Find out which Top Edmonton schools earn top honours and learn more about the neighbourhoods in which they are located.
When you have a young family — or are planning to start one soon — there’s lots to consider when choosing a home, not least of which is whether or not there are good schools in your neighbourhood.
To make it a little easier, we’ve listed the top five elementary schools in Edmonton and provided a brief description of the neighbourhood in which each school is located. School rankings are based on the Fraser Institute’s analysis of province-wide testing conducted in grades 3 and 6. A complete school listing can be found on their school rankings website.
Windsor Park School
With a Fraser Institute (FI) rating of 10/10, Windsor Park has a longstanding tradition of excellence in programming for student learning. This Top Edmonton School has a strong partnership with the University of Alberta and provides space for the University and Community Early Learning Centre for children aged two and a half to six. In addition to a wide array of experiential learning opportunities, access to new technologies, and a wide variety of extra-curricular programs, Windsor Park provides all students with music instruction from a qualified specialist and instruction in French as a second language is provided to all students from grades four through six.
Located at 8720 118 St, this school is situated in the highly desirable neighbourhood of Windsor Park, which is nestled between the main University of Alberta campus and William Hawrelak Park. This subdivision was first developed in 1911 and features a mix of single familyhomes, townhomes, and condos, most notably featuring modern in-fill projects and new builds with current real estate listings averaging $921,267 in price.
Mount Pleasant School
This public school has often found itself at the top of the rankings over the past five years, with an FI rating of 9.7/10 for the 2015-16 school year. Featuring the Cogito Alternative Program, students at Mount Pleasant maximize their academic potential using a knowledge-based program in an atmosphere of structured and sequenced learning where critical thinking and self-discipline are encouraged.
Mount Pleasant is located in the neighbourhood of Pleasantview, which not only has a great location close to Southgate Mall and LRT access, but also features well-looked-after older homes on larger lots that make it a very appealing community for home buyers. This is a family-friendly community with an active community league and current listings in the area average in and around $360,000.
Stratford School
Stratford is a public elementary / junior high school with an FI rating of 9.4/10 based on academic achievement in the 2015-16 school year with over 600 students in kindergarten through grade nine. This school also offers the Cogito Alternative Program (see Mount Pleasant above) and strives to offer high-quality learning opportunities for every student by following the three Rs: Respect, Responsibility, and Results.
Located close to the Meadowlark Health and Shopping Centre, Stratford School is close to several popular central-west Edmonton neighbourhoods, such as Jasper Park, Parkview, Lynnwood, and Rio Terrace. Many of these neighbourhoods have steadily increased in value over the years with residents coveting close proximity to downtown and the river valley trail system, but with all the charm and serenity of quiet, tree-lined streets. The community of Lynnwood features mainly smallish bungalows with detached garages built in the late 1950s on larger lots. The average price of current listings is approximately $438,000.
Tempo School
With an FI ranking of 8.9/10, Tempo School is a private school founded in 1963 by Dr. George N. Cormack with a primary emphasis on the intellectual development of its students through individual attention, small class sizes, and challenging and engaging education. The admission process for Tempo school includes an application and interview process. Students also wear uniforms.
Located at 5603 148 St, Tempo School is in southwest Edmonton close to Fort Edmonton Park and the river valley trail system within the neighbourhood of Brander Gardens. Built in the 1970s, this community is home to some very impressive estate homes situated on enormous lots and beautiful tree-lined streets, as well as some more modest homes, townhomes, and condos. On average, current listings are priced around $325,000.
Richard Secord School
Rounding out the top five with an FI rating of 8.9/10, École Richard Secord School offers three different programs for students: regular English, French immersion, and Cogito Alternative. With an emphasis on learning a second language and celebration of the diversity of cultures that enrich the learning environment, this public school has a reputation for excellence, and for making new students and their families feel welcome.
Not far from Whitemud Drive and Southgate Mall, the neighbourhood of Royal Garden — where École Richard Secord School is located — is home to a total of four schools and a nice mix of medium density and single-family homes. This mature community features homes generally built in the mid-1960s with current listings averaging $280,000 in price.
There’s so much to consider when looking for the perfect family-friendly neighbourhood, but being close to an excellent school is such a bonus.
If you are new to the Edmonton area or you have questions about finding the best community in Edmonton for you and your family, an experienced local REALTOR® can be an excellent resource to help you work through your wish list not only for your dream house but your dream neighbourhood too.
With decades of experience in the Edmonton real estate industry, I love sharing my insight and expertise with my clients and helping them find a great place to call home. If you have questions about finding the perfect family-friendly home in Edmonton, contact me for a consultation.