means better value per square foot. Visit schools in person, ratings only tell part of the story.
Top-rated elementary schools
| School | Type | Rating /10 | Ontario rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Francis of Assisi CES | Catholic | 6.9 | #927 of 3,052 |
| Silver Creek PS | Public | 6.8 | #993 of 3,052 |
| St. Catherine of Alexandria CES | Catholic | 6.2 | #1,426 of 3,052 |
| Ethel Gardiner PS | Public | 5.5 | #1,921 of 3,052 |
| St. Brigid CES | Catholic | 5.4 | #1,964 of 3,052 |
Top-rated secondary schools
| School | Type | Rating /10 | Ontario rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Georgetown DHS | Public | 7.7 | #119 of 747 |
| Christ the King CSS | Catholic | 7.0 | #220 of 747 |
Neighbourhoods, prices and commute: Halton Hills real estate guide · moving to Halton Hills
Private and independent schools in Halton Region
These independent schools write EQAO tests and were rated in the latest Fraser report cards:
| School | City | Level | Rating /10 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alfajrul Bassem Academy | Oakville | Elementary | 10.0 |
Many well-known independent schools do not take part in EQAO testing, so Fraser does not rate them. Families often shortlist these too:
- Appleby College, Oakville (Grades 7–12)
- St. Mildred's-Lightbourn School, Oakville (girls, JK–12)
- Linbrook School, Oakville (elementary)
- Fern Hill School, Oakville and Burlington (elementary and secondary)
- Rotherglen School, Oakville (elementary and secondary)
Every school listed here appears in Ontario’s official list of private schools. Tuition, entrance tests and waitlists vary a lot, so check each school’s website and visit. Buying near a private school does not affect admission, but a shorter drive matters for years.
How to register: forms, documents and deadlines
Here is everything you need to actually get your child into the school, straight from each board. Registration happens after you have a firm deal or lease, because every board asks for proof of your new address. If you are buying, your agreement of purchase and sale usually counts, so you can often register before closing day.
Kindergarten: Kindergarten is a free, two-year program. JK is for children who turn 4 by December 31, and children must start school in September of the year they turn 6. (Ontario.ca)
Halton DSB (public)
Register for school · Kindergarten registration · French Immersion · Specialty programs (IB, AP, arts) · Boundary reviews and planning
Bring these documents
- Student registration form
- Birth certificate or Canadian passport
- 2 current proofs of address (property tax/MPAC, agreement of purchase and sale, stamped bank letter, CRA document, utility bill; no driver’s licence)
- Parent citizenship/immigration status
- Custody order if you are not the parent
- Immunization reported to Halton Public Health
French Immersion: French Immersion starts in Grade 2. Register during Grade 1: the window opens in December and closes at the end of January.
Specialty programs: AP, IB and SHSM.
Halton Catholic DSB
Register for school · Kindergarten registration · French Immersion · Specialty programs (IB, AP, arts) · Boundary reviews and planning
Bring these documents
- Birth certificate
- Baptismal certificate
- Proof of address (utility bill, government statement, property tax bill or agreement of purchase and sale)
- Parent ID for families new to the school
Who can attend: The child needs a Catholic baptismal certificate, or may be admitted if a parent has one.
French Immersion: French Immersion starts in Grade 1 (Extended French in Grade 5) by online application. The last window was January 8 to February 13, 2026.
Specialty programs: AP, IB, SHSM and STEAM.
French-language schools: Children of French-language rights holders (Section 23) are admitted. Other families meet with an admission committee, which includes a French-language assessment. Viamonde admission · MonAvenir registration · Ontario: French-language education
Private schools run their own admissions: usually an online application and fee, an entrance assessment or interview, and report cards, often a year ahead for popular grades. Apply early and ask about waitlists.
Dates to put in your calendar: kindergarten registration mostly opens in January, French Immersion windows run November to February, and high school specialty program (IB, arts, AP) applications are mostly due in November. Moving mid-year? You can register any time once you have proof of address.
Buying in a school zone: my 7-step checklist
- Check the exact address on the board’s school locator, not the listing. Boundaries follow streets, and two sides of one street can go to different schools. I do this for every home before I send it.
- Look at both the public and Catholic schools. In Ontario both are publicly funded. Catholic boards may ask for baptism or parish information at registration, so check the board’s rules.
- Ask about “holding schools”. In fast-growing areas a full school can send new families to another school until space opens.
- Program boundaries are different. French Immersion, IB, AP, gifted and arts programs often draw from a wider area and many need an application or audition. Schools marked † below take students that way.
- French-language boards (Viamonde, MonAvenir) have admission rules based on French-language rights. Check before you count on them.
- Call the board before your conditions expire and keep the answer in writing. Boundaries are reviewed and can change.
- Visit the school. A rating is a test-score summary. Ask about class sizes, clubs, special education support and the feel of the place.
Check any address with the school board
- Halton DSB (public)
- Halton Catholic DSB
- Conseil scolaire Viamonde (French public)
- CSC MonAvenir (French Catholic)
Free school-zone home list
Tell me the school. I’ll send homes inside its boundary.
Name the school (or two), your budget and timing. I check every address on the school board’s own locator before I send it to you, so you are not guessing from a listing description.
More school guides: York Region · Peel Region · Durham Region · Toronto · GTA overview
FAQ
What is the best high school in Halton Region?
In the latest Fraser Institute report card, the highest-rated secondary school in Halton Region that takes students by address is Iroquois Ridge HS (Oakville) at 9.3 out of 10. Ratings measure test results only, so visit the schools on your shortlist.
Which Halton Region elementary schools are rated 10 out of 10?
Forest Trail Public School (Elementary) (Oakville). These are public and Catholic schools; some independent schools also scored 10.
Does buying a home guarantee a spot at the school?
No. Living in the boundary gives you the right to register at your home school, but a full school can direct new students to a holding school, boundaries can change, and specialty programs need an application. Check the exact address with the board before you remove conditions.
How do I check which school an address goes to?
Use the school board’s own locator with the exact address, for both the public and Catholic board, then call the board to confirm. Do not rely on the listing description. I do this for every home I send to clients.
What documents do I need to register my child?
Most boards ask for proof of age (birth certificate or passport), proof of address (an agreement of purchase and sale, property tax bill or lease plus a utility bill), immigration status if born outside Canada, and immunization records. Catholic boards also ask for a Catholic baptismal certificate for the child or a parent. Each board’s list is on this page.
Are Catholic schools free in Ontario?
Yes. Catholic elementary and secondary schools are publicly funded in Ontario. Boards may ask for baptism or parish information at registration, so check the board’s admission rules.
Questions? Call, text or WhatsApp me. I answer personally.
Call or text 647-338-6875Sources
Fraser Institute: Report Card on Ontario’s Elementary Schools
Fraser Institute: Report Card on Ontario’s Secondary Schools
Fraser Institute school rankings (compareschoolrankings.org)
Ontario Data Catalogue: public school list (board for each school)
Ontario Data Catalogue: private school list
Halton DSB (public) school locator
Halton Catholic DSB school locator
General information only, not legal, tax or mortgage advice. Rebate and lending rules change; confirm with a real estate lawyer, mortgage professional and the CRA before you sign. Inderpal Sidhu, Salesperson, HomeLife Silvercity Realty Inc., Brokerage.