General Information
In Canada, public schools are governed by school boards. There are two public school offices in Prince Edward Island:
- Public Schools Branch (governs English language public schools)
- French Language School Board (La Commission scolaire de langue française)
There are also private schools in PEI. They are not governed by the public school boards or funded by public funds.
Some parents choose to ‘home educate’ their children — children stay at home and their parents (both or one of them) act as teachers. If this is their choice, parents must indicate their intention and submit their education plan to the Department of Education.
PEI Public Education School Levels
- Kindergarten (mandatory pre-school education; children who are at least 5 years of age, or will turn 5 by December 31st of the school year can be enrolled)
- Elementary school (grades 1 – 6)
- Intermediate school (also called ‘junior high school’, grades 7 – 9)
- High school (grades 10 – 12)
Public education is free for all permanent residents in PEI, from kindergarten to grade 12. Colleges and universities do receive some public funds, but they are not free.
It is important to remember that, because of the length of time it takes to learn a new language, some newcomer students may not be able to graduate by the age of seventeen or eighteen like some of their Canadian-born peers. Much depends on each student’s level of English or grade level at the time of arrival in Canada.
Note that the marking system in PEI schools may be different from the one in your country of origin. Usually, in elementary grades students get descriptive marks, and further on they are marked by percentages and marks from A (the best mark) to F (the worst, failing mark). Talk to your child’s teacher to find out more about the marking system in his or her school and grade level.
Public Schools
The Public Schools Branch and La Commission scolaire de langue française (CSLF) operate 62 public schools offering kindergarten to Grade 12. Thirty (30) schools offer French Immersion.
- Public Schools Branch
- La Commission scolaire de langue française (CSLF)
School lists included, learn More >>>
2022-2023 School Calendar
In the 2022-2023 school calendar, there are a total of 195 school days, including 179 instructional days.
Download the school calendar as a printable PDF or an ICS Calendar
About the Prince Edward Island International Student Program (PEIISP)
The Prince Edward Island International Student Program (PEIISP) was created to deliver K-12 public education opportunities to the global community through the Department of Education and Lifelong Learning. International students who reside outside of Canada may apply to attend one of our 62 public schools in Prince Edward Island. Our public schools are among a network of Canadian educational institutions who welcome international students to study and experience our Island way of life. Enjoy the peace of mind, knowing students will receive a world-class education in a safe place. High school students can choose from a variety of subjects within the Prince Edward Island program including Arts, Business Education, Career Education, Career and Technical Education, Communication and Information Technology, Core French, Culinary, English as an Additional Language, Language Arts, Mathematics, Physical Education, Science, Social Studies.
Frequently Asked Questions Prince Edward Island International Student Program (PEIISP)
Postsecondary education in Prince Edward Island
Overview
Postsecondary education in Prince Edward Island is delivered through the province’s one publicly funded university, the University of Prince Edward Island; Holland College, a publicly funded community college with training centres throughout the province; the Collège Acadie Î.-P.-É. a publically funded francophone community college based in Wellington with a campus presence in Charlottetown and a number of private vocational training schools (sometimes called career colleges).
The University of Prince Edward Island offers programs and courses through four faculties and four schools–Arts, Science, Business, Education, Nursing, Mathematical and Computational Sciences, Sustainable Design Engineering, and Veterinary Medicine–and is home to the Atlantic Veterinary College, which serves all four Atlantic Provinces – Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland. Holland College welcomes students of all ages and educational backgrounds to its full-time, adult and community education and continuing education programs. The Collège Acadie Î.-P.-É. also welcomes students of all ages and educational background to its French-language full-time, adult education, language and customized training programs. Approximately 18 private training schools offer a wide assortment of vocational programs ranging from computer technology to personal health care.
The provincial Department of Workforce and Advanced Learning is responsible for the province’s postsecondary system.
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University of Prince Edward Island
Study Abroad Canada Language Institute(SACLI)