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Established in 1836 in Quebec, Bishop’s College School (BCS) is an IB World School offering the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme and course certificates. Bordered by farmland and rolling hills on one side and the city of Sherbrooke on the other, BCS is a small, welcoming community with students from over 35 different countries. A well-rounded education of academics, athletics, arts, leadership and development, and global citizenship prepares BCS students to become tomorrow’s leaders.
Bishop's was founded in 1836, becoming co-ed in 1972 through an amalgamation with King's Hall Compton. That long history is apparent in the traditions that remain at the school, including Chapel every morning (now non-denominational) the social organization of the school into houses, and a thriving cadet corps. More prosaically, the names of the 128 alumni who gave their lives in the WWI, WWII, and the Korean War are read out each Remembrance Day during a school-wide assembly. Throughout its life, Bishop's remained a redoubt, grounded in a set of clear values and traditions, while the tides of North American history rose and fell all around it, something that continues today. We live in noisy world, and the ideal student is one who can benefit from a bit of conceptual and geographic distance from it. It's not about isolation, but about having the freedom and the opportunity to direct attention rather than being lead by distraction. The school has been a member of Round Square since 1986, something which provides a foundation for the diversity of the student population, one that includes students from a dozen countries despite an annual enrollment of just 220 students.
Additional notes: BCS provides buses to and from the Montreal-Trudeau Airport (YUL), the Dorval Shopping Centre, and downtown Montreal (Windsor Station) for school opening and all school holidays and breaks.
Gallery showcasing school life and general photos of Bishop's College School.
Gallery showcasing specific locations and facilities found at Bishop's College School.
Some private schools offer International Baccalaureate (IB) programming. The "Diploma Programme" is offered to students in the final two years of high school, while the "Primary Years Programme" (ages 3 to 12) and "Middle Years Programme" (ages 11 to 16) serve as preparation for the diploma program.
| Program | offered |
|---|---|
| Primary Years | |
| Middle Years | |
| Diploma program | |
| Career-related program |
| Focus | Special needs |
|---|---|
| Academic | Gifted |
| Subject | offered |
|---|---|
| Biology | |
| Chemistry | |
| Ecology | |
| Geology | |
| Meteorology | |
| Physics | |
| Physiology | |
| Zoology |
| Subject | offered |
|---|---|
| Evolution as consensus theory | |
| Evolution as one of many equally viable theories | |
| Evolution is not taught |
| Subject | offered |
|---|---|
| Acting | |
| Dance | |
| Drama/Theatre | |
| Graphic Design | |
| Music | |
| Visual Arts |
| Expressive | |
| Disciplined |
| Subject | offered |
|---|---|
| Computer science | |
| Robotics | |
| Web design |
| Flexible pacing style | offered |
|---|---|
| Subject-streaming (tracking) | |
| Multi-age classrooms as standard | |
| Ability-grouping (in-class) as common | |
| Frequent use of cyber-learning (at-their-own-pace) | |
| Regular guided independent study opportunities | |
| Differentiated assessment |
| Subject Type | offered |
|---|---|
| Learning strategy and study counselling; habit formation | |
| Extra support and minor accommodations for children experiencing subclinical difficulties |
| Subject Type | offered |
|---|---|
| Accommodations | |
| Modifications | |
| Extra support |
Read our guide to special needs schools and special education
| Program | offered |
|---|---|
| Full-time gifted program (parallel to rest of school) | |
| Part-time gifted program (pull-out; parallel to rest of class) |
Curriculum delivery: Enrichment (The main focus is on enrichment. This means that while students may work at a marginally quicker pace than public school peers, the primary aim is to study subject in broader and deeper ways.)
| Program | offered |
|---|---|
| Custom subject enrichment (special arrangement) | |
| Custom curriculum compacting (special arrangement) | |
| Guided independent study (custom gifted arrangement) | |
| Cyber-learning opportunities (custom gifted arrangement) | |
| Formalized peer coaching opportunities (specifically for gifted learners to coach others) | |
| Custom subject acceleration (special arrangement) | |
| Career exploration (custom gifted arrangement) | |
| Project-based learning (custom gifted arrangement) | |
| Mentorships (custom gifted arrangement) |
| English - 80% | French - 20% | ||||||||
In grade Gr. 12, Bishop's College School students perform an average of >2 hours of homework per night.
