Quebec Private Secondary Schools Guide
Choose a private secondary school with the full five-year pathway in view.
Compare subsidized and non-subsidized schools, French and English pathways, admissions, special programs, Secondary IV–V course choices, ministerial examinations, costs and CEGEP preparation.
Understand the models
Private secondary schools are not one category
Funding and language status affect tuition, eligibility and the way families should compare schools.
Subsidized French private
Receives public funding for approved services, charges regulated tuition and follows Quebec secondary requirements.
Non-subsidized private
May charge substantially higher tuition. Verify permit, curriculum, language status and diploma pathway carefully.
English private
Eligibility requirements can depend on the school’s subsidy status. Tuition alone does not settle the legal question.
Independent / boarding
Residential, international or distinctive curriculum models require separate review of diploma recognition and total cost.
Public versus private
Compare the route—not only the reputation
Private admission expands school choice, but also adds contracts, fees and school-specific selection.
| Question | Public secondary | Private secondary | Family check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access | Assigned by address, with optional special-program applications | Direct application to each school | Entry grades, available places and selection |
| Cost | No regular tuition for eligible residents; project fees may apply | Tuition plus school and program charges | Complete annual fee schedule |
| Admission | Neighbourhood registration or program criteria | Records, test, interview, audition or other criteria | Purpose, weighting and accommodation |
| Transportation | Organized locally under policy | School bus, third-party route or family responsibility | Pickup time, route, cost and late activities |
| Student support | Services organized through the public authority | Staffing and service limits differ by school | Actual capacity for the student’s needs |
Secondary I admission
Start early, then evaluate the offer carefully
Many schools open applications around the Grade 6 transition, while later-grade places may depend on attrition.
Research and visit
Compare programs, school climate, transportation and support before paying multiple application fees.
Submit the file
Provide the requested report cards, forms, recommendations, identity documents and application payment.
Complete selection
The school may use an academic test, interview, writing task, audition, athletic criteria or file review.
Review the contract
Before accepting, read fees, deposits, cancellation rules, annual renewal and conditions tied to the program.
Programs and profiles
Look past the marketing label
Ask how the program changes weekly instruction, student workload and access to upper-secondary prerequisites.
PEI / international education
Compare selection, projects, service learning, language expectations, personal project and additional certification fees.
Sport-études
Confirm official recognition, athlete identification, partner organization, travel, compressed schedule and academic support.
Arts and performance
Review audition, portfolio, rehearsal time, productions, specialist teaching and access to required academic courses.
Science and technology
Verify lab frequency, enrichment and the availability of advanced Secondary IV–V math, chemistry and physics.
Bilingual and language profiles
Request the true weekly language allocation and distinguish enrichment from the official language of instruction.
Leadership and entrepreneurship
Ask which projects, mentorship, presentations and real responsibilities students complete—not only the program title.
The student-support test
Selection does not eliminate learning needs.
Ask how the school responds when a previously strong student encounters language, executive-function, emotional or academic difficulties.
Admissions accommodation
What measures are available during testing or interviews for documented needs?
Resource services
Which remedial educators, counsellors, psychoeducators or specialists are actually available?
Intervention plans
How are accommodations implemented, monitored and communicated to subject teachers?
Continuation policy
What academic or behavioural conditions apply to annual re-enrolment, and how is difficulty handled first?
Secondary IV–V planning
Protect diploma and CEGEP prerequisites
A strong school average does not help if the student cannot access the courses required by the intended college program.
| Planning area | What to confirm | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Mathematics sequence | Available sequences, entry thresholds and support | CEGEP programs accept different prerequisite combinations |
| Science options | Secondary IV science route plus Secondary V chemistry and physics | Health, pure science and many technical programs require them |
| Timetable compatibility | Whether the chosen profile leaves room for prerequisites | Intensive programs can compress or constrain choices |
| Ministerial examinations | Preparation, accommodations and official schedule | Secondary IV–V ministerial exams count for 50% of evaluated competencies |
| DES tracking | Official achievement record and missing required credits | The report-card average alone does not confirm graduation |
| CEGEP guidance | Application support, program research and alternative routes | Admission depends on prerequisites, record and program capacity |
Build the full budget
Tuition is only the first line
Ask for a written fee schedule for the exact grade and program before signing the annual contract.
