How Does School in Ontario Work?

Public High/Secondary schools in Ontario are organized into four school systems. They are: English Public, English Catholic, French Public, and French Catholic. Each system has its own district school board. Some schools let you specialize in the arts, trade skills, or adult education.

Everyone under the age of 18 has free access to education. This means you can attend public schools for free. This includes new immigrants, no matter what your immigration status is. In fact, if you are under 18, you must be enrolled in school.

When does the school year start and end?

School (Elementary, Middle, and High School) starts in early September, and ends in June. You can also take summer school and/or night school as a way of a) making up for a low or failed grade, or b) getting ahead (“fast-tracking”).

    Are there special education programs for newcomers?

    Yes, the Ontario education system has programs to help you, like:

    • English as a Second Language (ESL) Classes – these classes help you learn English. Find out more.
    • Heritage Language Programs - these are classes where you can practice and learn your own language (other than English). They are also known as “Saturday school” because they classes usually happen on the weekends.