Understanding the Quebec school system

Enrolment, number of school days, subjects taught, parent-teacher meetings … Learn all about how the Quebec school system works, from kindergarten through high school.

How does the Quebec school system work?

In Quebec, all children are required to attend school between the ages of 6 and 16. The public school system is secular and free for Quebec residents. Textbooks are also free. The Quebec government administers the school system through its education department, the Ministère de l’Éducation. Schools within the same district are managed by school service centres.

In addition to its public schools, Quebec has a network of private schools that are partially subsidized by the government. Tuition in these schools is $4,500 per year, on average. There are also private schools that do not receive government funding; their tuition is much higher. Unlike public schools, private schools are allowed to select their students.

Although there are similarities between public and private schools (e.g., subjects taught, number of school days), the way they operate may differ. The information in this fact sheet pertains to public schools.

Schedule, school days, and holidays

In elementary and high school, the school year has 180 in-class days. Students attend Monday to Friday, from late August to late June. School usually starts between 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. and ends around 3:00 p.m. or 4:00 p.m. It’s important for students to arrive at school on time.

Your child’s school will send you a calendar with all the important dates and breaks during the school year, including:

• Approximately 20 pedagogical days. These vary by school service centre. The school’s daycare service is usually open on pedagogical days to care for children whose parents are unable to keep them at home.
• Holidays (e.g., Labour Day, Thanksgiving, Easter). All schools in Quebec are closed on these days.
• Two weeks during the Christmas and New Year’s holiday season. School starts up again a few days after January 1.
• A week off around the end of February or early March, known as “spring break” or “semaine de relâche.” The dates for this week vary by school service centre.

If you want to learn about how school lunch breaks are managed, read our article on lunchtime at school.

Kindergarten and elementary school registration

In order for your child to attend school in Quebec, you must submit an enrolment form. Contact your school service centre to find out the name of the school in your neighbourhood and learn how to enrol your child there. More and more school service centres are accepting online registrations through their websites. However, you can still register directly at the school. To find the school service centre in your area, consult the Fédération des centres de services scolaires du Québec website (in French).

When you register your child for school, or during the summer before school starts, you will receive information about school transportation. Your child may be entitled to transportation if the school is too far away to walk to, for instance. For more information, read our fact sheet on school transportation.

Can you enrol your child in a school other than their neighbourhood school?

Under certain conditions, you may enrol your child in a school other than the one that’s designated for your area. The other school must be part of the same school service centre, for example, and it must have enough capacity to accommodate your child. Please note that in these cases, enrolment for one year does not guarantee your child a spot in subsequent years. Your child may be offered a spot at a school other than the one in your neighbourhood, if space is available there.

School registration periods

Registration periods vary by school service centre, but they usually take place between January and March. When enrolling in a school for the first time, you will need to provide certain documents, such as:

• A birth certificate
• Proof of residence showing the parent’s or guardian’s name and address
• Immigration documents (if applicable)
• Most recent report card (if applicable)

Please note: You have to register your child for school each year; re-enrolment is not automatic.

School supplies

Public school is free, but parents have to pay for school supplies. Before the school year begins, the school will send you a list of supplies to buy for your child (e.g., backpack, pencils, notebooks, binders, scissors, glue). Starting in kindergarten, you are eligible for an annual supplement of approximately $127 to help cover the cost of these supplies. You don’t have to apply for this assistance; it is added to your family allowance payment in July of each year.

The school may also charge a small fee at the beginning of the school year for materials (e.g., workbooks, photocopies, agendas), services, activities, or field trips (e.g., plays, museums, concerts). A certain portion of the costs for cultural and athletic activities is covered by the school’s budget.

Terms, first communication, and report cards

The year is divided into three terms. A report card is sent out to parents at the end of each term.

In October, before the end of the first term and before the first report card, you’ll receive the first communication, or interim report card. This report card does not have marks. Its main purpose is to let you know if your child is off to a good start and to identify any potential challenges related to learning, behaviour, participation, or autonomy, for example. It provides descriptive ratings by subject (e.g., highly satisfactory, satisfactory, with difficulty).

Report cards are different from the first communication. They include both your child’s mark and the class average for each subject taught. Starting in grade 1, the passing mark is 60%. Kindergarten report cards do not include marks.

Term marks are not weighted equally:

• Term 1 counts toward 20% of the year-end result. This report card is issued in November.
• Term 2 also counts toward 20% of the year-end result. This report card is issued in March.
• Term 3 counts toward 60% of the year-end result. This report card is issued in July.

Report cards usually include comments from the teacher regarding your child’s behaviour in class, their schoolwork, etc.

