5 Best Schools in the Glebe Ottawa: A 2026 Guide

Table of Contents

• Why the Glebe Is a Top Choice for Families
• How We Selected the 5 Best Schools in the Glebe Ottawa
• 1. Glebe Collegiate Institute: Academic Excellence in the Heart of the Glebe
• 2. Glebe Montessori School: Hands-On Learning for Preschool to Grade 6
• 3. Elementary Schools Near the Glebe: Public and Catholic Options
• 4. Private Schools Near the Glebe: Ashbury College and Alternatives
• 5. French Immersion Schools Near the Glebe: What Parents Should Know
• Ottawa School Catchment Lookup: Finding Your Designated School
• Frequently Asked Questions

Last Updated: October 17, 2026

Why the Glebe Is a Top Choice for Families

The Glebe packs a full childhood into one walkable neighbourhood. Between the Rideau Canal, Lansdowne Park, and tree-lined streets, families here can walk to school, the library, and a skating rink in the same afternoon. That density of daily life is why so many Ottawa parents ask us which schools sit inside the neighbourhood. This guide from Franco Ippolito : EXP REALTY breaks down the 5 best schools in the Glebe Ottawa families actually consider, with selection criteria we apply consistently.

A word on what this list is not. It is not a ranking based on test scores, because no single, current, publicly verified ranking covers every school type in the neighbourhood. It is a shortlist built on location, grade range, program fit, and how each school serves families in the Glebe. Below, we show exactly how we chose them and where each one fits.

How We Selected the 5 Best Schools in the Glebe Ottawa

We scored every candidate on four criteria: confirmed location in or immediately adjacent to the Glebe, verified grade range, program breadth, and how practical the school is for a family living in the neighbourhood. Schools that appear in Ottawa high school lists but sit outside the Glebe were flagged, not dropped, because parents still consider them.

Here is the comparison at a glance:

1. Glebe Collegiate Institute: Academic Excellence in the Heart of the Glebe

Glebe Collegiate Institute is the secondary school most parents picture when they think of the neighbourhood. It is a public high school run by the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board, and it is recognized for academic excellence and a strong community. For families who want a public secondary option inside the Glebe itself, it is the natural first stop.

What most guides miss is that a school's reputation and your child's actual experience are two different things. Visit on a regular school day, not an open house. Ask about class sizes in the specific grades your child will enter, and ask how the school supports students who arrive from French immersion or from out of catchment.

2. Glebe Montessori School: Hands-On Learning for Preschool to Grade 6

Glebe Montessori School suits families who want a Montessori approach close to home. Its admissions page lists preschool/Casa programs and elementary Grades 1 to 6, and it publishes tuition and fee details online. That transparency is worth a lot when you are comparing independent schools.

Two things to check before you apply. First, confirm the school's exact location relative to your street, since the Glebe is compact but not uniform. Second, ask about the fee schedule directly, because tuition and fees are billed separately and the published figures do not cover everything. We do not quote tuition figures here, because rates change and you should read them from the school's own page.

3. Elementary Schools Near the Glebe: Public and Catholic Options

Elementary schools near the Glebe split into two public systems and several streams. The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board runs English and French immersion programs, and the Ottawa Catholic School Board runs its own elementary and secondary schools. Which one your child attends depends on your home address and the program you choose, not on preference alone.

A practical sequence for narrowing the field:

1. Look up your designated English school by address using the board's school locator.
2. Check whether the French immersion stream is offered at that school or a nearby one, and at which entry grade.
3. Confirm whether the Catholic board serves your address if that matters to your family.
4. Visit at least two schools and ask about class composition, not just class size.
5. Re-check boundaries before any move, because they can shift.

What most Ottawa-wide lists miss is that the Glebe's elementary picture is shaped by a handful of specific schools and streams rather than a single neighbourhood school. Parents in the Glebe typically weigh a small set of public elementary options inside or immediately adjacent to the neighbourhood, plus the Catholic board's nearest designated school, plus the independent options covered below.

