Sir Wilfrid Laurier School Board
- Why
- Budget · Flexibility
- Because
- Board standing · Advanced courses · Concentrations
- Result
- Tailored programs · Two cultures · Easy planning
- Benefit
- Mid-market price · at the median, with homestay
- Cost
- CAD 14,512 (total of the published items, without homestay) · about CAD 1,451 per school month
Why Sir Wilfrid Laurier School Board?
Families who want a less expensive, slower-paced area near Montreal often look north of the city. The board suits parents who want their child to study in English while also getting to know French language and culture.
- Budget: tuition is relatively affordable for the Montreal area.
- Flexibility: applications are accepted all year, and short programs of at least two weeks are available.
- Interests: students who want to focus on sports, arts, music or theatre can do so.
Reasons: what makes Sir Wilfrid Laurier stand out
The board runs 26 elementary schools, 9 high schools, adult and vocational education centres and a nature and science centre, with more than 2,300 staff. Its international program began in 2012 and hosts about 100 students.
- Board standing: it is Quebec's third-largest English board and is widely regarded as having a strong academic framework.
- Advanced courses: enriched programs are offered in English, mathematics, French and science, so high-achieving students stay challenged.
- Concentrations: sports, arts, music and theatre concentrations let students devote time to their talents within the school day.
- School choice: all nine high schools accept international students, so placement options are broad.
- Host families: MLI Homestay screens families in advance and offers English- or French-speaking homes, so students can choose the language they want to practise at home.
- Health support: an annual health insurance package costs CAD 462 and includes mental health support.
- Flexible entry: students can start on August 23 or February 1, or at other times by arrangement, so the timing can fit the family's schedule.
Cost analysis: what one school year costs
| Item | CAD | As published on CAPS-I |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition, one school year | 13,800 | $13,800 |
| Application fee | 250 | $250 (non-refundable) |
| Health insurance | 462 | Medical Insurance + Mental Health Support Fee: $462 per year |
| Homestay, full year | see text | varies by homestay provider; please confirm directly with them. |
| Total of the published items, without homestay | 14,512 | Homestay is priced by the homestay provider and is not included in this total. |
Tuition alone works out to about CAD 1,380 per school month over a 10-month year.
The tuition figure for the 2026–27 school year was confirmed on the district's own website on 11 October 2026.
The district has also published CAD 14,352 for the 2027–28 school year.
The other items are taken from the district's CAPS-I member page, read on 11 October 2026. Items shown as "see text" could not be read as a single amount and are left out of the total.
How this fee compares
At CAD 13,800, this fee equals the median among 6 public school districts in Quebec.
Outcome: what it means for the student and family
These features make the board a good fit for students who want a balanced budget and a flexible calendar for high school near Montreal. Students can choose a full academic year (10 months) or a five-month term. The Quebec school year starts at the end of August. Students under 17 who travel without a parent need a guardian in Canada. Recognition in the student's home country is handled by that country's education authority.
- Tailored programs: advanced courses and concentrations bring out each student's strengths.
- Two cultures: students study in English while living alongside French language and culture.
- Easy planning: year-round admission reduces pressure during preparation.
- Access to the city: Montreal is 20 minutes away, and the nearest airport is there too.
Benefit analysis: what the investment buys
The student works toward the Quebec Secondary School Diploma (DES), taught and assessed by certified Canadian teachers.
Every lesson, club and team runs in English, which turns English into a working language rather than a school subject.
A screened homestay family provides a private room, meals and daily support, and the district monitors the placement.
Fine Arts, Music, Drama and Theatre and Sports Academies let the student build a profile beyond grades.
A Canadian transcript, teacher references and extracurricular record that Canadian and international universities review directly.
Cost–benefit at a glance
| Measure | Value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Annual investment | CAD 14,512 | Total of the published items, without homestay, from the cost analysis above |
| Per school month | CAD 1,451 | Over a 10-month school year |
| Price position | At median | 6 public school districts in Quebec |
| Specialty programs | 4 | Fine Arts, Music, Drama and Theatre and Sports Academies |
| Living arrangement | Homestay | Included in the cost analysis where the school publishes it |
| Language support | Immersion | No separate ESL program in our data; we confirm with the school |
| Value verdict | Mid-market price |
Priced in line with the median across 6 public school districts in Quebec. The decision rests on fit: homestay rather than price.
Who it suits and what to consider
- Cost: full-year tuition is CAD 13,800 and a single term is CAD 6,900. A non-refundable CAD 250 application fee and the CAD 462 insurance are added. Homestay and guardianship costs vary by provider. Current fees should be confirmed with the school before applying.
- System and location: in Quebec, high school ends in Secondary V (grade 11). The board covers more than 35,000 square kilometres, so the exact school location should be confirmed during placement.
Is an English-language high school north of Montreal right for your child?