We foster courage, community & compassion at our international boarding and day high school, with a maximum capacity of 80 students. Offering the Ontario Secondary School Diploma, grades 9 – 12, our students learn to reach beyond their grasp in a safe & inclusive environment. Since 2012 we have maintained a 100% placement rate of our graduates to their 1st-choice university program at their 1st-choice world ranked university. Our robust academics ensures their success in university; our care ensures their success in life.
Merrick Preparatory School is one of those hidden gems of the academic world. Housed in an historical inn, nestled within a smaller Ontario town, it has all the benefits of being small as well all the benefits of being proximate to some of nation’s most prominent urban centres and a wealth of notable post-secondary institutions. The school is positioned to support the needs specific to students arriving from overseas, including ESL support and university placement services. The academic program is firmly focused on preparing students for success at university in North America. So, it checks all of the important academic boxes and then some. There’s also a sense that learning isn’t only about what we take away from the experience, but also who we are while we’re here; how we spend our days is how we spend our lives, and students at Merrick spend their days in a spotless, beautiful setting alongside mentors and peers who share the experience with them. It’s one of those schools that is so charming, inviting, and personal, that you just want to sit and stay. As such, it’s a particular draw for students arriving in Canada looking for an authentic experience of the life and culture of the country. It’s a school designed for students to feel known within, and to feel rooted and at home. It succeeds in all of that.
From the review: “From the outset, the founders of Merrick Prep deliberately intended to have an international student body, with limited enrolment to ensure small class sizes for focused, individualized attention.” “Students feel known by teachers and staff even before they arrive at the school, and parents need not worry about their son or daughter because they know the level of care they receive at Merrick Prep is on par with what they would receive at home.” “The cultural diversity within Merrick Prep is one
Read The Our Kids Review of Merrick Preparatory SchoolAdditional notes: For our boarding students we provide transportation to and from the airport. For our Day students transportation can be arranged at a cost recovery basis.
Gallery showcasing school life and general photos of Merrick Preparatory School.
Gallery showcasing specific locations and facilities found at Merrick Preparatory School.
Focus |
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Academic |
Subject | offered |
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Evolution as consensus theory | |
Evolution as one of many equally viable theories | |
Evolution is not taught |
Subject | offered |
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Biology | |
Chemistry | |
Ecology | |
Geology | |
Meteorology | |
Physics | |
Physiology | |
Zoology |
Subject | offered |
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Canadian lit | |
American lit | |
European (continental) lit | |
World (non-Western) lit | |
English lit | |
Ancient lit |
Subject | offered |
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Chinese-Cantonese | |
Chinese-Mandarin | |
French | |
German | |
Greek | |
Italian | |
Japanese | |
Hebrew | |
Latin | |
Russian | |
Spanish | |
ESL |
Subject | offered |
---|---|
Acting | |
Dance | |
Drama/Theatre | |
Graphic Design | |
Music | |
Visual Arts |
Subject | offered |
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Computer science | |
Robotics | |
Web design |
Flexible pacing style | offered |
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Subject-streaming (tracking) | |
Multi-age classrooms as standard | |
Ability-grouping (in-class) as common | |
Frequent use of cyber-learning (at-their-own-pace) | |
Regular guided independent study opportunities | |
Differentiated assessment |
Merrick Preparatory offers no/limited support for students with learning difficulties or special needs.
Subject Ttype | offered |
---|---|
Learning strategy and study counselling; habit formation | |
Extra support and minor accommodations for children experiencing subclinical difficulties |
Subject Ttype | offered |
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Accommodations | |
Modifications | |
Extra support |
Read our guide to special needs schools and special education
Curriculum delivery: This information is not currently available.
Program | offered |
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Custom subject enrichment (special arrangement) | |
Custom curriculum compacting (special arrangement) | |
Guided independent study (custom gifted arrangement) | |
Cyber-learning opportunities (custom gifted arrangement) | |
Formalized peer coaching opportunities (specifically for gifted learners to coach others) | |
Custom subject acceleration (special arrangement) | |
Career exploration (custom gifted arrangement) | |
Project-based learning (custom gifted arrangement) | |
Mentorships (custom gifted arrangement) |
In grade Gr. 12, Merrick Preparatory students perform an average of >2 hours of homework per night.
