Special
Education
Special Education Private Schools
Twelve private special education schools, located in the Montréal and Québec City regions, serve more than 4,000 students with behavioural challenges, learning disabilities, intellectual or physical disabilities, and other special needs.
What Is a Special Education School?
The Québec Ministry of Education promotes the integration of students with disabilities or learning and behavioural challenges into regular classrooms. While this approach is appropriate for many students, some require a specialized educational setting to thrive and continue their academic journey in an environment that supports their individual needs.
A special education school provides a supportive learning environment, specialized facilities, and teaching approaches tailored to the diverse needs of its students.
Small class sizes and multidisciplinary teams of professionals enable personalized support, targeted interventions, and ongoing guidance throughout each student's educational journey.
Several of these schools were established through university research initiatives. Others were founded by parents seeking educational environments better suited to their children's needs, at a time when they felt those needs were not being adequately addressed within the education system.
Over the years, these private special education schools have developed recognized expertise and now play an important role in Québec's education system.
What Makes These Schools Different?
Private special education schools provide personalized support and a comprehensive approach tailored to each student's unique needs, helping them thrive and reach their full potential. To achieve this, they offer:
- multidisciplinary teams with a wide range of expertise
- adapted learning environments and specialized facilities
- innovative, inclusive, and supportive school communities
- specialized teaching approaches
- a broad range of services and enrichment activities, including animal-assisted therapy, music therapy, physical activity programs, and arts and theatre projects
Private special education schools provide personalized support and a comprehensive approach tailored to each student's unique needs, helping them thrive and reach their full potential. To achieve this, they offer:
- multidisciplinary teams with a wide range of expertise
- adapted learning environments and specialized facilities
- innovative, inclusive, and supportive school communities
- specialized teaching approaches
- a broad range of services and enrichment activities, including animal-assisted therapy, music therapy, physical activity programs, and arts and theatre projects
How Much Does Tuition Cost?
Through education agreements established with Québec school service centres and English-language school boards, students attending private special education schools receive funding from the Québec Ministry of Education.
As a result, families benefit from tuition costs that are comparable to those in the public education system.
Through education agreements established with Québec school service centres and English-language school boards, students attending private special education schools receive funding from the Québec Ministry of Education.
As a result, families benefit from tuition costs that are comparable to those in the public education system.
How Can I Enrol My Child in a Special Education School?
To begin the process, parents can contact their local school service centre or English-language school board.
They may also contact the special education school directly to determine whether its programs and services are a good match for their child's needs and educational profile.
To begin the process, parents can contact their local school service centre or English-language school board.
They may also contact the special education school directly to determine whether its programs and services are a good match for their child's needs and educational profile.
At the Heart of Their Mission
To create the best possible conditions for every student to succeed, thrive, and reach their full potential while meeting their individual needs.
Discover our 12 private specialized schools
Montreal and Surrounding Area
Centre académique Fournier
A school serving elementary and secondary students with significant behavioural challenges, with or without co-occurring conditions, offering an educational program tailored to their needs in a learning environment that emphasizes differentiated instruction.
Profil des élèves :
- Children, adolescents, and young adults
(Ages 4 to 21) - Preschool, elementary, and secondary
- Significant behavioural challenges, with or without associated conditions
Capacity : 350 students
Language of instruction : French
A school serving elementary and secondary students with significant behavioural challenges, with or without co-occurring conditions, offering an educational program tailored to their needs in a learning environment that emphasizes differentiated instruction.
Profil des élèves :
- Children, adolescents, and young adults
(Ages 4 to 21) - Preschool, elementary, and secondary
- Significant behavioural challenges, with or without associated conditions
Capacity : 350 students
Language of instruction : French
Giant Steps School
A school that provides specialized services for students with autism. Its educational and therapeutic programs are designed to promote independence, inclusion and successful employment. Giant Steps also contributes to autism research, community services, and professional training.
