Quebec School Admission Calendar
Prepare early. Confirm every deadline locally.
Use this year-round planning calendar for kindergarten, elementary school, Secondary 1, private and special programs, CEGEP and mid-year moves across Quebec.
Before using this calendar
“Typical” is not a deadline
This page helps families plan the sequence. Only the responsible institution can confirm the exact dates for a specific child and year.
Identify the authority
Find the school service centre, English school board, private institution or regional CEGEP admission service responsible.
Open the current-year page
Do not reuse last year’s PDF, social-media post or application form without checking the date.
Save proof
Keep confirmation numbers, emails, uploaded documents, payment receipts and decision deadlines together.
June to August
Review, research and prepare
Summer is the time to understand options before application traffic begins.
Review the past year
Collect report cards, ministry results, intervention plans and teacher recommendations.
Map possible schools
Confirm public catchment, language eligibility questions, commute and realistic alternatives.
Repair academic gaps
Use focused summer practice in reading, writing, mathematics or prerequisite subjects.
Watch school websites
Private and special-program pages may begin publishing fall open-house and admission information.
September to October
Explore and start selective applications
This is often the busiest research period for the following school year, especially Secondary 1.
Attend open houses
Compare program content, student support, transportation, fees and actual daily workload.
Check early applications
Private schools and selective public programs may use early fall deadlines, tests, auditions or interviews.
Prepare records
Gather identity, address, immigration, eligibility, report-card and learning-support documents.
Keep a base option
Selective applications should complement—not replace—preparation for the designated public route.
November to December
Track decisions and prepare registration
Turn admissions activity into an organized decision process before winter.
Winter CEGEP deadline
Quebec lists November 1 as the application deadline for the winter CEGEP term. Verify program availability and the correct admission route.
Review school offers
Compare response dates, deposits, conditions, refund policies and the time allowed to accept.
Prepare public registration
Confirm the designated school and required documents before local registration opens.
January to March
The major public-registration season.
Kindergarten registration generally occurs during this period, but local dates and procedures vary. Elementary and secondary registration or re-registration also follows local instructions.
Kindergarten 4 or 5
Contact the basin school or responsible authority; Kindergarten 4 access may be limited.
First public registration
Birth certificate and proof of residence are generally required, with additional documents depending on the situation.
Re-registration
The current school provides the process for students continuing in the same institution.
Out-of-basin request
Complete the required agreement or request, understanding that annual continuation may not be guaranteed.
The March checkpoint
CEGEP applications and school follow-up
Secondary 5 families need a separate postsecondary calendar while younger families confirm school registration.
Fall CEGEP deadline
Quebec lists March 1 as the application deadline for the fall CEGEP term through the applicable regional service or direct-admission institution.
Verify prerequisites
Program-specific mathematics, science, diploma and grade requirements remain separate from the application date.
Complete missing items
Check portals and email for requested records, payments, evaluations or other admission steps.
April to May
Confirm placement and plan the transition
Once decisions arrive, move from school selection to practical readiness.
Accept correctly
Meet the response, deposit, registration and document deadlines in the offer.
Close other files
Follow withdrawal rules and release unwanted places promptly where appropriate.
Arrange services
Register for transportation, childcare, lunch, courses, activities or accommodations as instructed.
Prepare the learner
Attend orientation and address academic, organizational or language gaps before September.
June, August and January
Ministerial examination sessions
The Ministère publishes the official examination and retake schedule every year. Schools must respect that timetable.
Main session
Confirm every examination date before booking travel or activities. Begin preparation well before the final weeks.
Retake session
After final results, ask immediately about eligibility, registration and what must be reviewed.
Winter session
Some examinations and retakes are scheduled in January. Use the current official schedule and school instructions.
Master checklist
Keep one record for every application
Create a separate row for each school or program, even when applications seem similar.
| Item | Record | Evidence to save | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Authority and contact | Service centre, board, school or admission service | URL, email and telephone | Not started / Done |
| Program and grade | Exact campus, language, level and option | Current-year program page | Not started / Done |
| Deadline | Date, time zone and late-policy details | Screenshot or official notice | Not started / Done |
| Documents | Identity, residence, status, records and assessments | Submission confirmation | Missing / Submitted |
| Selection steps | Test, audition, interview, portfolio or lottery | Appointment and instructions | Scheduled / Complete |
| Decision | Offer conditions, response date and waitlist | Letter and acceptance receipt | Pending / Accepted |
| Payment | Application, deposit, tuition and refund terms | Invoice and receipt | Not due / Paid |
Moving during the year
Do not wait for the annual cycle
A move, immigration arrival or urgent school change needs direct coordination with the responsible authority.
Notify the current school
Ask how records, materials and the withdrawal date will be handled.
Confirm available placement
Contact the new territory’s service centre or school board before assuming a specific building has space.
Protect learning continuity
Compare course sequence, language support and assessments so gaps are addressed quickly.
Prepare before the deadline
Academic readiness belongs on the calendar
College HC helps families prepare for applications, transitions and required courses—not simply submit forms.
Greater Montreal
Join classes at our Saint-Laurent centre or combine in-person instruction with online support.
- School admission preparation
- Secondary 1 and CEGEP transitions
- Ministerial exam support
Across Quebec
Live online instruction for Gatineau, Quebec City, Sherbrooke and families throughout the province.
- Interactive online small groups
- One-to-one tutoring
- Assessments and parent feedback
Frequently asked questions
Admission-calendar questions
When does Quebec public-school registration open?
Procedures vary locally. The Quebec government states that Kindergarten 4 and 5 registration generally occurs between January and March, while service centres and school boards determine exact dates and procedures.
When should we start planning for Secondary 1?
Begin researching during Grade 5 and monitor school information by summer. Many open houses and selective admissions occur in the fall of Grade 6, but each program sets its own schedule.
What are the official CEGEP deadlines?
Quebec lists March 1 for the fall term and November 1 for the winter term. Application rounds, program availability, direct-admission schools and private-college dates require separate confirmation.
Can we apply outside our public-school catchment?
An out-of-basin request may be possible through the responsible authority, but priorities apply and continued placement from year to year is not guaranteed.
What if we miss a deadline?
Contact the responsible institution immediately. Ask about late registration, waiting lists, later admission rounds or the designated public option. Never assume an exception will be granted.
Turn dates into a plan
Need help deciding what to prepare first?
Book a focused consultation to organize school options, academic preparation and the next important family deadline.
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