English or French, public or Catholic: Grand River South’s schools come under 4 boards
Most belong to Waterloo Region DSB (13); Waterloo CDSB, CS Viamonde and CS catholique MonAvenir run the remainder. Of its 15 tested schools, 7 sit in the top two fifths in Ontario and 6 in the bottom two. 9,340 students attend the 19 elementary schools, 4 secondary schools and 1 alternative or adult school in or within 3 km of Grand River South.
What stands out about Grand River South’s schools
One big school
With 1,560 students, Grand River Collegiate Institute is the area’s biggest. Every school ↓
The strongest results
The area’s best results are at ÉSC Père-René-de-Galinée (secondary), in the top fifth in Ontario. Results ↓
Each finding compares the town’s schools with every school in its province.
Which of the 4 boards runs which school
Each board’s schools in the area, largest first.
Ontario funds four systems side by side, and here all four overlap: a family picks English or French, public or Catholic, and each choice has its own board and its own schools.
| Board | System | Schools | Students |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waterloo Region DSBGrand River, Chicopee Hills, Lackner Woods, Franklin, Breslau, Crestview, Mackenzie King, Stanley Park … | English public | 13 | 6,090 |
| Waterloo CDSBSaint John Paul II Catholic, St Daniel Catholic, St Aloysius Catholic, Canadian Martyrs Catholic, Notre Dame Catholic Intermediate, Notre Dame Catholic, St Patrick Catholic | English Catholic | 7 | 2,315 |
| CS ViamondeDavid Saint-Jacques, David-Saint-Jacques | French public | 2 | 195 |
| CS catholique MonAvenirÉSC Père-René-de-Galinée, ÉIC Père-René-de-Galinée | French Catholic | 2 | 740 |
Boards as Ontario’s list names them (its short forms: DSB, CDSB, CS).
How Grand River South’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 A−: 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 | 12 | 75% | 76% |
| Grade 3 writing | 12 | 63% | 65% |
| Grade 3 math | 12 | 58% | 65% |
| Grade 6 reading | 12 | 82% | 88% |
| Grade 6 writing | 12 | 85% | 86% |
| Grade 6 math | 12 | 55% | 51% |
| Grade 9 math | 3 | 70% | 55% |
| Literacy test (OSSLT), first try | 3 | 94% | 85% |
The widest gap is on Grade 9 math, where the area’s schools reach 70% against 55% in Ontario. Above the middle on 3, below on 3: that is the 8 measures. Over three years, 5 schools gained on most measures and 7 lost ground.
Every school’s results (15)
| School | Measure | Band |
|---|---|---|
| ÉSC Père-René-de-GalinéeSecondary · Grades 9–12 | G9 math 70% · OSSLT 94% | Top fifth |
| École secondaire David Saint-JacquesSecondary · Grades 9–12 | G9 math 70% · OSSLT 100% | Top fifth |
| Lackner Woods Public SchoolElementary · Grades JK–6 | G3 reading 83% · G3 writing 63% · G3 math 80% · G6 reading 97% · G6 writing 98% · G6 math 77% | Second fifth |
| Canadian Martyrs Catholic Elementary SchoolElementary · Grades JK–8 | G3 reading 75% · G3 writing 74% · G3 math 69% · G6 reading 94% · G6 writing 98% · G6 math 80% | Second fifth |
| Saint John Paul II Catholic Elementary SchoolElementary · Grades JK–8 | G3 reading 72% · G3 writing 62% · G3 math 66% · G6 reading 96% · G6 writing 94% · G6 math 74% | Second fifth |
| Mackenzie King Public SchoolElementary · Grades JK–6 | G3 reading 78% · G3 writing 63% · G3 math 50% · G6 reading 100% · G6 writing 97% · G6 math 87% | Second fifth |
| Breslau Public SchoolElementary · Grades JK–8 | G3 reading 79% · G3 writing 61% · G3 math 80% · G6 reading 91% · G6 writing 85% · G6 math 45% | Second fifth |
| Chicopee Hills Public SchoolElementary · Grades JK–8 | G3 reading 79% · G3 writing 70% · G3 math 76% · G6 reading 81% · G6 writing 84% · G6 math 57% | Middle fifth |
| Grand River Collegiate InstituteSecondary · Grades 9–12 | G9 math 58% · OSSLT 83% | Middle fifth |
| St Aloysius Catholic Elementary SchoolElementary · Grades JK–8 | G3 reading 76% · G3 writing 72% · G3 math 52% · G6 reading 81% · G6 writing 77% · G6 math 30% | Fourth fifth |
| Crestview Public SchoolElementary · Grades JK–6 | G3 reading 68% · G3 writing 56% · G3 math 48% · G6 reading 83% · G6 writing 83% · G6 math 53% | 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 |
| Howard Robertson Public SchoolElementary · Grades JK–6 | G3 reading 74% · G3 writing 55% · G3 math 52% · G6 reading 73% · G6 writing 85% · G6 math 42% | 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 |
| 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 |
Ontario Ministry of Education, School Information Finder 2024–25 (EQAO results; N/R where groups are too small). Open Government Licence – Ontario.
