Photo: Rick Cordeiro · Public domainCentral’s schools mostly sit under the middle in Ontario, 14 of the 24 with results
Best placed: École secondaire Georges-P-Vanier and Strathcona Junior Public School. They come under 3 school boards. Counting a 3 km margin, Central has 22 elementary schools, 3 secondary schools and 2 alternative or adult schools, for 12,505 students.
What stands out about Central’s schools
Results on the rise
More of the results rose than fell over three years at 19 schools of the 24 with results, École secondaire Georges-P-Vanier, Strathcona Junior Public School and Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Elementary School among them. Results ↓
One big school
With 1,650 students, Cathedral High School is the area’s biggest. Every school ↓
The strongest results
The area’s best results are at École secondaire Georges-P-Vanier (secondary), in the top fifth in Ontario. Results ↓
Each finding compares the town’s schools with every school in its province.
How Central’s schools do on Ontario’s tests
EQAO’s Grade 3, 6 and 9 assessments and the literacy test, 2024-25: each school against every school in Ontario.
Its School Grade is B−: it compares these results with the other towns of the province.
The area’s schools by fifth of the province
Each school’s band is the average of its measures’ fifths. The mark shows an even fifth of the area’s schools.
| Measure | Schools | Middle here | Ontario |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 3 reading | 19 | 67% | 76% |
| Grade 3 writing | 19 | 59% | 65% |
| Grade 3 math | 19 | 59% | 65% |
| Grade 6 reading | 17 | 79% | 88% |
| Grade 6 writing | 17 | 71% | 86% |
| Grade 6 math | 17 | 41% | 51% |
| Grade 9 math | 3 | 57% | 55% |
| Literacy test (OSSLT), first try | 3 | 88% | 85% |
The widest gap is on Grade 6 math, where the area’s schools reach 41% against 51% in Ontario. 2 measures above the provincial middle, 6 below, out of 8.
Every school’s results (24)
| School | Measure | Band |
|---|---|---|
| École secondaire Georges-P-VanierSecondary · Grades 9–12 | G9 math 73% · OSSLT 100% | Top fifth |
| Strathcona Junior Public SchoolElementary · Grades JK–5 | G3 reading 94% · G3 writing 78% · G3 math 72% | Second fifth |
| Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Elementary SchoolElementary · Grades JK–8 | G3 reading 85% · G3 writing 85% · G3 math 82% · G6 reading 89% · G6 writing 88% · G6 math 51% | Second fifth |
| St. Joseph Catholic Elementary SchoolElementary · Grades JK–8 | G3 reading 76% · G3 writing 64% · G3 math 62% · G6 reading 94% · G6 writing 94% · G6 math 65% | Second fifth |
| Westdale Secondary SchoolSecondary · Grades 9–12 | G9 math 57% · OSSLT 88% | Middle fifth |
| Cootes Paradise Public SchoolElementary · Grades JK–5 | G3 reading 81% · G3 writing 69% · G3 math 60% | Middle fifth |
| Earl Kitchener Junior Public SchoolElementary · Grades JK–5 | G3 reading 82% · G3 writing 77% · G3 math 56% | Middle fifth |
| Buchanan Park SchoolElementary · Grades JK–6 | G3 reading 71% · G3 writing 75% · G3 math 59% · G6 reading 88% · G6 writing 88% · G6 math 62% | Middle fifth |
| St. Ann (Hamilton) Catholic Elementary SchoolElementary · Grades JK–8 | G3 reading 73% · G3 writing 55% · G3 math 63% · G6 reading 88% · G6 writing 88% · G6 math 52% | Middle fifth |
| Adelaide Hoodless Public SchoolElementary · Grades JK–8 | G3 reading 83% · G3 writing 62% · G3 math 60% · G6 reading 79% · G6 writing 65% · G6 math 52% | Middle fifth |
| St. Lawrence Catholic Elementary SchoolElementary · Grades JK–8 | G3 reading 61% · G3 writing 61% · G3 math 65% · G6 reading 81% · G6 writing 81% · G6 math 57% | Fourth fifth |
| Kanétskare Elementary School Middle SchoolElementary · Grades 6–8 | G6 reading 79% · G6 writing 80% · G6 math 46% | Fourth fifth |
| St. Patrick Catholic Elementary SchoolElementary · Grades JK–8 | G3 reading 80% · G3 writing 73% · G3 math 59% · G6 reading 69% · G6 writing 60% · G6 math 41% | Fourth fifth |
| Dalewood Senior Public SchoolElementary · Grades 6–8 | G6 reading 79% · G6 writing 78% · G6 math 43% | Fourth fifth |
| Queensdale SchoolElementary · Grades JK–8 | G3 reading 66% · G3 writing 59% · G3 math 69% · G6 reading 76% · G6 writing 73% · G6 math 39% | Fourth fifth |
