The Ontario school system: how it works and what makes it different

Studies
Écrit par EC

Education is a provincial responsibility in Canada, which means that each province runs its own school system. If you’re planning to move to Ontario with children, it’s important to understand how the educational system works. Here is an overview.

The different cycles of education in Ontario

School in Ontario is divided into three main cycles:

  • Preschool (Kindergarten)

  • Elementary school

  • Secondary school (high school)

Preschool in Ontario: Kindergarten

In Ontario, kindergarten begins at the age of 4 and is divided into two:

  • Junior Kindergarten (JK): from the age of 4

  • Senior Kindergarten (SK): from the age of 5

Kindergarten is not compulsory, but is strongly recommended to prepare children for elementary school.

Elementary school in Ontario

Elementary school in Ontario consists of eight years of schooling, from Grade 1 to Grade 8. Here are the age equivalents:

  • Grade 1: ages 6-7

  • Grade 2: ages 7-8

  • Grade 3: ages 8-9

  • Grade 4: ages 9-10

  • Grade 5: ages 10-11

  • Grade 6: ages 11-12

  • Grade 7: ages 12-13

  • Grade 8: ages 13-14

In some school districts, the division is different. Children attend primary school from grades 1 to 6 and then junior high school from grades 6 to 8 or 6 to 9.

Elementary schools offer a general education programme that includes mathematics, science, English (or French in French-language schools), history, geography and physical education.

Secondary Education in Ontario: High School

Secondary education in Ontario, known as high school, consists of four years:

  • Grade 9: ages 14-15

  • Grade 10: ages 15-16

  • Grade 11: ages 16-17

  • Grade 12: ages 17-18

At the end of secondary school, students get an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) by earning a certain number of credits and passing the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT). Depending on their academic background, students can take Advanced Placement (AP) courses or an International Baccalaureate (IB) programme.

Post-secondary education

After secondary school, students have several options:

  • Colleges, which provide technical and vocational training tailored to the labour market

  • Universities, which offer 3- or 4-year academic programmes.

Features of the Ontario system

Francophone schools in Ontario

Ontario has both English and French language schools. The latter are administered by French-speaking school boards and provide French-language education from kindergarten to secondary school. There are also immersion programmes for English speakers who wish to learn French.

Secular and Catholic Schools in Ontario

In the Ontario public system, it is possible to enrol children in a school that provides

  • a secular education (without religious instruction)

  • or a Catholic education (with Catholic religious instruction).

The choice is at the discretion of the parents and the child.

Bottom Line

Ontario’s school system is characterized by its flexibility and individualized approach. With schools in English or French, secular or Catholic, it offers many options for students. For more information, visit the Ontario Ministry of Education.

Want to know the academic levels of schools in your neighbourhood? Or better yet, choose your future neighbourhood based on the academic level of the schools your children will attend? Let’s talk about it during a coaching session, I’ll help you find your way around.

EC