Canada High School
Application Process/Timeline for Canadian High Schools
Benefits
Nowadays, many Taiwanese students feel that the academic workload in Taiwanese high schools, as well as the pressure from the Advanced Subjects Test (指考) and General Scholastic Ability Test (學測), is overwhelming. As a result, a significant number of students choose to study abroad, hoping to experience a more diverse educational environment and secure a brighter future for themselves."
"Studying in Canada offers options beyond private high schools, as some public school boards also welcome international students. However, what kind of learning environment can Canadian high schools actually provide? You may not have thought deeply about this question.
Well then, let BEAR explain it to you in detail.
High Schools in Canada
In Canada, most high schools are divided into public and private institutions. Private schools act as legal guardians for international students under 18, providing them with a learning environment, three meals a day, and accommodation—this is known as a 'boarding school,' which shares many similarities with boarding schools in Taiwan.
Students can apply to Canadian high schools anytime from junior high graduation to high school graduation. If parents intend to send their children to a Canadian high school, they must consult and plan early to avoid missing the optimal enrollment period; otherwise, it may delay their child's education by half a year to a full year.
Additionally, Canadian high schools operate on a 'credit system.'
If a Taiwanese junior high graduate directly enrolls in Grade 10 in Canada, they can complete 30 credits in as little as 2 years, finish high school, and obtain a diploma to apply to university.
For Taiwanese students already in Grade 12 or those who have graduated from high school, they typically need to study for 6-7 months to earn 6 credits before graduating and applying to university.
From this perspective, the earlier students enroll in a Canadian high school, the better.
Public high school
All public schools in Canada are open to international students with identical admission standards. However, each secondary school only accepts international students after meeting local student enrollment needs, with remaining spots allocated to them. As a result, many schools reach full capacity early each year. When applying to Canadian public high schools, international students must apply through the local school board under municipal government jurisdiction. The school board will distribute students evenly among schools based on international student ratios, meaning international students cannot choose a specific high school. The cost of studying at Canadian public high schools is generally slightly lower than private schools, but still substantial. According to current Toronto District School Board standards: tuition and health insurance cost approximately CAD$15,000 per year, room and board about CAD$1,000 per month, guardianship fees CAD$1,500 annually, plus school supplies and transportation - totaling around CAD$30,000 per year (approximately NT$700,000).
Private high school
As mentioned earlier, many private schools provide students with accommodation and all daily necessities; students have their three daily meals and routine studies at school, and are only allowed to leave on weekends. There are two reasons why boarding schools are recommended: For students with limited self-care and self-discipline abilities, choosing a boarding school allows them to receive more attention and care from teachers, which helps them better adapt to academic and campus life. Americans who apply to be 'host families' or serve as guardians may not necessarily have time to oversee the child's daily life and studies, nor might they be skilled at managing the behavior of adolescents going through puberty.
Education System
Canada's high school system is identical to neighboring United States and largely similar to Taiwan's.
Like Taiwan, Canada's education spans 12 years from first grade to high school graduation. Canadian high school lasts 4 years (grades 9-12), but due to system differences, Taiwan's 9th grade (junior high) equals Canadian high school level.
Another difference lies in Canada's credit system. Schools place students in appropriate grades based on entrance exam results. However, due to this system, students may take subjects at different grade levels depending on whether their scores meet, exceed or fall below standards.
Generally, high schools operate on two semesters: the first semester begins in early September (day after Labor Day), and the second semester starts in January (first Monday after New Year's Day).
Admission applications consider both student age and academic level. Students cannot apply after exceeding age limits.
Private School FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Students often encounter various questions when applying to Canadian high schools. Let's take a look at BEAR's comprehensive analysis!
Do private high schools require boarding? Certainly not.
From an economic perspective, attending a day school is more cost-effective.
Everyone knows that boarding schools are quite expensive, with annual costs ranging approximately from CAD$40,000 to CAD$60,000, and tuition fees increase slightly each year. In contrast, attending a private day high school costs roughly between CAD$20,000 to CAD$30,000 per year. Therefore, choosing a private day high school over a private boarding high school can save families CAD$10,000 to CAD$20,000 annually.
The teaching quality is impeccable.
In Canada and the United States, many private high schools are church-affiliated; 80% of private day schools are established with church support. Primarily serving local parishioners to fulfill the philosophy of 'giving back to the community,' their tuition is significantly cheaper than boarding schools.
As for teaching quality, it is impeccable. The school facilities, student-teacher ratios, curriculum flexibility, and individualized teacher attention far surpass those of public schools with diverse student populations—particularly in elite university acceptance rates, which are substantially higher than public schools.
Students gain broad exposure, which helps expand their horizons.
For international students attending private day high schools, since the schools do not provide accommodation, students must live with local families, commonly known as 'Homestay.'
Homestay gives students living with local families more opportunities to engage with Canadian society, thereby understanding Canadian society, culture, customs, and the principles of how Canadians handle matters. This is undoubtedly highly beneficial for the child's future development. However, many parents prefer their children to stay with certain relatives, which actually defeats the purpose of studying abroad. After all, most overseas Chinese families live very Chinese lifestyles—from eating hot pot to binge-watching dramas on YouTube—so this requires careful consideration!
Boost English skills quickly
Students attend all-English classes at school during the day, and after school, they must continue to communicate in English with their homestay family members. Living and studying in this fully English-speaking environment daily allows students to naturally improve their English language skills rapidly. Quickly enhancing English proficiency is crucial for adapting to American-style curriculum learning and improving academic performance.
Small international student population
Taiwanese parents often worry that if their children study abroad and enroll in 'international schools,' they may encounter too many Chinese students or non-native English-speaking international students, which would be quite detrimental to rapidly improving English proficiency and integrating into American culture. Private day high schools, primarily composed of local students, can avoid this situation.
