Back to School: A Guide to Montreal’s Best Public and Private School Districts

Posted on by gb_admin

September is here! Kids are grabbing their backpacks, and families are settling into their fall routines. If you are thinking about buying or selling a home in Montreal, school season is a big deal.

Where your child goes to school is often tied directly to where you live. Here is a simple guide to how public and private schools work in Montreal, and how to pick the right neighborhood for your family.

1. How Public Schools Work in Montreal In Quebec, public schools are run by school service centers (formerly called school boards). You have French centers (like Centre de services scolaire de Montréal) and English ones (like the Lester B. Pearson or English Montreal school boards).

  • Catchment Areas: Public schools are strictly zoned. Your home address decides which neighborhood school your child will attend.
  • Top Neighborhoods for Public Schools: Neighborhoods like NDG (Notre-Dame-de-Grâce), Westmount, Town of Mount Royal (TMR), and parts of the West Island (like Kirkland and Beaconsfield) are famous for having strong public elementary and high schools.

2. The Private School Option Montreal has many wonderful private schools. Unlike public schools, private schools do not require you to live in a specific street or zone. However, living close by saves you from long morning traffic!

  • Top Neighborhoods for Private Schools: If you are looking at top French private schools (like Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf or Collège Notre-Dame), areas like Côte-des-Neiges and Outremont are great choices. For English private schools (like Lower Canada College or Selwyn House), NDG and Westmount are central hubs.

3. Schools and Your Home’s Value Even if you do not have school-aged children, school zones matter! Homes located in top-rated public school zones tend to hold their value very well. When it comes time to sell, families will always pay a bit more to get into a great neighborhood school.

Tips for Your Next Move:

  • Check the map: Always check the official school board website to confirm which school belongs to a house address before you buy. Boundaries can change!
  • Think about the commute: Visit the neighborhood during morning rush hour to see what the school traffic is like.

Have questions about school zones or buying in a specific Montreal neighborhood? Reply to this email anytime—I am always here to help!