There is no question that children are our future, and every parent wants to give their child every possible advantage in life. When relocating to a new city, looking up the quality of the schools is one of the first things we do. Often, access to education is what makes someone decide to relocate in the first place. But what really makes a school great? Let’s take a look at some of the ways you can evaluate and decide the best option for your little ones.
The Fraser Rankings
For many parents, the Fraser rankings are a go-to source for evaluating the best schools. This system functions like an annual report card for schools, allowing you to compare how they rank against others in the province. It’s an excellent research tool to start with, but it doesn’t tell you the whole story. While many people take the rankings as the be-all and end-all indication of a school’s quality, other education experts offer valid criticisms. For example:
- No one fully understands how the scores are calculated, and they change every year.
- The rankings are based 100% on standardized tests, which not every student excels at. Project work and every day performance are not considered.
- All ratings are based on math and English literacy only, leaving out everything in between.
- Depending on size, many schools aren’t ranked at all.
What is the best way to interpret this information to pick a high-quality school? You can quickly see any Fraser ranking by visiting www.compareschoolrankings.org and typing in the name of the facility. If a school has a high score, chances are, your child will receive a premium education.
However, if the ranking is slightly lower than average, we wouldn’t necessarily write it off. There is much more to education than high marks in English and math, especially when only standardized tests are factored in!
Great schools are only one reason families are flocking to Peterborough and the Kawarthas. Find out what else you have to look forward to in the posts below:
- Why Peterborough is Perfect for Families
- All About Peterborough’s Stunning Green Spaces
- Living In Toronto Vs Peterborough: What’s Better?
The Peterborough Education System
Peterborough’s public school system is served by three education boards, including the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board and Peterborough Victoria Northumberland Clarington Catholic District School Board, which provide access to public and Catholic instruction. The Conseil scolaire de district Catholique centre sud oversees 45 elementary and ten secondary schools offering a French Catholic education.
Fraser Rankings of the Schools in Peterborough
As a growing city, many of Peterborough’s schools have yet to be ranked by the Fraser Institute. However, many of the larger elementary and secondary schools have been indexed, as indicated below:
- Westmount Public School is ranked 893/3037, with a Fraser score of 7.
- Kawartha Heights Public School is ranked 1821/3037, with a score of 5.7.
- St. Catherine Catholic Elementary School ranks 1409/3037 schools, with a score of 6.3.
- Holy Cross Catholic Secondary School ranks 374 out of 739 high schools, with a score of 6.3.
- Crestwood Secondary School ranks 457/739, with a score of 5.8.
Is relocating to Peterborough the right choice for your family? Find out more in our Relocation Guide, which you can download right here.
The Education Quality and Accountability Office
The Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) provides a more holistic approach to assessing schools. It evaluates schools nationally and internationally, not just provincially, factoring in results from Grades 3, 6, 9, and the OSSLT.
Here’s where the EQAO provides far more information than the Fraser Rankings: It doesn’t just reveal the end results from testing. It also shows you the general attitude of students towards learning. Enter the school name, and you can quickly see what percentage of children enjoy math, reading, and writing and what percentage perform above the provincial standard in all three subjects.
You can also find out who the principal is and how many students currently attend the school.
To put it simply, the Fraser Rankings may give you an indication of how well a school teaches hard skills. For a more rounded picture, the EQAO helps you see what level of soft skills children are developing.
EQAO School Ratings in Peterborough
Let’s take a look at those same schools to see how the EQAO evaluates them:
- Westmount Public School–65% of students perform well in mathematics, 77% perform well in reading, and 61% perform well in writing.
- Kawartha Heights Public School–54% of students perform well in mathematics, 82% perform well in reading, and 67% perform well in writing.
- St. Catherine Catholic Elementary School–62% of students perform well in mathematics, 77% perform well in reading, and 72% perform well in writing.
- Holy Cross Catholic Secondary School–49% of secondary students perform at or above the provincial average.
- Crestwood Secondary School–44% of secondary students perform at or above the provincial average.
What is happening in the Peterborough real estate market lately? A few of our latest posts will make you an educated buyer or seller:
- Selling a House in Peterborough From A to Z
- What a Concierge Realtor® Can Do to Sell Your Home
- A Guide to Peterborough’s Luxury Housing Market
A Provincial Leader in Post Secondary Education
Peterborough offers access to high-quality elementary and secondary schools. However, it particularly shines when it comes to post-secondary education. For example, according to Maclean’s University Rankings, Trent University spent 12 consecutive years as the top undergraduate university in Ontario, and is a provincial leader in awarding scholarships to deserving students.
Peterborough is also home to Fleming College. It is best known for environmental and natural sciences and offers over 100 full-time courses in business, computer sciences, health, and technology. Best of all, many programs allow for hands-on training through paid co-ops, work placements, and internships.
Peterborough’s advanced, well-rounded education system prepares students for the real world at all levels, from pre-school right through to university and beyond. What better way to prepare for a thriving career and a successful life?
Is there a move coming up for your family in 2023? We are happy to tell you all about the many benefits and perks of Peterborough life–with absolutely no obligations. Reach out to us today at team@jeffandkatie.ca or call 705-243-9797 to take the next step.
