Nancy Campbell Academy is a small, international high school in Stratford, Ontario, where academic excellence meets moral and emotional growth. At NCA, students are known deeply. They are challenged to think critically, lead with integrity and serve others with joy. Our classrooms are small, our relationships are strong and our learning is rooted in purpose. We believe education should nurture the whole person. That’s why our students not only focus on study, they mentor younger peers, organize service projects, explore spiritual and ethical questions and create art that inspires. This is a school where happiness matters, belonging is real and leadership is measured by how you uplift others. We’re not only preparing students for university. We’re preparing them for a meaningful life.
Founded in 1994, Nancy Campbell Academy is a preparatory school intending to provide a strong academic program, a foundation in character development, and to deliver students prepared to succeed in university. Gordon Naylor, the founder, remains as principal, giving valuable consistency to leadership. Over that time, curriculum was developed to address the overarching concepts of world citizenship, consistent with the provisions of the United Nations' Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It can risk sounding lofty, though the school works to ground those ideals within the day to day. “If we can create an environment that is based in an ethical way of doing things,” says Naylor, “then we can demonstrate what we’re about, rather than just posting something on the wall saying this is what we’d like to be.” Certainly, reports from students, parents, and alumni vouch for the success of the approach. Students are encouraged not just to consider the concepts of ethical citizenship, but to think about what they, personally, can bring to the world. Academic achievement is a source of social capital within the setting; this is a place where it’s very much cool to be smart, engaged, and curious. The student body is diverse, and the program is designed specifically to address the needs of international learners arriving from overseas. The program, in turn, is strengthened by the breadth of and diversity of perspectives that they bring with them. The size of the student population—enrolment averages 80 students across the secondary grades—ensures that every member is known to faculty and peers, and feels part of the school community.
Gallery showcasing school life and general photos of Nancy Campbell Academy.
Field outside residence
Gym
Shooting a few hoops after school.
Jammin
ComTech room/ Fresh and Free Studios
Stage
Campus in a historical building in Stratford
Main Lobby
Upstairs Hallway
Science Classroom
Ukulele fun in residence common area.
Each student has a private room with a sink, mini fridge for snacks, a desk, bed and wardrobe. Each floor has common space for activities.
Muffins baked with love in residence.
U of Guelph Anatomy Lab
Pure Science student visit U of Guelph Cadaver Lab
Eruption!
Dr. Walkers mentors group gardens.
Plant a tree community program. A living legacy.
Anne Hathaway Retirement Home; students share articles they’d written about the senior
Impromptu Jazz session in the cafe.
Gallery showcasing specific locations and facilities found at Nancy Campbell Academy.
Focus |
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Academic |
Subject | offered |
---|---|
Evolution as consensus theory | |
Evolution as one of many equally viable theories | |
Evolution is not taught |
Subject | offered |
---|---|
Biology | |
Chemistry | |
Ecology | |
Geology | |
Meteorology | |
Physics | |
Physiology | |
Zoology |
Subject | offered |
---|---|
Canadian lit | |
American lit | |
European (continental) lit | |
World (non-Western) lit | |
English lit | |
Ancient lit |
Subject | offered |
---|---|
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 |
Expressive | |
Disciplined |
Subject | offered |
---|---|
Computer science | |
Robotics | |
Web design |
Flexible pacing style | offered |
---|---|
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 |
Students remain in a regular classroom for most of the day, but are pulled out for extra support from a qualified special education teacher.
Subject Ttype | offered |
---|---|
Learning strategy and study counselling; habit formation | |
Extra support and minor accommodations for children experiencing subclinical difficulties |
Subject Ttype | offered |
---|---|
Accommodations | |
Modifications | |
Extra support |
Read our guide to special needs schools and special education
Curriculum delivery: Acceleration and enrichment (There is an equal emphasis on acceleration and enrichment.)
Program | offered |
---|---|
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, NCA students perform an average of 2 hours of homework per night.
7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NCA | 60 mins | 60 mins | 90 mins | 90 mins | 120 mins | 120 mins |
Site Average | 51 mins | 55 mins | 70 mins | 80 mins | 97 mins | 105 mins |
Lettered or numbered grades | Gr. 7 to Gr. 12 |
Prose (narrative)-based feedback | Gr. 7 to Gr. 12 |
Habits and behaviour reporting | Gr. 7 to Gr. 12 |
Competitive sports: N/A
Recreational sports: 7
Nancy Campbell Academy offers 14 clubs and extracurricular programs.
