Best Schools in Burlington
Burlington, Ontario has been experiencing steady growth in recent years. Many people are moving here. We get a lot of questions about Burlington school rankings, such as what are the best schools in Burlington? How are they ranked? And which schools are to be avoided?
Contents
Fortunately, today there are a number of organizations such as the Fraser Institute which provide rating information. This can help parents to determine the academic performance of their children’s schools.
FAQ
Three of the most frequently asked questions are:
What is the best high school in Burlington?
Burlington Central School is the top high school in Burlington, scoring an excellent 8.3 on the Fraser Institute ranking system
What are the best elementary schools in Burlington?
Pauline Johnson Public School came out on top with a score of 8.3 on the Fraser Institute rankings. Next are Alton Village Public School, Paul A. Fisher Public School, and Renaissance Elementary School, all tied with scores of 8.2
Does Burlington have French immersion schools?
Yes, Burlington has several excellent French immersion schools
Fraser Institute Rating System
The Fraser Institute is a leading source for school rankings in Canada. They are an independent international research and educational organization, headquartered in Vancouver, B.C.
They use a specific set of measurements to gauge elementary, middle, and high school academic performance for Burlington, and many other parts of Canada.
The Fraser Institute compilation of Ontario School rankings provides specific data on how students in various schools rate against each other, using defined and specific methodologies.
The Fraser Institute Report Card ranks all participating schools in Ontario based on results using standardized tests in the Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO).
Test results are ranked within a range up to a perfect score of 10, and these results are then compared to previous years’ scores as well as previous years’ rankings.
Schools are then given a numeric rank based upon their students’ test scores.
Controversy
Many educators are quick to point out that academic tests such as the one used by the Fraser Institute are only one measure of a school’s performance.
Peter Cowley, co-author of the Fraser report, has acknowledged that these test scores are only one method of measurement in trying to determine any school’s effectiveness.
“On the other hand, this report card says nothing about fine arts or athletics, or how schools develop leadership and citizenship among their students. Our report tells parents how students are doing in areas of basic skills, derived from tests that the Province of Ontario administers.”
“The Fraser Institute’s Burlington school rankings also helps parents to monitor any significant trends for increases or decreases in the test scores”, says Cowley.
Accordingly, despite the caveat from many observers that the Fraser Report is only a single measure of any school’s effectiveness, parents can nevertheless gain some insight as to the academic credentials of Burlington’s schools, and how they measure up against each other.
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High School Rankings
We initially started publishing high school rankings based on the 2018-2019 test results. Testing was paused during the Covid pandemic. Results for 2021-2022 were finally released in May, 2024, but were missing data from certain school boards. Data for the 2022-2023 school year was released on Jan 7, 2025, and seems to be complete for all major school boards.
The first column on the left is the rank of each school compared to the entire list of 746 public, Catholic, and private secondary schools in the Province of Ontario who chose to participate in the survey.
From this chart, you can see that Burlington Central School, which is a part of the Halton District School Board, comes out on top. Aldershot School , which is also a member of the HDSB, comes in second place.
Best High Schools in Burlington
| Provincial Rank | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 2022/2023 | 2022/2023 | |
| 62 | Burlington Central High School | 8.3 |
| 67 | Aldershot High School | 8.2 |
| 100 | Dr. Frank J. Hayden Secondary School | 7.9 |
| 100 | Nelson High School | 7.9 |
| 153 | Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School | 7.4 |
| 163 | Assumption Catholic Secondary School | 7.3 |
| 163 | Corpus Christi Catholic Secondary School | 7.3 |
| 291 | M. M. Robinson High School | 6.6 |
Related posts:
- Burlington vs Brampton School Rankings
- Burlington vs Milton School Rankings
- Burlington vs Mississauga School Rankings
- Burlington vs Oakville School Rankings
- Specialized Programs
- SHSM Specialist High Skills Major
Elementary School Rankings
There are more than 40 elementary and middle schools in Burlington.
The Fraser Institute’s most recent findings on Burlington elementary school rankings and middle school ratings were released on January 7, 2025, and are based on 2022/2023 grade 3 and grade 6 EQAO results.
The provincial rank (left column) is where the school ranks out of 3,021 participating elementary and middle schools in Ontario. When test results between schools ended in a tie, school rank is shown as an equal rank.
Some schools are not listed due to not offering both grades 3 & 6.
The following list is a summary of Burlington elementary and middle school rankings, including public, separate (Catholic), and independent schools.
