On this page, we cover private schools in Quebec that offer gifted programs and support, including schools in Montreal, Laval, Sherbrooke, Kirkland, and Longueuil. We also touch on public schools for gifted children.
For a more complete guide to gifted education, including a discussion of young gifted children and tests, start with our introductory guide.
Private schools are not obligated to support gifted children with special programs. Many private schools don't—even ones with strong academic reputations. The schools listed on this page, however, do. We organize the schools into groups: dedicated gifted schools, schools with dedicated gifted classes, and schools offering in-class gifted support. Then, in the fourth group, we identify schools that don't offer formal gifted support but have accelerated curricula for all their students.
These schools have a separate, dedicated class (or classes) where 100% of the students are gifted. These gifted classes can be either full-time or part-time, and exist in parallel to regular, non-gifted classes.
Montreal, Quebec Rue Sherbrooke/Ave Connaught "College Prep International, a traditional private school in Montreal, offers English instruction with partial French immersion, for grades five to twelve. Its average class size range from 12 to 18 Students." —From the school
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Montreal (DDO), Quebec "West Island College offers French and French Immersion programs from grades 7 to 11 in Montreal. It is a leader in innovative teaching methods. The average class size of 24 students." —From the school
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Westmount, Quebec The Boulevard/Place Braeside "The Study, founded in 1915, is one of Canada's premier all-girls' schools. Our bilingual mother-tongue program, experiential learning, and small classes help girls become leaders who are driven to make a difference." —From the school
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Montreal, Quebec De Maisonneuve West/Park Row West "At Kells, flexibility is the key. We develop programs allowing students to work within their comfort zone, which may be above, below or at grade level. The result is students who outperform even their own expectations." —From the school
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Kirkland, Quebec Rue Edmond/Ch Ste-Marie "Kuper Academy offers programs from pre-school to grade eleven in Kirkland. Its average class size is 22 students." —From the school
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These schools offer support for gifted students within the regular classroom. Gifted students stay with regular learners, while receiving special, individualized programming.
Montreal, Quebec Av de Monkland/Boul Cavendish "Lower Canada College is a gender-inclusive, K-12 university preparatory school, committed to excellence in teaching and learning. It is the only English high school in Quebec offering both the IB MYP and DP." —From the school
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Rigaud, Quebec Rue Saint-Pierre/Rue Bourget "Collège Bourget is a day & boarding school located between Montreal and Ottawa. French and English high school programs are offered. Bourget aims to foster personal autonomy, academic development, and perseverance." —From the school
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Westmount, Quebec Mount Pleasant Avenue/Cedar Avenue "Located in Montreal, QC, Miss Edgar’s & Miss Cramp’s School offers a bilingual education for girls from K-11. From entrepreneurship to STEM, our unique learning environment empowers girls to lead the way." —From the school
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Montreal, Quebec Atwater/Docteur-Penfield "Since 1861, The Sacred Heart School of Montreal, the city’s only all-girls English Catholic high school, has been preparing girls to change the world. We offer grades 7 to 12, day school and boarding." —From the school
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Montreal, Quebec "Our community inspires students to discover joy and passion in their learning, purpose in their lives, and the confidence to express their unique selves in a nurturing, inclusive, and collaborative environment." —From the school
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Montreal, Quebec "We believe in Girls' Education. Trafalgar offers a strong liberal arts education, a comprehensive STEAM program, a broad and dynamic athletics program and a host of leadership opportunities through clubs and activities." —From the school
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Sherbrooke, Quebec "Bishop's College School is an English boarding and day school for students in grades 7 through 12. Small in size and culturally diverse, BCS is an IB World School offering the IB Diploma Programme and Canadian curricula." —From the school
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Montreal, Quebec Sherbrooke/Atwater "Students thrive in an inclusive, structured learning environment that provides academic accommodations for all learners. We help students become autonomous, resilient lifelong learners!" —From the school
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Our gifted education guide has advice specific to finding gifted programming. For insights that are more general (on how to evaluate school options), we recommend you review our hub on choosing a school and our expert advice on school-choice. You can also read our guides to questions to ask private schools and questions students get asked at school interviews.
Private school expos are a great starting point for finding a school. We have annual private school expos in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Ottawa, Calgary, and Halton-peel. These expos allow you to speak with many private schools, some of which have gifted programs—all in one place. Find a gifted school near you.
