Compare Canadian Curriculum International Schools in Montreal, Canada

Lower Canada College is located at 4090 Avenue Royal, Montréal, Québec H4A 2M5. The seven-acre campus is in Monkland Village and houses Junior School through Pre-University facilities, including the Main Building, the Webster Learning Activity Centre, and the Assaly Arts Centre. The school acknowledges the location on unceded, ancestral territory of the Kanien'kehá:ka Nation.

Junior School: K-6; Middle School: 7-8; Senior School: 9-11; Pre-University: 12.

Private, coeducational day school

In 2019-2020, international students represented 22% of the student population and hailed from Chile, China, Ethiopia, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Lebanon, Mexico, Romania, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland, Uganda, the United Kingdom, Ukraine and the USA.

LEAD (Learning Enrichment and Development) provides inclusive, research-based supports for diverse learners across all levels; services include one-on-one, small-group or full-class differentiated instruction and classroom accommodations as students move from Junior School through Pre-University.

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West Island bus service with pick-up points at Fairview Shopping Centre and Beaconsfield Shopping Centre; arrangements are made through the school and carry an additional cost.

The school has a uniform. The uniform includes blazer, tunic for Junior School, kilt for Middle and Senior School, trousers, shirt and tie; Kindergarten has a cardigan and Pre-U has a dress code but is not required to wear the uniform. All items are purchased through the LCC Store; approximate costs are Junior School about $770 and Middle/Senior about $1,050.

Students can bring lunch or join a meal plan. The food service offers daily hot, cold and vegetarian options, plus a snack program; pay-as-you-go breakfast and snacks are available for Grade 7–12. The dining program costs approximately $1,530 annually.

All students from Kindergarten to Pre-University participate in inter-house competitions across academics, athletics, arts and community service. The houses named Beveridge, Claxton, Drummond, French, Harper, Heward, Russel and Woods foster belonging and mentorship.

The Board of Governors sets the school's strategy and policy and meets monthly. LCC's Corporation owns the school, and the Foundation oversees endowment funds and fundraising; the Corporation comprises around 200 members, traditionally alumni.

One Campus. Four Mini-Schools. LCC is an International Baccalaureate World School and the only English-language Quebec school offering both the Middle Years Programme (MYP) and the Diploma Programme (DP). The Junior School is bilingual (approximately 70% French, 30% English) with English Language Arts, Français, Culture and Citizenship in Quebec, and a technology focus including Scratch Jr and Dash and Dot, with The Hour of Code. Technology is integrated across the grades; Grades 1-2 use coding with Scratch Jr and Dash and Dot, Grades 3-6 use iPads and Google Classroom, and Seesaw serves as an online portfolio. The Pre-University year (Grade 12) offers Montreal's longest-standing Pre-University program with two streams: the IB Diploma Programme Year 2 for IB students and a hybrid IB/Pre-U pathway with AP options for others. The IB Diploma Programme comprises a core (Theory of Knowledge, Extended Essay, CAS) and six subject groups and prepares students for university admission worldwide; DP graduates have entered universities such as McGill, University of Toronto, and University of British Columbia, among others.

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IB Diploma Programme results show strong performance: in 2015, LCC's first DP cohort achieved a 100% Diploma pass rate with an average Diploma Points score of 33. In 2016, the DP pass rate was 98%, with an average Diploma Points score around 33. DP graduates have gained admission to universities in Canada (e.g., McGill, University of Toronto, University of British Columbia, University of Ottawa, and others) as well as institutions in the United States and overseas (e.g., NYU, Northwestern, Duke, University of California campuses, University of Edinburgh, and University College London).

Graduates pursue higher education worldwide. The Pre-University destinations list for 2020 includes numerous Canadian universities (e.g., Acadia, Bishop's, Carleton, Concordia, Dalhousie, McGill, McMaster, Queen's, Ryerson, Ottawa, Toronto, Waterloo, UBC, Western, York) as well as U.S. institutions (e.g., Boston University, Carnegie Mellon, Johns Hopkins, NYU, Northwestern, USC, University of Michigan, University of Pennsylvania) and overseas universities (e.g., University of Edinburgh, University College London, Sciences Po, University of Bath). The IB DP class of 2015 and subsequent cohorts have also secured admission offers to a wide range of universities across Canada, the U.S., the U.K. and beyond. These placements reflect the programme's emphasis on university preparation and the global nature of LCC's academic track.

LEAD (Learning Enrichment And Development) provides learning enrichment and development support for students from kindergarten through grade 11 in a dedicated centre designed to help each child reach their potential.