Where the 24 schools in and around Grand River South 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 Grand River South
English, French and other languages of instruction, beside the mix in Ontario.
The mark on each bar is the share of schools in Ontario.
Schooling in French, 4 schools: École secondaire David Saint-Jacques, École élémentaire David-Saint-Jacques, ÉIC Père-René-de-Galinée and ÉSC Père-René-de-Galinée, with CS Viamonde and CS catholique MonAvenir running the public ones.
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 Grand River South’s schools
Each level’s schools by system: English public, English Catholic, French-language, and independent or other.
The split by system: English public 13, English Catholic 7 and French-language 4.
The provincial school lists: each school’s board, language and Catholic or public status.
How children get a place in Grand River South
The neighbourhood school
Families enrol through the board, which assigns the school serving their street; transfers depend on space.
French-language schools
French-language boards admit the children of rights-holders under section 23 of the Charter (a parent whose first language is French, or who was schooled in French in Canada), and may admit others through an admissions committee.
Catholic schools
Ontario funds the Catholic system in full; its high schools are open to all, its elementary schools mostly to Catholic families.
The provinces’ education acts and the boards’ own admission policies; check with the board for a given address.
The 24 schools in and around Grand River South
High schools within reach of Grand River South
Secondary and all-grade schools within 15 km, by distance.
Counting out to 15 km, there are 21: 14 English public, 5 English Catholic, 1 French public and 1 French Catholic. Nearest: Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School, 1 km off.
| School | Board | System | Band | Students | Away |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Notre Dame Catholic Secondary SchoolSecondary · Grades 9–12 | Waterloo CDSB | English Catholic | – | – | 1 km |
| Grand River Collegiate InstituteSecondary · Grades 9–12 | Waterloo Region DSB | English public | Middle fifth | 1,560 | 2.2 km |
| École secondaire David Saint-JacquesSecondary · Grades 9–12 | CS Viamonde | French public | Top fifth | 105 | 2.3 km |
| ÉSC Père-René-de-GalinéeSecondary · Grades 9–12 | CS catholique MonAvenir | French Catholic | Top fifth | 495 | 3.9 km |
| Eastwood Collegiate InstituteSecondary · Grades 9–12 | Waterloo Region DSB | English public | Fourth fifth | 1,270 | 4.3 km |
| Cameron Heights Collegiate InstituteSecondary · Grades 9–12 | Waterloo Region DSB | English public | Second fifth | 1,765 | 5.8 km |
| St Mary's High SchoolSecondary · Grades 9–12 | Waterloo CDSB | English Catholic | Middle fifth | 2,240 | 6 km |
| Bluevale Collegiate InstituteSecondary · Grades 9–12 | Waterloo Region DSB | English public | Second fifth | 1,115 | 7.6 km |
| Preston High SchoolSecondary · Grades 9–12 | Waterloo Region DSB | English public | Middle fifth | 855 | 7.7 km |
| Huron Heights Secondary SchoolSecondary · Grades 9–12 | Waterloo Region DSB | English public | Second fifth | 1,455 | 7.8 km |
All 21 secondary schools
| School | Board | System | Band | Students | Away |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchener Waterloo Collegiate and Vocational SchoolSecondary · Grades 9–12 | Waterloo Region DSB | English public | Second fifth | 1,650 | 7.9 km |
| Jacob Hespeler Secondary SchoolSecondary · Grades 9–12 | Waterloo Region DSB | English public | Middle fifth | 1,070 | 8.5 km |
| Forest Heights Collegiate InstituteSecondary · Grades 9–12 | Waterloo Region DSB | English public | Fourth fifth | 1,555 | 9.5 km |
| Waterloo Collegiate InstituteSecondary · Grades 9–12 | Waterloo Region DSB | English public | Middle fifth | 1,480 | 10 km |
| St David Catholic Secondary SchoolSecondary · Grades 9–12 | Waterloo CDSB | English Catholic | Second fifth | 1,080 | 10 km |
| Resurrection Catholic Secondary SchoolSecondary · Grades 9–12 | Waterloo CDSB | English Catholic | Middle fifth | 1,920 | 11 km |
| St Benedict Catholic Secondary SchoolSecondary · Grades 9–12 | Waterloo CDSB | English Catholic | Middle fifth | 1,955 | 11 km |
| Galt Collegiate and Vocational InstituteSecondary · Grades 9–12 | Waterloo Region DSB | English public | Middle fifth | 960 | 12 km |
| Southwood Secondary SchoolSecondary · Grades 9–12 | Waterloo Region DSB | English public | Bottom fifth | 700 | 13 km |
| Glenview Park Secondary SchoolSecondary · Grades 9–12 | Waterloo Region DSB | English public | Middle fifth | 1,055 | 14 km |
| Laurel Heights Secondary SchoolSecondary · Grades 9–12 | Waterloo Region DSB | English public | Second fifth | 1,765 | 15 km |
Distances in a straight line from the town’s centre point.