9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Merrick Preparatory | 60 mins | 120 mins | 160 mins | 160 mins |
Site Average | 69 mins | 80 mins | 97 mins | 105 mins |
Lettered or numbered grades | Gr. 9 to Gr. 12 |
Prose (narrative)-based feedback | Gr. 9 to Gr. 12 |
Academic achievement reporting | Gr. 9 to Gr. 12 |
Habits and behaviour reporting | Gr. 9 to Gr. 12 |
Parent-teacher meetings | Gr. 9 to Gr. 12 |
Competitive sports: 7
Recreational sports: 19
Merrick Preparatory School offers 16 clubs and extracurricular programs.
9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | |
Day (Domestic) | $17,000 | $18,900 | ||
Boarding | $56,900 | $58,900 |
Discounts
Discount Type | Enrolment Type | Amount |
---|---|---|
2nd child (sibling) | Boarding | $2,000 |
2nd child (sibling) | Day | $1,000 |
Grade range that need-based aid is offered: | 9 to 12 |
Percentage of grade-eligible students receiving financial aid | 15% |
Average aid package size | $5,000 |
Percentage of total enrolment on financial aid | 15% |
Total aid available | $100,000 |
This school works with Apple Financial Inc. for processing financial applications
Applications must be completed in full for evaluation by the Selection Committee. All applications for financial aid must complete the Apple Financial Services application for evaluation by the Financial Aid Committee.
Grades | Gender | Living Arrangement | Enrolment | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Group 1 | Gr. 9 to Gr. 12 | Coed | Boarding | 60 |
Group 2 | Gr. 9 to Gr. 12 | Coed | Day | 20 |
Total enrolment | 80 |
Average class size | 6 to 10 |
% of international students (total enrolment) | 80% |
Number of different nationalities within student population | 20 |
Five-day boarding program offered | Yes |
% in boarding (grade-eligible) | 71% |
9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Day Enrollment | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
Boarding Enrollment | 10 | 10 | 15 | 15 |
Class Size | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
Assessment | Required | Grades |
---|---|---|
Interview | 9 - 12 | |
SSAT | ||
SSAT (out of province) | ||
Entrance Exam(s) | 9 - 12 | |
Entrance Essay | 9 - 12 |
Day students: Rolling
Boarding students: Rolling
Offer mid-year entry: Yes
Application fee: $200
Registration fee: N/A
Deposit: $4,000
Application Process
Thank you for your interest in joining the Merrick Preparatory School family. We give careful consideration to every applicant. Each application is reviewed closely and considered both as a student and as a unique individual. We take into account your past achievements and look at your future potential for contribution to Merrick Preparatory School and the greater social good.
While admission to Merrick Preparatory School is on a rolling basis, the Admissions Office encourages students to begin the process during the fall and spring of the preceding academic year. We can process applications all throughout the year but it is encouraged that students apply ahead of time to allow at least 16 weeks for the Canadian Visa and Study Permit application process.
The following 6 steps are required to complete the application process:
Step 1: Application and Application Fee
Navigate to www.merrickprep.com and click on the Admissions Menu. Follow the detailed step-by-step instructions and complete the Application Form in its entirety. Upon completion, submit via email to [email protected] along with the $200 non-refundable application fee. You can also contact us directly at [email protected] to request the Application Form or for additional information.
Step 2: Student Interview
As soon as our Admissions Office receives your application and application fee, we will be in touch with you to set up an interview in person, via Skype, Facetime, QQ, C'Me, telephone or other convenient medium. Interviews generally last 15 to 20 minutes and are informal, allowing us to get to know you.
Step 3: Official School Transcripts
We require a copy of the applicant’s final transcripts from their previous academic years starting from grade 9, in addition to any report cards from the current in-progress academic year. A final transcript from the current academic year must be submitted once the academic year has been completed. For those applying to grade 9 we require your final grade 8 report card.
Step 4: Personal Profile
Applicants are required to submit a 300 word personal profile in their own handwriting, outlining their academic goals and interests, extracurricular activities, community involvement and areas of distinction or achievement. The Personal Profile can be completed during the Student Interview, or the Personal Profile form can be emailed to the applicant. Personal Profiles are to be submitted to [email protected].
Step 5: Confidential Reference
The Confidential Reference will be emailed to you after the application form and application fee have been submitted. Once you receive the Confidential Reference it must be submitted to your Principal or English teacher for completion and returned to [email protected] directly from the Principal or English teacher. Detailed instructions are provided on the Confidential Reference form.
Step 6: Entrance Exam
All applicants are required to complete an Entrance Exam. The exam will be sent to you with instructions from our Admissions Office once the application form and application fee have been submitted. The Entrance Exam is a timed 30 minute online exam.