| Cathedral High SchoolSecondary · Grades 9–12 | G9 math 43% · OSSLT 64% | Bottom fifth |
| George L Armstrong Public SchoolElementary · Grades JK–8 | G3 reading 67% · G3 writing 56% · G3 math 59% · G6 reading 76% · G6 writing 68% · G6 math 22% | Bottom fifth |
| Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Elementary SchoolElementary · Grades JK–8 | G3 reading 53% · G3 writing 32% · G3 math 26% · G6 reading 86% · G6 writing 71% · G6 math 38% | Bottom fifth |
| Dr. J. Edgar Davey Elementary Public SchoolElementary · Grades JK–8 | G3 reading 65% · G3 writing 45% · G3 math 35% · G6 reading 71% · G6 writing 61% · G6 math 14% | Bottom fifth |
| Hess Street Junior Public SchoolElementary · Grades JK–8 | G3 reading 50% · G3 writing 35% · G3 math 19% · G6 reading 66% · G6 writing 62% · G6 math 38% | Bottom fifth |
| Bennetto Elementary SchoolElementary · Grades JK–8 | G3 reading 54% · G3 writing 36% · G3 math 33% · G6 reading 64% · G6 writing 57% · G6 math 19% | Bottom fifth |
| Cathy Wever Elementary Public SchoolElementary · Grades JK–8 | G3 reading 56% · G3 writing 42% · G3 math 42% · G6 reading 72% · G6 writing 70% · G6 math 23% | Bottom fifth |
| Central Junior Public SchoolElementary · Grades JK–5 | G3 reading 41% · G3 writing 35% · G3 math 48% | Bottom fifth |
| Queen Victoria Elementary Public SchoolElementary · Grades JK–8 | G3 reading 48% · G3 writing 44% · G3 math 40% · G6 reading 64% · G6 writing 66% · G6 math 14% | Bottom fifth |
Ontario Ministry of Education, School Information Finder 2024–25 (EQAO results; N/R where groups are too small). Open Government Licence – Ontario.
The 3 boards that run schools here
The boards and their schools here.
| Board | System | Schools | Students |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hamilton-Wentworth DSBWestdale, Dr. J. Edgar Davey Elementary, Queen Victoria Elementary, Adelaide Hoodless, Cootes Paradise, Bennetto, Cathy Wever Elementary, Earl Kitchener Junior … | English public | 17 | 8,125 |
| Hamilton-Wentworth CDSBCathedral, Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic, St. Joseph Catholic, St. Patrick Catholic, St. Ann (Hamilton) Catholic, St. Charles Catholic Adult, St. Lawrence Catholic, Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic | English Catholic | 8 | 4,295 |
| CS ViamondeGeorges-P-Vanier, Georges-P-Vanier | French public | 2 | 85 |
Boards as Ontario’s list names them (its short forms: DSB, CDSB, CS).
Where the 27 schools in and around Central are
A pin for every school, its colour the system it belongs to.
Points from the provincial lists.
Schooling in English and French around Central
English, French and other languages of instruction, beside the mix in Ontario.
The mark on each bar is the share of schools in Ontario.
In French: École secondaire Georges-P-Vanier and École élémentaire Georges-P-Vanier. The public ones of the 2 come under CS Viamonde.
Section 23 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms gives French-speaking parents the right to French-language schooling for their children, through the French-language boards.
Who runs Central’s schools
Each level’s schools by system: English public, English Catholic, French-language, and independent or other.
Split by system, that is English public 17, English Catholic 8 and French-language 2.
The provincial school lists: each school’s board, language and Catholic or public status.
How children get a place in Central
The neighbourhood school
Ask the board first. It holds the enrolment list and points each street to its own school; out-of-area requests go ahead only with space to spare.
French-language schools
The French boards take rights-holders’ children by right and others by committee.
Catholic schools
Catholic schools here are public, paid for by the province. Elementary places usually go to Catholic families; Catholic high schools take any student.
The provinces’ education acts and the boards’ own admission policies; check with the board for a given address.
The 27 schools in and around Central
High schools within reach of Central
Every secondary school within 15 km of the town, nearest first.
