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Making the grade | Best elementary public schools in Montreal

Classroom children participating in class.

The demand for specifically-tailored, cutting-edge multidisciplinary school programs is getting stronger and stronger, andCanadian parents across the board are eager to ignite their child’s potential as early as possible. In many cases, thisbegins as early as preschool, and in the rush to get their kids’ foots into great educational doors, many moms and dadsscramble, as registration season nears, to find the best schools. While that much is obvious for most, what becomes moreof a puzzle is whether to go private or public in terms of schooling. Historically, private education has been synonymouswith success, and certainly, public schools in Montreal have gotten their fair share of bad report cards outlining budgetingand staffing issues. It’s natural to be impressed by Montreal’s private education sector; it ranks among the highest in theprovince.

However, while we are certainly not knocking private education, the bottom line is that private school isn’t for everyone,and not just because of budget constraints. Many parents wish to offer their kids a more “down-to-earth” experience, evenwhile preserving the desire for excellent education. Fortunately, in recent years, a restructuring of programs in publicschools in Montreal has made many of them into an attractive option for parents who wish to offer a diverse, real-worldand equally high-level education to their kids. Many of Montreal’s public schools now have international programs, andoffer a multidisciplinary curriculum.

Here are just a few of the most well-liked public schools in Montreal, both from the French (Commission Scolaire DeMontreal) and English (English Montreal School Board) school boards.

L’École Internationale de Montréal: A leading example of public schools in Montreal

This French-speaking institution has become sought-after in recent years due to its International Baccalaureate programand its self-described “socio-constructivist” curriculum, favoring social responsibility and inclusion.

A child studying at École Internationale

Children’s World Academy: A great education in LaSalle

An International Baccalaureate accredited primary English school located in the South West area of Montreal, this schooloffers many workshops and club activities promoting social awareness and is part of the Peaceful Schools Internationalprogram.

Children participating in activities at Children’s World Academy

F.A.C.E.: Synonymous with creativity

Offering both elementary and secondary education this downtown institution is well-known for its arts, music andlanguage-focused curriculum. While it operates officially in French, it accepts students from the English Montreal SchoolBoard and offers enriched English courses.

Children at F.A.C.E.

École Arc-en-Ciel: Great principles framing great education

Located in the Plateau, this French school offers a multi-cultural and socially-involved approach, based on six principles:autonomy, respect, participation-based democracy, cooperation, freedom and commitment.

École Arc-en-Ciel’s lovely yard

Westmount Park School: A refreshing and diverse approach

An English primary school dedicated to multiculturalism, respect and which celebrates diversity, which also includesenriched French programs, enriched programs for high-achievers and a daycare service.

Kids at Westmount Park School

While we hope this brief overview has been helpful, it’s important to note that rankings are often quite subjective, andaren’t the only factor to consider when selecting a public school. Indeed, we attempted to see this posting as anopportunity to experience what parents go through during the tedious research and selection process, and this humblecontributor, for one, has only one true conclusion to make of this quest for the best elementary public schools in Montreal:Trust your gut. Schools listed in ranking systems aren’t necessarily the best for your child, and neither are those excludedfrom such lists necessarily bad schools by any means. The process should first and foremost be based on whatyour child’s interests, needs and strengths are, how they behave and socialize, and a myriad of other interconnectedfactors of which you are the most experienced specialist. Visits to the schools should be made aside from this research,and meetings with prospective teachers held.

We hope this list has shed some light on the subject, but at the end of the day, Moms and Dads know best.

We wish you the best of luck in your selection journey.

To find out more about some of the neighborhoods mentioned in this posting, feel free to checkout Navut’s handy Montreal Neighborhood Profiles!

Do you agree with our picks? Have any great or not-so-stellar experiences? Share them with us in the commentsection below!

Other handy links

English Montreal School Board

Commission Scolaire de Montréal

Navut’s Neighborhood Finder

Short-Term Studying in Montreal

Top language schools in Montreal

Best elementary schools in Toronto

(Photos: F.A.C.E. school, Children’s World Academy, École Internationale de Montréal, École Arc-en-Ciel, WestmountPark School)