How important is your child’s primary school for you? Â I grew up in a small town where we simply attended the closest public school but in big cities things are much MUCH different. Â Especially in Montreal.
Montrealers have the option of sending their child to French public school (free), English public school (where only certain children qualify due to language laws), French private school (which is subsidized and somewhat affordable) or English private school (which is not subsidized and very pricey). Â On top of that there are art focused schools, religion focused schools, alternative schools, schools which focus more or less on both languages and decisions about transport.
Ach.
And they’re only five.
And how do you even know if a school is better or worse than the next?
I was talking with some friends and we all agreed that talking to other parents was a great way to get a feel for the school but that’s a toughy. Â Some parents have extremely high expectations or are OK with a different set of standards.
Another suggested observing the school from afar. Â Did the kids look happy? Â Were they well behaved?
My sister in the UK told me that the government classifies every school and daycare. Â The highest classified schools raise house prices and have huge demand. Â In Quebec we have rankings for higher level schools but none at the primary level.
And, at the primary level, does it even matter?
It can be pretty intense. Â I was talking with a mom the other day who wanted to move to a larger house. Â She was stressed out because she felt like where she moved and subsequently the school that her daughter attended would determine her child’s future. Â Another friend revealed she moved without giving it much thought, confident it would work itself out. Â Another friend decided to send her kid to her local, well ranked, small and community friendly primary school. Â Only hitch? Â It’s Ukrainian and catholic. Â Her daughter has no Ukrainian roots and is not catholic. Â She’s happy with it though and decided to continue sending her child there.
We’re pretty set on sending our son to the local public French school which has a good reputation and is within walking distance from our house. Â But, it’s also HUGE which we don’t particularly love.
I’d LOVE to hear your thoughts. Â Does it matter to you which primary school you send your child to? Â How did you decide? Â Would you move somewhere specifically to be in the schools cachement area?
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Michelle Little
Writer & Photographer
Hi! Just found your blog and I cant stop reading! Thanks tks share!
Cheers!
I’m glad you are enjoying the blog!
I find the topic kind of overwhelming, especially when you are new in the city, It’s hard to understand what could be a good choice. But, I think that all kids and families have different needs and you just have to go for the one that makes you and your child confortable (and that it’s close to your house). Sometimes, it’s not necessarily the biggest, or the most demanded and popular, or the one with the best music program, maybe just that tiny little school around the corner…
I’d love it if it was that tiny little school around the corner! Unfortunately I don’t think that’s the case for most people. I agree that you have to go for the one that makes you and your child most comfortable and ignore popular sentiment. Trust your gut!
I am so happy you blogged about primary schools because I have no idea where to start also. My son is almost 3 should I even start looking now?
I think the first step is to figure out if we send our kids to English or French correct me if I’m wrong?! ( I am new to this as well) Since I live in laval, I would like my kids to attend a school
close to work in the city but
unfortunately it’s quite expensive to
move so that’s not an option.
I would really like to send my kids to a bilingual private school but it’s very expensive.
Would like to know if there is a convention for primary schools that we can go to?
Well, you need to register them when they are 4-5 so I think that thinking about it may be a good idea. I think there are probably conventions but I am not totally sure. I’d ask around or check Montreal Families. I think they probably talk about conventions there. Good luck!
we also started looking already. my daughter is 3.5…. in my home country you start school at 6 so i am NOT ready for this!
as i am ‘off the boat’ and my husband even though he is more anglo now went to french school, we have to put our kids into the french system. we also considered the local french school, but focussing on private french schools now. we have narrowed it down to 3. location and recommendations have gotten us this far. as we dont speak french at home, i would like to send my daughter to pre-k in french. that leaves 2 of these schools. one teaches german, my first language which i speak at home. so even though we have not visited any of the schools, i do have my favourite already…..
