Canada public school guide

How to choose a public school

• Provinces run the system, school boards run schools

  Canada has no federal education department: each province runs its own system and local school boards run the schools. Public schools are free, though age and residence requirements may apply.

  Source:IRCC 'Welcome to Canada' (Newcomers Canada) (checked 2021-04-22)

• Ask the board for your address's catchment school

  Each board decides how addresses map to schools and how cross-boundary requests work. Check the board's school locator before choosing a home.

  General guidance · confirm with the district or school

• Private and international schools are alternatives

  Fee-paying private and international schools accept applications regardless of the board's catchments.

  General guidance · confirm with the district or school

Reading official ratings

• School results are published by each province

  In Ontario, EQAO runs provincial assessments such as Grade 9 mathematics and shows results through 'Find My School'. Elsewhere, use the province's own education ministry. We attach no grades or ranks to Canadian schools.

  Source:EQAO (Ontario) (checked 2026-10-31)

English support

• Newcomers are assessed on arrival

  Children entering a Canadian school for the first time are assessed for level and language, with English (or French) support where needed; boards differ in how they do it.

  Source:IRCC 'Welcome to Canada' (Newcomers Canada) (checked 2021-04-22)

Timeline

• Register well before the end of August

  Popular schools have waiting lists, so newcomers are told to register with the board well before the end of August.

  Source:IRCC 'Welcome to Canada' (Newcomers Canada) (checked 2021-04-22)

Fees and visas

• Parents' status decides fees

  In BC (Vancouver School Board), besides residents, children of a guardian authorised to work for a year or more and working at least 20 hours a week qualify for free public school; others enrol as fee-paying international students. Large boards such as Toronto run international programmes with fee schedules.

  Always confirm your own situation with the official authority or an immigration professional.

  Source:Vancouver School Board (checked 2026-10-30)Toronto District School Board (checked 2026-10-29)

Enrolment steps

Follow them in order. Each step carries its official source and the date we checked it.

1. 1

   Find the board and the catchment school

   Find the school board for the area and check the address's catchment school with the board's locator.

   Source:IRCC 'Welcome to Canada' (Newcomers Canada) (checked 2021-04-22)

2. 2

   Check free-tuition eligibility

   Depending on the parents' work or study permits, the child is either publicly funded or a fee-paying international student. Read the board's funding-eligibility page.

   Always confirm your own situation with the official authority or an immigration professional.

   Source:Vancouver School Board (checked 2026-10-30)

3. 3

   Gather documents

   Boards commonly ask for status documents (parents' and child's permits), a birth certificate or passport, proof of address, immunisation records and previous school records. Check the board's registration page for the exact list.

   General guidance · confirm with the district or school

4. 4

   Register with the board

   Register with the board or school, well before the end of August.

   Source:IRCC 'Welcome to Canada' (Newcomers Canada) (checked 2021-04-22)

5. 5

   Level and language assessment

   Newcomers are assessed for level and language, and support is arranged.

   Source:IRCC 'Welcome to Canada' (Newcomers Canada) (checked 2021-04-22)

This page organises official information. It does not decide eligibility or placement.

Districts by state or region

• Ontario70 districts
• British Columbia60 districts