For more than 110 years, Elmwood School has educated girls in Ottawa, helping them find their voices and build lifelong confidence. Founded in 1915 and located in the Rockcliffe Park neighbourhood, the independent day school serves 380 students from pre-kindergarten to Grade 12 across a two-building campus.
Today, the institution is preparing for its next major chapter: A bold campus expansion project that will create transformative spaces designed specifically to foster student leadership, creativity and collaboration.
A unique talent pipeline for Ottawa – and global – businesses
As the only school in the National Capital Region to offer the full International Baccalaureate (IB) continuum – running from the Primary Years Programme through to the IB Diploma Programme – Elmwood offers a unique talent pipeline. The global community recognizes the IB framework as the gold standard in education, prioritizing critical thinking, inquiry and academic excellence.
This rigorous framework yields clear results when paired with an environment tailored for young women. Research from the International Coalition of Girls’ Schools (ICGS) highlights that students in an all-girls environment report higher levels of self-confidence, a stronger sense of purpose, and greater persistence in mastering difficult tasks. While more than 40 per cent of Elmwood graduates pursue post-secondary STEM programs, this ICGS research shows that STEM is just one facet of much broader success across all fields, equipping young women to lead in any career path.
The school’s leadership emphasizes that its all-girls environment allows students to thrive academically and socially. Research indicates that in these settings, girls are much more likely to take competitive leadership roles and engage confidently in all subjects. Rather than focusing solely on university placement, Elmwood aims to prepare students for life by weaving core values like accountability, respect and collaboration into daily school interactions.
Extensive support and financial aid programs
Recognizing the high-pressure schedules of working professionals, Elmwood also builds extensive support systems for modern families. The school manages daily logistics by providing student transportation, healthy meals and snacks prepared directly on-site, and flexible before- and after-care programs. Beyond regular classes, students can participate in diverse co-curricular activities, competitive athletics and enriching summer camps.
To ensure these opportunities remain open to talented students from all backgrounds, Elmwood also runs a robust financial aid program that features both merit- and needs-based awards.
Parents invited to experience Elmwood for themselves
This fall, Elmwood invites prospective families to experience its warm community firsthand: The school will host a series of admissions events, including guided campus tours, information sessions, and informal coffee mornings with members of the leadership team.
These gatherings give parents a direct opportunity to meet faculty, engage with students and learn about the admissions process. Families can view the upcoming event schedule and register online at elmwood.ca/admissions.
