In Saskatchewan, elementary schools have students from Pre-Kindergarten (typically begins at age 3 or 4) and Kindergarten (typically begins at age 5) to Grade 8. Most secondary schools teach students from Grade 9 to 12. Students are placed in classrooms with peers that are of the same age.
School Divisions
School divisions oversee a group of schools, usually based on their location. Of the province’s 28 school divisions:
- Nine are considered Separate School Divisions, many of which provide faith-based educations (primarily Roman Catholic).
- 18 school divisions are classified as public, which do not provide faith-based education.
- One is a Francophone School Division which provides education to students whose first language is French.
It is the parent’s choice as to the school division they wish to enrol in. All schools in Saskatchewan teach the same material which is developed by the province.
The Quick Reference Guide for Newcomers provides more information about types of schools, registration, language instruction, and listed resources. This guide is also available in additional languages.
English as an Additional Language
Those who are new to Canada may have an additional need when it comes to education; language. Each school in Saskatchewan is responsible for supporting newcomer students learning English as an Additional Language (EAL). These students attend regular classes, but receive extra English language support according to their personal needs.