2026/27 Guelph High School Rankings
In many large cities you will have over a dozen high schools to potentially choose from, but in a smaller city like Guelph there are only four public high schools that serve the city (one new school just opened in 2026). However, it’s important to note that you really can’t go wrong with any as they all scored very well in this year’s rankings.
Still, it’s important to know more information about them and the neighbourhoods they serve. So, let’s take a closer look at the 2026/27 Guelph high school rankings. Then, feel free to Contact Me with any questions.
1. Centennial CVI
Score: 7.9/10
Neighbourhoods: Kortright Hills | Kortright West | Old University
Specialist Programs: Arts & Culture, Business, Construction, Environment, Health/Wellness, Information & Communications Technology, Manufacturing, Transportation
Opened in 1967 and located just northwest of the University of Guelph, Centennial CVI now just three neighbourhoods after the opening of Two Rivers Secondary in the south end of Guelph.
Centennial CVI retains its place at #1 this year with another very strong score! Along with the other two high schools, all three rank highly amongst those in Ontario. This makes the choice quite easy when it comes to moving to Guelph seeking a high-quality education for your child.
With a student population of ~1550, Centennial CVI also has a huge amount of extra-curricular activities and clubs for students to join and explore.
There are also over 20 different sports to join – offering everything from team sports to more niche ones like golf, wrestling and curling.
For anyone looking for the best high schools in Guelph, you can confidently aim for any neighbourhood south of Downtown and be sure to receive a top quality education. In fact, many of the elementary schools in the area are also top-ranked.
With their Catholic counterparts in Bishop Macdonell in south end Guelph also ranked #1, this is a great school zone to target for all families.
You can check out the following neighbourhood profiles for more information:
Kortright Hills | Kortright West | Old University
2. John F. Ross CVI
Score: 7.8/10
Neighbourhoods: North End | East End
Languages: English as a Second Language (ESL), French Immersion
Specialist Programs: Agriculture, Arts/Culture, Construction, Environment, Health/Wellness, Manufacturing, Transportation
John F Ross is located in the north end neighbourhood of St. George’s and covers the entire east and north end of Guelph east of the Speed River.
John F Ross is the largest high school in Guelph with just over 2000 students.
In the past it has finished well behind the other two high schools in Guelph, however in the last few years it’s closed the gap considerably. In fact, it had another massive jump this year with an incredible math score propelling it 0.4 points to #2 in this year’s rankings!
That means no matter where you live in Guelph, you can feel confident your child is receiving a great education.
Originally founded in 1956, John F Ross is the only high school in Guelph that offers French Immersion. Therefore, no matter where you live in Guelph, if your child wants to continue in the French Immersion program then they would attend John F Ross for high school. It also offers an ESL program which attracts students from all over Wellington County.
Along with offering seven Specialist High Skill Major (SHSM) programs, it also offers ~50 clubs, athletics and councils. This gives students an incredible opportunity to explore many different interests including niche ones.
It also has a wonderful auditorium, the E.L. Fox Auditorium, that features a complete sound system, microphones with stands, 15 lighting areas plus coloured lights and additional room for custom lights, a projector screen and projector system.
There are many fantastic areas to live in both the east and north ends of Guelph, so I would highly recommend checking out the full neighbourhood profiles: North End | East End
3. Guelph CVI
Score: 7.6/10
Neighbourhoods: West End | Downtown | Onward Willow | Exhibition Park
Specialist Programs: Arts & Culture, Business, Construction, Environment, Health/Wellness, Horticulture and Landscaping, Hospitality & Tourism, Manufacturing, Transportation, Sports, Information & Communications Technology
Guelph CVI is located near the outer edges of Downtown Guelph and serves the western half of Guelph – specifically anything west of the Speed River and north of the Eramosa River (which meets at Downtown Guelph).
The tradition of this school can be felt in its architecture and hallways. This is Guelph’s first and oldest high school and the third oldest high school in the province. Established in 1886, Guelph CVI has served generations of Guelph students at the highest standard of academic excellence.
With a student population of ~1600, Guelph CVI is a tight-knit community with an incredible amount of clubs and student activities for students to join and explore. They also have 11 specialist programs as part of the SHSM (Specialist High Skill Major) program.
When I look back to my own high school experience, the amount of activities and extra-curricular opportunities absolutely paled in comparison. It’s really exciting to be able to send your child to a place that’s focused on not only academic excellence, but helping to foster well-rounded, inclusive individuals.
Check out all of the extra-curricular clubs on offer at Guelph CVI. This is an absolutely wonderful opportunity to help be a part of one of Guelph’s oldest institutions.
To get access to Guelph CVI, you can live in one of many great neighbourhoods in Guelph. Make sure to check out all of the neighbourhood profiles for the school catchment area:
West End | Downtown | Onward Willow | Exhibition Park | Old University
TWO RIVERS Secondary School
A special note on Two Rivers Secondary for anyone looking for information. In 2026/27, the high school opened at the corner of Arkell & Victoria in Guelph’s south end.
This school will now serve the neighbourhoods of Kortright East, Westminster Woods, Pineridge and Clairfields.
There won’t be a school score/ranking available until next year.
College Heights Secondary School
A special note on College Heights Secondary for anyone looking for information. In 2024 the school shifted to serve as an alternative education school for students in Grades 11-12. This means that anyone now entering Grade 9 would attend their local high school instead.
You can read all about the changes here – College Heights Secondary
Get All The School Rankings in Guelph
To see the school rankings for the rest of the city, simply scroll down below to download a free copy of this year’s guides OR use any of the links below.