Certain school rankings are not available due to lack of participation in the EQAO tests. The exclusion of a school should in no way be construed as a judgement of the school’s effectiveness.
Best Elementary Schools in Burlington
| Provincial Rank | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 2022/2023 | 2022/2023 | |
| 231 | Pauline Johnson | 8.3 |
| 262 | Alton Village | 8.2 |
| 262 | Paul A. Fisher | 8.2 |
| 262 | Renaissance | 8.2 |
| 337 | Canadian Martyrs | 8.0 |
| 337 | St. Elizabeth Seton | 8.0 |
| 476 | Bruce T. Lindley | 7.7 |
| 476 | Charles R. Beaudoin | 7.7 |
| 476 | John T. Tuck | 7.7 |
| 476 | Lakeshore | 7.7 |
| 476 | St. Timothy | 7.7 |
| 516 | Ryerson | 7.6 |
| 571 | Sacred Heart of Jesus | 7.5 |
| 571 | St. Marks | 7.5 |
| 626 | C.H. Norton | 7.4 |
| 626 | John William Boich | 7.4 |
| 626 | Pineland | 7.4 |
| 626 | St. Anne | 7.4 |
| 808 | Florence Meares | 7.1 |
| 808 | St. Christopher | 7.1 |
| 808 | St. Raphaels | 7.1 |
| 888 | Maplehurst | 7.0 |
| 963 | Frontenac | 6.9 |
| 1101 | Ascension | 6.7 |
| 1231 | Alexander's | 6.5 |
| 1231 | Central | 6.5 |
| 1300 | St. Gabriel | 6.4 |
| 1366 | Glenview | 6.3 |
| 1366 | St. Paul | 6.3 |
| 1444 | Orchard Park | 6.2 |
| 1444 | Saint-Philippe | 6.2 |
| 1444 | St. Patrick | 6.2 |
| 1525 | St. Johns | 6.1 |
| 1590 | Clarksdale | 6.0 |
| 1664 | Holy Rosary | 5.9 |
| 1929 | Tom Thomson | 5.8 |
| 1985 | Mohawk Gardens | 5.4 |
| 1985 | Sir Ernest Macmillan | 5.4 |
| 1985 | Tecumseh | 5.4 |
| 2081 | Rolling Meadows | 5.2 |
| 2365 | Brant Hills | 4.6 |
| 2393 | Kings Road | 4.5 |
The top elementary school in Burlington, with a score of 8.3 in academics, is Pauline Johnson Public School.
Pauline Johnson Public School is a member of the Halton District School Board.
Fraser Institute Rankings
To view the complete Fraser Institute rankings, covering Burlington school rankings, and much more, visit them online: https://www.fraserinstitute.org/
Post Secondary Education
Burlington, Ontario, offers a variety of post-secondary education options, with 20 institutions accessible within a one-hour drive. These include universities like McMaster University in Hamilton, and the University of Toronto with campuses in both Toronto and Mississauga. There are also numerous colleges and other specialized institutions in the area.
Students can explore pathways like apprenticeship, college, community programs, university, or direct entry into the workforce.
Post-Secondary Options in and around Burlington include:
Universities:
- McMaster University: Located in Hamilton, known for its strong business school, the DeGroote School of Business, which has a presence in Burlington according to Burlington Economic Development and Tourism.
- University of Toronto: one of the world’s top universities is accessible within an hour’s drive, and also has a campus in nearby Mississauga.
- Wilfred Laurier University: established a new campus in Milton, ON in 2024. It’s being developed in phases, and has a strong focus on environmental issues, business, and technology
Colleges:
- Sheridan College: is a well-regarded college with its main campus in Oakville, ON. Sheridan College hosts the School Within A College (SWAC) program, allowing students to earn college credits while completing their OSSD.
- Mohawk College: Located in Hamilton, Mohawk College offers a wide range of programs in applied arts and technology, including a centre for aviation technology.
Conclusion
Burlington, Ontario is evolving from a modest provincial city into a fast growing metropolis. It has one of the younger populations in the Greater Toronto Area. There are plenty of families living here, and many of them have children attending school.
Fortunately, the city is blessed with more than a few excellent schools, and this fact is just another reason why living in Burlington has become such an attractive option.
Our article is intended to provide you with useful information about the elementary, middle, and high schools in Burlington ON.
For many people, finding a home in the right school district is a very important part of choosing where to live. We hope you have enjoyed our review of the best schools in Burlington.
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author: Randy Selzer
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