Student Profile :
- Children, adolescents, and young adults
(Ages 4 to 21) - Preschool, elementary, and secondary
- Autism
Capacity : 140 students
Languages of instruction : French and English
A school that provides specialized services for students with autism. Its educational and therapeutic programs are designed to promote independence, inclusion and successful employment. Giant Steps also contributes to autism research, community services, and professional training.
Student Profile :
- Children, adolescents, and young adults
(Ages 4 to 21) - Preschool, elementary, and secondary
- Autism
Capacity : 140 students
Languages of instruction : French and English
École Lucien-Guilbault
A school that provides education in an innovative, adapted learning environment where students with severe learning disabilities are supported to thrive and reach their full potential.
Student Profile :
- Children, adolescents, and young adults
(Ages 6 to 21) - Elementary and secondary education
- Severe learning disabilities
Capacity : 425 students
Language of instruction: French
A school that provides education in an innovative, adapted learning environment where students with severe learning disabilities are supported to thrive and reach their full potential.
Student Profile :
- Children, adolescents, and young adults
(Ages 6 to 21) - Elementary and secondary education
- Severe learning disabilities
Capacity : 425 students
Language of instruction: French
Résonance Montréal
A school specializing in auditory-verbal education and the only one of its kind in Québec. Its approach supports the development of listening and spoken language skills in students with hearing loss.
Student Profile :
- Children, adolescents, and young adults
(Ages 0 to 21) - Preschool and elementary
- Bilateral hearing loss (in both ears) of varying types and degrees of severity. Once they reach school age, these students are generally identified under Code 44, making them eligible for additional support services
Capacity : 60 to 70 students
Languages of instruction: French and English
A school specializing in auditory-verbal education and the only one of its kind in Québec. Its approach supports the development of listening and spoken language skills in students with hearing loss.
Student Profile :
- Children, adolescents, and young adults
(Ages 0 to 21) - Preschool and elementary
- Bilateral hearing loss (in both ears) of varying types and degrees of severity. Once they reach school age, these students are generally identified under Code 44, making them eligible for additional support services
Capacity : 60 to 70 students
Languages of instruction: French and English
Centre d’intégration scolaire inc.
A school dedicated to supporting student success and helping students with school adjustment and behavioural difficulties reach their full potential, with the goal of enabling them to eventually return to their neighbourhood school
Student Profile:
- Children and adolescents
(Ages 4 to 18) - Elementary and secondary
- • Severe behavioural disorder
Capacity : 110 students
Language of instruction : French
A school dedicated to supporting student success and helping students with school adjustment and behavioural difficulties reach their full potential, with the goal of enabling them to eventually return to their neighbourhood school
Student Profile:
- Children and adolescents
(Ages 4 to 18) - Elementary and secondary
- • Severe behavioural disorder
Capacity : 110 students
Language of instruction : French
École Le Repaire
A school serving students experiencing academic or behavioural challenges, preparing them for vocational training through personalized support and hands-on learning opportunities.
Student Profile :
- Adolescents
(Ages 15 to 18) - Specialized Educational Project – Vocational Training (PPP-FP)
- Students with disabilities or learning and behavioural challenges who are at risk of dropping out
Capacity : 30 students
Language of instructiont : French
A school serving students experiencing academic or behavioural challenges, preparing them for vocational training through personalized support and hands-on learning opportunities.
Student Profile :
- Adolescents
(Ages 15 to 18) - Specialized Educational Project – Vocational Training (PPP-FP)
- Students with disabilities or learning and behavioural challenges who are at risk of dropping out
Capacity : 30 students
Language of instructiont : French
Peter Hall School
A school with two campuses serving students with special needs, including intellectual disabilities, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and mental health disorders.
Student Profile :
- Children, adolescents, and young adults
(Ages 4 to 21) - Preschool, elementary, and secondary
- Intellectual disabilities, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), or mental health conditions
Capacity : 535 students across two campuses
Languages of instruction: French and English
A school with two campuses serving students with special needs, including intellectual disabilities, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and mental health disorders.