Word-of-mouth is another powerful tool in your school-finding arsenal. The Our Kids parent discussion forum allows you to discuss your options and debate topics about gifted education. You can use our community of parents, educational experts, alumni, and school officials to help answer your questions and stimulate your thinking.
Attending open houses is a great way to learn more about a school and get a feel for the environment. For some general advice on open house visits, go here. For questions to ask that are specific to gifted programs, check out our main gifted education guide.
Broadly speaking, the cost of gifted schools in Quebec reflects private school tuition in general. Private schools can range from $5,000 to over $30,000 per year for day students.
There are quite a few affordable private schools for gifted kids. Inexpensive schools can often provide an excellent education by focusing on the classroom basics. You don't need to spend a fortune on bells and whistles: the key is getting your child individualized support. Having said that, the pricier schools will tend to provide a wider breadth of in-class and extracurricular opportunities. They will also tend to be larger and more established. Nonetheless, for most schools, the largest operating expense is usually teacher salaries.
Many schools offer financial aid (also known as "bursaries", "tuition relief", or "tuition assistance") and scholarships. Financial aid is needs-based, while scholarships are given for some measure of merit (whether it be academic, athletic, or something else). You can read more about financial aid and scholarships in our dedicated guide. Generally speaking, the larger and more expensive private schools provide the most aid. Even comfortable middle-class families can be eligible to receive aid, so don't be afraid to ask a school about it—whatever your financial situation.
Below you'll find the range of costs at Quebec private schools with gifted programming:
Tuition (day school) | Students receiving financial aid | Grade eligibility for financial aid | Avg. aid package size (annual) | |
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Lower Canada College | $25,365 to $27,660 | 20% | 7 - 12 | $14,500 |
West Island College (Montreal) | $15,400 | 7 - 11 | $5,000 | |
Miss Edgar's & Miss Cramp's School | $21,800 to $26,380 | 15% | 6 - 11 | $5,000 |
The Sacred Heart School of Montreal | $19,347 to $42,558 | 30% | 7 - 11 | $8,300 |
St. George's School of Montreal | $20,081 to $24,754 | |||
Trafalgar School For Girls | $17,995 to $26,000 | 20% | 7 - 11 | |
The Study | $26,200 to $29,380 | 15% | 4 - 11 | $5,200 |
Bishop's College School | $30,000 to $51,000 | 40% | 7 - 12 | $23,800 |
Centennial Academy | $21,270 | 7 - 11 | $7,000 |
Legend:
DS | DC | SE | CC | IS | CL | AC | LI | AP | IB | SN | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
College Prep International | |||||||||||
Lower Canada College | |||||||||||
West Island College (Montreal) | |||||||||||
College Bourget | |||||||||||
Miss Edgar's & Miss Cramp's School | |||||||||||
The Sacred Heart School of Montreal | |||||||||||
St. George's School of Montreal | |||||||||||
Trafalgar School For Girls | |||||||||||
The Study | |||||||||||
Kells Academy | |||||||||||
Bishop's College School | |||||||||||
Kuper Academy | |||||||||||
Centennial Academy |
Founding date | Endowment | Admissions rate | Enrollment | Enrollment per grade | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
College Prep International | 1944 | 100% | 125 | 16 | |
Lower Canada College | 1909 | 895 | 69 | ||
West Island College (Montreal) | 1974 | 470 | |||
College Bourget | 1850 | 1940 | |||
Miss Edgar's & Miss Cramp's School | 1909 | 60% | 300 | 25 | |
The Sacred Heart School of Montreal | 1861 | 250 | 42 | ||
St. George's School of Montreal | 1930 | 465 | 39 | ||
Trafalgar School For Girls | 1887 | 240 | |||
The Study | 1915 | $10,000,000 | 50% | 390 | 33 |
Kells Academy | 1978 | 95% | 370 | 28 | |
Bishop's College School | 1836 | $25,000 | 270 | ||
Kuper Academy | 1987 | 100% | 985 | ||
Centennial Academy | 1969 | 95% | 300 | 60 |
Primary curriculum | Secondary curriculum | Curriculum pace | Academic culture | Average class size | Language immersion | Special needs support | Tech integration |
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---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
College Prep International | Traditional | Standard-enriched | Rigorous | 12 to 18 | No support | Light integration | ||