| 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bishop's College School | 90 mins | 90 mins | 90 mins | 120 mins | 120 mins | 160 mins |
| Site Average | 52 mins | 56 mins | 68 mins | 80 mins | 96 mins | 109 mins |
| Lettered or numbered grades | Gr. 7 to Gr. 12 |
| Parent-teacher meetings | Gr. 7 to Gr. 12 |
| Sports Offered | Competitive | Recreational |
|---|---|---|
| Baseball | ||
| Basketball | ||
| Cross-country skiing | ||
| Downhill skiing | ||
| Equestrian | ||
| Football | ||
| Golf | ||
| Ice Hockey | ||
| Lacrosse | ||
| Rowing | ||
| Rugby | ||
| Running | ||
| Snowboarding | ||
| Soccer | ||
| Softball | ||
| Squash | ||
| Swimming | ||
| Tennis | ||
| Track & Field | ||
| Volleyball |
| Clubs Offered |
|---|
| Jazz Ensemble |
| Outdoor Club |
| Outdoor Education |
| Photography |
| Poetry/Literature club |
| Robotics club |
| Round Square |
| School newspaper |
| Student Council |
| Yearbook |
| Band |
| Chess Club |
| Choir |
| Community Service |
| Debate Club |
| Drama Club |
| Environmental Club |
| 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | |
| Day | $25,000 | |||||
| Boarding (Domestic) | $57,300 | |||||
| Boarding (International) | $66,100 | |||||
Discounts
| Discount Type | Enrollment Type | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Full payment | all students | $600 |
| 2nd child (sibling) | all students | 10% |
| 3rd child (sibling) | all students | 15% |
| 4th child (sibling) | all students | 15% |
| Grade range that need-based aid is offered: | 7 to 12 |
| Percentage of grade-eligible students receiving financial aid | 40% |
| Average aid package size | $23,800 |
| Percentage of total enrollment on financial aid | 40% |
| Total aid available | $10,000,000 |
This school works with other. for processing financial applications
This information is not currently available.
| Grades | Gender | Living Arrangement | Enrollment | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Group 1 | Gr. 7 to Gr. 12 | Coed | Day | 38 |
| Group 2 | Gr. 7 to Gr. 12 | Coed | Boarding | 225 |
| Total enrollment | 263 |
| Average enrollment per grade | 44 |
| Average class size | 12 to 15 |
| Gender (grades) | Gr. 7 to Gr. 12 (Coed) |
| Boarding offered | Gr. 7 to Gr. 12 |
| % in boarding (total enrollment) | 86% |
| Percentage of students are international students | |
| Number of different nationalities within student population | 39 |
| Five-day boarding programs offfered | Yes |
| Assessment | Required | Grades |
|---|---|---|
| Interview | 7 - 12 | |
| SSAT | ||
| SSAT (out of province) | ||
| Entrance Exam(s) | ||
| Entrance Essay | ||
| English Language Eligibility Certificate | ||
| Application Fee |
Day students: Rolling
Boarding students: Rolling
BCS works on "rolling Admissions", meaning we will accept applications year-round. We do, however, recommend that students apply by February 1st for enrolment the following September. Documentation required for admission includes: -application form -confidential report (i.e. reference form) -current report card and report cards for previous two years -copy of birth certificate and passport -two photos -(other documents may be requested) Our application process also includes testing (Math and English), and an interview. Both the testing and interview can be on campus or arranged to be completed remotely.
Student Entry Points
| Student Type | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day Acceptance (Acceptance rate) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Boarding Acceptance (Acceptance rate) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Services | Offered |
|---|---|
| Career planning | |
| Internships | |
| Mentorship Program | |
| University counseling |
| Key Numbers | |
|---|---|
| Average graduating class size | 45 |
| *Canadian "Big 6" placements | 12 |
| **Ivy+ placements | 1 |
*Number of students in the past year who attended one of McGill, U of T, UBC, Queen's University, University of Alberta, or Dalhousie University.
