Although you may know that a mainstream public program just isn’t right for your child, it can be difficult to know where to turn to find the perfect fit. Whether you’re looking for something for your theatre kid, want a more faith-based learning community, or need a school which will keep your gifted child interested, Calgary has options for every child and for every family.
Bilingual, Immersion, and Language Programs
Calgary is home to a wide variety of program options for parents who wish to expose their children to one or more non-English languages during the regular school day. Bilingual programs offer an approximately 50 percent instructional time between English and the second language; immersion programs offer between 50 percent and 100 per cent instruction in the second language. Language and culture programs offer both language and cultural instruction.
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Fine Arts Programs
Many schools in Calgary offer additional resources, school time, and programming to suit students with an exceptional interest in the fine arts (music, dance, drama, etc.) or offer unique courses or extracurriculars. More of the school’s budget may be devoted to workshops, school trips, and/or school-wide artistic projects, or extra fees may be required from parents to allow for this.
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Gender-Segregated Programs
There are several gender-segregated program choices available in Calgary for parents who feel a single-gender environment is right for their children. Boys-only programs often employ a more active, hands-on learning approach with added emphasis on personal responsibility; girls-only programs tend to focus on community- and group-based learning, with an emphasis on women’s studies, female achievement, and leadership.
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Gifted Programs
Gifted programs are specifically designed to assist children with exceptional academic performance, learning rate, depth of knowledge and reasoning compared with other children their age. This is usually determined by a psychological assessment. Gifted programs are tailored to provide challenging, open-ended learning experiences which allow gifted children to explore their potential.
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Montessori Programs
The Montessori Method is a child-centered educational approach which employs mixed-age classrooms, student choice of activity, uninterrupted blocks of focused work time, ‘discovery-based’ education (rather than direct instruction), freedom of movement, and exploratory learning. Montessori is a popular style of education for younger children, but requires a great deal of self-motivation at higher grade levels. Due to the unique nature of Montessori education, it can be difficult for children to transition from or to regular programming.
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Nature/Forest School Programs
Nature-based, outdoor-focused programs are relative newcomers to education in Calgary. These programs are currently available as extracurricular/camp options, as curriculum enhancements for homeschoolers, for preschoolers and (recently) at the Kindergarten level, but we expect these programs to become available at more grade levels over time. These programs place a special focus on interacting with the natural environment and usually reflect Reggio, Montessori or Steiner-based educational philosophies about interest-based exploration, knowledge and understanding of the natural world, free play and reduced interaction with screens and technology.
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Religious Programs
Calgary has many schools which offer religious education and observance as an integral part of their programming. Often, these schools will have academic time set aside for formal religious instruction. They may have additional codes of student conduct in accordance with their religious affiliation. Many religious schools offer tours, Open Houses, and meetings with faculty so you can be sure their outlook and philosophy matches your family’s faith tradition.
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Science and STEM-focused Programs
Some schools in Calgary offer additional resources, school time, and programming to suit students with an exceptional interest in the STEM field (science, technology, engineering, and math) or offer unique courses or extracurriculars. More of the school’s budget may be devoted to field studies, school trips, and/or school-wide inquiry projects, or extra fees may be required from parents to allow for this.
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Self-Directed/Personalized Learning
Self-directed learning is a broad category featuring learner-focused, individualized programs which meet each student at their own level. Often, self-directed programs take place in a multi-age setting. They require self-motivation and discipline, but also allow for open-ended projects and student-led exploration, which can result in a much greater depth of understanding.
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Sports Programs
Sports programs are designed specifically to support high-level athletes who would not otherwise be successful in their academic endeavors due to insufficient time for school or who wish to devote a greater percentage of their time to the development of skills in their chosen sport. Many sports programs provide one-on-one mentorship, sports psychologists, and other adaptations to ensure academic and professional success for young athletes.
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Traditional and Preparatory Education Programs
There are several school options in Calgary, which focus on sequential, whole-group instruction with traditional and rigorous approaches to math and literacy instruction. Academic achievement and university preparation is emphasized. Traditional programs often feature uniforms, a focus on discipline and structure, community involvement and volunteerism, and sometimes allow for students to be grouped by achievement rather than age.
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Waldorf/Steiner Programs
Waldorf education focuses on imaginative and holistic instruction which emphasizes age-appropriate learning. Some unique features of Waldorf education include a lack of technology in the classroom, frequent celebrations of traditional Germanic folklore, storytelling, artistic and creativity-focused classroom learning, and a strong connection to the natural world.
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This is a non-exhaustive list of program options. Thoroughly research your options before making a final decision.
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