When looking for the right elementary school, there are many factors to consider before committing to one. The Frasier Institute provides ranking on academic scores for 3rd and 6th grades, and the top five in this ranking are listed here. However, parents may be interested in knowing what the parent-teacher relationships are like at the school or what extracurricular options are available to their children. Comparing performance in academic testing is just one of the criteria to consider when looking for an elementary school in the town of Huntsville.

Riverside Public School

Riverside is a smaller school found near its river namesake and has received the Frasier Institute’s highest rating for schools in this area. General testing scores have remained steady over the last few years, with a small gender gap in achievement. Riverside places great emphasis on parent involvement in the students’ educational experience. Many classrooms have their own web pages to encourage greater parent and student interaction. The school also provides a wide range of physical activities for its students, from basketball to skiing to cross country opportunities.

Spruce Glen School

With a supportive parent council team and low teacher turn around, Spruce Glen has remained stable in academic testing as reported by the Frasier Institute, scoring right at or slightly above the standard expected level. One of the school’s strongest programs is the special education program which utilizes a variety of teaching strategies to provide a well-rounded education for its students. Spruce Glen is one of the larger schools in the Huntsville area.

Saint Mary’s Catholic School

Located near Hunter’s Bay, Saint Mary’s instills Catholic values into the Ontario Curriculum. The school ranks third in overall academic scores, floating right around the standard rating. Some of the programs that make Saint Mary’s stand out include the healthy snack program which allows volunteer parents to serve nutritious snacks to students, the Making Good Tracks program which seeks to serve native cultures of the area, and French as a Second Language. Saint Mary’s is a part of the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board and serves students through the 8th grade.

Huntsville School

Huntsville is a larger elementary school with deep roots in the town. The school has strived to meet the standard score for quite a few years and, as a result, is currently implementing its School Improvement Plan to better serve its students with a focus on writing, early reading, and operational sense. Students at Huntsville enjoy two nutritional breaks each day, along with two separate recess times.

Pine Glen School

Pine Glen is also a part of the Trillium Lakelands District School Board. The Frasier Institute reports that Pine Glen students are working towards the provincial standard score but have yet to achieve that standard in the last five years. The school places importance on developing healthy character traits and on parents becoming actively involved in their children’s education. Students have daily physical action, nutritional breaks, and the opportunity to participate in a variety of extracurricular activities, including sports and student council. Pine Glen also hosts a before and after school program sponsored by Muskoka Family Focus.

While comparing academic scores is not the only factor to consider when selecting an elementary school, the Frasier Institute has provided one way to objectively rank the schools available in Huntsville. It is important to consider the many facets that make each school unique, such as opportunities for involvement and extracurricular activities. Choosing the school best suited for the child is a very personal one, and this comparison of Huntsville schools can help in making that decision.