Photo: JFVoll · CC BY-SA 3.0Results around City Commercial Core lean low: 17 of 27 schools in the lower two fifths in Ontario
Best placed: Bluevale Collegiate Institute and Cameron Heights Collegiate Institute. 3 boards run its schools. 17,110 students attend the 29 elementary schools, 4 secondary schools and 1 alternative or adult school in or within 3 km of City Commercial Core.
What stands out about City Commercial Core’s schools
One big school
With 1,765 students, Cameron Heights Collegiate Institute is the area’s biggest. Every school ↓
Each finding compares the town’s schools with every school in its province.
How City Commercial Core’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 | 23 | 68% | 76% |
| Grade 3 writing | 23 | 58% | 65% |
| Grade 3 math | 23 | 52% | 65% |
| Grade 6 reading | 23 | 80% | 88% |
| Grade 6 writing | 23 | 82% | 86% |
| Grade 6 math | 23 | 43% | 51% |
| Grade 9 math | 4 | 74% | 55% |
| Literacy test (OSSLT), first try | 4 | 88% | 85% |
The widest gap is on Grade 9 math, where the area’s schools reach 74% against 55% in Ontario. Of 8 measures, 2 sit above the province’s middle and 6 below. At 12 schools more of the measures rose than fell over three years; at 11, more fell.
Every school’s results (27)
| School | Measure | Band |
|---|---|---|
| Bluevale Collegiate InstituteSecondary · Grades 9–12 | G9 math 75% · OSSLT 88% | Second fifth |
| Cameron Heights Collegiate InstituteSecondary · Grades 9–12 | G9 math 74% · OSSLT 90% | Second fifth |
| Kitchener Waterloo Collegiate and Vocational SchoolSecondary · Grades 9–12 | G9 math 73% · OSSLT 88% | Second fifth |
| École élémentaire L'HarmonieElementary · Grades JK–8 | G3 reading 92% · G3 writing 69% · G3 math 81% · G6 reading 90% · G6 writing 84% · G6 math 79% | Second fifth |
| Empire Public SchoolElementary · Grades JK–6 | G3 reading 86% · G3 writing 70% · G3 math 70% · G6 reading 87% · G6 writing 90% · G6 math 52% | Second fifth |
| St Teresa Catholic Elementary SchoolElementary · Grades JK–8 | G3 reading 72% · G3 writing 64% · G3 math 69% · G6 reading 86% · G6 writing 91% · G6 math 45% | Middle fifth |
| Suddaby Public SchoolElementary · Grades JK–6 | G3 reading 67% · G3 writing 58% · G3 math 58% · G6 reading 90% · G6 writing 89% · G6 math 58% | Middle fifth |
| Queen Elizabeth Public SchoolElementary · Grades JK–6 | G3 reading 70% · G3 writing 36% · G3 math 39% · G6 reading 94% · G6 writing 89% · G6 math 79% | Middle fifth |
| Sheppard Public SchoolElementary · Grades JK–6 | G3 reading 82% · G3 writing 62% · G3 math 58% · G6 reading 72% · G6 writing 84% · G6 math 60% | Middle fifth |
| St Bernadette Catholic Elementary SchoolElementary · Grades JK–8 | G3 reading 85% · G3 writing 48% · G3 math 52% · G6 reading 92% · G6 writing 83% · G6 math 42% | Middle fifth |
| Eastwood Collegiate InstituteSecondary · Grades 9–12 | G9 math 42% · OSSLT 84% | Fourth fifth |
| Elizabeth Ziegler Public SchoolElementary · Grades JK–6 | G3 reading 71% · G3 writing 60% · G3 math 48% · G6 reading 93% · G6 writing 86% · G6 math 47% | Fourth fifth |
| Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Elementary SchoolElementary · Grades JK–8 | G3 reading 71% · G3 writing 54% · G3 math 64% · G6 reading 83% · G6 writing 83% · G6 math 45% | Fourth fifth |
| St Agnes Catholic Elementary SchoolElementary · Grades JK–8 | G3 reading 80% · G3 writing 64% · G3 math 71% · G6 reading 73% · G6 writing 74% · G6 math 43% | Fourth fifth |
| St Anne Catholic Elementary SchoolElementary · Grades JK–8 | G3 reading 68% · G3 writing 53% · G3 math 55% · G6 reading 90% · G6 writing 82% · G6 math 45% | Fourth fifth |
| Westmount Public SchoolElementary · Grades JK–6 | G3 reading 66% · G3 writing 59% · G3 math 57% · G6 reading 93% · G6 writing 87% · G6 math 38% | Fourth fifth |
| Franklin Public SchoolElementary · Grades JK–6 | G3 reading 70% · G3 writing 63% · G3 math 63% · G6 reading 74% · G6 writing 83% · G6 math 31% | Fourth fifth |
