The Canadian education system flows from the provincial or territorial ministries of education down to smaller bodies called boards of education or district school boards that oversee individual schools within their region. The federal government plays a limited role in education in Canada – provincial or territorial ministries govern funding and most academic regulations.
Most students attend publicly funded schools that are run by the provincial or territorial ministries, although a significant percentage of students do attend private schools. Most private schools in the country are religious-based, but a select few secular private schools have a reputation for excellence in education.
The school year in Canada runs from early September to late June, with a two-month summer break and shorter holiday breaks around Christmas (late December) and Easter (April).
Children start school around age 5 by attending preschool or nursery school. They progress through kindergarten, elementary school (grades 1-6), junior high school (also called senior public schools or middle schools, generally for students in grades 6-9), and high school, which ends in grade 12.
Canada also has language schools designed to teach international students or newly arrived immigrants English or French as a second language. They also prepare Canadian students for language proficiency tests.
After graduating high school, students can choose from college, which refers to community colleges or technical schools that grant certificates or associates degrees, or university, which provide a range of academic coursework in various subjects for undergraduate or graduate study.
Quebec, however, has its own unique educational system – which should come as no surprise considering its Francophile nature. Instruction is conducted in French, and the academic program is divided between écoleprimaire (Primary school, equivalent to elementary school for grades 1-6) and écolesecondaire (Secondary school, from Secondary I to Secondary V, equivalent to grades 7-11). Upon graduation, students attend college for two or three years, preparing them either for a university track or professional program.