FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
28 April 2026
A new report finds that the recent rate of growth in Ontario’s independent school enrolment has been significant: 4.6 percent from the 2021–22 to the 2022–23 school year, and 5.8 percent growth from the 2022–23 to the 2023–24 school year. That translates into an increase from 150,831 to 167,802 students during the same period.
These are among the findings presented in “School’s Out for the Status Quo: How Ontario’s 300+ New Independent Schools Reflect the Desire for Educational Alternatives,” published today by Cardus.
“Our goal with this paper was to evaluate potential explanations for the prolific growth in Ontario’s independent educational sector, and to understand whether this growth is sustainable,” said Joanna DeJong VanHof, co-author of the report and education program director at Cardus.
“Founders of new independent schools seem to be responding to perceived student need and increasing parental interest in what such schools can offer Ontario families. This includes families seeking education rooted in a particular religious orientation (such as Islamic, Jewish, non-denominational Christian) or pedagogical stance (such as Montessori or Nature schools). Another factor here is parents who are interested in a specific alternative educational model, such as hybrid schools or microschooling, which can be particularly helpful for neurodivergent students,” she added.
The study also surveys school founders to better understand factors influencing independent school growth and sustainability. “School leaders report that sustainability is a challenge, and that their success comes from staff dedication and community involvement, rather than from government,” notes VanHof.
“School’s Out for the Status Quo: How Ontario’s 300+ New Independent Schools Reflect the Desire for Educational Alternatives” by Joanna DeJong VanHof and Jeneya Ko is freely available on the Cardus website.
The report builds on a 2022 Cardus research paper, “Naturally Diverse: The Landscape of Independent Schools in Ontario,” which is also available online.
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