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Does it cost anything for my child to attend school in Ontario?
The Canadian school system is publicly funded, and there is no tuition cost for children aged 5 to 18 to attend elementary or high school. Generally, you would only pay to send your child to a private school.
All children under the age of 18 are entitled to go to free school in Ontario regardless of their family’s immigration status. This includes:
- children from permanent resident families
- children of work permit holders
- children of study permit holders
- non-status immigrants
- education exchange program students
- children of parents in the military
- children or children of parents claiming refugee status
- children of parents under diplomatic status
- children from families with no status but plan to stay in Ontario
Some exemptions to this list are if a child is visiting Canada or holds a study permit as a minor they might be required to pay.
In most cases, transportation to school and textbooks are free, and parents will only pay for school supplies like notebooks, pens and pencils, paints, and other materials their child will need to study. Once the child gets to high school (13-17 years old) they may be required to pay for public transit fare if they take public transit to school.
There are 4 types of free schools your child can attend in Ontario and they all follow the same core curriculum from the Ministry of Education. They are:
- Public English School is secular and all subjects are taught in English.
- Public French School has the same protocol for classes as the English side but students learn all subjects in French, with the exception of English class. Generally, support services are also conducted in French.
- Catholic English School works in partnership with the parish (Catholic church) and the child’s home to foster a faith-based education. The program outline is just like the public school system but in addition, there are faith-based subjects and activities. Catholic schools in Ontario are open to all races, cultures and backgrounds and children are expected to participate in religious practices like prayer, attending school masses and connecting to the Catholic community.
- Catholic French School has the same practices and program outlines as the English Catholic school system, but classes and faith-based activities are in French.
Private (Independent) Schools
You have the option of sending your child to a paid private or independent school. These schools offer elementary and high school education and do not receive government funding. You must pay for your child to attend these types of schools. Private schools are not regulated by the school boards and they set their own policies and procedures in the day-to-day operations of the school. Independent schools are not required to follow the Ontario curriculum and can offer content beyond the curriculum.
The Ministry of Education maintains an up-to-date list of private schools in Ontario.
Many community agencies can help you with registering your child for school. To find help, go to Services Near Me and search for "settlement services" in your area.
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Last updated:
August 27, 2024
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