Schools in Idlewood: 3 boards, side by side
Most belong to Waterloo Region DSB (16); Waterloo CDSB and CS Viamonde run the remainder. The 18 with results split, 6 in the upper two fifths in Ontario and 9 in the lower. Counting a 3 km margin, Idlewood has 21 elementary schools, 4 secondary schools and 1 alternative or adult school, for 11,500 students.
What stands out about Idlewood’s schools
One big school
With 1,560 students, Grand River Collegiate Institute is the area’s biggest. Every school ↓
The strongest results
École secondaire David Saint-Jacques (secondary) posts the area’s strongest results: the top fifth in Ontario. Results ↓
The comparisons are with the province’s schools, never across provinces.
Which of the 3 boards runs which school
Every board or service centre with a school in the area, and its schools.
| Board | System | Schools | Students |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waterloo Region DSBGrand River, Eastwood, Chicopee Hills, Lackner Woods, Franklin, Wilson Avenue, Breslau, Crestview … | English public | 16 | 8,240 |
| Waterloo CDSBSt Anne Catholic, Saint 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 | 8 | 3,065 |
| CS ViamondeDavid Saint-Jacques, David-Saint-Jacques | French public | 2 | 195 |
Boards as Ontario’s list names them (its short forms: DSB, CDSB, CS).
How Idlewood’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 | 15 | 74% | 76% |
| Grade 3 writing | 15 | 62% | 65% |
| Grade 3 math | 15 | 55% | 65% |
| Grade 6 reading | 15 | 83% | 88% |
| Grade 6 writing | 15 | 84% | 86% |
| Grade 6 math | 15 | 53% | 51% |
| Grade 9 math | 3 | 58% | 55% |
| Literacy test (OSSLT), first try | 3 | 84% | 85% |
The widest gap is on Grade 3 math, where the area’s schools reach 55% against 65% in Ontario. Above the middle on 2, below on 3: that is the 8 measures. The three-year changes lean upward at 7 schools and downward at 8.
Every school’s results (18)
| School | Measure | Band |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Eastwood Collegiate InstituteSecondary · Grades 9–12 | G9 math 42% · OSSLT 84% | 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 |
| 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 |
| Wilson Avenue Public SchoolElementary · Grades JK–6 | G3 reading 60% · G3 writing 46% · G3 math 53% · G6 reading 85% · G6 writing 81% · G6 math 46% | 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 26 schools in and around Idlewood are
Each pin is a school, coloured by the system that runs it, sized by its students where the province publishes them.
Points from the provincial lists.
Schooling in English and French around Idlewood
Each school by its language of instruction, with the share in Ontario marked.
The mark on each bar is the share of schools in Ontario.
In French: École secondaire David Saint-Jacques and École élémentaire David-Saint-Jacques. 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 Idlewood’s schools
Each level’s schools by system: English public, English Catholic, French-language, and independent or other.
The split by system: English public 16, 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 Idlewood
The neighbourhood school
Each school serves a defined area. A place elsewhere is possible when that school has room.
Catholic schools
Ontario’s Catholic boards are publicly funded. Their elementary schools generally ask that a parent or the child be Catholic; their high schools are open to all students.
French-language schools
Section 23 rights-holders, francophone parents or those schooled in French in Canada, have a place; others apply to the board’s committee.
The provinces’ education acts and the boards’ own admission policies; check with the board for a given address.
The 26 schools in and around Idlewood
High schools within reach of Idlewood
The high schools a family here could reach, within 15 km.
21 secondary schools are within 15 km: 14 English public, 5 English Catholic, 1 French public and 1 French Catholic. The nearest is Grand River Collegiate Institute, 1.3 km away.
