Have you ever moved to a new place as a parent, and the first thought on your mind is regarding your child’s schooling? Well, that’s how it is for most parents.
As it is with most of Canada, schools in Hamilton, Ontario, encompass Kindergarten to High School levels. Kindergarten to High school is otherwise known and referred to as K-12 or ‘K through 12’.
Hamilton brags of a vigorous ‘Public school’ system, which in Canada refers absolutely to government-funded free education instead of a category of private schooling, as within the United Kingdom.
The provinces are responsible for the majority of primary and secondary education in Canada.
As a result, systems might differ greatly amongst provinces. Across Canada, schooling is typically co-educational (boys and girls are educated together from kindergarten to grade 12), and public school attendance is significantly higher than that of private schools.
Pre-university education is divided into three stages: kindergarten, elementary, and high school.
In Ontario, there are two years of voluntary Kindergarten: Junior or JK (age four) and Senior or SK (age five), after which students continue their education until they reach Grade 12.
Education is compulsory until the age of 18 or until your child graduates from high school (in exceptional situations, this will occur before the age of 18).
The federal and provincial governments support public schools, which follow a traditional curriculum defined by the Ontario Ministry of Education.
Hamilton and its surrounding area public schools are entirely administered by the Hamilton and Wentworth District School Board, or HWDSB, which has 104 schools in Hamilton.
Therefore, the surrounding area educates almost 50,000 K-12 students.
The school your child will attend is ordinarily determined by where you reside. Children are generally placed in a school on the brink of their home, and every school covers an assigned area or ‘catchment area’.
Subject-oriented programs have been better integrated in recent years, allowing more youngsters to specialize in specific areas — for instance, French immersion or sports academy programs — offered at schools outside their catchment basin.
As your child’s school may play a big part in your decision-making of where to reside, it’s important to understand the available alternatives when looking for properties and neighbourhoods.
While most schools in Hamilton and across Canada are secular, Catholic school boards are common.
The Board in Hamilton and Wentworth District, HWDCSB, operates 55 elementary and secondary schools that follow a Catholic curriculum.
Catholic school boards in Ontario receive provincial funds as well. They are attended by an increasing percentage of non-Catholic kids (estimated at 6 to 7% in the 2016/2017 academic year).
What to expect at a Canadian school?
While many elements of education in Canada could also be almost like schools around the world, it’s crucial to possess some idea of the environment your child will be found in when schooling in Hamilton.
Homework may be a recurring feature in Hamilton schools from grade school onwards. Class sizes at the rudimentary level are normally small, around 20 to 25 students or less.
Students at the elementary level study a variety of subjects, has the humanities, French as a second language, health and education, mathematics, science subjects, social studies, native languages, and more.
There are far fewer high schools than elementary schools within the Hamilton area, then school and sophistication sizes typically increase when a student enters grade 9. It is expected of teenagers in Canadian high schools to be independent in their studies, and longer projects and group work become something of the regular.
The field of subjects taught at the secondary level also increases.
Humanities, business studies, Canadian and World studies, languages, computer studies, literature, science, aboriginal studies, and many other courses are available to your child.
Many of the archetypal characteristics of American high schools that have become prominent in films are also present in Canadian high schools.
Hallways adorned with lockers and bustling cafeterias are ubiquitous, and realistically, a lot of cliques and subcultures find their way into a lifestyle as well.
The likelihood is that your child or teen will find a set of friends with shared interests, regardless of what those could also be.
Higher Education
High school is a defining phase of life for several teens, so it’s always ideal to understand a little about what to expect if your child goes to high school in Hamilton.
The standard of education among Hamilton’s high schools can vary, as any educational environment is greatly influenced by the keenness and aptitude of the scholars, nearly as by the staff.
There is generally a healthy focal point in “extra-curricular” (activities like sports or music) in addition to academics.
Students have access to job training before graduation thanks to an inventive selection of specialized programs such as bike repair, health support services, construction, cosmetology, and humanities studies.
International Baccalaureate and university preparation courses can also be available, dependent on the varsity.
Many students within the Hamilton area excel academically, and universities in southern Ontario, Toronto, and Montreal – along with the well-ranked local McMaster University – are popular among Hamilton’s high school graduates.
The majority of students leave school to pursue work or college programs, and Ontario boasts one of the best-regarded junior college systems in Canada, including the local Mohawk College.
Private schools
Private school-at-home tuition ranges from $7,000 to $21,000 per year, depending on the school, the age of the child, and other factors.
Montessori schools come into this category, and there are about a dozen in the Hamilton area.
Conclusion
In essence, school life in Canada might be similar to school life anywhere. Your child may love it or despise it, but the curriculum and possibilities afforded by a faculty in Canada are world-class.
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