7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | |
Day | $15,750 | |||||
Boarding (Domestic) | $33,775 | |||||
Boarding (International) | $38,775 |
Discounts
Discount Type | Enrolment Type | Amount |
---|---|---|
2nd child (sibling) | all students | $1,500 |
3rd child (sibling) | all students | $1,500 |
4th child (sibling) | all students | $1,500 |
Grade range that need-based aid is offered: | 7 to 12 |
Percentage of grade-eligible students receiving financial aid | 20% |
Average aid package size | $9,785 |
Percentage of total enrolment on financial aid | 20% |
Total aid available | $570,000 |
This school works with Nancy Campbell Academy Scholarship Foundation and Nancy Campbell World Endowment. for processing financial applications
Parents/guardians must submit a completed Scholarship/Bursary Application form and provide two years of Proof of Income for financial aid consideration, submit a student Letter of Intent: why they want to attend, how they’ll contribute to the community, and how financial aid will support their academic and service goals.
They may also be asked to provide a personal reference or letter of recommendation.
New students who demonstrate outstanding grades in Mathematics, the Sciences and in English are eligible for this scholarship award.
Complete application form.
Provide a letter of intent expressing how this financial award could be of benefit to the student. The student should include examples of how they could contribute to the NCA student body or school spirit (peer tutoring, heading academic clubs, etc.) through their academic abilities.
Award amounts vary with a sliding scale of $1000 to $4500 and are contingent upon the student's previous achievements, expressed goals, conduct, character and additional skills.
For more details, visit:www.nancycampbell.caNew or returning boarding students with proven financial need, and who display outstanding evidence of community service while achieving notable grades in their school work, are eligible. Preference is given to students serving in the Junior Youth Empowerment Programs. Returning students who have received the Nancy Campbell Academy Light Upon Light Award will automatically be reconsidered for this scholarship without re-applying.
Complete application form
Proven financial need
Evidence of community service
72% average or greater
For more details, visit:www.nancycampbell.caNew or returning students with a demonstrated commitment to social justice through the the arts.
Complete application form.
Provide a letter of intent expressing how this financial award could be of benefit to the student. The student should include examples of how they could contribute to the NCA student body or school spirit (arts-based clubs, school art projects, and initiatives that create awareness for social justice issues) through the arts.
Award amounts vary with a sliding scale of $1000 to $4500 and are contingent upon the student's submitted art pieces (any art medium), previous awards/achievements earned in the arts, expressed goals, conduct, character and additional skills.
For more details, visit:www.nancycampbell.caNew or returning students with proven financial need, and who display outstanding evidence of community service while achieving notable grades in their school work, are eligible.
These are sample scholarships available. More scholarships are available and amounts will vary.
If you are in need of financial assistance, speak with our admissions team and they will walk you through the process.
For more details, visit:https://www.nancycampbell.ca/Grades | Gender | Living Arrangement | Enrolment | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Group 1 | Gr. 7 to Gr. 12 | Coed | Day | 50 |
Group 2 | Gr. 7 to Gr. 12 | Coed | Boarding | 70 |
Total enrolment | 120 |
Average class size | 10 to 15 |
% of international students (total enrolment) | 65% |
Number of different nationalities within student population | 19 |
Five-day boarding program offered | No |
% in boarding (grade-eligible) | 62% |
7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Day Enrollment | 3 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 10 | 8 |
Boarding Enrollment | N/A | N/A | N/A | 5 | 24 | 14 |
Class Size | 5 | 5 | 10 | 14 | 18 | 18 |
Assessment | Required | Grades |
---|---|---|
Interview | 7 - 12 | |
SSAT | ||
SSAT (out of province) | ||
Entrance Exam(s) | ||
Entrance Essay |
Day students: Rolling
Boarding students: Rolling
Offer mid-year entry: Yes
Application fee: $0
Registration fee: $0
Deposit: $5,000
Application Requirements
Admission is based on three key areas:
Document Review: Includes transcripts or report cards from the last 2 years, IEP (if applicable), psychological assessments (if applicable), immunization records, and a copy of the student’s passport.
Student Interview: A 30-minute conversation with the Vice Principal or Head of School (in person, by phone, or Zoom). It’s not pass/fail—it’s a chance to get to know the student and ensure we’re the right fit.
Insight from Parents or Agents: Additional context may come from family or professionals involved in the student’s life.
Admission Process
Submit completed application form with:
2 years of transcripts
Passport photo page
Immunization record
IEP/psych assessments (if applicable)
Pay deposit: $5,000 for international students, $1,000 for domestic (applied to tuition)
Document review by school staff
Interview with the Principal or Vice Principal
Acceptance: Receive Letter of Invitation and final invoice
Upon payment: Receive Letter of Acceptance, Custodianship (for visa), and account statement
Arrival: Bring original documents (Study Permit, visa, transcripts, immunizations). Non-English documents must have official translations.
