Early Childhood Education in Nova Scotia
In Nova Scotia, Early Childhood Education (ECE) plays a pivotal role in laying the foundation for a child's lifelong learning journey. With a focus on nurturing young minds and fostering holistic development, ECE programs in the province are designed to provide a safe, supportive, and stimulating environment for children from infancy through to preschool age. More information on ECE in Nova Scotia can be found here
Pre-Primary Program
Families across Nova Scotia can access free, universal pre-primary education for their children, the year before they start school. To find a program near you, to register, or to learn more about the program, please contact your Regional Centre for Education or the Conseil scolaire acadien provincial.
Schooling in Nova Scotia
Children who are over five years and under the age of sixteen years are required to attend public school unless they are enrolled and attending a private school or are being provided with home education.
Public School System
Public schools in Nova Scotia are publicly funded and operate under the department of Education and Early Childhood Development. The school year begins no earlier than September 1st and ends no later than June 30th.
Grade Structure and Levels of Education
Elementary: Grade schools in Nova Scotia operate from Primary (known as kindergarten in other provinces) through to Grade 6. Children can enroll in full day as long as they are five years old on or before December 31st of the calendar year in which they are being enrolled. Parents of children turning five on or before December 31 are not obligated to enroll their son or daughter in Primary if they believe their child is not ready to begin formal education. Parents can choose to wait an additional year. Generally, students graduate grade school at the age of 11-12.
Junior High School: Junior High School (also known as “middle school”) operates in Nova Scotia from Grade 7 to 9. Generally, students begin at the age of 12-13 and finish at the age of 14-15.
Senior High School: Senior High School operates from Grade 10 to 12. Students begin at the age of 15-16 and graduate at the age of 17-18. To graduate, all students must meet the provincial graduation requirements.
Private School System
A private school is a school, other than a public school, that serves school-age children and has a curriculum comparable to that provided by the public schools but does not include a home-education program.
Private Schools in Nova Scotia
| School | Location | Grades Served |
| Armbrae Academy | Halifax, NS | Pre-School to Grade 12 |
| The Booker School | Port Williams, NS | Pre-Primary to Grade 8 |
| Colchester Christian Academy | Truro, NS | Pre-School to Grade 12 |
| Halifax Christian Academy | Halifax, NS | Pre-School to Grade 12 |
| Halifax Grammar School | Halifax, NS | Pre-School to Grade 12 |
| Kings-Edgehill School | Windsor, NS | Grades 6-12 |
| Sacred Heart School of Halifax | Halifax, NS | Pre-School to Grade 12 |
The Conseil Scolaire Acadien Provincial
The Conseil scolaire acadien provincial is the only French-language school board in Nova Scotia and serves the entire province with its twenty-two schools and 19 pre-kindergarten sites. It provides quality education in French as a first language to the Acadian and Francophone population living in Nova Scotia.
CSAP schools are open to:
- All Francophones living in Nova Scotia, including newcomers who understand and speak French as well as allophone newcomers; who do not speak English or French.
- Children from exogamous families (Francophone and another language) who have a parent or grandparent who attended a Francophone school in Canada as a child or youth and who still speak and understand French.
- Students participating in an international exchange program who speak, read and write French according to the requirements of their grade level.
Home Schooling
Under the Education Act, parents may provide a home education program for their child(ren) centered in their home. All information and forms can be found here