Charlotte CampbellThe other day, I was catching up with a friend over coffee when she started talking about how stressed out she’s been from finding the right school for her kid.
She told me she’s been considering a few options around town, but the only thing she’s settled on is that she wants to send her kid to a private school.
So, being the good friend that I am, I decided to help her out. We went on a few tours, called up some friends, and chatted with parents who’ve been through the same process.
Eventually, I came up with a list of the best private schools in Halifax. These are the ones that tick all the right boxes.
How much do private schools cost in Halifax?
Private schools in Halifax generally cost anywhere from $10,000 to upwards of $30,000 per year, depending on the grade level, facilities, and programs offered.
Regular day schools often fall on the lower end of that range, while boarding schools or institutions with special programs are usually more expensive.
How We Chose the Best Private Schools in Halifax
1. Sacred Heart School of Halifax
Address: 5820 Spring Garden Rd
Phone: +1 902-422-4459
Business hours:
- Monday to Friday: 8 AM – 5:30 PM
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sacredheartschoolhalifax/?hl=en
Website: https://www.shsh.ca/
Sacred Heart School of Halifax promises to be more than just a place for academics through its Christian theology and philosophy courses. They’ve become a strong choice for parents who value a faith-based education.
As for their teaching style, parents we talked to appreciate the school’s tailored approach. They consider each student’s aptitude, interests, and long-term goals when creating education plans.
Outside the classroom, we saw how the school is alive with co-curriculars, from chess and choir to running and band. Students here get the chance to explore tons of fun after-school activities.
Another unique thing about Sacred Heart School is how tight-knit the community is. Their smaller population makes it easier for kids to form strong bonds with each other.
That said, a smaller community can feel a bit limiting at times, especially for students who prefer a wider range of perspectives.
This tight-knit community embraced my son immediately
“My son’s experience at Sacred Heart was very positive, and I think the biggest influencing factor was the size of the school. Joining the school in grade 9 could have been quite a difficult transition for him, but this tight-knit community embraced him immediately. The friendships he gained during his time there would probably be considered the most positive part of his overall experience. However, I also believe that the size of the school was a great benefit to him, from an academic point of view as well. Because the teachers are focused on a limited number of students, each of those students gets an enormous amount of attention. This attention really helped my son to work to his full potential and achieve results far beyond those he was getting when he first arrived.”
-Mary Shakespeare, Our Kids Review
What stood out most was how personalized the education felt
“My time at Sacred Heart School of Halifax was honestly life-changing. It wasn’t just a school, it was a community where I always felt supported, seen, and valued. As an international student, being part of a smaller, tight-knit environment made all the difference. I always felt supported, encouraged, and truly known, which helped me build the confidence to flourish in university and beyond. The values of faith, hope, and love weren’t just words at Sacred Heart, they shaped how we lived every day. The school’s focus on being the best for the world, not just in it, really stuck with me. Today, I carry that mindset into my work in green energy research, where I’m not just striving for personal success, but working towards solutions that can have a real, positive impact on the planet. What stood out most was how personalized the education felt. Teachers really took the time to understand our strengths, passions, and dreams. Sacred Heart prepared me not just academically, but personally, teaching me how to lead, collaborate, and think globally. For any prospective student: expect a community that will challenge you, believe in you, and inspire you to grow into your best self.”
-Kogie Esteban, Our Kids Review
2. Ambrae Academy
Address: 1400 Oxford St
Phone: +1 902-423-7920
Business hours:
- Monday to Friday: 8 AM – 5 PM
Website: https://armbrae.ns.ca/
Ever since its founding in 1887, Ambrae Academy has become a well-known name among locals in Halifax.
Over the years, they’ve placed a special focus on their inclusion and growth program through providing support initiatives for Indigenous, African, Newcomer, and LGBTQ+IA students.
Academically, Ambrae offers a wide range of learning options beyond the regular school year. Students can take online or advanced courses, join summer programs, or even attend camps — all great ways to explore interests outside the usual classroom setup.
To complement all these, there are also career and university programs that help students feel more prepared for life after high school, or the so-called “real world.”
All that said, though, we did notice that their tuition fee is on the pricier end of the spectrum, so it’s best to plan ahead.
One of the best little schools in the province
“It is one of the best little schools in the province. The staff are amazing, there are so many resources, and lots of prep time. The quality of education is so much higher here than the public system.”
-Teacher, Indeed
The gift Armbrae gives to its graduates is that they are fully prepared for their post-secondary experience
“I am fortunate to have a student who graduated from Armbrae and also have a son in Grade 5 currently. I have always been a huge advocate of the concept of preparing oneself for future endeavours. The gift Armbrae gives to its graduates is they are fully prepared for their post secondary experience. Study skills, lab reporting, paper writing, citing, strong cocurricular programming are skills transferrable to their university life. This is so important and valuable as they go on to be global citizens.”
-Current Parent, SchoolAdvice
3. Hydrostone Academy (Shambhala School)
Address: 5450 Russell St
Phone: +1 902-454-6100 ext. 1
Business hours:
- Monday to Friday: 9 AM – 3 PM
Website: https://www.hydrostoneacademy.org/
Originally founded by a local Buddhist community in 1917, Hydrostone Academy continues to place importance on things like kindness, empathy, and community.
Because of this philosophy, their value-based curriculum is pretty unique, and students’ experiences go beyond the usual scope of classroom lessons.