The school supports social and emotional learning through its Health & Wellness program and the Student Wellness Model. Students' physical, mental, social and emotional development is fostered at every grade level. A team including three school counsellors and a full-time onsite nurse provides ongoing support to students. Advisors and homeroom teachers monitor social and emotional progress and intervene when needed. The curriculum covers stress and anxiety management, healthy relationships, digital citizenship, and consent.

LEAD (Learning Enrichment and Development) enables and supports diverse learners and promotes inclusive practices in collaboration with teachers across Junior School to Pre-University. Neurodiversity is understood as a normal variation, and environments are designed to be inclusive. The LEAD team serves over 150 students and provides a range of supports, including individualized accommodations and targeted instruction. Admission to LEAD requires specialist reports (e.g., psychoeducational assessments) and, when needed, an Individualized Education Plan (IEP). Services include academic consultation and indirect services with accommodations such as extra time, stop time, text-to-speech, speech-to-text, large print, and other supports tailored to identified needs.

The school requires English proficiency before enrolling and does not offer ESL instruction. English proficiency is assessed during admissions; Kindergarten through Grade 6 must demonstrate English language proficiency as requested by the Admissions Office, and Grades 7–Pre-University may be required to take TOEFL, IELTS or CAEL if applying as ESL applicants. For international students who do not have a foundation in French, special French-language courses are offered (entry-point dependent and may incur an additional cost). All students must fulfil French-language requirements to obtain the Quebec DES at the end of Grade 11.

Mental wellbeing is a central focus of the Health & Wellness program. Three school counsellors and an onsite nurse support students' health and wellbeing, with advisors and homeroom teachers monitoring progress. A holistic wellness framework addresses social, emotional, and academic needs, including age-appropriate education on stress management, healthy relationships, digital citizenship, and consent. Wellness teams meet weekly to identify students in difficulty and develop action plans.

Lower Canada College implements the Protecteur national de l'élève framework, providing province-wide procedures to protect all students. Complaints are handled through the National Student Ombudsman and Regional Student Ombudsmen to uphold student and parent rights. The Ministry of Education's Code of Ethics is referenced, and there are protections against reprisals for individuals who raise concerns.

1. Decide the entry grade and begin the application process. Applications are accepted year-round, up to one year before the intended year of entry. It is advisable to apply by the Round One deadlines to maximize placement. If you apply in the second round, the candidate may be placed in the wait pool.

2. Note Round One deadlines by grade for 2026-2027 admission. Kindergarten: November 17, 2025; Grades 1-6: January 12, 2026; Grade 7: October 10, 2025; Grades 8-11: January 12, 2026; Pre-University: January 12, 2026. Ensure the application is submitted by these dates to qualify for Round One consideration.

3. Grade 7 applicants may take the Grade 7 Common Admission Test (CAT). For fall 2026 admission there are five possible test dates; registration deadlines are approximately ten days before each date. Registration opens in August, and an inquiry form should be completed to receive reminders and the testing link.

4. Merit awards and financial assistance are available. Financial assistance is available for students in grades 7-12 who have demonstrated need; not available to K-6 or to students with temporary status in Canada. Merit-based awards are offered for 7-12; applicants are considered during the admissions process and need not submit a separate application.

5. Financial assistance and awards process. Financial assistance applications are separate from the admissions process and are handled via Apple Financial Services (AFS); the LCC Student Aid Committee uses the AFS analysis to consider all requests. Any financial assistance is a grant toward tuition (not a loan) and is reviewed annually. The AFS online application fee for 2025-2026 is $137.50, with a $50 fee for separated/divorced families.

Financial assistance and awards overview: Financial assistance is available for students in grades 7-12 who demonstrate need, but not for students in K-6 or those with temporary status in Canada. Applications for financial assistance are separate from admissions and are processed with Apple Financial Services (AFS); the LCC Student Aid Committee uses the AFS analysis to determine awards. Financial assistance, when granted, is a bursary toward tuition and is reviewed annually; the online AFS application fee is $137.50 for 2025-2026, with an additional $50 for separated/divorced families. Merit-based awards are also offered for grades 7-12 and are considered during the admissions process; no separate application is required.

The admissions process accepts applications year-round up to one year prior to entry; however, it is recommended to apply by the Round One deadlines for best placement. Students who apply in the second round may be placed in the wait pool. Round One deadlines for 2026-2027 admission are: Kindergarten — November 17, 2025; Grades 1-6 — January 12, 2026; Grade 7 — October 10, 2025; Grades 8-11 — January 12, 2026; Pre-University — January 12, 2026.