Private School Enrolment Is Rising: What Families Moving to Simcoe County Should Know
For many families, choosing where to live is no longer only about the house, commute or neighbourhood.
It is also about education.
Across Canada, private and independent school enrolment has been climbing as some parents look for smaller classes, specialized programming, a particular educational philosophy, faith-based learning or an environment they believe will better support their child.
The cost can be significant. Tuition, registration fees, uniforms, transportation, technology, extracurricular activities and fundraising commitments can add thousands of dollars to a family’s annual budget. Still, some parents are adjusting other financial priorities to make private education possible.
We are seeing the same conversation among families relocating to Barrie, Innisfil, Orillia and other Simcoe County communities.
School Choice Is Becoming Part of the Relocation Decision
For years, buyers commonly began their home search by asking about public and Catholic school boundaries.
Those questions still matter, but some relocating families now want a wider picture. They may ask:
- What private and independent schools are nearby?
- Is Montessori education available?
- Does the school continue beyond kindergarten?
- How long would the morning drive be?
- Is transportation available?
- Are there before-school and after-school programs?
- Will the school have space for each of our children?
- Can we carry tuition comfortably alongside a mortgage?
For these families, proximity to a preferred school can affect which municipality, neighbourhood or even side of a city they consider.
A home may appear affordable until private school tuition, two vehicles, commuting costs and extracurricular activities are added to the monthly budget. Conversely, a family relocating from the Greater Toronto Area may find that changes in housing costs give them room to consider educational options that previously felt out of reach.
The home and school decisions are increasingly being made together.
Why Are More Parents Considering Private Education?
There is no single reason.
Some families are looking for smaller class sizes or more individualized instruction. Others want a Montessori approach, enriched academics, faith-based education, greater continuity between grades or a school community aligned with their family’s values.
Parents may also be responding to a child’s particular learning style, social needs or previous school experience.
The idea of giving a child an “edge” is often part of the discussion, but it deserves closer examination. An expensive education is not automatically the right education, and a private school is not inherently better for every student.
The more useful question is whether a school’s environment, teaching approach, resources and expectations fit the individual child.
Private and Independent Schools in the Barrie and Simcoe County Area
Families considering a move to Simcoe County have several options to research. The schools below represent different educational models and should not be treated as interchangeable.
Kempenfelt Bay School
Located in Innisfil, Kempenfelt Bay School is a co-educational, non-profit independent school for students from Junior Kindergarten through Grade 8.
Its location can make it relevant to families considering south Barrie, Innisfil and surrounding communities. It may also appeal to parents looking for an established independent-school environment outside the Greater Toronto Area.
Families should contact the school directly to confirm current tuition, admissions requirements, availability, transportation and programming.
Barrie Montessori and Elementary Private School
Barrie Montessori offers Montessori education combined with the Ontario curriculum for children from 18 months through Grade 8.
Montessori education is often considered by parents seeking hands-on learning, mixed-age environments, independence and instruction that responds to a child’s developmental pace.
Not every school using the Montessori name operates in exactly the same way. Parents should ask about teacher qualifications, classroom structure, daily routines, assessment methods and how the program transitions students between developmental levels.
Sevenoaks Academy
Sevenoaks Academy is a private school in Barrie offering programming from Junior Kindergarten through Grade 8.
The school promotes small class sizes and programming designed to support individual learners. Families considering central Barrie or neighbourhoods near the city’s north and east sides may want to include travel time to the school in their housing search.
Timothy Christian School
Timothy Christian School is located on Essa Road in Barrie and provides education through a Christian worldview.
The school has announced plans to amalgamate with Unity Christian High School in August 2026 to form Trinity Christian School, offering programming from JK through Grade 12.
Families interested in the school should confirm how the transition affects grade offerings, admissions, tuition, location and future programming.
Heritage Christian Academy
Heritage Christian Academy operates in Barrie as a ministry of Heritage Baptist Church and offers faith-based education.
This may be an option for families specifically seeking a Christian educational environment in which religious instruction is integrated throughout the school experience.
Parents should review the school’s statement of faith, curriculum, behavioural expectations and family participation requirements before applying.
Other Montessori, Faith-Based and Specialized Options
Additional private, Montessori, early-learning and faith-based programs operate throughout Simcoe County, including communities around Barrie, Innisfil, Orillia, Collingwood and South Georgian Bay.