Tuition and registration
Application fee, deposit, tuition instalments, re-registration and refund conditions.
Uniform and technology
Clothing, sports kit, laptop or tablet, software, books and specialized materials.
Transportation
Route availability, annual cost, early pickup, late return and extracurricular transport.
Programs and activities
Trips, certification, sports partners, competitions, meals, clubs and optional travel.
Language and recognition
Verify what diploma the pathway leads to
This is especially important for English, international and independent schools.
Quebec-recognized secondary route
Private schools with Quebec-authorized secondary services must follow the applicable provincial framework and DES requirements.
- Verify the school permit and grade levels
- Confirm language-of-instruction status
- Track ministerial examinations and DES credits
English and independent pathways
Subsidy status can affect English eligibility rules. A different curriculum or external diploma needs careful equivalency and university-pathway review.
- Confirm English eligibility where required
- Identify the exact diploma awarded
- Check Quebec CEGEP admission implications
Rankings and results
Selection must be visible beside every score
Private-school outcomes cannot be interpreted fairly without admissions, attrition, program and cohort context.
Source and year
Identify the examination, cohort, public source and date behind every result.
Admission selection
Prior grades and entrance testing may shape outcomes before teaching begins.
Student retention
Ask how the school supports struggling students and whether continuation conditions apply.
Individual fit
Language, pace, support, commute and course access can outweigh a ranking position.
Final decision checklist
Verify these four areas before accepting
Status and diploma
Permit, subsidy, teaching language, authorized grades and the exact graduation route.
Admission and support
Selection method, accommodations, specialist capacity and re-enrolment policy.
Courses and outcomes
Upper-secondary prerequisites, ministerial preparation and transparent data context.
Cost and daily life
Total annual budget, transportation, workload, activities and family schedule.
College HC support
Prepare for the pathway—not only the entrance test
Greater Montreal families can combine in-person and online learning; families elsewhere in Quebec are supported primarily online.
Admissions and transition
Preparation begins with academic foundations and realistic school fit.
- Grade 5–6 skills assessment
- Entrance-test and interview preparation where applicable
- Secondary I organization and study habits
Secondary and CEGEP preparation
Support connects current courses to diploma and college goals.
- Math, science, French and English
- Sec 4–5 ministerial-exam preparation
- Prerequisite review and parent feedback
Frequently asked questions
Quebec private secondary schools
Does every private secondary school receive government subsidies?
No. Some are accredited for subsidies and others are non-subsidized. Confirm the exact status because it affects tuition, language rules and comparison.
Do all schools require an entrance examination?
No. Schools set their own admissions and may use report cards, testing, interviews, auditions or other criteria. Ask how each element is weighted.
Do private-school students take Quebec ministerial exams?
Students following the Quebec secondary pathway must meet applicable Ministry curriculum, examination and diploma requirements. Secondary IV–V ministerial exams count for 50% of the evaluated competencies.
Does admission to Secondary I guarantee five years at the school?
Families should review the annual contract and re-enrolment policy. Academic, behavioural, payment and program conditions may apply.
Is the highest-ranked private school automatically the best choice?
No. Published results may reflect selection and student population. Compare support, language, workload, commute, prerequisites and the child’s wellbeing.
Does College HC guarantee private-school admission?
No. Admission belongs entirely to each school. College HC provides academic assessment, preparation and transition support without promising acceptance.
A clearer decision
Match the school, the student and the five-year plan.
Tell us the student’s grade, language profile, current results and schools under consideration. We will help identify realistic preparation priorities.
Book a 15-minute consultation