Before You Arrive

The Hamilton community has access to these four school boards:

Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board

The Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board teaches approximately 50,000 students in its 114 neighbourhood schools. In addition to the programming offered at 96 elementary and 18 secondary schools, a number of alternative programs focusing on sports, academics, science, arts and languages are available .www.hwdsb.on.ca

Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board

The Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board serves more than 29,000 elementary and secondary students at 55 schools, and another 10,000 individuals through four St. Charles adult and continuing education centres. www.hwcdsb.ca

Conseil scolaire de district catholique Centre-Sud

French-language Catholic school board in the Centre-South serves over 15,500 Students in 45 elementary and 10 secondary schools in an area extending from the Niagara Peninsula to Peterborough and from Lake Ontario (Toronto) to Georgian Bay. Its head office is located in Toronto and the board operates three schools in Hamilton.

Conseil scolaire Viamonde

Conseil scolaire Viamonde manages the French-language public schools in the central south-western region of Ontario. French language public school board operates two schools in Hamilton. www.csviamonde.ca

French immersion education is an option for parents who speak no or limited French, but wish for their children to speak both official languages. French immersion programs are offered in English-language schools to English-speaking students who want to learn French as a second language.

The Hamilton Wentworth District School Board and Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board offer French Immersion programs:

Hamilton Wentworth District School Board

HWDSB offers two FSL programs - Core French and French Immersion. Each of the programs differs in intensity but share a common purpose: To develop student’s communication skills in the French language.

The programs teach students to listen, speak, read, and write in French through real-world language opportunities. French as a Second Language also promotes the use of language learning strategies, goal setting/reflection and an appreciation of French culture in Canada and in other regions of the world. www.hwdsb.on.ca/elementary/programs/french-as-a-second-language

Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board

The French Immersion Program begins in Year 2 of the Kindergarten Program. Kindergarten students enrolled in French immersion receive a minimum of 50% instruction in French daily.  Students enrolled in the French Immersion Program in Grades 1 through 8 receive 50% of daily instruction in French and 50% of daily instruction in English.

www.hwcdsb.ca/learn/frenchimmersion

Hamilton is home to a number of outstanding post-secondary institutions that have been recognized internationally for their research and instructional strength as well as providing local area businesses with a well-educated workforce.

McMaster University

At McMaster University, 30,000 undergraduate and graduate students are engaged in learning and research with a focus on community engagement and involvement. The University’s 7,500 faculty and staff work with partners across the city to integrate the work of the University with the needs of the city. www.mcmaster.ca

Mohawk College

Mohawk College educates more than 17,000 full-time and apprenticeship students at three campuses in Hamilton. Recognized as a leader in health and technology education, Mohawk has achieved the highest student satisfaction scores among all colleges in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area for four consecutive years. www.mohawkcollege.ca

Redeemer University College 

Redeemer University College offers Bachelor of Arts, Science, and Education degrees with majors in more than 30 disciplines. As a Christian university, Redeemer offers its more than 900 students the chance to explore the relationship between faith and learning through a Christian perspective.www.redeemer.ca

McMaster Divinity College

The institution's mission is to develop effective evangelical Christian leaders for the church, academy, and society through university-level education, professional training, and ongoing support. www.mcmasterdivinity.ca

McMaster Divinity College admits students to these programs of study:

• Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) (Christian Theology),
• Master of Arts (M.A.) (Christian Studies),
• Master of Divinity (M.Div.),
• Master of Theological Studies (M.T.S.),
• Graduate Diploma in Ministry, and Graduate Certificate in Christian Studies.

Brock University

Brock University opened a satellite Teachers College in Hamilton. The on-campus Faculty of Education encompasses a pre-service department, graduate studies in education and continuing education.www.brocku.ca

Collège Boréal

Collège Boréal is one of Ontario’s 24 community colleges and is the only French-language college in Southwestern Ontario. Collège Boréal in Hamilton offers continuing education, employability services, immigrant integration services and related services for local businesses and communities.www.borealc.on.ca

In addition, there are many post-secondary institutions within a one-hour drive of Hamilton, including the University of Toronto (three campuses), University of Waterloo, Wilfrid Laurier University, University of Guelph, Brock University, Sheridan College, Niagara College and Conestoga College. 

Hamilton Literacy Council

A non-profit organization that provides basic (grade 1 to 5 equivalent) training in reading, writing, and math to English-speaking adults in Hamilton. The service is free, private, and one-to-one. Hamilton Literacy Council has been assisting adults with their literacy skills since 1973.www.hamiltonreads.ca

Hamilton is also served by a number of private career colleges including:

• CDI College
• Trios College

There are 29 private schools within Hamilton, Ancaster, Millgrove, Dundas, Stoney Creek, Mount Hope, Lynden, and Copetown: