Primary and Secondary Schools in Canada

In Canada, schools from kindergarten to Grade 12 are run by the provinces and territories, not by the federal government. Each of the 10 provinces and 3 territories has its own ministry or department of education, its own curriculum and its own rules, so a school year in Ontario is not organised exactly like one in Quebec or British Columbia. Most provinces require children to attend school from age 6 to age 16; in some, compulsory schooling starts at 5 or lasts until 18 or until secondary school graduation.

For international families the main choice is between a public school, run by a local school board, and a private or independent school, which may be a day school or a boarding school. According to EduCanada, the Government of Canada's study portal, Canada has nearly 5.2 million students in public schools and 425,000 in private schools (Statistics Canada, 2022). SpainExchange currently lists 14 primary and secondary schools in Canada, five of them in Toronto.

How the school system works

Children usually start kindergarten at age 4 or 5, and the school year runs from September to June. EduCanada describes the usual pattern as:

• Kindergarten to Grade 6: elementary school
• Grades 7 and 8: junior high or middle school
• Grades 9 to 12: high school

The exact split varies: high school begins in Grade 8, 9 or 10 depending on the province, and students graduate at 17 or 18. Quebec is the main exception. There, secondary school runs from Secondary 1 to Secondary 5 (Grade 7 to Grade 11), and students then go on to a CÉGEP before university.

Public schools are managed by elected school boards and follow the provincial curriculum. In most of Canada students can study in English, French or both, and some provinces have a publicly funded separate school system with religious classes that is open to all. Public and separate schools together serve about 93 per cent of all students, according to the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada (CMEC). Almost all public schools are co-educational and offer day programmes only. Teachers hold at least a bachelor's degree and one year of practical teacher training.

Most private schools teach the provincial curriculum and follow provincial standards, but some operate independently of the ministry of education, so it is worth checking which diploma a school leads to. Private schools include boarding schools, faith-based schools, single-sex schools, International Baccalaureate (IB) schools and schools following approaches such as Montessori or Waldorf. Examples on SpainExchange include The York School in Toronto, an IB World School from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12; St. Michaels University School in Victoria, British Columbia, a day and boarding school with boarding for Grades 9 to 12; Rosseau Lake College in Ontario, a day and boarding school for Grades 7 to 12; The Giles School in Toronto, a French immersion school from Pre-K to Grade 8 founded in 1989; and Collège Sainte-Anne de La Pocatière, a French-language secondary school in Quebec.

Admission for international students

For a public school, families contact the local school board, which often assesses new students to place them in the right grade. Private schools handle applications themselves and may have their own deadlines. Schools typically ask for proof that the child has completed the grades that correspond to the Canadian level, school reports from the home country and evidence of English or French language skills.

In Quebec, publicly funded English-language schooling is only open to students who meet conditions set in law, so most international students there study in French. Some private English-language schools say the restrictions do not apply to them: College Prep International in Montreal, founded in 1944, states that there are no language restrictions on registration.

Study permit and guardianship

According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), minor children do not need a study permit for programmes of six months or less. For longer stays they must apply before entering Canada, generally with a letter of acceptance from the school; school-age students do not need a provincial attestation letter (PAL/TAL). Study permits for primary school are issued for one year and can be renewed, while secondary school permits can cover the whole period of study, up to four years. Children under 17 must come with a parent or legal guardian or have a custodian in Canada: a responsible adult who is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident. The age of majority is 18 or 19, depending on the province or territory.

Costs

Public school is free for Canadian citizens and permanent residents, but international students pay tuition fees. EduCanada gives these annual ranges in Canadian dollars (page updated August 2026):

• public schools: CAN$10,000 to CAN$17,000
• private or independent day schools: CAN$15,000 to CAN$30,000
• private or independent boarding schools: CAN$63,000 to CAN$83,000

Students who do not live with a parent or relative either stay with a host family through a homestay programme, open to students over the age of 12, or board at an independent school.

How to choose a school

• Province: curriculum, diploma and the age at which high school starts differ
• Language of instruction: English, French, bilingual or French immersion
• Public school board programme or private school
• Day school with homestay, or boarding school
• Curriculum: provincial diploma, IB, Advanced Placement or another approach

Frequently asked questions

How much does high school in Canada cost for an international student?

According to EduCanada, public schools charge international students about CAN$10,000 to CAN$17,000 a year, private day schools CAN$15,000 to CAN$30,000 and boarding schools CAN$63,000 to CAN$83,000. Fees depend on the province and the school.

Does my child need a study permit to attend school in Canada?

Not for a programme of six months or less. For longer studies a minor must apply for a study permit before entering Canada, usually with a letter of acceptance from the school.

Can a child study in Canada without a parent?

Yes. Children under 17 who come without a parent or legal guardian need a custodian in Canada, a Canadian citizen or permanent resident who takes responsibility for them. They usually live with a host family or at a boarding school.