FRASER INSTITUTE
“More and more Canadian students are enrolled in independent schools – despite the fact that this necessitates significant sacrifice for many families,” said Paige MacPherson, associate director of education policy at the Fraser Institute and author of Student Enrolment in Canada Update (2022): Independent School Enrolment is on the Rise.
As the share of Canadian K-12 students enrolled in independent schools is increasing, the share of students enrolled in government public schools is decreasing.
Between 2006/07 and 2019/20 (the earliest and most recent years of Statistics Canada data available for all school types) enrollment in independent schools jumped from 6.7 per cent to 7.6 per cent nationally.
British Columbia by far maintained the largest share of students in independent schools in 2019/20, at 13.1 per cent; Quebec ranked second at 9.8 per cent of K-12 students enrolled in independent schools.
New Brunswick (1.3 per cent) and Newfoundland & Labrador (1.6 per cent) maintained the lowest share of independent school enrollment.
“The growing share of K-12 students enrolled in independent schools shows that an increasing number of families are choosing educational alternatives outside of government public schools, MacPherson said. “These families are finding the best educational fit for their children despite the financial challenge this poses for many.”
Five of ten provinces allow some portion of parents’ tax dollars to follow their child to the school of their choice.
“Giving parents the ability to choose their child’s school helps ensure their wellbeing and success,” MacPherson said. “This growing trend of independent school enrolments raises the question: Why don’t all provincial governments expand educational choice to all families, regardless of income?”
Media Release - Paige MacPherson, Associate Director, Education Policy, Fraser Institute
