I've read a number of threads with people confused on the schooling.
Elementary School is for students usually up to grade 8 -- sometimes depending on your area, you may attend an Elementary School, then a junior high -- this often relates to the size of the school and its ability to accommodate students to grade 8 or not.
Secondary school - this is high school - usually for grades 9-12. All provinces now have grade 12 as the final year. Ontario also used to have a grade 13 year, but have now eliminated this year, changed their courses and aligned with the other provinces.
Public school system is for both elementary and secondary schools its non-denominational and is the most widely available.
Separate Schools, are also for both elementary and secondary and historically were only (primarily) attended by Catholic educated students. However ANY student has the right to go to a separate school if they wish to. Separate schools also have a mandatory religious class, but the school system realizes that some students will not belong to the Catholic Faith and have structured the program to reflect this.
Some Separate school systems have a dress-code policy and uniforms are worn, but not all. Where they exist uniform costs are incurred by the family - not the school.
after Secondary school students will decide whether to go to College or University. In Quebec they also have a CEGEP program which I believe is like a pre-university affiliation, like a college.
While there are more colleges aligning themselves with local university programs and running joint Diploma/Degree programs, MOST colleges offer certificate and diploma programs and Universities offer Degree programs.
Elementary School is for students usually up to grade 8 -- sometimes depending on your area, you may attend an Elementary School, then a junior high -- this often relates to the size of the school and its ability to accommodate students to grade 8 or not.
Secondary school - this is high school - usually for grades 9-12. All provinces now have grade 12 as the final year. Ontario also used to have a grade 13 year, but have now eliminated this year, changed their courses and aligned with the other provinces.
Public school system is for both elementary and secondary schools its non-denominational and is the most widely available.
Separate Schools, are also for both elementary and secondary and historically were only (primarily) attended by Catholic educated students. However ANY student has the right to go to a separate school if they wish to. Separate schools also have a mandatory religious class, but the school system realizes that some students will not belong to the Catholic Faith and have structured the program to reflect this.
Some Separate school systems have a dress-code policy and uniforms are worn, but not all. Where they exist uniform costs are incurred by the family - not the school.
after Secondary school students will decide whether to go to College or University. In Quebec they also have a CEGEP program which I believe is like a pre-university affiliation, like a college.
While there are more colleges aligning themselves with local university programs and running joint Diploma/Degree programs, MOST colleges offer certificate and diploma programs and Universities offer Degree programs.
