Elmwood School

What Elmwood School does

Elmwood School is an independent, not-for-profit all-girls day school located in the Rockcliffe Park neighborhood of Ottawa, Ontario. Founded in 1915 by Theodora Philpot as Rockcliffe Preparatory School, Elmwood serves approximately 385 students from Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12 across four divisions: Pre-Kindergarten, Junior School (Grades 1-5), Middle School (Grades 6-8), and Senior School (Grades 9-12). The school is operationally structured around 124 employees, draws its student body from 45+ countries (with a notable international and diplomatic family presence in Canada's capital), and operates under a premium positioning with annual tuition ranging from $18,800 (Pre-K) to $37,650 (Grades 1-12).

The school's core academic product is the International Baccalaureate continuum — Elmwood is the first school in North America accredited for all three IB programme levels (PYP, MYP, DP), consistently ranking in the top 3% of IB schools in North America and ranked among the top 25 private schools in Canada. It is also one of only 19 schools in Canada to hold the Apple Distinguished School designation, with a 1:1 device program and technology-integrated pedagogy. The underlying technology stack is light on proprietary IP: Veracross serves as the administrative hub for student records, payments, and forms, while Toddle functions as the classroom communication platform for Junior School. Average class size is 15, with 40 faculty holding advanced degrees.

Revenue is generated primarily through annual tuition and ancillary fee streams including before/after care, transportation, summer day camps ($395/week), March Break camps ($425/week), Elmwood Edge Tutoring, and the on-campus Elmwood Bistro dining program. The school supplements tuition with an annual fundraising campaign (Elmwood Fund) and gala. Customer acquisition runs through direct admissions (Veracross portal), campus tours, and word-of-mouth referrals within the Ottawa parent community and international parent networks. Outcomes are strong: 100% university acceptance rate, $15.2M in scholarships for the Class of 2025, and 37% of the Class of 2026 pursuing STEM programs.

Name

Elmwood School

Legal name

Elmwood School

Website

https://elmwood.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1915

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Elmwood School is an independent, not-for-profit all-girls Pre-K through Grade 12 day school in Ottawa, Canada. The first North American school to offer all three IB programmes, it serves 385 students from 45+ countries with $18,800-$37,650 annual tuition and strong university placement outcomes.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Independent Private K-12 Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110), Educational Support Services (6117), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)

akta.pro primary industry

Nonsectarian Independent Day Schools (EDAJABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community Service & Service-Learning Programs (School-Run) (EDAJAJAI), Full-Day Nursery Programs (EDACACAD)

Keywords

• Private girls education
• International Baccalaureate school
• Independent day school
• K-12 all-girls schooling
• IB continuum education

Headquarters

HQ city

Ottawa

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Academic Tuition: Primary revenue stream from tuition fees for Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12. Tuition ranges from $18,800 (Pre-K) to $37,650 (Grades 1-12 domestic). Visa students pay same tuition plus $5,000 deposit. Payment plans available with multiple instalment options.
2. Summer Discovery Camps: Revenue from summer day camp programs for girls ages 4-13. Weekly camps run June-August at $395/week. Includes all activities, meals, and materials.
3. March Break Camp: Week-long March Break camp for Elmwood families at $425/week for girls ages 4-10. Includes all activities, supervision, snacks, and lunch.
4. Summer Credit Courses: High school credit courses offered during summer months for academic advancement or recovery
5. Before and After Care: Extended care services for Junior School students including before-school care (7 AM) and after-school care (until 5-6 PM)
6. Transportation Programme: Bus transportation services for students across Ottawa region
7. Elmwood Fund & Gala: Annual fundraising campaign and gala event generating donations from families, alumni, and community

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Elmwood School is an independent, not-for-profit all-girls day school delivering Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12 education structured around the full International Baccalaureate (IB) continuum (PYP, MYP, DP). The school also offers co-curricular programs including Summer Discovery Camps, March Break Camp, Elmwood Edge Tutoring, the Student Success Centre, University Counselling, before/after care, transportation, dining services, athletics, arts, and an alumni networking platform. Supplementary revenue is generated from ancillary services such as camps, extended care, and transportation for the broader Ottawa community.