School names, grade offerings and program availability can change. Families should verify every option directly with the school and consult Ontario’s current private-school information before making a housing decision.
Private School Is Only One Part of the Education Picture
Simcoe County also has public, Catholic and French-language education through multiple school boards.
Depending on the child and the family, the right choice may be:
- an English public school
- an English Catholic school
- a French public or French Catholic school
- French immersion
- a private or independent school
- a Montessori program
- faith-based education
- homeschooling
- specialized educational or learning support
A school’s reputation alone should not determine where a family buys a home.
Program availability, attendance boundaries, transportation policies, registration requirements and space can change. A nearby school is not necessarily the school a child will be eligible to attend.
School placement must always be confirmed directly with the applicable school or school board.
The True Cost Goes Beyond Tuition
When families compare private-school options, tuition is only the starting point.
A realistic budget may also need to include:
- application and registration fees
- uniforms
- textbooks or technology
- meal programs
- transportation
- before-school and after-school care
- field trips
- athletics and extracurricular activities
- fundraising or family participation
- annual tuition increases
Families should also consider what happens when more than one child attends, whether sibling discounts are available and how many years they expect to remain in the private system.
Paying tuition for kindergarten is one decision. Funding private education through Grade 8 or Grade 12 is a much larger financial commitment.
How School Choice Can Affect a Home Search
When a particular school matters, the real estate search should account for more than distance on a map.
The Daily Route
A school may appear close geographically but require a difficult drive during morning traffic or winter weather.
Work and Childcare Schedules
Drop-off and pickup times must work with the parents’ employment, commuting and childcare arrangements.
Long-Term Housing Needs
A family may need to balance tuition against bedroom count, home size, renovation plans and future mortgage costs.
Resale Flexibility
Buying a home solely because it is near one private school can unnecessarily narrow the search. Families should still evaluate the neighbourhood, property and resale fundamentals independently.
Backup Options
Admissions are not guaranteed. Families should know which public, Catholic or French-language schools may be available if a private-school application is unsuccessful or their circumstances change.
Do Not Buy a Home Based on an Assumption About a School
Online school reviews, rankings and social media discussions may help families develop questions, but they should not replace direct research.
Before buying or leasing a home, parents should confirm:
- The school is accepting applications for the required grade.
- The student meets the admissions requirements.
- The family understands the full cost.
- Transportation is workable.
- The educational approach suits the child.
- A realistic alternative is available.
The same caution applies to public-school catchments. Boundaries and programs can change, and enrolment at a particular school should never be represented as guaranteed without confirmation from the appropriate school board.
Relocating to Simcoe County With Children
For families moving from Toronto, York Region, Peel or elsewhere in Ontario, Simcoe County can offer a different balance of housing, commuting, recreation and education.
That does not mean every family will spend less or that every private school will have availability. It means there may be more ways to structure the overall decision.
Some parents choose a more modest home to preserve room for tuition. Others prioritize a strong public-school option and direct additional money toward tutoring, athletics, music or future post-secondary education. Some decide private education is worth the trade-off. Others visit schools and conclude that the local public or Catholic system is the better fit.
There is no universal answer.
The goal is not to buy the most expensive home or select the most expensive school. It is to make sure the housing decision and education decision work together without placing the family under unnecessary financial pressure.
Planning a Move Around Your Family’s Priorities
When we help families relocate to Barrie, Innisfil, Orillia or elsewhere in Simcoe County, the conversation begins with real life.
That includes employment, commuting, childcare, family support, accessibility, recreation and education.
We can help buyers understand neighbourhood locations, travel considerations and housing options near the communities they are considering. School admissions, boundaries, tuition and programming must always be confirmed directly with the school or applicable school board.
A house is only one part of a family’s move.
The right decision is the one that supports the life they are trying to build.
Thinking about relocating to Barrie, Innisfil, Orillia or another Simcoe County community? Visit MovingSimcoe.com to explore local housing options and begin planning a move around the priorities that matter to your family.
Information is provided for general purposes only. School programs, fees, boundaries, admissions policies and availability may change. Contact schools and school boards directly for current information. This article does not rank, recommend or endorse any particular school.