Student Profile :
- Children, adolescents, and young adults
(Ages 4 to 21) - Preschool, elementary, and secondary
- Intellectual disabilities, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), or mental health conditions
Capacity : 535 students across two campuses
Languages of instruction: French and English
Centre François-Michelle (CFM)
A school serving students with mild intellectual disabilities by providing a supportive and adapted learning environment and a structured educational program that fosters self-determination and promotes social and vocational inclusion.
Student Profile :
- Children, adolescents, and young adults
(Ages 4 to 21) - Preschool, elementary, and secondary
- Mild intellectual disabilities and associated conditions (language, motor, neurological disorders and autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
Capacity: 350 students
Language of instruction: French
A school serving students with mild intellectual disabilities by providing a supportive and adapted learning environment and a structured educational program that fosters self-determination and promotes social and vocational inclusion.
Student Profile :
- Children, adolescents, and young adults
(Ages 4 to 21) - Preschool, elementary, and secondary
- Mild intellectual disabilities and associated conditions (language, motor, neurological disorders and autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
Capacity: 350 students
Language of instruction: French
Summit School
A school with three campuses serving students of all ages with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), intellectual disabilities, mental health conditions, and a wide range of developmental disorders.
Student Profile :
- Children, adolescents, and young adults
(Ages 5 to 21) - Elementary and secondary
- Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), intellectual disabilities, mental health conditions, and developmental disorders
Capacity : 671 students
Language of instruction : English
A school with three campuses serving students of all ages with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), intellectual disabilities, mental health conditions, and a wide range of developmental disorders.
Student Profile :
- Children, adolescents, and young adults
(Ages 5 to 21) - Elementary and secondary
- Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), intellectual disabilities, mental health conditions, and developmental disorders
Capacity : 671 students
Language of instruction : English
Vanguard School
A school providing adapted educational services for students with learning disabilities within the Québec Ministry of Education's regular curriculum.
Student Profile :
- Children, adolescents, and young adults
(Ages 8 to 21) - Elementary and secondary
- Learning disabilities
Capacity : 1,200 students
Languages of instruction : French and English
A school providing adapted educational services for students with learning disabilities within the Québec Ministry of Education's regular curriculum.
Student Profile :
- Children, adolescents, and young adults
(Ages 8 to 21) - Elementary and secondary
- Learning disabilities
Capacity : 1,200 students
Languages of instruction : French and English
Quebec
École oraliste de Québec
Founded by a research team at Université Laval, this school educates students with hearing or language impairments in accordance with the objectives of the Québec Education Program. Its mission is to support students' successful academic and social integration into mainstream or specialized educational settings.
Student Profile :
- Children and adolescents
(Ages 4 to 18) - Preschool, elementary, and secondary (up to Secondary III / Grade 9)
- Hearing or language impairments
Capacity : 80 students
Language of instruction : French
Founded by a research team at Université Laval, this school educates students with hearing or language impairments in accordance with the objectives of the Québec Education Program. Its mission is to support students' successful academic and social integration into mainstream or specialized educational settings.
Student Profile :
- Children and adolescents
(Ages 4 to 18) - Preschool, elementary, and secondary (up to Secondary III / Grade 9)
- Hearing or language impairments
Capacity : 80 students
Language of instruction : French
École St-François
A school dedicated to supporting student success and helping students with academic and behavioural challenges, with or without associated conditions, achieve their full potential. It provides an adapted educational pathway tailored to each student’ s individual needs.
Student Profile :
- Children and adolescents
(Ages 6 to 18) - Elementary and secondary
- Learning and behavioural challenges, with or without associated conditions
Capacity : 170 students
Language of instruction : French
A school dedicated to supporting student success and helping students with academic and behavioural challenges, with or without associated conditions, achieve their full potential. It provides an adapted educational pathway tailored to each student’ s individual needs.
Student Profile :
- Children and adolescents
(Ages 6 to 18) - Elementary and secondary
- Learning and behavioural challenges, with or without associated conditions
Capacity : 170 students
Language of instruction : French
Your child is unique!
Find a school that offers a welcoming and stimulating environment where your child can thrive and reach their full potential.