Product overview

Elmwood School is an independent all-girls day school offering Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12 education. The core academic program is structured into four divisions: Pre-Kindergarten, Junior School (Grades 1-5), Middle School (Grades 6-8), and Senior School (Grades 9-12), all aligned with the International Baccalaureate (IB) Programme - making Elmwood the first school in North America accredited for all three IB levels (PYP, MYP, DP). Supplementary programs include Summer Discovery Camps and March Break Camp for girls ages 4-13, the Elmwood Edge Tutoring program, a Student Success Centre, University Counselling services, the Elmwood Bistro dining program, transportation services, and before/after care. The school also offers co-curricular activities including the Elmwood Crew Rowing Team, theatre performances, and various clubs. An alumni networking platform called Elmwood Connect serves the 7,000+ member alumni network.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Pre-Kindergarten Program Early childhood education program for children ages 2.5 and older, offering a play-based inquiry approach aligned with the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP). Delivered on campus in Ottawa and intended for families seeking premium early-years education in an all-girls environment.
• Junior School (Grades 1-5) Elementary education program for Grades 1-5 following the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP), focusing on academic excellence, social-emotional development, and inquiry-based learning. Designed for families in Ottawa seeking an all-girls elementary school experience.
• Middle School (Grades 6-8) Middle years program for Grades 6-8 following the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP), emphasizing critical thinking, creativity, and global engagement. Targeted at families seeking an all-girls middle school program in Ottawa.
• Senior School (Grades 9-12) High school program for Grades 9-12 following the IB Diploma Programme (DP), preparing students for university with rigorous academics, leadership opportunities, and university counselling support. Designed for families seeking an all-girls high school education leading to top-tier university placements.
• International Baccalaureate Programme Full IB continuum program including Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP), and Diploma Programme (DP) - the first school in North America accredited for all three levels. Available to all Elmwood students across the four school divisions.
• Summer Discovery Camps Weekly summer camp programs for girls ages 4-13, featuring themed weeks including Outdoor Adventures, Art Explosion, Super Science, Animal Adventures, and Girls in STEM. Camps run 9am-4pm with drop-off from 8:30am, priced at $395/week and including lunches, snacks, programming, activities, excursions, early drop-off, and camp t-shirt.
• March Break Camp Week-long March Break camp for Elmwood students aged 4-10, offering creative arts, hands-on activities, and outdoor fun. Runs full day 9am-4pm with complimentary before/after care included, priced at $425/week for the March 9-13, 2026 session.
• Student Success Centre Academic support hub offering Success Studios, Elmwood Edge Tutoring, Success Coaching, Learn to Learn, Early Intervention Planning, and Exam Prep. Available to Elmwood students across all grade levels for tutoring and learning support.
• University Counselling Comprehensive guidance service supporting Elmwood Senior School students with university applications, scholarship deadlines, and post-secondary planning through various application portals. Delivered by dedicated staff including Ms. Bartlett.
• Summer Credit Courses High school credit courses offered during summer months for academic advancement or credit recovery, enabling Elmwood students to progress in their studies or recover credits outside the regular academic year.
• Before and After Care Extended care services for Junior School students including before-school care from 7:00 AM with breakfast, and after-school care until 5:00 PM (JK-Grade 5) or 6:00 PM (Pre-K). Targeted at dual-income working families needing flexible childcare.
• Transportation Program Bus service providing safe transport for Elmwood students from various Ottawa neighborhoods including Manotick, Chelsea, Orleans, and Kanata. Available as an optional add-on for enrolled families.
• Elmwood Bistro (Dining Program) On-campus dining program offering nutritious, house-made meals and à la carte items for Elmwood students from Grades 1-12. Included with tuition for Pre-K through Grade 12 students.
• Elmwood Connect (Alumni Platform) Official alumni networking platform enabling reconnection with classmates, mentoring, professional networking, and access to job postings and school events. Serves Elmwood's 7,000+ member alumni network.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% university acceptance rate
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• International Baccalaureate OrganizationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerElmwood is the first school in North America to be accredited for all three levels of the IB Programme (PYP, MYP, DP). The school implements the full IB curriculum and has achieved top 3% rankings in North America. This is a core strategic partnership defining the school's academic identity.
• Apple Inc.coreTechnology or IntegrationAs an Apple Distinguished School, Elmwood has a deep technology partnership with Apple featuring 1:1 device programs, integrated Apple technology across curriculum, and recognition as one of only 19 Apple Distinguished Schools in Canada.
• Canadian Accredited Independent Schools (CAIS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCAIS accreditation validates Elmwood's academic standards, governance, and operations against rigorous national independent school benchmarks.
• Round SquareminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRound Square membership provides Elmwood students access to global exchange programmes, service projects, and conferences emphasizing experiential learning and global citizenship.
• VeracrosscoreTechnology or IntegrationVeracross is Elmwood's administrative hub for student records, applications, payments, and forms. All admissions applications and family communications flow through this platform.

Scale indicators19 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights8 records

Direct peers

• Halifax Grammar School: Atlantic Canada's leading independent school offering IB programme. Comparable as a CAIS-accredited independent school with rigorous academics; Elmwood's new Middle/Senior Principal previously served there as Head of Prep.
• Branksome Hall: Independent day and boarding school for girls in Toronto offering IB Diploma Programme. Directly comparable to Elmwood as a leading Canadian girls' private school with strong university placement track record.
• St. Mildred's-Lightbourn School: Oakville-based independent girls' school offering IB programme from Junior Kindergarten through Grade 12. Direct peer noted in Elmwood management team backgrounds; similar premium all-girls positioning with full IB continuum.
• Bishop Strachan School: Toronto-based independent day and boarding school for girls with IB programme offerings. Directly comparable as a premium Canadian girls' private school serving similar affluent families seeking rigorous academics and leadership development.
• Havergal College: Toronto-based independent girls' school offering JK-12 education. Comparable in mission and premium positioning to Elmwood, with similar all-girls learning environment and university preparation outcomes.
• Trafalgar Castle School: Whitby-based independent girls' day and boarding school. Direct peer in the Ontario girls' private school segment; comparable in mission, with Elmwood leadership having prior experience there.

Regional players

• Upper Canada College: Toronto-based prestigious boys' independent school with IB programme. Comparable in premium positioning, academic excellence, and brand strength, but serves boys rather than the all-girls segment Elmwood occupies.
• Ashbury College: Ottawa-based co-ed independent school offering IB Diploma Programme. Operates in the same Ottawa private school market as Elmwood but serves co-ed families rather than the all-girls niche.
• Crescent School: Toronto-based boys' independent school offering IB programme. Comparable in CAIS accreditation tier and premium independent school positioning, though focused on boys' education rather than all-girls.

Others

• National Coalition of Girls Schools: Industry association of which Elmwood is a member. Not a competitor but a peer organization representing the girls' school segment, providing advocacy, research, and networking that supports Elmwood's positioning and admissions messaging.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ElmwoodDotCa
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@ElmwoodSchool
• Facebookfacebook.com/ElmwoodSchool
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/elmwood-school
• Instagraminstagram.com/elmwoodschool

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Elmwood School