Lambton Kent District School Board
- Why
- Language immersion · Short program
- Because
- English-speaking environment · High schools with ESL · Short-term options
- Result
- Fluency · Low-risk start · Defined fee
- Benefit
- Premium · CAD 490 above the median, with homestay
- Cost
- CAD 16,740 (total of the published items, without homestay) · about CAD 1,674 per school month
Why Lambton Kent District School Board?
Families who want their children to learn English mostly among native English-speaking peers look into this board. It operates 63 schools in Sarnia and Chatham-Kent, in the far south of Canada surrounded by the Great Lakes, and has about 22,000 students.
- Language immersion: Almost all classmates speak English. International students study in the same classes as their Canadian peers.
- Short program: Suited to families who want to start with a two-, three- or four-month experience.
- Spring intake: Suited to students who have missed September and February and want to start in April.
Reasons: a native English-speaking environment, flexible entry and ESL support
- English-speaking environment: Because more than 99% of students are native English speakers, international students use the language in a natural setting all day.
- High schools with ESL: ESL is offered at four of the 11 high schools that accept international students, and students who need language support are placed in a suitable school.
- Short-term options: With 2-, 3- and 4-month programs, a family can try Canada without making a long commitment.
- Three intakes: Students can start in September, February or April, so the calendar can be adjusted to the student's school situation in their home country.
- Government assurance: The board is funded and supervised by the Government of Ontario, and all teachers are certified. This assurance applies to every grade and level.
- Specialist High Skills Major: The student can add a sector specialization to the diploma. A French Immersion option is also available.
- Clubs and sports: There are debate, band, choir and science fair, along with basketball, hockey, golf, curling and volleyball. Art, chess, theatre, environment and student council clubs, as well as tennis, soccer and track and field, are also among the options.
Cost analysis: what one school year costs
| Item | CAD | As published on CAPS-I |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition, one school year | 15,990 | $15,990 |
| Application fee | 250 | $250 |
| Health insurance | 500 | $500 (semester $250) |
| Homestay, full year | see text | varies by homestay provider, please confirm directly with them. |
| Total of the published items, without homestay | 16,740 | Homestay is priced by the homestay provider and is not included in this total. |
Tuition alone works out to about CAD 1,599 per school month over a 10-month year.
The tuition figure comes from the district's CAPS-I page. We could not confirm it, or the school year it applies to, on the district's own website on 11 October 2026; we request the current fee schedule for you before you apply.
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 15,990, this fee is CAD 490 above the median of CAD 15,500 among 32 public school districts in Ontario.
Outcome: a student who learns English where it is spoken and grows in confidence
- Fluency: Because classes, friendships and home life all take place in English, speaking skills develop quickly. Sarnia and Chatham-Kent are the two main communities of the district; the student settles into a high school in one of these cities and stays with a local family.
- Low-risk start: If the short-term program goes well, the student can move on to a full year or the diploma path.
- Defined fee: Annual tuition is CAD 15,990, and a single semester is CAD 8,050. Health insurance for a single semester is CAD 250.
- Experienced institution: The program has been running since 2002 and hosts about 100 international students. Windsor and London are one hour away.
Benefit analysis: what the investment buys
The student works toward the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) plus Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM), 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.
Ski Academy 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 16,740 | Total of the published items, without homestay, from the cost analysis above |
| Per school month | CAD 1,674 | Over a 10-month school year |
| Price position | +CAD 490 | vs. median CAD 15,500 · 32 public school districts in Ontario |
| Specialty programs | 2 | Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) and Ski Academy |
| 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 | Premium |
CAD 490 above the median across 32 public school districts in Ontario. The higher price is worth it when the student will use what it pays for: homestay and Ski Academy.
Who it suits and what to consider
- Homestay age: Homestay accommodation is offered only for grades 7 to 12; a younger student must come with a parent. International students are accepted from grade 4.
- Travel: London and Windsor airports are about one hour away, and Toronto is three hours away. The cities are small, and the setting may feel quiet for a student looking for big-city life.
Let us identify together which of Lambton Kent's short- or long-term programs is right for your child. Plan a free preliminary consultation with Canadian Edu Centre.