Lower Canada College | Liberal Arts | International Baccalaureate | Standard-enriched | Rigorous | 18 to 22 | Withdrawal Assistance | Heavy integration | |
West Island College (Montreal) | Traditional | Standard-enriched | Rigorous | 10 to 24 | No support | Heavy integration | ||
College Bourget | Traditional | Standard-enriched | Supportive | Resource Assistance | Medium integration | |||
Miss Edgar's & Miss Cramp's School | Progressive | Accelerated | Rigorous | 12 to 20 | No support | Medium integration | ||
The Sacred Heart School of Montreal | Traditional | Accelerated | Rigorous | 14 to 18 | No support | Medium integration | ||
St. George's School of Montreal | Progressive | Standard-enriched | Supportive | 12 to 20 | No support | |||
Trafalgar School For Girls | Progressive | Standard-enriched | Supportive | 10 to 20 | No support | |||
The Study | Progressive | Accelerated | Rigorous | 14 to 20 | No support | |||
Kells Academy | Traditional | Student-paced | Supportive | No support | Heavy integration | |||
Bishop's College School | Traditional | International Baccalaureate | Standard-enriched | Rigorous | 12 to 15 | No support | Heavy integration | |
Kuper Academy | Traditional | Standard-enriched | Rigorous | 9 to 22 | No support | Medium integration | ||
Centennial Academy | Traditional | Standard-enriched | Supportive | 12 to 20 | Special needs school | Medium integration |
Legend:
College Prep International | ||||||||||||||||||||
Lower Canada College | ||||||||||||||||||||
West Island College (Montreal) | ||||||||||||||||||||
College Bourget | ||||||||||||||||||||
Miss Edgar's & Miss Cramp's School | ||||||||||||||||||||
The Sacred Heart School of Montreal | ||||||||||||||||||||
St. George's School of Montreal | ||||||||||||||||||||
Trafalgar School For Girls | ||||||||||||||||||||
The Study | ||||||||||||||||||||
Kells Academy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Bishop's College School | ||||||||||||||||||||
Kuper Academy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Centennial Academy |
Admission deadline | SSAT required | Interview required | Acceptance rate | Next open house | |
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College Prep International | Day: rolling | 5 - 12 | 100% | ||
Lower Canada College | Day: rolling | 5 - 12 | |||
West Island College (Montreal) | Day: Oct 9, 2020 | 7 - 11 | |||
College Bourget | Day: rolling Boarding: rolling | 9 - 12 | |||
Miss Edgar's & Miss Cramp's School | Day: rolling | K - 11 | 60% | ||
The Sacred Heart School of Montreal | Day: rolling Boarding: rolling | 7 - 12 | |||
St. George's School of Montreal | Day: rolling | K - 11 | |||
Trafalgar School For Girls | Day: rolling | 7 - 11 | |||
The Study | Day: rolling | K - 11 | 50% | ||
Kells Academy | Day: rolling Boarding: rolling Homestay: rolling | K - 11 | 95% | ||
Bishop's College School | Day: rolling Boarding: rolling | 7 - 12 | |||
Kuper Academy | Day: rolling | K - 11 | 100% | ||
Centennial Academy | Day: rolling | 7 - 11 | 95% |
Nursery/Toddler | Preschool | JK | SK | K | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
College Prep International | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | |||||||||
Lower Canada College | |||||||||||||||||
West Island College (Montreal) | |||||||||||||||||
College Bourget | |||||||||||||||||
Miss Edgar's & Miss Cramp's School | 70% | 85% | 85% | 70% | 70% | 60% | 70% | 70% | 70% | 60% | 60% | ||||||
The Sacred Heart School of Montreal | |||||||||||||||||
St. George's School of Montreal | 74% | 79% | |||||||||||||||
Trafalgar School For Girls | |||||||||||||||||
The Study | |||||||||||||||||
Kells Academy | 90% | 90% | 90% | 90% | 90% | 90% | 90% | 95% | 95% | 90% | 95% | 90% | 90% | ||||
Bishop's College School | |||||||||||||||||
Kuper Academy | 90% | 90% | 80% | 80% | 80% | 80% | 80% | 70% | 70% | 75% | 75% | 75% | 50% | 30% | |||
Centennial Academy | 95% | 95% | 95% | 95% | 95% |
Nursery/Toddler | Preschool | JK | SK | K | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
College Bourget | |||||||||||||||||
The Sacred Heart School of Montreal | |||||||||||||||||
Kells Academy | 95% | 95% | 95% | 95% | 90% | 95% | 90% | 90% | |||||||||
Bishop's College School |
Math | Science | Literature | Humanities Social Sciences | Foreign Languages | Fine Arts | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