Parent meetings

Early in the academic year, schools usually hold group meetings between teachers and the parents of the students in their class. By attending the meeting, you’ll get a chance to see your child’s classroom, meet their teacher and the other parents, learn about how the classroom works, and ask any questions you may have. These meetings are generally scheduled right after the school’s annual general meeting, which is led by the school administration.

Meeting after the first report card

After the first report card is sent out, an individual parent-teacher meeting will be scheduled to discuss your child’s progress in class. Another meeting may be requested after the second report card as well, if your child is having difficulty.

At any time, as needed

If you have any questions or concerns, you can contact your child’s teacher at any time. Teachers generally make themselves very available to parents. You can also request an in-person meeting.

Grade levels: Kindergarten, elementary school, and high school

Kindergarten

Kindergarten is not mandatory, but it is recommended. It will help your child develop their social skills, become familiar with how school works, and prepare them for first grade.

To start kindergarten, your child must be 5 years old by September 30 of the current school year. For example, if a child turned 5 on September 29, 2022, they could start kindergarten at the beginning of the 2022 school year. If the child turned 5 between October 1, 2022, and September 30, 2023, inclusive, they could start kindergarten at the beginning of the 2023 school year.

Kindergarten classes are located in elementary schools. Some schools also offer kindergarten for 4-year-olds. Contact your local school to find out if they offer this program and what the admission requirements are.

To learn about the skills children develop in kindergarten, read our fact sheet on kindergarten for 4- and 5-year-olds.

Elementary school

Your child must turn 6 between October 1 of the previous year and September 30 of the current year, inclusive, to start grade 1. Elementary school has six grades in all, grade 1 through grade 6.

The subjects taught in elementary school are:

• French
• Mathematics
• Physical Education and Health
• English as a Second Language
• Arts (two of the following four disciplines: visual arts, music, dance, drama)
• Culture and Citizenship in Quebec
• Geography, History, and Citizenship Education
• Science and Technology

The school team has several expectations of its students. Among other things, students must:

• Follow the rules
• Be respectful toward themselves and others
• Take responsibility
• Have a positive attitude
• Pay attention and participate in class
• Demonstrate autonomy

The school team also has expectations of parents, namely that they foster their child’s interest in learning. It’s good to acknowledge your child’s hard work and achievements. It’s also important to talk with them about what they’re doing at school and provide support with their schoolwork and assignments.

Attending parent meetings is a good way to be involved in your child’s school life. Be sure to keep in touch with your child’s teacher throughout the year. If you’d like, you could offer to volunteer at the school from time to time, try to attend parent-child activities, or even serve on the school’s governing board.

High school

General education for high school students lasts five years and leads to a Secondary School Diploma (DES). Children must attend school until the end of the school year in which they turn 16. However, they do not have to get a DES.

In high school, your child can also:

• Take a vocational training program. Vocational training is available to students who have successfully completed secondary III or IV (grade 9 or 10), depending on the program. When they complete the training, they’ll receive a Diploma of Vocational Studies (DEP) that qualifies them for a specialized trade (e.g., welding, hairdressing, baking, mechanics, secretarial work, sales and consulting). A DEP can also lead to CEGEP or college studies, under certain conditions. Your child can also work toward a DEP after secondary V (grade 11).
• Enrol in a general adult education program. This stream is intended for youth aged 16 and older. Students can take this path to earn a DES, obtain prerequisites for vocational training or college (CEGEP), learn French, acquire skills to improve their career prospects, and more.

After high school: CEGEP

If your child earns their DES, they can then go on to study at CEGEP (college of general and vocational education) to earn their Diploma of College Studies (DEC). CEGEP is specific to the Quebec education system. It doesn’t exist in other Canadian provinces, though the duration of their high school programs may be longer.

At CEGEP, your child can take:

• A two-year pre-university program (DEC) that bridges the gap between high school and college
• A three-year technical college program (DEC), after which graduates can pursue their career or go on to university studies

Depending on the school and the program you choose, spots may be limited. Certain high school graduation requirements may apply.

University has three cycles of education: the bachelor’s degree (cycle 1), the master’s degree (cycle 2), and the doctorate (cycle 3). Students age 21 or older may be admitted to university without having attended CEGEP, provided they meet certain criteria.

Things to keep in mind

• In Quebec, school is mandatory for all children ages 6 to 16.
• Kindergarten is not required, but it is strongly recommended.
• Public education is free, secular, and taught in French.

Reviewed by: François Couture, Consultant in Preschool Education, Centre de services scolaire des Hautes-Rivières Research and copywriting:The Naître et grandir team February 2026

Photos: GettyImages/lisegagne et GettyImages/sturti