Elementary and secondary education in Canada | School life in Canada

Education in Canada usually starts with kindergarten followed by grades 1 to 12. By law, children must go to school starting at the age of 5 or 6 and until they are between 16 and 18, depending on the province or territory.

Students go from primary to secondary school between grades 6 and 8, depending on the province or territory. Students who successfully complete secondary school get a high school diploma.

The school year usually begins at the end of August and finishes toward the end of June. Children go to school from Monday to Friday during the school year (except during holidays). If you and your family arrive in Canada during the school year, contact your local school board to find a place for your children.

Since Canada is a bilingual country, English-language and French-language schools are available across the country (even in areas where one language is more commonly spoken than the other).

You should contact the ministry or department of education of the province or territory in which you will be living to learn more about English-language and French-language education options that may be available to you.

It is up to parents to choose the type of schooling for their children. Parents can choose to send their children to free public schools or pay to send them to private schools. In many areas, parents can choose between English and French school options. Parents also have the right to educate children at home, rather than in a school. For more information, contact the ministry responsible for education in your province or territory.

School boards

School boards (sometimes called school districts, school divisions or district education councils) manage the schools within a certain local area. School boards are responsible for things like:

• administration;
• facilities;
• personnel; and
• student enrolment.

The public elects the people who run a school board (called trustees). They hold regular meetings where members of the public can express their views on how schools in their area are managed.

Enrolling in school

To enrol your child in elementary or secondary school, contact your local school board. Since school boards usually manage many schools, you may be able to choose the school that your children will go to.

To get into the school you prefer, make sure to enrol them well before the beginning of the school year. If you are enrolling your children in a Canadian school for the first time, the school or school board will assess them to determine what level they should be placed at and whether they need free support such as English or French language classes. There are also settlement workers in many schools who can help.

School life in Canada

Teachers: Teachers usually have university education.

Mixed classes: In most schools, boys and girls learn together in the same classroom. Some private schools are for boys or girls only.

School curriculum: Every province and territory has official course work that students will be taught in each grade.

Religion: Some provinces have separate Catholic public schools, which students of any religion may attend. Most communities also have private schools with religious affiliations.

Textbooks and school supplies: Schools lend textbooks to their students. In general, you will have to buy school supplies such as pencils and paper for your children.

Special needs: Students may get help if they have special needs due to a:

• physical;
• cognitive;
• psychological;
• emotional;
• behavioural;
• linguistic; or
• other difficulty.

Report cards: Children will get a report card several times during the school year that will tell you about their progress.

Missing school: In Canada, children must go to school every day. If your child is absent from school because of an illness or for personal reasons, you must tell the school.

Getting to school: Children can travel to and from school:

• with their parents
• on their own (by walking or by public transportation) when they are older
• by school bus (sometimes provided by the school at little or no cost to parents)

Ask the school for information on school buses.

School closures: Schools sometimes close for one or more days in the winter because of snowstorms or severe cold. If this happens, you will hear about the closing:

• through the school
• on the radio
• on television

Dress code: In general, children must follow a school dress code. Some schools require children to wear a uniform.

Extracurricular activities: These are activities that take place outside school hours (before school, after school or during lunch). These activities include sports, arts, hobby clubs, etc. Each school offers different extracurricular activities to students. These activities can help your child:

• make friends
• get used to the Canadian school system
• gain interests in areas outside school

Field trips: Schools organize field trips outside the school for students to visit places that are relevant to their education. Field trips can be to places such as:  

• museums
• workplaces
• cultural institutions
• city neighbourhoods

Bullying: Term is defined as “wilful, repeated aggressive behaviour with negative intent used by a child to maintain power over another child.” In schools across Canada, bullying should not be tolerated. If your child is a victim of bullying, talk to their teacher or principal. Learn about bullying, prevention programs and more by visiting HealthyCanadians.