School quality is the single biggest community-selection factor for Calgary families. Calgary has approximately 360+ K-12 schools across the Calgary Board of Education (CBE), Calgary Catholic School District (CCSD), independent schools, and charter schools. These 25 stand out — based on academic ranking, programming depth, facility quality, and community reputation.
Top 5 Calgary public high schools
- Sir Winston Churchill High School (CBE) — NW Calgary's strongest public high school, serving Brentwood, Varsity, Edgemont, Charleswood, Dalhousie. Strong academic + AP programming.
- Western Canada High School (CBE) — Inner-SW Calgary's flagship public high school, serving Mount Royal, Elbow Park, Mission, Beltline area. Consistently top-ranked.
- Henry Wise Wood High School (CBE) — SW Calgary's strong public high school, serving Lakeview, Bayview, Pump Hill, Eagle Ridge, Kelvin Grove area.
- Ernest Manning High School (CBE) — SW west-side public high school serving Aspen Woods, West Springs, Springbank Hill, Cougar Ridge, Discovery Ridge.
- William Aberhart High School (CBE) — Inner-NW public high school serving Capitol Hill, Briar Hill, Rosedale, Hounsfield Heights, Cambrian Heights, Banff Trail.
Top 3 Calgary Catholic high schools
- Bishop Carroll High School (CCSD) — Calgary Catholic high school known for self-directed learning model and IB program. Students plan their own academic timetables. Strong university preparation reputation.
- St. Francis High School (CCSD) — Major NW Catholic high school serving Country Hills, Tuscany, Edgemont, Hamptons, Sage Hill area. Strong AP programming.
- Bishop O'Byrne High School (CCSD) — Major SE Catholic high school serving Cranston, Mahogany, Auburn Bay, Walden, Legacy, McKenzie Towne, Chaparral, Sundance area.
Top 5 Calgary independent schools
- Webber Academy — JK-12 university-preparatory independent school. SW Calgary unified campus. Highly competitive admissions, top reputation in Calgary's prestige west-side market.
- Strathcona-Tweedsmuir School — JK-12 on a 220-acre Springbank rural campus. Premier independent school in Calgary region with IB program and strong outdoor-adventure programming.
- Calgary French & International School (CFIS) — Calgary's premier French-language independent school. PS-12 bilingual French immersion + IB. Located at the West Springs/Cougar Ridge edge.
- Rundle College — JK-12 independent school with three SW Calgary campuses. Long-established Calgary prestige reputation.
- West Island College — Grades 7-12 inner-SE Calgary independent school. Strong academic programming with university-preparatory focus.
Top 3 specialty Calgary high schools
- Joane Cardinal-Schubert High School (CBE) — New SE public high school opened 2020 with Indigenous-focused programming. Modern facility serving SE growth corridor (Mahogany, Auburn Bay, Cranston, Seton).
- Centennial High School (CBE) — Major SE public high school for the broader SE growth corridor (Cranston, McKenzie Towne, Walden, Legacy, Silverado, Mahogany). Strong academic and athletic programming.
- Connect Charter School — Alberta charter school open to all Calgary families (no catchment). Grades 4-9 with focus on inquiry-based learning, mathematics, and science.
Top 9 additional notable Calgary schools
- Lord Beaverbrook High School (CBE) — Major SE public high school serving Acadia, Lake Bonavista, Willow Park area.
- Robert Thirsk High School (CBE) — Major NW public high school serving Crowfoot corridor (Tuscany, Royal Oak, Hawkwood, Sage Hill).
- Crescent Heights High School (CBE) — Inner-NW public high school serving Bridgeland, Hillhurst, Sunnyside, Crescent Heights, Renfrew area.
- James Fowler High School (CBE) — Major NW public high school serving Country Hills, Coventry Hills, Beddington Heights, Panorama Hills area.
- Lester B. Pearson High School (CBE) — Major NE public high school serving Saddle Ridge, Falconridge, Castleridge, Martindale, Whitehorn.
- All Saints High School (CCSD) — SE Catholic high school in Auburn Bay serving Mahogany, Auburn Bay, Cranston, Walden, Legacy.
- Forest Lawn High School (CBE) — Inner-SE public high school serving the 17 Avenue SE corridor — one of Calgary's most-multilingual catchments.
- Father Lacombe High School (CCSD) — Inner-SE Catholic high school serving Forest Lawn, Albert Park, Dover, Erin Woods, Marlborough area.
- Bowness High School (CBE) — NW Calgary's western-edge public high school serving Bowness, Montgomery, Valley Ridge, Crestmont.
How to choose the right Calgary school for your family
Calgary school choice depends on several factors: public vs Catholic vs independent (faith-based programming, tuition costs, admissions process), specific programming (AP, IB, French immersion, arts focus, athletics), commute distance from your community, peer demographics at the school, and family budget (independent school tuition runs $20,000-$45,000+ per child per year).
For comprehensive Calgary school catchment information, browse our Calgary Schools page for the full list of 25 individual school pages with catchment communities. For community-specific school information, browse our 250+ community pages — each lists the schools serving that community.