| J F Carmichael Public SchoolElementary · Grades JK–6 | G3 reading 72% · G3 writing 65% · G3 math 58% · G6 reading 70% · G6 writing 77% · G6 math 33% | Fourth fifth |
| Smithson Public SchoolElementary · Grades JK–6 | G3 reading 64% · G3 writing 48% · G3 math 48% · G6 reading 69% · G6 writing 79% · G6 math 57% | Fourth fifth |
| Forest Hill Public SchoolElementary · Grades JK–6 | G3 reading 64% · G3 writing 56% · G3 math 51% · G6 reading 64% · G6 writing 57% · G6 math 41% | Fourth fifth |
| St Daniel Catholic Elementary SchoolElementary · Grades JK–8 | G3 reading 50% · G3 writing 60% · G3 math 40% · G6 reading 80% · G6 writing 73% · G6 math 42% | Bottom fifth |
| Prueter Public SchoolElementary · Grades JK–6 | G3 reading 58% · G3 writing 60% · G3 math 50% · G6 reading 62% · G6 writing 67% · G6 math 17% | Bottom fifth |
| Southridge Public SchoolElementary · Grades JK–6 | G3 reading 61% · G3 writing 51% · G3 math 37% · G6 reading 69% · G6 writing 69% · G6 math 38% | Bottom fifth |
| Hillside Public SchoolElementary · Grades JK–8 | G3 reading 30% · G3 writing 15% · G3 math 15% · G6 reading 81% · G6 writing 72% · G6 math 19% | Bottom fifth |
| King Edward Public SchoolElementary · Grades JK–6 | G3 reading 55% · G3 writing 33% · G3 math 36% · G6 reading 77% · G6 writing 77% · G6 math 30% | Bottom fifth |
| St John Catholic Elementary SchoolElementary · Grades JK–8 | G3 reading 44% · G3 writing 34% · G3 math 39% · G6 reading 63% · G6 writing 63% · G6 math 43% | Bottom fifth |
| Rockway Public SchoolElementary · Grades JK–6 | G3 reading 27% · G3 writing 8% · G3 math 19% · G6 reading 63% · G6 writing 52% · G6 math 26% | 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
Every board or service centre with a school in the area, and its schools.
| Board | System | Schools | Students |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waterloo Region DSBCameron Heights, Kitchener Waterloo Collegiate and Vocational, Eastwood, Bluevale, Franklin, Elizabeth Ziegler, Suddaby, Empire … | English public | 26 | 13,250 |
| Waterloo CDSBSt Anne Catholic, St Agnes Catholic, St Daniel Catholic, St John Catholic, St Bernadette Catholic, Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic, St Teresa Catholic | English Catholic | 7 | 3,570 |
| CS ViamondeL'Harmonie | French public | 1 | 290 |
Boards as Ontario’s list names them (its short forms: DSB, CDSB, CS).
Where the 34 schools in and around City Commercial Core are
Every school as a pin, coloured by system; each opens its own page.
Points from the provincial lists.
Schooling in English and French around City Commercial Core
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 élémentaire L'Harmonie. The public ones of the 1 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 City Commercial Core’s schools
Each level’s schools by system: English public, English Catholic, French-language, and independent or other.
Who runs them, in numbers: English public 26, English Catholic 7 and French-language 1.
The provincial school lists: each school’s board, language and Catholic or public status.
How children get a place in City Commercial Core
The neighbourhood school
Where a family lives settles it: the board’s map ties every address to one school, and a seat anywhere else waits on spare room.
Catholic schools
Ontario funds the Catholic system in full; its high schools are open to all, its elementary schools mostly to Catholic families.
French-language schools
French-language schools are for children of section 23 rights-holders first; the board may admit others case by case.
The provinces’ education acts and the boards’ own admission policies; check with the board for a given address.
The 34 schools in and around City Commercial Core
Show all 29 elementary schools
High schools within reach of City Commercial Core
The high schools a family here could reach, within 15 km.
Within 15 km, families can reach 17 high schools: 11 English public, 4 English Catholic, 1 French public and 1 French Catholic. The nearest is Cameron Heights Collegiate Institute, 0.8 km away.
