Ottawa-Carleton District School Board
- Why
- University goal · Wide school choice
- Because
- 25 high schools · IB and AP · Credit-bearing ESL
- Result
- Strong preparation · Calculable total · Rich school life
- Benefit
- Mid-market price · CAD 300 above the median, with IB, AP and homestay
- Cost
- CAD 33,043 (estimated first-year total) · about CAD 3,304 per school month
Why Ottawa-Carleton District School Board?
Families who want their child to study in the national capital, in a safe and orderly city, often choose Ottawa. The board is the secular, English-language public school board in the city and hosts about 566 international students. International students are accepted from junior kindergarten through Grade 12.
- University goal: Students who want to graduate with the OSSD and prepare for university or college. One- or two-semester academic and cultural experience options are also available.
- Wide school choice: Families who want to choose among many high schools based on their child's interests.
- Transparent costs: Parents who want to see the accommodation cost clearly from the start.
Reasons: the capital city, a broad school network and a transparent fee structure
- 25 high schools: International students are accepted at 25 high schools, so families can choose the school that best fits the program, the student's interests and the accommodation location.
- IB and AP: The International Baccalaureate and Advanced Placement are offered, so students can follow advanced coursework suited to their target university.
- Credit-bearing ESL: ESL courses carry credit, and intensive ESL is available at the Young People's Language School, so students build language skills while progressing toward their diploma. Summer and winter camps are also held.
- TOEFL iBT preparation: Exam preparation is offered, so a student planning to apply to university can prepare for the language certificate within the school.
- Guardianship included: The guardianship fee is part of the tuition, so families do not need to look for this mandatory service separately.
- Published accommodation fee: Homestay accommodation is listed at CAD 15,843 for the full year and CAD 8,768 for one semester, so the total budget can be calculated in advance.
- Vetted families: All host families go through a background check and a coordinator visit. Students get a private room and three meals a day, and the families are expected to offer a warm, caring and supportive environment.
Cost analysis: what one school year costs
| Item | CAD | As published on CAPS-I |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition, one school year | 15,800 | $15,800 |
| Application fee | 400 | $400 |
| Health insurance | 600 | $600 |
| Homestay, full year | 15,843 | Homestay Placement Fee: $400 (annual); Homestay Fee: $8768 for one semester or $15,843 for the full year; Custodianship Fee: included in tuition |
| Homestay placement fee | 400 | |
| Custodianship fee | 0 / included | |
| Estimated first-year total | 33,043 | Tuition, the listed fees, insurance and homestay for one school year. |
Tuition alone works out to about CAD 1,580 per school month over a 10-month year. With homestay and the listed fees, the year comes to about CAD 3,304 per month.
The tuition figure for the 2026–27 school year was confirmed on the district's own website on 11 October 2026.
The district has also published CAD 16,300 for the 2027–28 school year.
The other items are taken from the district's CAPS-I member page, read on 11 October 2026. Items shown as "see text" could not be read as a single amount and are left out of the total.
How this fee compares
At CAD 15,800, this fee is CAD 300 above the median of CAD 15,500 among 32 public school districts in Ontario.
Outcome: a student preparing for university in the capital
- Strong preparation: IB, AP and TOEFL preparation equip students for university applications. The program has run since 1997, so the board's experience in this area is well established.
- Calculable total: Tuition and accommodation together come to about CAD 31,600 per year, so families face no surprises.
- Rich school life: Rowing, rugby, hockey and basketball teams, plus choir, chess and photography clubs, give students a wide community. Baseball, golf, soccer, volleyball and track and field are also options, and there are band, theatre and ski clubs.
- Easy arrival: Ottawa International Airport is the city's own airport.
Benefit analysis: what the investment buys
The student works toward the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) plus International Baccalaureate (IB) and Advanced Placement (AP), taught and assessed by certified Canadian teachers.
Every lesson, club and team runs in English, which turns English into a working language rather than a school subject.
A screened homestay family provides a private room, meals and daily support, and the district monitors the placement.
Clubs, teams and community activities let the student build a profile beyond grades.
A Canadian transcript, teacher references and extracurricular record that Canadian and international universities review directly.
Cost–benefit at a glance
| Measure | Value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Annual investment | CAD 33,043 | Estimated first-year total, from the cost analysis above |
| Per school month | CAD 3,304 | Over a 10-month school year |
| Price position | +CAD 300 | vs. median CAD 15,500 · 32 public school districts in Ontario |
| Specialty programs | 2 | International Baccalaureate (IB) and Advanced Placement (AP) |
| Living arrangement | Homestay | Included in the cost analysis where the school publishes it |
| Language support | Immersion | No separate ESL program in our data; we confirm with the school |
| Value verdict | Mid-market price |
Priced in line with the median across 32 public school districts in Ontario. The decision rests on fit: IB, AP and homestay rather than price.
Who it suits and what to consider
- Additional costs: A CAD 400 application fee, a CAD 400 annual placement fee and a CAD 600 health insurance fee are paid separately. Current fees must be confirmed with the school before applying. A single semester of tuition is CAD 7,900.
- Large international program: The number of international students is high, so students need to make a conscious effort to build local friendships. Application dates must be confirmed with the school. Intakes are in September and February. Recognition in the student's home country is handled by that country's education authority.
Let us work out together which of Ottawa's 25 high schools suits your child. Contact us for a free preliminary consultation with Canadian Edu Centre.