Students

Education in Canada is a traditional North American quality, comparable to the United States. It is an open road to the universities of the southern neighbor and other advantages that parents of different countries of the world appreciate when choosing an education in this country for their children.

Studying in Canada is valuable because this country is the world leader in terms of investment in education. Here, schools are always in step with modern technology, are well equipped and provide students with a variety of opportunities for sports, creativity and other extracurricular activities.

Secondary education system in Canada

Most Canadian schoolchildren enter school at the age of 6, although this period may vary slightly in different provinces. Primary education in Canada takes 6 or 8 years. In the case of a six-year primary education in the region, children attend Middle School for two years.

Complete secondary education in Canada is available in high school, where students from ninth to twelfth grade study. The full cycle of study at a school in Canada is 12 years.

The complexity of the Canadian education system is made by the fact that the country is bilingual. Depending on the province, children can be taught either entirely in English or entirely in French. The latter option is only possible in Quebec, the only province in the country where most of the population speaks French.

In many schools, education is bilingual to one degree or another. French is not only taught as a foreign language, but some of the general subjects are also taught in it.

In Quebec, schoolchildren graduate from school not in the twelfth, but in the eleventh grade. However, they cannot enter the university after that. During the year, you must study at one of the colleges of the GEGEP system (Colleges d’enseignement general et professionnel), having received additional qualifications in the chosen direction of study.

Public and private schools in Canada

Canada has a developed network of private schools that generally comply with state educational standards but can significantly modify the program. Each region of the country has its own legislative acts regulating the form and content of training, so the differences can be very significant.

Foreign children in this country can study in both public and private schools. However, students of public schools have limited opportunities. For example, you can enter a public school in Canada through an exchange program, but the duration of stay cannot exceed one academic year.

Therefore, most parents from other countries choose private schools for their children in Canada. This provides not only the opportunity to study in the country for the required period of time but also expanded academic opportunities. For example, private schools in Canada offer more Advanced Placement courses – a program that allows you to study a chosen subject at the first year of college level and thus provides advantages for admission to Canadian and US universities and universities.

How much does secondary school cost in Canada?

The cost of secondary education in Canada is lower than in the neighboring United States, but the total cost will depend on the age of the student and the location of the school. The cost of a year of study away from big cities can be just over $30,000, while the cost of a year of study in Ottawa and Toronto is over $40,000.

The majority of private schools in Canada accept foreigners for boarding education, but there are also educational institutions that offer only full-time form.

Where to get secondary education in Canada?

Most of the schools in Canada provide instruction in the national curriculum. Only 10 schools in the country are implementing the International Baccalaureate program, which opens the doors of European universities for graduates. These schools are Glenlyon Norfolk School, Ridley College, and others. At Dwight School, you can choose between a local British Columbia diploma, an American high school diploma, and an International Baccalaureate diploma.

If the goal of studying in a Canadian school is to enter a university in this country, it is worth considering various pre-university programs for high school students. For example, Bodwell High School offers the University Placement program, and Bronte College offers the accelerated Pre-University Express program.

When it comes to getting secondary education in Quebec, one should bear in mind that only three schools provide a full twelve-year education cycle in this province. This means that you can immediately apply to the university after graduating from one of them (there is no need to study at GEGEP College). For example, Vaughan College, located in Woodbridge, ON, accepts young students from the age of 12 and provides a quality basis for continuing education at a university in any country in the world.

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