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How does the public school system in Montreal work?

  • I just got into grad school in Montreal and I will be moving there in one month (!!) with my 7 year-old. He has been in a French immersion elementary school in Ontario since junior kindergarten, so he is near-fluent in French already. I don't think he will have trouble attending a French public school. The problem is that I am woefully ignorant of how the public school system works in Quebec. Will my son be assigned to the most geographically-convenient school based on where we live in Montreal? Is there any way that I can check what school he would be attending while I'm narrowing down the list of potential apartments? Will I have to register him and/or bring his school record with me from Ontario? I am quite lost and the fact that I don't speak French at all is compounding the problem! Any advice or info is much appreciated.

  • Answer:

    There are 5 school boards on the island of Montreal, 3 French and 2 English. The 3 French ones are Marguerite-Bourgeoys, Montréal, and Pointe-de-l'Île. The 2 English ones are English Montreal and Lester B. Pearson. If at least one parent did the majority of their lower education in English and in Canada, then you may apply for a certificate of eligibility which would allow your son to attend a school in an English school board. To obtain this certificate, you may have to show proof of your school attendance, such as a high school diploma or other official record. If you cannot obtain a certificate of eligibility, then your son will be required to go to one of the French school boards, meaning most of his classmates will be Francophone (native French speakers). Within the English school board, there are various types of language programs offered at the elementary level, such as full bilingualism (50% English/50% French), total French immersion (about 90% French), partial French immersion (total immersion until a certain grade followed by bilingualism), French-only curriculum, and International Baccalaureate (French, English and Spanish). Although some of the programs offer a full French curriculum, his classmates would mostly be Anglophone (native English speakers). You will have to contact the school boards near where you live for more information. Your son may be required to attend a specific school board or school depending on zoning requirements. You may apply for an English Eligibility Certificate with the school board to which your son will be going. For more information, see the following links: http://www.mels.gouv.qc.ca/daasa/rens/banque/Fiches/F95a.htm http://www.csmb.qc.ca/ http://www.csdm.qc.ca/ http://www.cspi.qc.ca/ http://www.emsb.qc.ca/ http://www.lbpsb.qc.ca/

Jones Rizzo at Yahoo! Answers Visit the source

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Quebec law requires your child to go to a French school. The only exceptions are children for which at least one parent was educated, in English, in Quebec. Generally, he will go to the nearest school. There are two school boards (like Ontario). You will need to register him at the school. I'm not sure if there is a school zone map online, but I imagine there could be, so you would know which school based upon where the apartment is. Many people in Montreal speak English, so that isn't a worry. If you deal with the school board directly, the will be bilingual anyway - there still are many English schools in Montreal (it is 1/2 English anyway).

capitalgentleman

Just to add to JJ's answer: 1) If you will be in Quebec for only two or three years, you can apply for "Special Authorization" for him to attend an English School (including those with Immersion programs) for that period. 2) Don't wait to get here to apply, Certificates can take a surprising long time to arrive.

Chris I

If he has been in immersion in Ontario, he will have a lot of problems in a regular French first language class. They have classes d'acceuil for new to the province students to get him up to standard. He will go to the nearest school. You go to the school and register him.

thinkingtime

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