**Number of students in the past 5 years that that attended one of Harvard, Yale, Princeton, University of Pennsylvania, Dartmouth, Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Stanford, University of Chicago, Oxford or Cambridge (UK)
What Bishop's College School says:
| Alumnus | Grad Year | Accomplishment |
|---|---|---|
| Sir H. Montagu Allan | 1878 | Banker, Lieutenant-Colonel, and Deputy Chairman of the Allen Shipping Line. Donated the Allen Cup (hockey). |
| Jake Eberts | 1959 | Award-winning film producer, with such notable films as: Chariots of Fire, Gandhi, Dances with Wolves, and Chicken Run. |
| Reginald Fessenden | 1884 | Pioneering inventor in radio. Conducted possibly the first radio transmission of voice and music. |
| Harry Wickwire Foster | 1920 | Major General who commanded two Canadian divisions in the Second World War. |
| Andrew Hamilton Gault | 1900 | UK Member of Parliament and Brigadier General. Privately raised the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry for the First World War. |
| Sir William Heneker | 1885 | A Canadian born General of the British Army, (one of only a few to reach this rank). A respected military strategist and thinker. |
| George Hurst | 1944 | Celebrated conductor. Chief Conductor of the BBC Philharmonic, and visiting professor at the Royal Academy of Music in London |
| Hartland MacDougall | 1894 | Ran MacDougall, MacDougall and MacTier, a prominent Montreal investment firm. Hockey player inducted into the Canada Sports Hall of Fame. Helped create the Montreal Forum. |
| Andrew McNaughton | 1905 | Canada's leading General during the first phase of World War II. Also served as Chief of the General Staff, a diplomat, and politician. |
| Eric Molson | 1955 | Chairman of Molson Coors and Chancellor of Concordia University. Honorary director of the Bank of Montreal. Member of the Order of Canada. |
| Hartland Molson | 1925 | Canadian Senator, noted philanthropist and member of the Molson family, and owner of the Montreal Canadians |
| Michael Ondaatje | 1961 | Canadian author and poet. Winner of the Booker Prize for "The English Patient". Also won the Governor General's Award. |
Alumni Highlights
Below, find stories and testimonials about Bishop's College School.
..."There are no other schools quite like BCS - it's been my home for almost five years and I have learned so much. I took all science and math courses in preparation for my university career studying health sciences. I hope one day I will be able to help students achieve their goals just as BCS has helped me".
..."I felt very privileged to be able to attend a school such as BCS. I know that the education that I received has prepared me for university and beyond. My major goal in life is to a become successful physician. Through my teachers, peers, coaches and houseparents, BCS taught one valuable life lessons that I will never forget and has instilled confidence in my abilities".
..."In my final year at BCS, I was elected Head Prefect. It was one of a kind opportunity that allowed me to improve my leadership abilities. After so many years at BCS, it gave me great pleasure to be able to give back to the school. Not only has BCS been my home, it has also taught me how to be leader, how to take initiative, and how to balance a busy schedule - it has all led me to where I stand now."
I am often asked what makes BCS different from other schools. That’s not always easy to answer because all schools aspire to strong academics, challenging activities, and a safe and wholesome environment. I think, however, that I have identified two things that are very strong at BCS, and to a greater degree than I have experienced in my previous work as Head of School. It’s not that these strengths do not exist in other schools. Rather, it is the consistent and profound way that we witness them at BCS.
The first is the positive engagement of students to teachers and teachers to students that we see reflected in the bi-weekly effort ratings.
A second element that I think makes BCS different is the many opportunities for student leadership. However it is not just the number of experiences that is impressive. It is the seriousness and the responsibility with which student leaders perform their tasks that are remarkable. Whether as prefects, and so, officers of the school; as cadet officers and NCOs; as wardens in the chapel; as House Captains; as leaders of Round Square; or in striving for gold in the Duke of Edinburgh Awards, it is the consistency and the maturity with which the leaders carry out their responsibilities that have impressed me so greatly. In doing so, these leaders derive worthwhile skills and contribute greatly to the tone, climate, harmony, and efficiency of daily life in this school–a community we strive to define and maintain as a civil community.
William Mitchell, BCS'63
Interim Head of School
August 27, 2019
Mr. William Mitchell, BCS'63, returns as Interim Head of School
Mr. William Mitchell, BCS’63, has agreed to serve as the Interim Head of School for the 2019-20 school year. ...
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