The Quebec school calendar
- In elementary and secondary school, the school year usually begins at the end of August and ends at the end of June.
- Students attend class from Monday to Friday.
- Classes generally start between 8 am and 9 am, and end between 3 pm and 4 pm.
- Schedules vary by school and are sent to parents at the start of the year.
The school calendar has 180 school days for students, and class attendance is compulsory until the age of 16. There are exceptions to the rule, for example when a child is sick and must stay home.
It is also important that students arrive at school on time. Parents should consider the start and end dates of the school year when planning family vacations.
Extracurricular activities
Extracurricular activities (music, theatre, sports, homework help, etc.) can be offered outside of school hours (at lunch hour and after school).
Important dates
Your child’s school will provide you with the annual school calendar indicating holidays, pedagogical days and other important dates such as parent-teacher meetings. Several holidays are spread throughout the year, such as the period marked by Christmas and New Year (two weeks around December 25 and January 1).
Spring break
Students have a week off called “spring break” in March.
Pedagogical days
In addition to the holidays, there are approximately 20 pedagogical days, the dates of which may vary depending on school, school board and school service centre. During these “ped days” teachers attend meetings or training sessions and students have the day off. Some elementary schools offer paid daycare services during pedagogical days. Check with your child’s school or school daycare to find out if this service is available.
View an example of a Quebec elementary school calendar. (CSRS)
Three terms and three report cards per year
Three report cards are usually given to parents during the school year and present results in percentages for each subject, according to evaluations carried out throughout the three terms (tests, assignments, etc.).
Term 1
- Accounts for 20% of the final result for the year.
- Usually transmitted in November.
Term 2
- Accounts for 20% of the final result for the year.
- Usually transmitted in March.
Term 3
- Accounts for 60% of the final result for the year.
- Usually transmitted in July.
Report card details
The report card usually indicates one result per subject. These results are based primarily on assessments carried out during each term and may be accompanied by comments from teachers.
Success
- The pass threshold is set at 60%.
- For students with disabilities, social maladjustments or learning difficulties, exemptions may be made to the provincial report card.
- For students in school and social linguistic integration (ILSS) results take the form of a rating.
- For pupils benefiting from linguistic support, exemptions can be made to the report card.
Parents should refer to their child’s school for more details.