However, we did notice that this relaxed learning style can be a bit lacking when it comes to preparing students for the more rigid environment in university or the workplace.
Despite this, alumni we’ve talked to say they love this dynamic curriculum. They tell us that it creates a warm environment that encourages teamwork over competition.
The school also has a diverse co-curricular program called the Sunrise Prodigies, where students can explore everything from sports and arts to community service activities.
We found their summer camps especially fun, with tons of cool options like musical theater, Pokémon, and even a Dungeons and Dragons adventure.
We appreciate the caring and gentle atmosphere the school promotes
“We moved to Halifax from a very large city with a plethora of school offerings. We were looking for a school for our two children that was heavy on the art offerings and that fosters and celebrates individuality in a more advanced way than other schools we reviewed.
We found all we were looking for at Shambhala. The staff went out of their way to welcome us and integrate our children into the school community. We appreciate the caring and gentle atmosphere the school promotes which allows my kids to thrive and explore artistic avenues they wouldn’t have been exposed to in their prior schools.
My family is proud to be newly Canadian, and we consider ourselves lucky that we found Shambhala School as soon as we did.”
-steve H., Yelp
The teachers and community at Shambhala School are fantastic
“Our son started going to Shambhala School in pre-primary and is now in grade 4. The teachers and community at Shambhala School are fantastic. While gym might be his favourite class, the overall curriculum and learning that takes place is second to none. Nature hikes, Kyudo, Taekwondo, art, music, knitting, I am always amazed at his report card when I read about the things they teach and the level of learning that takes place at the school. It has given our son a genuine experience and appreciation for the many cultures and traditions in our world. It is our intention to send our son to the school through to grade 12 and we would highly recommend parents consider attending the school.”
-Mike K., Yelp
4. Halifax Christian Academy
Address: 114 Downs Ave
Phone: +1 902-475-1441
Business hours:
- Monday to Friday: 8 AM – 4 PM
Website: https://www.halifaxchristianacademy.ca/
Halifax Christian Academy has been around since 1975, making it a well-known school in the community.
They’ve built a reputation for their strong Christian discipleship culture, with mentoring, bible study groups, and daily prayers.
Parents we’ve talked to tell us that they love the intimate community here. The school stays well-connected with families through regular updates and open conversations with teachers.
However, since it’s a smaller school, we noticed that class diversity can be pretty limited and may not appeal to students who thrive in a more dynamic setting.
The tuition here is noticeably more affordable than most private schools in Halifax, letting you save thousands over the years.
Even better, they have family discounts for larger households. It’s 10% off tuition for two-student families, and a set rate of $22,800 for three students, plus $4,000 per additional child after that.
HCA’s been a total blessing to our family
“I’m not shy to boast about HCA. It’s been a total blessing to our family. Our eldest’s first year of primary was a literal fight to get her to school everyday. It was exhausting mentally, more than anything. This is our first year at HCA and within days the turn around we seen in our daughter was amazing. The excitement to go to school. She was worried that we would be late for school, that was a huge change. The partnership we feel with her teacher and those who are pouring into her during the week just cannot be matched. Lord willing, this is our school and we would love it to be your school too!”
-Carye Leighton, Google Review
We LOVE it here at HCA
“This has been our ‘school-home’ for 3 years now and we LOVE it here at HCA.My kids feel safe and free.They have blossomed beyond what I hoped for. They are fully engaged academically and have developed a caring and concerned heart for people around them because they are learning that God cares about how we treat each other.”
-Modele Akintokun, Google Review
5. Halifax Grammar School
Address: 945 Tower Rd
Phone: +1 902-423-9312
Business hours:
- Monday to Friday: 9:20 AM – 3:20 PM
Website: https://www.halifaxgrammar.ca/
Halifax Grammar School has been a local staple since 1958 and is often described by local parents as one of the city’s most academically driven schools.
It’s well known for its rigorous curriculum that helps students get into top universities in Canada and abroad.
High schoolers here even graduate with an International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma, which is great for opening tons of doors after graduation.
But beyond academics, the school also puts a lot of emphasis on altruism. Students regularly organize their own fundraising drives, feeding programs, vaccination initiatives, and more.
Meanwhile, we found the campus itself pretty impressive. It features modern classrooms, a spacious library, a fully equipped gym, and plenty of spaces for studying.
Unfortunately, all these advantages do come with a higher price tag.
I am convinced it is one of the finest schools in the country
“I attended Grammar all the way through, from primary to Grade 12. The more I look back on my years there, the more I am convinced it is one of the finest schools in the country. Contrary to popular belief, it is not full of rich, snobby kids, but instead students who are kind, talented, accomplished, creative, and mature (many of whom do admittedly come from wealthy families). The school prepares you phenomenally well for university, mostly in terms of learning what to value and how to work hard. The student-teacher relationship is unparalleled. An example- students have some teachers’ cell numbers, and the teachers are for the most part available to help out with questions at all times, even visiting the library past midnight to aid with exam studying. HGS is no doubt rigorous academically, but the tight-knit community and interested and interesting teachers go far beyond their duties to create incredible men and women. I can not say enough about Grammar.”
-Pelham F., Yelp
Where the youth go for guidance to be the leaders of today and tomorrow
“I remember this school as one of the most enlightened and top-marks for encouraging students to think out-side-the-box. That’s where the youth go for guidance to be the leaders of today and tomorrow.”
-Shelley Marie Wells-Worth, Facebook