Wow – it is confusing isn’t it! So many options. I am so happy that you have a favourite though! I think sometimes you just need to trust your gut instinct…
I did not expect this to be such a agonizing decision…i also grew up in a small town so no options. French or English…if we don’t put them in English then they will lose the option to put their kids in English school…ahhh.
We ended up putting our eldest in Pre school at F.A.C.E. a specialized (arts music) public school that has both French and English school board in one school. It went well and He will start Kindergarden (on the English side) in the Fall…so glad the decision process is over!
I’m so happy you found a school that you love! That’s the best feeling.
Hi Neisha, I am.looking at elementary school.options now, and saw this comment. Based on what I have read, once your child is entitled to go to school.in English (certificate obtained) he or she retains that right even if they attend a French school, as do their children. I would imagine this is too late for you now, but for other parents who end up here…
I think the most important factor is that it is a school the child will like/love and want to attend so they are excited to go, at least most days, and want to learn, regardless of the type. Every child has different personalities and requirements. If you can afford to have options, look at the temperament of the child or have an early child psychologist provide advice based on the child’s aptitudes. If they are having fun and enjoy learning, all else should fall into place. Schools are not a one-size-fits-all.
Thanks for the advice – I never thought of having an early child psychologist provide advice!
This is something I have greatly stressed over! My son is very active and my fear is that his energy will not be appreciated by a teacher so in my school searching, I looked for a school that would fit his personality best, with teachers who would guide his energy rather than just yell at him expecting him to fully control it. Primary schools are extremely important as they set the stage for their education. If a kid likes school initially, perhaps they will be happier all the way through? I don’t know, but I feel that if they aren’t happy initially, it will always be difficult to get them to go. Another mom gave me the simplest and best advise about choosing a school: We aren’t married to our school choice for our kids. If it’s not working out, then switch them. Those words took so much stress off for me!
Hello! What sound advice – it’s true.. if it’s not working out, we can always change schools. I truly hope you find a school that work with your high-energy son! I can definitely relate!
For us it took 3 schools til we got the right fit for our dd and our sons. It might be different for us because they have disabilities and while larger & cheaper housing would be great… primary school is supposed to be the foundation for further education and living in Ontario, where schools are ranked at all levels, it is obvious in poorer areas the grades and services slide into oblivion.
Oh wow – well I am glad that you found something that fits. It sounds like it was quite a journey. Quebec primary schools aren’t ranked but I wouldn’t be surprised to see a similar pattern….
We have a few choices for when my son is older (though we have to get going on that English language paper work if we want to have that option) and one thing that makes me thankful is that I HAVE a choice. I feel thankful I’m in a position to be able to think about what kind of school might be best for my kids (and to have the option to reevaluate the decision if it doesn’t work out) and not be forced to send them to a school that I”m not sure about.
Kristen,
That’s so true – we are so lucky to even have a choice of where to send our kids. Very well put 🙂
My son is 4 and his birthday is at the end of October. Back in September, I was starting to think / stress about which school he should go to for pre-k in the Fall of 2016. Then I realized his birthday and daycare are such that he can “skip” pre-K and stay in daycare a whole other year! So… My answer to your question of if it’s a hard choice : yes! And I’m putting it off! LOL
I know, sigh, us too! Decisions, decisions! Good luck with yours!
Hi
We plan to move to Quebec as a family. We are going to migrate there. I have 4 kids. They are 10, 6 (twin) and 2.5 years old.My kids speak english but no french at all, if you can give me the information tge sysrem in primary schools in Quebec that will be great. I speak french but french is not my mother tounge thus we speak english at home but I’m quite interesting send my kids to french school (since we will be in Quebec and I think this is good opportunity for my kids so they will come out bilingual) but I am afraid they will find diffuculties in adjustments. Your suggestion will help me a lot… Thanks
Hi,
I suggest you search this blog for my posts on moving to Montreal. Just search ‘moving to Montreal’. There are three posts. In it you should find some information and if you don’t find anything try posting specific questions on the forums mentioned in the posts.
Enjoy and bienvenue!