Please Note: the Steps of the Application Process may be executed in any order once the application form and application fee are received.
Once we receive all of the above six admissions requirements, the selection committee will review and evaluate your application. The committee will make a decision with 24 hours of receiving the final application requirement, and within 48 hours you will be notified of the selection committee’s decision.
Should you have any questions, or if the Admissions Team can be of any assistance in this process, please do not hesitate to contact us at [email protected] or + 1.613.269.2064 ext. 471.
We look forward to receiving your application.
Admissions Timeline to our Academic Programs
While we do take applications on a rolling basis throughout the year, we have limited capacity and the school may fill by April - May each year. We also have restrictions on when students can join our academic program.
Semester One (September to January):
Students admitted to Merrick Preparatory School arriving after the Canadian Thanksgiving weekend (typically the second full weekend in October) can join our English as a second language program, but are too late to gain credits in our Semester One academic program.
Semester Two (February to June):
Student admitted to Merrick Preparatory School arriving three weeks after the start of Semester Two (typically after February 21) can join our English as a second language program, but are too late to gain credits in our Semester Two academic program.
This is the percentage of applicants typically accepted into the school. So if 50 students are admitted out of 100 applicants, the school has an overall acceptance rate of 50%.
Student Entry Points
This shows approximately how many openings there are likely to be in each grade in a typical year, as well as the estimated acceptance rate for each grade level.
Student Type | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Day Acceptance (Acceptance rate) | 5 - 10 (95%) | 5 - 10 (95%) | 1 - 5 (95%) | 1 - 5 (90%) |
Boarding Acceptance (Acceptance rate) | 10 - 15 (95%) | 10 - 15 (95%) | 5 - 10 (95%) | 5 - 10 (90%) |
ESchool Acceptance (Acceptance rate) | 5 - 10 (95%) | 5 - 10 (95%) | 1 - 5 (90%) | 1 - 5 (90%) |
Average graduating class size | 15 |
Students accepted into post-secondary studies upon graduation | N/A |
Percentage of students who attend post-secondary institutions outside of Canada | N/A |
Students who attended a Ivy+ school Number of students in the past 5 years that that attended one of Harvard, Yale, Princeton, University of Pennsylvania, Dartmouth, Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Stanford, University of Chicago, Oxford or Cambridge (UK) | N/A |
University of Toronto | 50% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Carleton University | 15% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Queen's University | 10% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
University of British Columbia | 10% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
University of Edinburgh | 5% |
Merrick Preparatory School Graduates’ Post-Secondary Studies:
Aggregate of All Schools’ Post-Secondary Studies:
Career planning | |
Internships | N/A |
Mentorship Program | N/A |
University counseling |
What Merrick Preparatory says:
I am delighted to welcome you to Merrick Preparatory School! We provide a world class education for grade 9, 10, 11 and 12 students wishing to gain entry into the finest universities in North America and abroad. We have a 100% university acceptance rate and over 30% of our graduates receive scholarships exceeding $5,000.
Our school is nestled on the shores of the Rideau Waterway - a UNESCO World Heritage Site - in Merrickville, Ontario, a safe, quiet and clean village where students can focus uninterrupted on their studies. Home to nationally and internationally renowned artists and named "The Most Beautiful Village in Canada", the warmth of this historic town provides an idyllic family environment for learning. Just 45 minutes from Ottawa, the nation's capital, our students have access to Parliament Hill - seat of our federal government, our national museums, national art gallery, national performing arts centre, Rideau Canal - the worlds longest skate-way, two universities, two colleges and the spectacular National Capital Commission's Gatineau Park.
Our boarding students enjoy luxurious rooms with en suite bathroom, fine dining and some of the best teachers this country has to offer. Our day students share classes with students from around the world providing a dynamic and truly international education. With an average class size of 10 students and over 140 hours of in-class instruction per credit course, our students excel and reach beyond their grasp. Individualized and focused attention, academic differentiation combined with personal and social growth result in students who become courageous, resilient and compassionate global citizens.
Come join the Merrick Preparatory School family. We are Distinctly Canadian and Uniquely Global. Your success starts here!
Sincerely,
Kevin Farrell, Head of School
October 18, 2021
Merrick Prep awarded for "Secondary Learning International Impact"
Merrick Prep received The PIEoneer 2021 International Award to recognize our strong academic focus and support for our students.
Read full article
June 9, 2020
Merrick Prep > The little school that could
The NG Times published our story, sharing all of the measurements and activities during these extraordinary times
Read full article
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