Within 15 km, families can reach 30 high schools: 19 English public, 9 English Catholic, 1 French public and 1 French Catholic. First by distance comes École secondaire Georges-P-Vanier, at 1.7 km.
| School | Board | System | Band | Students | Away |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| École secondaire Georges-P-VanierSecondary · Grades 9–12 | CS Viamonde | French public | Top fifth | 85 | 1.7 km |
| Cathedral High SchoolSecondary · Grades 9–12 | Hamilton-Wentworth CDSB | English Catholic | Bottom fifth | 1,650 | 2.1 km |
| Westdale Secondary SchoolSecondary · Grades 9–12 | Hamilton-Wentworth DSB | English public | Middle fifth | 1,525 | 2.3 km |
| Bernie Custis Secondary School Secondary SchoolSecondary · Grades 9–12 | Hamilton-Wentworth DSB | English public | Bottom fifth | 955 | 4 km |
| Westmount Secondary SchoolSecondary · Grades 9–12 | Hamilton-Wentworth DSB | English public | Second fifth | 1,310 | 4.5 km |
| St. Mary Catholic Secondary SchoolSecondary · Grades 9–12 | Hamilton-Wentworth CDSB | English Catholic | Second fifth | 935 | 4.5 km |
| Aldershot High SchoolSecondary · Grades 9–12 | Halton DSB | English public | Top fifth | 720 | 4.7 km |
| Hill Park System Alternative EducationSecondary · Grades 9–12 | Hamilton-Wentworth DSB | English public | – | – | 5 km |
| Sir Allan MacNab Secondary SchoolSecondary · Grades 9–12 | Hamilton-Wentworth DSB | English public | Bottom fifth | 660 | 5.4 km |
| Sherwood Secondary SchoolSecondary · Grades 9–12 | Hamilton-Wentworth DSB | English public | Bottom fifth | 1,255 | 5.8 km |
All 30 secondary schools
| School | Board | System | Band | Students | Away |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ÉSAC Mère-TeresaSecondary · Grades 9–12 | CS catholique MonAvenir | French Catholic | Middle fifth | 300 | 6.8 km |
| St. Thomas More Catholic Secondary SchoolSecondary · Grades 9–12 | Hamilton-Wentworth CDSB | English Catholic | Fourth fifth | 1,810 | 6.8 km |
| St. Jean de Brebeuf Catholic Secondary SchoolSecondary · Grades 9–12 | Hamilton-Wentworth CDSB | English Catholic | Fourth fifth | 1,615 | 7 km |
| Sir Winston Churchill Secondary SchoolSecondary · Grades 9–12 | Hamilton-Wentworth DSB | English public | Bottom fifth | 790 | 7 km |
| Nora Frances HendersonSecondary · Grades 9–12 | Hamilton-Wentworth DSB | English public | Bottom fifth | 1,270 | 7.9 km |
| Waterdown District High SchoolSecondary · Grades 9–12 | Hamilton-Wentworth DSB | English public | Middle fifth | 1,140 | 8.3 km |
| Dundas Valley Secondary SchoolSecondary · Grades 9–12 | Hamilton-Wentworth DSB | English public | Middle fifth | 810 | 8.4 km |
| Glendale Secondary SchoolSecondary · Grades 9–12 | Hamilton-Wentworth DSB | English public | Bottom fifth | 1,260 | 8.7 km |
| Burlington Central High SchoolSecondary · Grades 9–12 | Halton DSB | English public | Middle fifth | 865 | 9.1 km |
| Sir Isaac Brock System Alternative Education Secondary SchoolSecondary · Grades 9–12 | Hamilton-Wentworth DSB | English public | – | 65 | 9.5 km |
| Bishop Ryan Catholic Secondary SchoolSecondary · Grades 9–12 | Hamilton-Wentworth CDSB | English Catholic | Middle fifth | 2,115 | 10 km |
| St. John Henry Newman Catholic Secondary SchoolSecondary · Grades 9–12 | Hamilton-Wentworth CDSB | English Catholic | Second fifth | 1,640 | 11 km |
| M M Robinson High SchoolSecondary · Grades 9–12 | Halton DSB | English public | Middle fifth | 1,155 | 12 km |
| Assumption Catholic Secondary SchoolSecondary · Grades 9–12 | Halton CDSB | English Catholic | Second fifth | 1,070 | 12 km |
| Saltfleet High SchoolSecondary · Grades 9–12 | Hamilton-Wentworth DSB | English public | Fourth fifth | 1,280 | 12 km |
| Ancaster High SchoolSecondary · Grades 9–12 | Hamilton-Wentworth DSB | English public | Second fifth | 1,180 | 12 km |
| Bishop Tonnos Catholic Secondary SchoolSecondary · Grades 9–12 | Hamilton-Wentworth CDSB | English Catholic | Second fifth | 1,320 | 12 km |
| Notre Dame Catholic Secondary SchoolSecondary · Grades 9–12 | Halton CDSB | English Catholic | Second fifth | 1,030 | 13 km |
| Nelson High SchoolSecondary · Grades 9–12 | Halton DSB | English public | Second fifth | 1,330 | 14 km |
| Orchard Park Secondary SchoolSecondary · Grades 9–12 | Hamilton-Wentworth DSB | English public | Fourth fifth | 1,070 | 14 km |
Distances in a straight line from the town’s centre point.