Alternative, adult and other schools around Grand River South
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
Towns of a similar population, with their schools in or within 3 km; described, not ranked.
| Town | Population | Schools | Students | French | Nearest secondary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kennedy Park | 17,156 | 70 | 30,565 | 3 | 0.4 km |
| … | |||||
| Exeter | 10,781 | 8 | 2,015 | 0 | 3.8 km |
| Alexandria | 10,772 | 11 | 1,325 | 6 | 4 km |
| Shelburne | 10,767 | 4 | 2,260 | 0 | 0.5 km |
| Victoria Hills | 10,760 | 39 | 21,155 | 1 | 1.8 km |
| Grand River South | 10,723 | 24 | 9,340 | 4 | 1 km |
| Weston-Pelham Park | 10,680 | 101 | 36,690 | 6 | 1.8 km |
| Markland Wood | 10,559 | 38 | 17,765 | 0 | 0.7 km |
| Vanier North | 10,498 | 30 | 12,375 | 13 | 1.8 km |
| Stittsville East | 10,482 | 35 | 18,800 | 8 | 0.6 km |
| … | |||||
| Fitzroy | 6,400 | 9 | 4,140 | 1 | 9.6 km |
In 243 of the 385 others the count is higher. 277 of the 386 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 Grand River South
Schools in or within 3 km of each neighbouring town; distances in a straight line.
| Town | Schools | French | Catholic or independent | Nearest secondary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand River South | 24 | 4 | 9 | 1 km |
| Idlewood 1.6 km | 26 | 2 | 8 | 1.4 km |
| Grand River North 2.6 km | 24 | 2 | 7 | 0.8 km |
| Centreville Chicopee 2.7 km | 31 | 4 | 12 | 1.1 km |
| Heritage Park 2.9 km | 30 | 0 | 9 | 0.7 km |
| Stanley Park 3.3 km | 37 | 2 | 11 | 1 km |
| Rosemount 3.9 km | 32 | 0 | 8 | 0.3 km |
Most schools next door: Stanley Park, 37.
What this data can and can’t tell you
- What isn’t here. No ratings by inspectors, no enrolment trend: neither is published school by school.
- Bands, not ranks. Fifths are worked out among every Ontario school with a result on that measure, then averaged per school.
- Boards and systems. Boards come in one language each, and where the province funds Catholic schools, as public or Catholic; independent schools stand outside them.
- The year. Listed for 2024-25.
- The kinds of school. Each school is elementary, secondary or all-grade by the grades it teaches; alternative, adult and online programs sit in a group of their own.
- Which schools count. Inside Grand River South’s boundary, or no more than 3 km outside it: that is which schools are counted.
Questions about schools in Grand River South
Is there a French-language school in Grand River South?
Yes, there are French-language schools: École secondaire David Saint-Jacques, École élémentaire David-Saint-Jacques, ÉIC Père-René-de-Galinée and ÉSC Père-René-de-Galinée.
How many schools are there in Grand River South?
The town holds 5 of them; 19 more are within 3 km of its outline.
Which boards run the schools in Grand River South?
By number of schools: Waterloo Region DSB (13), Waterloo CDSB (7), CS Viamonde (2) and CS catholique MonAvenir (2).
How do I get a place at a school in Grand River South?
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).