College Prep International | Traditional Math | Equal Balance | Equal Balance | Equal Balance | Equal Balance | Equal Balance |
Lower Canada College | Equal Balance | Equal Balance | Equal Balance | Equal Balance | Communicative | Equal Balance |
West Island College (Montreal) | Equal Balance | Inquiry | Equal Balance | Equal Balance | Equal Balance | Equal Balance |
College Bourget | Traditional Math | Equal Balance | Equal Balance | Equal Balance | Equal Balance | Equal Balance |
Miss Edgar's & Miss Cramp's School | Equal Balance | Equal Balance | Equal Balance | Equal Balance | Equal Balance | Equal Balance |
The Sacred Heart School of Montreal | Traditional Math | Equal Balance | Traditional | Equal Balance | Communicative | Creative |
St. George's School of Montreal | ||||||
Trafalgar School For Girls | ||||||
The Study | ||||||
Kells Academy | Equal Balance | Inquiry | Equal Balance | Equal Balance | Equal Balance | Creative |
Bishop's College School | Equal Balance | Equal Balance | Equal Balance | Equal Balance | Equal Balance | Equal Balance |
Kuper Academy | Traditional Math | Equal Balance | Traditional | Equal Balance | Communicative | Equal Balance |
Centennial Academy | Traditional Math | Inquiry | Traditional | Pragmatism | Equal Balance | Creative |
Student council | School newspaper | Yearbook | Radio club | Photograph club | Art club |
Choir | Band | Dance club | Yoga club | Drama club | Debate club |
Chess club | Math club | Science club | Robotics club | Computer club | Environmental club | Outdoor club | Community service |
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
College Prep International | ||||||||||||||||||||
Lower Canada College | ||||||||||||||||||||
West Island College (Montreal) | ||||||||||||||||||||
College Bourget | ||||||||||||||||||||
Miss Edgar's & Miss Cramp's School | ||||||||||||||||||||
The Sacred Heart School of Montreal | ||||||||||||||||||||
St. George's School of Montreal | ||||||||||||||||||||
Trafalgar School For Girls | ||||||||||||||||||||
The Study | ||||||||||||||||||||
Kells Academy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Bishop's College School | ||||||||||||||||||||
Kuper Academy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Centennial Academy |
Badminton | Baseball | Basketball | Cricket | Equestrian | Football | Golf | Gymnastics | Ice Hockey | Lacrosse | Rowing | Rugby | Soccer | Softball | Squash | Swimming | Tennis | Track and Field | Volleyball | Wrestling |
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
College Prep International | ||||||||||||||||||||
Lower Canada College | ||||||||||||||||||||
West Island College (Montreal) | ||||||||||||||||||||
College Bourget | ||||||||||||||||||||
Miss Edgar's & Miss Cramp's School | ||||||||||||||||||||
The Sacred Heart School of Montreal | ||||||||||||||||||||
St. George's School of Montreal | ||||||||||||||||||||
Trafalgar School For Girls | ||||||||||||||||||||
The Study | ||||||||||||||||||||
Kells Academy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Bishop's College School | ||||||||||||||||||||
Kuper Academy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Centennial Academy |
Make no mistake: gifted children have different needs than typical students. These learners are often so advanced in their intellectual abilities that they are outliers in the classroom: a normal curriculum and approach won't be enough. When these students don't receive the custom support they need, they can disengage from school—and even become depressed.
If you know or suspect your child is gifted, you're faced with the following questions:
You can also consider unique options, like language immersion programs, International Baccalaureate programs, Advanced Placement courses (for older students), special needs programs, or other alternatives like Montessori schools.
If you're still grappling with these questions, start with our introductory guide to gifted education. Once you're versed in the fundamentals, revisit this page to explore your specific school options in location.
Private schools are not required by law to provide support for gifted children—and many don't. On the other hand, some private schools are able to offer highly individualized programs for gifted learners. The term "buyer beware" definitely applies here: it's up to you to make sure schools are properly set up for gifted learners. The list of private schools on this page (above) is a good place to start your search.