Canadian primary and secondary education
Guide to Primary and Secondary School Enrollment for Children of New Immigrants in Canada
1、 Overview of Educational System
Canada implements 12 years of compulsory education (grades 1-12), and children aged 6-18 must attend school. The educational system is divided into:
Primary school: Kindergarten (K1-K2) to 7th grade, starting at 5-6 years old, with curriculum covering basic subjects and outdoor activities.
Middle school: grades 8-12. After completing compulsory education, students can choose to pursue further education or find employment.
2、 School Selection Guide
School type
Public schools: Free enrollment, allocated according to the nearest residential address, balanced resources, and offering ESL courses (English as a second language).
Private schools: tuition fees (approximately CAD 16000 per year) are required, and some offer specialized courses such as IB and AP.
Church schools: integrate religious curriculum, and some provinces offer free enrollment (such as Ontario).
Suggestions for choosing a school
Priority for nearby enrollment: Enter the address through the official website of the Provincial Department of Education to match the corresponding school.
Reference ranking: Fraser Institute ranking can assist in screening, but the resource differences between provinces are relatively small.
3、 Application process
Material preparation
Child birth certificate, immigration paper (or PR card), passport, vaccine record, domestic transcript (translation required).
Proof of residence (rental contract or utility bill).
Contact the Education Bureau
Log in to the website of the education bureau where you reside and submit an online application (such as YRDSB of the education bureau in Yueke region).
Some popular schools require queuing 6-12 months in advance.
Language Assessment and Testing
The Education Bureau arranges English/Mathematics proficiency tests (non elimination system, only for class reference).
ESL course support: Provide specialized tutoring for students with weak English proficiency.
Formal registration
After passing the test, receive the admission file bag (including course schedule, school rules, etc.) and report in at the designated time.
4、 Costs and subsidies
Public schools: tuition free, only need to pay miscellaneous fees (books, uniforms, etc., about 200-500 CAD/year).
Private schools: Tuition fees range from CAD 16000 to CAD 25000 per year, with some offering scholarships or installment payments.
5、 Precautions after enrollment
Course arrangement
Class time: Monday to Friday 8:30-15:00, including indoor theoretical classes and outdoor practical classes.
After class activities: Interest classes such as sports and art are usually held after 3:00 pm.
Transfer and transfer
You can apply for a transfer of school if you change your address, and the Education Bureau will give priority to arranging the nearest school; If the quota is full, it will be temporarily allocated to neighboring school districts.
Parent communication
Regularly attend parent teacher conferences and pay attention to school email notifications (activities, holiday arrangements, etc.).
6、 Frequently Asked Questions
Vaccine requirements: Complete vaccine records (including both Chinese and English translations) must be provided.
Age restriction: The age limit for primary school enrollment is usually 5-6 years old. Those who exceed the age limit need to contact the Education Bureau for special assessment.
Language barrier: ESL courses help transition, and most students adapt to an all English environment within 1-2 years.
Tip: It is recommended to prioritize obtaining a residence permit after arriving in Canada and contact the Education Bureau as soon as possible to reserve a place to avoid delaying enrollment.