Early and Secondary Education
Early and Secondary Education
Public Schools
Public education is free and available to every child in Canada. The NS Department of Education & Early Childhood Development offers a great range of services to all Nova Scotians attending school, from grades pre-primary to 12.
By December 31st of the calendar year, your child must be four years old to register for pre-primary and five years old to start grade primary School in Nova Scotia is mandatory between the ages of five years and 16 years old.
Every person over the age of five and under the age of twenty one has the right to attend a public school.
Generally, the education system is organized in the following way:
- Pre-primary: (ages 4-5) – offered at all schools, day cares, non-profit organizations and by private individuals
- Elementary: Grades pre-primary to 6
- Middle School: Grades 6 to 8
- Junior High: Grades 7 to 9
- High School: Grades 10 to 12 (or grade 9 to 12)
- Community College or University
H.R.C.E. serves close to 60,000 students, 138 schools and 3600 teachers.
How can I register my child to a public school?
- Visit H.R.C.E.’s Newcomer Welcome Centre located at St. Agnes Junior High at 6981 Mumford Road. Open Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 3:30pm by appointment only, Fill this form for an appointment
- To learn which school your child should be attending, you can visit the School Locator at the Halifax Regional Centre for Education (H.R.C.E.) website and type in your home address
- In public school there are three programs to choose from: English program, Early French Immersion which starts in grade primary and Late French Immersion which starts in grade 7. Visit the HRCE for more details
- Newcomers can also register at Conseil scolaire acadien provincial. This is Nova Scotia’s French school board, serving twenty-two schools and ensuring quality education in French to Francophone and newcomers in the province
Private Schools
There are a number of private schools in Halifax. For a full listing see the Yellow Pages to see which suits best yours and your children’s interests.
Finding Childcare
In Nova Scotia, it is illegal to leave a child under 12 years old alone at home. The Nova Scotia Department of Community Services is a great resource for parents seeking for quality child care in the province. This Department regulates and licenses all child care facilities in Nova Scotia.
Among other things, they can give you information on:
- Where to look for child care
- How to ensure quality care
- How to start your own child care service
- How to apply for subsidies in case you need help with child care expenses
Parenting Resources
If you are looking for play groups, classes, activities, family events and support programs in Halifax, you may want to take a look at these resources:
- The YMCA offers a School Settlement Program that provides valuable information to help families navigate their new school and community.
- Family Resource Centres provide community-based programs and services that support the healthy development and well-being of children and youth
- HRM Parent connects local parents with events, services, local products, etc.
High School Equivalency
The General Education Development (GED) is an international high school equivalency testing program that:
- Measure skills similar to those of recent high school graduates.
- Gives a Nova Scotia High School Equivalency certificate of Grade 12 to those adults who pass the test
You can also visit EduNova to learn more about the experience of being an international student in Nova Scotia. They offer great advice to students and parents on education, training and life in Nova Scotia.
Post-Secondary Education
Looking ahead to the future for you or your children? If you're searching for post-secondary education opportunities are in the area, Halifax has a variety of Universities and Colleges spanning a wide range of fields and programs.