| School | Board | System | Band | Students | Away |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand River Collegiate InstituteSecondary · Grades 9–12 | Waterloo Region DSB | English public | Middle fifth | 1,560 | 1.3 km |
| Notre Dame Catholic Secondary SchoolSecondary · Grades 9–12 | Waterloo CDSB | English Catholic | – | – | 2.1 km |
| École secondaire David Saint-JacquesSecondary · Grades 9–12 | CS Viamonde | French public | Top fifth | 105 | 2.1 km |
| Eastwood Collegiate InstituteSecondary · Grades 9–12 | Waterloo Region DSB | English public | Fourth fifth | 1,270 | 2.7 km |
| Cameron Heights Collegiate InstituteSecondary · Grades 9–12 | Waterloo Region DSB | English public | Second fifth | 1,765 | 4.3 km |
| St Mary's High SchoolSecondary · Grades 9–12 | Waterloo CDSB | English Catholic | Middle fifth | 2,240 | 4.5 km |
| ÉSC Père-René-de-GalinéeSecondary · Grades 9–12 | CS catholique MonAvenir | French Catholic | Top fifth | 495 | 4.6 km |
| Kitchener Waterloo Collegiate and Vocational SchoolSecondary · Grades 9–12 | Waterloo Region DSB | English public | Second fifth | 1,650 | 6.5 km |
| Bluevale Collegiate InstituteSecondary · Grades 9–12 | Waterloo Region DSB | English public | Second fifth | 1,115 | 6.5 km |
| Huron Heights Secondary SchoolSecondary · Grades 9–12 | Waterloo Region DSB | English public | Second fifth | 1,455 | 6.6 km |
All 21 secondary schools
| School | Board | System | Band | Students | Away |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forest Heights Collegiate InstituteSecondary · Grades 9–12 | Waterloo Region DSB | English public | Fourth fifth | 1,555 | 7.9 km |
| Preston High SchoolSecondary · Grades 9–12 | Waterloo Region DSB | English public | Middle fifth | 855 | 8.1 km |
| Waterloo Collegiate InstituteSecondary · Grades 9–12 | Waterloo Region DSB | English public | Middle fifth | 1,480 | 8.9 km |
| St David Catholic Secondary SchoolSecondary · Grades 9–12 | Waterloo CDSB | English Catholic | Second fifth | 1,080 | 9 km |
| Resurrection Catholic Secondary SchoolSecondary · Grades 9–12 | Waterloo CDSB | English Catholic | Middle fifth | 1,920 | 9.5 km |
| Jacob Hespeler Secondary SchoolSecondary · Grades 9–12 | Waterloo Region DSB | English public | Middle fifth | 1,070 | 9.6 km |
| St Benedict Catholic Secondary SchoolSecondary · Grades 9–12 | Waterloo CDSB | English Catholic | Middle fifth | 1,955 | 12 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 |
| Laurel Heights Secondary SchoolSecondary · Grades 9–12 | Waterloo Region DSB | English public | Second fifth | 1,765 | 14 km |
| Glenview Park Secondary SchoolSecondary · Grades 9–12 | Waterloo Region DSB | English public | Middle fifth | 1,055 | 15 km |
Distances in a straight line from the town’s centre point.
Alternative, adult and other schools around Idlewood
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lambton Baby Point | 7,966 | 67 | 32,140 | 2 | 0.6 km |
| … | |||||
| Huntington | 5,024 | 44 | 20,455 | 4 | 0.7 km |
| Northern Bruce Peninsula | 5,018 | 3 | 300 | 0 | 12 km |
| Meinzinger Park-Lakeside | 5,007 | 45 | 26,240 | 1 | 1.6 km |
| Tyendinaga | 5,005 | 4 | 825 | 0 | 18 km |
| Idlewood | 5,005 | 26 | 11,500 | 2 | 1.4 km |
| Bells Corners East | 4,963 | 20 | 8,295 | 3 | 1 km |
| Falkirk East | 4,961 | 27 | 13,940 | 1 | 0.3 km |
| Hastings Highlands | 4,957 | 3 | 300 | 0 | 15 km |
| Westdale South | 4,931 | 32 | 12,155 | 3 | 0.3 km |
| … | |||||
| McDougall | 3,002 | 9 | 1,755 | 2 | 11 km |
In 126 of the 272 others the count is higher. 173 towns of the 273 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 Idlewood
Schools in or within 3 km of each neighbouring town; distances in a straight line.
| Town | Schools | French | Catholic or independent | Nearest secondary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Idlewood | 26 | 2 | 8 | 1.4 km |
| Grand River South 1.6 km | 24 | 4 | 9 | 1 km |
| Centreville Chicopee 1.7 km | 31 | 4 | 12 | 1.1 km |
| Stanley Park 1.8 km | 37 | 2 | 11 | 1 km |
| Heritage Park 1.8 km | 30 | 0 | 9 | 0.7 km |
| Grand River North 2 km | 24 | 2 | 7 | 0.8 km |
| Rosemount 2.8 km | 32 | 0 | 8 | 0.3 km |
Next door, Stanley Park counts 37 schools, more than any other neighbour.
What this data can and can’t tell you
- The year. Listed for 2024-25.
- Boards and systems. Boards are set by language and, in Ontario, Alberta and Saskatchewan, by faith: public or Catholic.
- Bands, not ranks. Fifths are worked out among every Ontario school with a result on that measure, then averaged per school.
- What isn’t here. Ontario’s private schools aren’t in the open list; no province publishes inspection grades.
- Which schools count. The page takes in schools within Idlewood and up to 3 km past its boundary, so a school just over the line is still here.
- The kinds of school. An all-grade school teaches from kindergarten through high school; elementary and secondary schools split those years.
Questions about schools in Idlewood
How do I get a place at a school in Idlewood?
Ask the board which school serves your street, then register through it.
Which boards run the schools in Idlewood?
By number of schools: Waterloo Region DSB (16), Waterloo CDSB (8) and CS Viamonde (2).
How many schools are there in Idlewood?
Inside the town there are 0; another 26 sit within 3 km.
Is there a French-language school in Idlewood?
Yes, there are French-language schools: École secondaire David Saint-Jacques and École élémentaire David-Saint-Jacques.
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).