The cost of private and independent schools in Montreal

From tuition to technology fees, private education comes with a number of costs—and schools are helping families in both big and small ways, from bursaries and scholarships to uniform “thrifting.” Families can also review guidance on financial aid and grants as they plan.

In Quebec, unlike most provinces, the government provides public subsidies to schools that can help trim tuition rates. Even so, tuition still ranges from several thousand dollars to about $30,000 for day students. For official context on Quebec schooling and policy, see the Ministry of Education of Quebec (MELS).

While tuition is generally lower than in other large cities such as Toronto, it can still present a challenge for parents. Given that not all families can afford high-end rates, cost can limit choice, says Michael Hayes, CEO of consulting firm SchoolAdvice, noting that tuition is significantly higher at English-language schools in Quebec compared to French-language ones.

When it comes to financial aid, “there are schools that do more of that than others, due to having a strong endowment,” he says. “They use their funding to broaden the base of the community, increase diversity, and they do a good job of that.”

Schools are also careful not to pile on additional fees, and many are transparent about those they do charge. Costs beyond tuition can range from student activity fees to laptop or iPad rentals and meal plans. Trafalgar School for Girls, for example, has a supplementary fee of $400 for domestic students that covers items such as class trips and instrument rentals, along with a miscellaneous fee (around $500) that can vary depending on extracurricular activities.

Some schools charge building fees to support capital expansion, which can range from $1,000 to $2,000. In some cases, these fees are mandatory; in others, they are suggested donations.

Private schools may also offer multi-child discounts, as well as monthly and other payment instalment arrangements. “Here in Montreal, there are very few surprises; tuition pretty much covers everything,” adds Hayes. “So additional fees might be $1,000 or $1,500 more—what you see is what you get here.”

For parents, knowing the actual costs is a huge help in planning. Kevin, a parent of two sons at different private schools, says, “They have done a phenomenal job of being very upfront with pricing, what is included or excluded in the pricing.”

Costs are often consistent year to year, with some variations depending on whether there are trips or special extracurriculars—school hockey can push up fees significantly—“but the school does a really good job of trying to minimize those costs.” For families comparing day-to-day costs across activities, it can help to consider a child’s physical activity level alongside the school’s co-curricular offerings.

Depending on the student, uniforms are another cost to factor in, Kevin adds, “because my kids go through them like crazy.”

Buying new items can be expensive, especially when pieces with school insignias must be purchased through a recognized vendor. Uniforms can cost about $800 a year. However, schools such as Kells Academy “do a phenomenal job of second-hand sales, and the money goes back into the school,” he says. “Going back to the whole notion of community, the families at both schools donate when things are too small … if it’s in good shape, they’ll donate it back to the schools” rather than discard it.

Kevin says he and his wife recognized that a large portion of their salaries would be spent on their children, and that “90 per cent of our expenses go to them, with the lion’s share being school. We knew when we were deciding on sending both boys to private school that there would be a financial burden involved in us being able to do that.”

Vickie Viens, executive director of La Fédération des établissements d’enseignement privé—an organization that represents more than 200 private schools and 33,000 students in Quebec—says the government subsidy helps schools cover a large share of pedagogical services.

That subsidy “is valued,” she says, adding there is always a push to ensure the provincial government renews it. Advocacy for the subsidy is ongoing amid concerns it could be reduced or taken away, which would affect many schools’ bottom lines. “That’s always a challenge,” she says.

In a push to broaden their populations, many schools have taken a renewed look at providing bursaries and scholarships. Kells Academy decided a few years ago to boost socioeconomic diversity because “it’s just part and parcel of who we are,” says high school principal Tom Malone.

Irene Woods, founder of the school that now has students from about 40 countries around the world—including Korea, Japan, Turkey, Iran, China, Brazil, and Mexico—opened it in 1978 as a tutoring centre, and Malone says expanding access is a natural direction to take.

That sentiment is shared at Trafalgar School for Girls, “where we’re really trying to show that we’re open to everyone,” says Nadine Paree, associate director of admissions. “I think people have a misconception that you have to be elite (to attend), and we really wanted to dispel that myth.”

The school expanded its outreach, in particular to the nearby Indigenous community of Kahnawake, to build community ties. “There are many supports and opportunities available within our schools to help support families who may not be able to just drop $30,000 a year on a school,” she adds. Non-repayable bursaries are assessed yearly, often by a third party, where parents submit tax information.

Scholarships and other donor-funded support are based on merit and can also be based on need. (Financial help is handled separately and does not influence admissions.)

Alongside overall affordability, families may want to clarify what supports and programming are included for different learner needs and profiles—whether that relates to mental focus, academic focus, social tendencies, or a student’s interests in the arts or STEM.

In the same spirit, families planning for longer-term stability often ask about pricing and availability of supports related to giftedness, special education, learning disabilities, and social-emotional challenges.

Lindsay Woods, director of advancement, marketing and communications at The Study, says the school offers “inclusive tuition,” which covers most costs—including everything from school supplies to class trips.

“You’re not getting another bill,” she says. “Your laptop is not coming as another bill. Your lunch program is not coming as another bill … Every support that we have within the school does not come as an extra cost. As a parent, the peace of mind from making this choice is a top priority … you know you are going to come in and not be consistently messaged about ‘oh don’t forget the field trip.’”

(Costs above and beyond the curriculum, such as uniforms, after-school care, or optional trips abroad, are not covered.)

The Study has also made a concerted effort, working with outside donors and partners, to offer $420,000 in scholarships and bursaries.

At Trafalgar, the school says it makes “every effort to support your choice to send your daughter to our school through options such as flexible payment schedules” and asks parents to approach the business office.

For Kevin, his family planned ahead, spoke to financial planners, and “we’ve been fortunate that it has been feasible for us.” His advice to parents considering the move to private education is straightforward: “You need to make that decision pretty much up front, because as the school could be the greatest school in the world, if financially it doesn’t make sense, it doesn’t make sense ... You don’t want to be in a scenario where you’ve started somewhere saying, ‘maybe it’ll be better later.’ Well, you’re already out of pocket, you’re in much too deep at that point.”

The decision ultimately comes down to clarity and sustainability. Private schools can offer remarkable opportunities, but only when a family’s financial reality aligns with the commitment it requires. Kevin’s reflections encourage other parents to think beyond short-term affordability and consider whether the choice makes sense over the many years their child will be enrolled, so that the experience remains stable and positive rather than financially stressful.