| School | Board | System | Band | Students | Away |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cameron Heights Collegiate InstituteSecondary · Grades 9–12 | Waterloo Region DSB | English public | Second fifth | 1,765 | 0.8 km |
| Kitchener Waterloo Collegiate and Vocational SchoolSecondary · Grades 9–12 | Waterloo Region DSB | English public | Second fifth | 1,650 | 1.8 km |
| Eastwood Collegiate InstituteSecondary · Grades 9–12 | Waterloo Region DSB | English public | Fourth fifth | 1,270 | 2.5 km |
| Bluevale Collegiate InstituteSecondary · Grades 9–12 | Waterloo Region DSB | English public | Second fifth | 1,115 | 2.9 km |
| St Mary's High SchoolSecondary · Grades 9–12 | Waterloo CDSB | English Catholic | Middle fifth | 2,240 | 3.7 km |
| Forest Heights Collegiate InstituteSecondary · Grades 9–12 | Waterloo Region DSB | English public | Fourth fifth | 1,555 | 3.9 km |
| Grand River Collegiate InstituteSecondary · Grades 9–12 | Waterloo Region DSB | English public | Middle fifth | 1,560 | 4.2 km |
| Waterloo Collegiate InstituteSecondary · Grades 9–12 | Waterloo Region DSB | English public | Middle fifth | 1,480 | 4.7 km |
| Resurrection Catholic Secondary SchoolSecondary · Grades 9–12 | Waterloo CDSB | English Catholic | Middle fifth | 1,920 | 4.8 km |
| St David Catholic Secondary SchoolSecondary · Grades 9–12 | Waterloo CDSB | English Catholic | Second fifth | 1,080 | 5 km |
All 17 secondary schools
| School | Board | System | Band | Students | Away |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| École secondaire David Saint-JacquesSecondary · Grades 9–12 | CS Viamonde | French public | Top fifth | 105 | 6.3 km |
| Huron Heights Secondary SchoolSecondary · Grades 9–12 | Waterloo Region DSB | English public | Second fifth | 1,455 | 6.4 km |
| Notre Dame Catholic Secondary SchoolSecondary · Grades 9–12 | Waterloo CDSB | English Catholic | – | – | 6.9 km |
| Laurel Heights Secondary SchoolSecondary · Grades 9–12 | Waterloo Region DSB | English public | Second fifth | 1,765 | 8.9 km |
| ÉSC Père-René-de-GalinéeSecondary · Grades 9–12 | CS catholique MonAvenir | French Catholic | Top fifth | 495 | 9.1 km |
| Preston High SchoolSecondary · Grades 9–12 | Waterloo Region DSB | English public | Middle fifth | 855 | 12 km |
| Jacob Hespeler Secondary SchoolSecondary · Grades 9–12 | Waterloo Region DSB | English public | Middle fifth | 1,070 | 14 km |
Distances in a straight line from the town’s centre point.
Alternative, adult and other schools around City Commercial Core
The area also has alternative programs at Rosemount - U Turn School. Their cards ↑
The kinds as the provincial lists give them (alternative, adult and continuing education, online, provincial schools).
Towns its size in Ontario
Places of about the same size and their schools in or within 3 km, largest first.
| Town | Population | Schools | Students | French | Nearest secondary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inch Park | 4,065 | 50 | 23,125 | 3 | 1.3 km |
| … | |||||
| Lambeth | 2,609 | 3 | 1,205 | 1 | 4.3 km |
| Bonfield | 2,597 | 1 | — | 1 | 23 km |
| Castlemore Estates | 2,587 | 29 | 17,340 | 0 | 2.9 km |
| Macassa | 2,584 | 46 | 21,315 | 4 | 0.1 km |
| City Commercial Core | 2,581 | 34 | 17,110 | 1 | 0.8 km |
| Sherwood | 2,567 | 41 | 18,230 | 4 | 0.3 km |
| Brooke-Alvinston | 2,557 | 3 | 710 | 0 | 17 km |
| North Frontenac | 2,515 | 3 | 385 | 0 | 12 km |
| Killaloe, Hagarty and Richards | 2,505 | 2 | 215 | 0 | 20 km |
More schools than here: 30 of the 120 others. A French-language school is within reach in 69 of the 121.
Populations from Statistics Canada; schools from the provincial lists, in or within 3 km of each town.
Schools in the towns around City Commercial Core
For each nearby town, its schools in or within 3 km of its outline, with straight-line distances.
| Town | Schools | French | Catholic or independent | Nearest secondary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| City Commercial Core | 34 | 1 | 7 | 0.8 km |
| Cedar Hill 0.6 km | 36 | 0 | 9 | 0.4 km |
| Central Frederick 0.8 km | 36 | 1 | 8 | 1.3 km |
| Mill Courtland Woodside Park 0.9 km | 43 | 0 | 11 | 0.8 km |
| Auditorium 1 km | 34 | 0 | 10 | 0.8 km |
| Victoria Park 1.1 km | 34 | 1 | 9 | 1.4 km |
| Mt. Hope Huron Park 1.3 km | 33 | 2 | 7 | 1.2 km |
43 schools make Mill Courtland Woodside Park the best supplied neighbour.
What this data can and can’t tell you
- The year. The province’s 2024-25 list.
- Boards and systems. Boards are set by language and, in Ontario, Alberta and Saskatchewan, by faith: public or Catholic.
- What isn’t here. No ratings by inspectors, no enrolment trend: neither is published school by school.
- Bands, not ranks. A school with no reported result has no band; one with several averages its fifths.
- Which schools count. Each school is placed by its address point; those inside City Commercial Core or within 3 km of it are here.
- The kinds of school. Where a province publishes grades, the card gives them; elementary and secondary follow those grades.
Questions about schools in City Commercial Core
How do I get a place at a school in City Commercial Core?
Choose a system, then register with its board; the address decides the school.
Which boards run the schools in City Commercial Core?
By number of schools: Waterloo Region DSB (26), Waterloo CDSB (7) and CS Viamonde (1).
How many schools are there in City Commercial Core?
0 are inside the town itself and 34 lie within 3 km of its edge.
Is there a French-language school in City Commercial Core?
Yes: École élémentaire L'Harmonie, the French-language schools here.
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).