Why Limestone District School Board?
Families looking for a historic, mid-sized city where a student can get around independently turn to Kingston. The city has about 140,000 residents. The board runs 10 high schools and 47 elementary schools, serving 19,000 students. Kingston is known as Canada's first capital. International students are accepted at eight high schools, with roughly 140 students in total.
- Affordable fees: Tuition is low for Ontario, suiting families who want a comprehensive service at a reasonable cost.
- Established experience: Suits those who want an institution that has hosted international students for many years.
- Academic goals: Suits students who want to take AP or IB in a mid-sized city. The high schools have about 650 to 1,000 students each.
Reasons: nearly thirty years of experience and comprehensive student support
- Established program: Founded in 1996, the program has close to thirty years of experience placing and following international students.
- In-house homestay office: The local International Education Office and community-based coordinators run homestay, so the school and the host home communicate directly.
- Five-level ESL: English is taught at five separate levels, so students start at their own level and progress step by step.
- AP and IB: AP is offered at Loyalist Collegiate and the IB senior-years program at Kingston Secondary School, so families choose the school based on their goal.
- Free transportation: High school students receive an unlimited city bus pass, so travel to school and events costs nothing. Grade 9 students also get a free city activity card covering the gym, pool and ice rinks.
- Trip program: Six trips are organized each year. Destinations include Toronto, Niagara Falls, skiing and Ottawa's Winterlude festival. The program also includes one Toronto Raptors basketball game and a nature camp.
- Sports variety: More than 23 sports are offered, from volleyball to curling, so every student can find a team that suits them.
Cost analysis: what one school year costs
| Item | CAD | As published on CAPS-I |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition, one school year | 13,700 | $13,700 |
| Application fee | 250 | $250 |
| Health insurance | 550 | $550 |
| Homestay, full year | see text | Annual Homestay Placement Fee: $400 |
| Homestay placement fee | 400 | |
| Total of the published items, without homestay | 14,900 | Homestay is priced by the homestay provider and is not included in this total. |
Tuition alone works out to about CAD 1,370 per school month over a 10-month year. 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 13,700, this fee is CAD 1,800 below the median of CAD 15,500 among 32 public school districts in Ontario.
Outcome: a student who grows in independence and is closely supported
- Self-confidence: Students learn to use the city's bus system on their own and develop a sense of responsibility. Intakes are in September and February. Summer programs run in June, July and August.
- Parental trust: Homestay and guardianship are handled by the board's own team, so families deal with a single point of contact.
- Clear budget: Tuition is CAD 13,700 per year, the annual program fee is CAD 1,850, and homestay costs CAD 1,050 per month. The program fee covers activities, monitoring, guardianship and city transportation.
- Regular schedule: Students take four 75-minute classes per day. Enrolment is possible for a single term, a full year or multiple years. A summer camp runs in August.
Who it suits and what to consider
- Additional fees: A CAD 250 application fee, a CAD 400 placement fee and a CAD 550 annual health insurance fee are paid separately. Families should confirm current fees with the school before applying.
- Early timeline: The deadline for September is April 15 or until seats fill. The deadline for February is November 15. A Study Permit is required for study longer than six months, and IRCC makes the decision. High school study is exempt from the Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL).
- Transportation: The nearest international airport is in Toronto, so a ground transfer should be planned for arrival day. Recognition in the student's home country is handled by that country's education authority.
Let us assess together whether Kingston is the right city for your child. Contact Canadian Edu Centre to book a free preliminary consultation.