Why Hastings & Prince Edward District School Board?
The board suits families who want one contact for school and housing and a small, safe city. Belleville is on the north shore of Lake Ontario, about two hours east of Toronto. Ottawa is about 2.5 hours away and Montreal about 3.5 hours. The board has 39 schools and about 15,000 students.
- Single point of contact: Parents who want school, accommodation and guardianship handled by one team.
- Mid-sized schools: About 800 students per school. International students attend Bayside, Centennial, Eastside and Prince Edward Collegiate Institute.
- Academic options: AP or IB for students who want advanced study in a small city.
Reasons: in-house accommodation, tiered ESL and more than 25 years of experience
- In-house accommodation: The homestay program is run by the board's own team and an experienced coordinator, keeping school-home communication steady.
- Accommodation standard: Students get a furnished single room with a study area and a window, and all meals are provided, giving a predictable daily routine.
- Five-level ESL: Bayside, Centennial and Eastside each offer five ESL levels, so students start at their own level.
- AP and IB: AP is at Bayside Secondary School and IB at Eastside Secondary School, so the school can be chosen by goal.
- Technical courses: Woodworking, automotive, manufacturing, communications and computer programming give hands-on skills. French Immersion and Spanish are also offered.
- Established program: Founded in 2000, so the board has more than 25 years of international student experience.
- Comprehensive support: Guardianship, health insurance, a 24/7 emergency line and monthly events, in addition to school sports and clubs.
Cost analysis: what one school year costs
| Item | CAD | As published on CAPS-I |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition, one school year | 14,500 | $14,500 program fee (all costs included in program fee except for homestay & airport pick up & drop off) |
| Application fee | 500 | Administration Fee: $500 (no separate application fee stated) |
| Health insurance | 0 / included | Not stated as a separate fee; medical/health insurance included in program fee |
| Homestay, 10 months at CAD 1,250 | 12,500 | Homestay placement fee $500 (one time); homestay monthly fee $1, 250/month; custodianship included in program fee |
| Homestay placement fee | 500 | |
| Custodianship fee | 0 / included | |
| Estimated first-year total | 28,000 | Tuition, the listed fees, insurance and homestay for one school year. |
Tuition alone works out to about CAD 1,450 per school month over a 10-month year. With homestay and the listed fees, the year comes to about CAD 2,800 per month. Flights, pocket money, the study permit fee and biometrics are not included.
The tuition figure comes from the district's CAPS-I page. We could not confirm it, or the school year it applies to, on the district's own website on 11 October 2026; we request the current fee schedule for you before you apply.
The other items are taken from the district's CAPS-I member page, read on 11 October 2026. Items shown as "see text" could not be read as a single amount and are left out of the total.
How this fee compares
At CAD 14,500, this fee is CAD 1,000 below the median of CAD 15,500 among 32 public school districts in Ontario.
Outcome: a closely monitored, orderly high school experience
- Parent confidence: Because school and accommodation share one team, problems are noticed and resolved quickly.
- Steady schedule: Four 75-minute classes per day.
- Transparent costs: Program fee CAD 14,500, accommodation CAD 1,250 per month, placement fee CAD 500. The program fee covers guardianship, health insurance, monitoring, orientation and ESL support; homestay and airport transfers are charged separately. Current fees should be confirmed with the board before applying.
- Flexible duration: Single semester, full year, multi-year and shorter options. Four-month placements require contacting the board. A single semester costs CAD 8,000.
Who it suits and what to consider
- Total budget: Accommodation, a CAD 500 administrative fee and a CAD 575 airport transfer are not part of the program fee. A special diet adds CAD 200 per month. Current fees should be confirmed with the school before applying. Document approval costs CAD 100 per document.
- Early timeline: The deadline for September entry is February 1 or until spaces fill. The deadline for February entry is November 15. Study for more than six months requires a Study Permit, decided by IRCC. Secondary school study is exempt from the Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL).
- Location: Toronto Pearson is the nearest major airport, about two hours away. The city is small and quiet, with about 80 international students.
Let us assess together whether Belleville suits your child. Request a free preliminary consultation from Canadian Edu Centre.