Easy as ABC…123

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There are many choices for schools in Canada. There are Public, Private, Separate, Extended French, French Immersion and schools with special programs such as International Baccalaureate, gifted and arts focus. The choice is yours. Schools have boundaries that indicate the areas they service. Most times families have access to most services but if you would like to do French Immersion you may have to go further than your local school boundary.

The Catholic school system is typically referred to as the Separate system. For the elementary school years, enrollment is only for Catholics.  The high schools are open to students of all religions. The Catholic school board provides Extended French from Grade five and only some of the subjects are taught in French. The Public school system has French Immersion where kids start as early as Grade one and half the subjects are taught in French. They also have Extended French starting in Grade 7.

CCAT is a test administered in grade 4. It is a cognitive abilities test to determine if a child is gifted. If the child scores in the 98th percentile in three areas of the test, further testing is done and the possibility of going into a gifted class is available. It may mean changing schools as only a few schools in a district offer a gifted program. It is an enhanced program and exposes the child to different opportunities.

High school offers several choices such as a continuation of the gifted program, International Baccalaureate (which is on par with the English system A ‘levels), applied programs, arts programs and the Specialist High School Major route.

Education in Canada is free and mandatory until you are 16 or 18 (depends on the province) unless you take the private school route which is like a second mortgage. The direction for each child depends on the child – there are several ways to get to University or college. It all depends on how you want to do it.

What are your thoughts on the school system? What worked for you and yours?