Fees & Refunds
No application fee
If not accepted: Full deposit refund
If visa denied: $4,000 refunded, $1,000 processing fee
If accepted but not attending: $500 processing fee
No refunds for expulsion or after semester starts
Withdrawals require 60 days’ notice
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 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Day Acceptance (Acceptance rate) | 0 (80%) | 0 (80%) | 0 (80%) | 0 (80%) | 0 (80%) | 0 (80%) |
Boarding Acceptance (Acceptance rate) | 0 (80%) | 0 (80%) | 0 (80%) | 0 (80%) | 0 (80%) | 0 (60%) |
Average graduating class size | 18 |
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) | 2 |
University of Waterloo | 16% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
University of Toronto | 14% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
York University | 13% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
McMaster University | 8% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Western University | 8% |
Nancy Campbell Academy Graduates’ Post-Secondary Studies:
Aggregate of All Schools’ Post-Secondary Studies:
Career planning | |
Internships |
Mentorship Program | |
University counseling |
Alumnus | Grad Year | Accomplishment |
---|---|---|
Dr. Munir Squires | 2000 | Assistant Professor at the Vancouver School of Economics, University of British Columbia. Dr. Squires has his PhD. in Economics from the London School of Economics. |
Hoda Paripoush | 2000 | Hoda Paripoush, owner of Sloane Tea, is one of the first certified tea sommeliers in North America and the first to receive accreditation from both Canadian and US tea associations. |
Jordan Kotras | 2001 | Jordan Kotras is an award winning assistant director based out of the United Kingdom. Some TV shows he's worked on include Netflix Exclusive Sex Education, Casual+y and Flying Tiger, among others. |
Dr. Amgad Squires | 2001 | Dr. Squires is a published biomedical physicist that has been featured in various academic journals including Nature, European Heart Journal and others. |
Lua Shayenne | 2001 | Lua Shayenne is a dance instructor at Ryerson University and an internationally acclaimed performance artist. |
Allister Foster | 2001 | Allister Foster, a Bahama native, is a cinema photographer. You've seen his work in Netflix shows Lost in Space, Lucifer and Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, as well as Fear The Walking Dead and more. |
Dr. Lita Cameron | 2001 | Dr. Lita Cameron is a medical physician based in Hamilton, Ontario. She is a graduate of Simon Fraser University, The University of Oxford and received her M.D. from McMaster University. |
Yoland Senik | 2005 | Yoland Senik is an award-winning architect that focuses on environmentally-friendly designs. She attended OCAD University and OTIS College of Art & Design in California, USA. |
Dr. Alexander Miloff | 2004 | Dr. Miloff lectures at Stockholm University. He has attended Queen's University, Brag University in Bangladesh, University of Ottawa and received a PhD. in Psychology from Stockholm University. |
Tahirih Thimm | 2002 | Tahirih Thimm received her LLD. in International and Comparative Law from Osgood Hall Law School. She has worked for the United Nations as a climate activist and currently teaches at Brescia College. |
Marjan Batchelor | 2005 | Marjan Batchelor received her JD. Law Certificate in Litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution with honors from Boston University School of Law. She is currently a senior associate at Mayer Brown. |
Dr. Francisco Aranda Godoy | 2005 | Dr. Godoy received his MD. in Family Medicine from Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. |
At Nancy Campbell Academy, we believe that young people are not just preparing for the future. They are already shaping it. Our task is to create the kind of learning environment that brings out the best in them: intellectually, emotionally and morally.
We combine academic excellence with something just as important: purpose. Here, students are challenged to grow not only in their studies, but in their character. They learn that true success comes from serving others, acting with integrity and striving for justice. That’s why our curriculum weaves together rigorous academics, meaningful service, daily mentorship and community connection. Every student has a role. Every voice matters.
We don’t wait for students to “get with the program”. We work to understand who they are and how they learn best. We hold high expectations because we believe deeply in their potential.
And because we’re a small school, no one gets lost. Instead, they are seen, supported and inspired to become the best version of themselves.
Education should be a joyful, transformative experience. At NCA, it is.
Warmly,
Gordon Naylor
Principal
February 13, 2020
Nancy Campbell Academy: Product of Soul
Coming to NCA entailed several firsts for me. It was my first time teaching at a school that emphasized academics and service equally...
Read full article
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