A few mechanisms worth understanding before you shortlist:

• English versus French immersion. The public board offers French immersion at set entry grades. A school that offers immersion may not be your designated English school, and vice versa. Confirm both the English designation and the immersion entry point for your address.
• Catholic board eligibility. The Catholic board serves eligible families by address and program. If you are considering it, confirm eligibility and the designated school before you assume a nearby Catholic school is your option.
• Middle school transition. Elementary grade ranges vary. Ask which school your child feeds into for the next grade band, because the answer can differ from the elementary school itself.
• Before-and-after care. Availability varies by school and is often run by a third-party provider. Ask the school office who runs it and how waitlists work.

If you are weighing a move into the neighbourhood, our team at Franco Ippolito : EXP REALTY can flag which streets sit inside a given school's boundary before you shortlist homes.

4. Private Schools Near the Glebe: Ashbury College and Alternatives

Private schools near the Glebe give families an independent option within a short commute. Ashbury College appears in Ottawa-area private school listings and in high school results, which makes it a name parents ask about. It is not verified as sitting inside the Glebe, so treat it as a nearby independent option rather than a neighbourhood school.

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The honest trade-off: independent schools cost money, and tuition varies widely by school and grade. We do not publish figures we cannot verify, so read each school's own fee page. What you get in return is smaller classes, specific program strengths, and often a longer application timeline.

What the Ottawa-wide directories tend to skip is how independent admissions actually work, and how to compare schools once you have a shortlist. A few mechanics worth knowing:

• Application windows. Independent schools typically open applications many months ahead of the school year and may close them once places fill. Ask each school for its current cycle dates rather than assuming a common deadline.
• Assessment and visit steps. Most independent schools include a family interview, a student visit or assessment, and a reference or report-card request. Ask what each step involves so you can prepare your child rather than surprise them.
• Financial aid and payment schedules. Fee pages usually list tuition separately from activity, materials, and capital or building fees. Ask for a full annual cost breakdown and whether payment plans or bursaries exist.
• Program fit beyond the brochure. Ask about class sizes in the specific grades your child will enter, learning-support staffing, and how the school handles a child who needs a different pace in one subject.
• Commute reality. A short commute on paper can be a long one at school-run times. Drive the route on a regular school morning before you commit.

A side-by-side comparison helps more than a single name. When you shortlist independent options, compare them on grade range, program emphasis, admissions steps, and total annual cost rather than on reputation alone.

5. French Immersion Schools Near the Glebe: What Parents Should Know

French immersion schools near the Glebe are offered through the public boards, and entry usually happens at set grade levels. That timing is the single most important detail. Miss the entry window and your child may need to wait for a later entry point or transfer.

What to ask each school:

• Which grades offer French immersion, and at which entry points?
• Is transportation provided, and from which streets?
• How does the school support a child who joins immersion after starting in English?
• What happens if a child needs to switch back to the English stream?

Ottawa School Catchment Lookup: Finding Your Designated School

The Ottawa school catchment lookup is the step that turns a shortlist into a decision. Both public boards publish boundary and school locator tools, and the answer depends on your exact address. A house on one side of a major street can fall into a different school than the house across from it.

Run the lookup for every address you seriously consider. Then confirm the result by phone with the board, because online tools are updated on their own schedule and program availability can differ from the general boundary map. If you are buying, make the lookup part of your due diligence alongside the home inspection.

That is where nearly four decades in this market helps. Franco Ippolito : EXP REALTY has guided Ottawa buyers and sellers since 1987, and we build school boundaries into the conversation early, not after the offer.

Choosing a neighbourhood and choosing a school are the same decision, and getting the order wrong costs time and money. Franco Ippolito : EXP REALTY brings nearly four decades of Ottawa experience, a hands-on approach, and strong negotiation skills to every transaction. We help you verify catchments, weigh public and private options, and buy with confidence. Get started with Franco Ippolito : EXP REALTY and make your next move with the school picture clear.