How Montreal school zoning works (CSSDM, EMSB, CSMB, LBPSB)

Réponse rapide : Montreal has 4 main public school service centres covering the island. For French education: CSSDM (central), CSMB (west island), CSSDPI (east end). For English education: EMSB (central) and LBPSB (west island). Your address determines your “neighborhood school” — confirm exact zoning with the centre.

Bill 101 and English schooling eligibility

Under Quebec’s Charter of the French Language, English public schools are restricted. Your child qualifies for English public schooling if:

• You (the parent) received English elementary education in Canada — most common reason
• A sibling already attended English school in Canada
• You hold a “Canadian citizenship” certificate of eligibility obtained through Quebec’s Ministry of Education
• You’re temporary residents (international students, certain work permits) — limited exemption

Otherwise, your child must attend French public school. Many private English schools are exempt from Bill 101 — but tuition is $20,000–$30,000/year.

The 4 school service centres covering Montreal Island

Welcome classes (classes d’accueil) for newcomer kids

Children new to Quebec who don’t speak French enter classe d’accueil: a 10-month French immersion program that bridges them into regular classes. Free, all neighborhoods. Saint-Laurent, Côte-des-Neiges, and Parc-Extension have the most welcome-class capacity due to high newcomer populations.

Montreal Schools FAQ

How do I find my Montreal school zone?

Use the tool above with your neighborhood, or call your school service centre directly with your address. Each centre maintains a zoning map by street range. The CSSDM zoning tool is at cssdm.gouv.qc.ca/school-finder.

Can my child go to any school in Montreal or only the zoned one?

By default, you’re assigned the neighborhood school. To attend a non-zoned school, request a transfer in writing — granted only if the chosen school has space and based on tie-breaker rules (siblings already enrolled have priority). Specialty programs (international baccalaureate, immersion, arts, sports concentration) accept applications from outside the zone.

Are Montreal English public schools free?

Yes, for eligible families. If you qualify under Bill 101 (typically because you or a sibling received English elementary education in Canada), EMSB and LBPSB schools are free for K–11. Eligibility is verified by the Ministry of Education; the process takes 4–8 weeks.

How much do Montreal private English schools cost?

Most private English schools in Montreal cost $20,000–$30,000/year for elementary and $22,000–$35,000 for high school. Top names: Selwyn House (boys), The Study (girls), Lower Canada College, Miss Edgar’s & Miss Cramp’s, Sacred Heart. Lower-cost private French schools exist at $5,000–$8,000/year.

What is a “school service centre” vs “school board”?

In 2020, Quebec replaced French-language school boards (commissions scolaires) with appointed school service centres (centres de services scolaires). English school boards (EMSB, LBPSB) were retained due to constitutional protections for English minority language education.

When does the school year start in Quebec?

Quebec public schools start the last week of August (typically August 28–30) and end around June 23. Pre-school (5-year-olds) and Kindergarten begin the same week. Registration for the following year happens January–February.

Are Montreal schools secular?

Quebec public schools have been officially secular since 1998 (Bill 95). Religious symbols on teachers were banned in 2019 under Bill 21. Some private confessional schools (Catholic, Jewish, Islamic) operate but receive only partial government funding.

Outils Montréal associés

• Quiz de correspondance de quartier
• Calculateur de coûts pour garderie (CPE)
• Liste de vérification pour les nouveaux arrivants (30 jours)

Information is for orientation only. Confirm with your school service centre — zoning boundaries change. Sources: Ministère de l’Éducation du Québec, CSSDM, EMSB, CSMB, LBPSB, CSSDPI.