Alternative, adult and other schools around Central
Outside the usual elementary and high schools: alternative programs at St. Charles Catholic Adult Secondary School and Turning Point Alternative Education School. Their cards ↑
The kinds as the provincial lists give them (alternative, adult and continuing education, online, provincial schools).
Towns its size in Ontario
Towns of a similar population, with their schools in or within 3 km; described, not ranked.
| Town | Population | Schools | Students | French | Nearest secondary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central Frederick | 5,895 | 36 | 18,620 | 1 | 1.3 km |
| … | |||||
| Berrisfield | 3,773 | 35 | 15,220 | 4 | 1 km |
| Dixie | 3,749 | 56 | 24,325 | 2 | 1.8 km |
| Golf Course | 3,741 | 8 | 2,990 | 0 | 0.5 km |
| Industrial Sector A and Keith | 3,723 | 33 | 17,230 | 2 | 1 km |
| Central | 3,698 | 27 | 12,505 | 2 | 1.7 km |
| Blind River | 3,692 | 6 | 720 | 3 | 0.2 km |
| Fifty Point | 3,690 | 3 | 1,785 | 0 | 5.2 km |
| Parkview West | 3,686 | 29 | 16,440 | 1 | 2.5 km |
| Powassan | 3,657 | 2 | 405 | 0 | 24 km |
| … | |||||
| Killaloe, Hagarty and Richards | 2,505 | 2 | 215 | 0 | 20 km |
86 out of 212 comparable towns have more schools. 131 of the 213 have a French-language school.
Populations from Statistics Canada; schools from the provincial lists, in or within 3 km of each town.
Schools in the towns around Central
Each town’s schools in or within 3 km of its outline; distances as the crow flies.
| Town | Schools | French | Catholic or independent | Nearest secondary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central | 27 | 2 | 8 | 1.7 km |
| Strathcona 1 km | 30 | 3 | 9 | 0.8 km |
| North End East 1.2 km | 26 | 3 | 7 | 2.2 km |
| Durand 1.2 km | 47 | 3 | 15 | 1.8 km |
| Beasley 1.2 km | 30 | 3 | 9 | 1.1 km |
| Corktown 1.6 km | 48 | 4 | 16 | 1 km |
| Kirkendall North 1.7 km | 42 | 3 | 13 | 1.2 km |
48 schools make Corktown the best supplied neighbour.
What this data can and can’t tell you
- What isn’t here. What no open list gives: inspection grades, several years of enrolment, and Ontario’s private schools.
- Bands, not ranks. The fifths are of schools, not students: a small school counts as much as a large one.
- Boards and systems. The board is the public body that runs a school; this province has English and French boards, each public or Catholic.
- The year. 2024-25, the latest open list.
- The kinds of school. Grades shown are the published range, from junior kindergarten (JK) upward.
- Which schools count. Counted: Central’s own schools and any within 3 km of its edge.
Questions about schools in Central
Is there a French-language school in Central?
Yes, there are French-language schools: École secondaire Georges-P-Vanier and École élémentaire Georges-P-Vanier.
How many schools are there in Central?
1 are inside the town itself and 26 lie within 3 km of its edge.
Which boards run the schools in Central?
By number of schools: Hamilton-Wentworth DSB (17), Hamilton-Wentworth CDSB (8) and CS Viamonde (2).
How do I get a place at a school in Central?
Ask the board which school serves your street, then register through it.
Sources: Ontario Ministry of Education, School Information Finder 2024–25 and school contact list (Open Government Licence – Ontario) · map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors. Under the Statistics Canada Open Licence.
Adapted from Statistics Canada (Census of Population 2021, population estimates 2025, 2021 census boundaries) under the Statistics Canada Open Licence; this does not constitute an endorsement by Statistics Canada. Neighbourhood names in some cities © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).