Established in 1836 in Lennoxville, Quebec, Bishop’s College School (BCS) offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme and course certificates along with Canadian curricula. 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 40 different countries. A well-rounded education of academics, athletics, arts, leadership development, and global citizenship prepares BCS students to become tomorrow’s leaders.
Bishop’s College School (BCS) was founded in 1836, becoming an all-gender school 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 (now non-denominational) three times a week, the social organization of the school into houses, and a thriving and varied co-curricular offering. BCS has a strong culture of leadership, and students are encouraged to get out of their comfort zone and take on leadership roles in their house, within activities and committees, and through cadets. Athletics are an integral part of daily life at BCS: every student participates in an individual or team sport five days a week (and they also participate in three different sports a year). BCS 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 over 40 countries despite an annual enrolment of around 270 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 |
---|---|
Evolution as consensus theory | |
Evolution as one of many equally viable theories | |
Evolution is not taught |
Subject | offered |
---|---|
Biology | |
Chemistry | |
Ecology | |
Geology | |
Meteorology | |
Physics | |
Physiology | |
Zoology |
Subject | offered |
---|---|
Canadian lit | |
American lit | |
European (continental) lit | |
World (non-Western) lit | |
English lit | |
Ancient lit |
Subject | offered |
---|---|
Chinese-Cantonese | |
Chinese-Mandarin | |
French | |
German | |
Greek | |
Italian | |
Japanese | |
Hebrew | |
Latin | |
Russian | |
Spanish | |
ESL |
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 |
Bishop's College School offers no/limited support for students with learning difficulties or special needs.
Subject Ttype | offered |
---|---|
Learning strategy and study counselling; habit formation | |
Extra support and minor accommodations for children experiencing subclinical difficulties |
Subject Ttype | offered |
---|---|
Accommodations | |
Modifications | |
Extra support |
Read our guide to special needs schools and special education
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 | 51 mins | 55 mins | 69 mins | 81 mins | 98 mins | 107 mins |
Lettered or numbered grades | Gr. 7 to Gr. 12 |
Parent-teacher meetings | Gr. 7 to Gr. 12 |
Competitive sports: 16
Recreational sports: 9
Bishop's College School offers 18 clubs and extracurricular programs.
7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | |
Day | $30,000 | |||||
Day (International) | $51,000 | |||||
Boarding (Domestic) | $63,750 | |||||
Boarding (International) | $75,710 |
Discounts
Discount Type | Enrolment Type | Amount |
---|---|---|
Full payment | all students | $600 |
2nd child (sibling) | all students | 10% |
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 enrolment on financial aid | 40% |
Total aid available | $10,000,000 |
This school works with Apple Financial Inc. for processing financial applications
Financial Assistance is awarded to families based on their demonstrated financial need. Applications for financial assistance are all reviewed by the BCS Financial Assistance Committee and evaluated based on a family’s needs and the school’s funds. Priority is given to applications from families who meet our financial assistance criteria and whose children demonstrate the greatest potential to contribute to the Bishop's College School mission.
To apply for assistance, families must complete the application form on the website of Apple Financial Services. Apple Financial will analyze applications to determine need prior to consideration by the BCS Financial Assistance Committee. New student applications may be submitted to Apple Financial Services after February 1 and will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
Amounts awarded depend upon demonstrated need and the BCS Foundation funds available. Every effort is made to distribute financial assistance as broadly and equitably as possible.
Financial assistance may be renewed from year to year and is conditional upon continued, verifiable need, as well as full payment of outstanding accounts. Renewal applications for students currently receiving financial assistance must be completed annually and submitted to Apple Financial Services for review by February 1.
Grades | Gender | Living Arrangement | Enrolment | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Group 1 | Gr. 7 to Gr. 12 | Coed | Day | 50 |
Group 2 | Gr. 7 to Gr. 12 | Coed | Boarding | 220 |
Total enrolment | 270 |
Average class size | 12 to 15 |
% of international students (total enrolment) | 40% |
Number of different nationalities within student population | 42 |
Five-day boarding program offered | No |
Assessment | Required | Grades |
---|---|---|
Interview | 7 - 12 | |
SSAT | ||
SSAT (out of province) | ||
Entrance Exam(s) | ||
Entrance Essay | ||
English Language Eligibility Certificate |
Day students: Rolling
Boarding students: Rolling
Offer mid-year entry: N/A
Application fee: N/A
Registration fee: N/A
Deposit: N/A
BCS works on 'rolling admissions,' meaning we will accept applications year-round. We do, however, recommend that students apply by February 1 for enrolment the following September.
Tour our Campus
As part of the admissions process, we are excited to help schedule a student-led tour of our campus for you and your family. This is the best way for you to see the school in action and get a sense of what BCS is all about. Individual tours may be done virtually or in-person at BCS and tours are organized on weekdays at 9:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 1:00 PM, or 2:00 PM EST.
Necessary Documents
Schedule an Interview
All prospective students must complete an interview with a member of the Admissions Team. Interviews usually takes 30 minutes and can be done in-person or by Zoom on weekdays between 8:30 AM and 4:00 PM EST.
Complete Math & English Worksheets
All applicants complete a BCS Math worksheet.
All applicants whose first language is English complete the BCS English worksheet.
All applicants whose first language is not English complete the BCS English as a Second Language worksheet.
The Math and English Worksheets can take up to two hours to complete. They can be completed on campus or under the supervision of a teacher or office worker affiliated with your current school. If you choose to have the worksheets done remotely, please provide the Admissions Team with the contact information of the person who has agreed to supervise these subject reviews.
Results from the SSAT or TOEFL Junior completed within the current year may be submitted in lieu of these worksheets. Additional testing may be required in some cases.
This is the percentage of applicants typically accepted into the school. So if 50 students are admitted out of 100 applicants, the school has an overall acceptance rate of 50%.
Student Entry Points
This shows approximately how many openings there are likely to be in each grade in a typical year, as well as the estimated acceptance rate for each grade level.
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 |
Average graduating class size | 45 |
Students accepted into post-secondary studies upon graduation | N/A |
Percentage of students who attend post-secondary institutions outside of Canada | N/A |
Students who attended a Ivy+ school 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) | 5 |
Bishop's College School Graduates’ Post-Secondary Studies:
This information is not currently available.Aggregate of All Schools’ Post-Secondary Studies:
Career planning | N/A |
Internships | N/A |
Mentorship Program | |
University counseling |
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
As I enter my third year at the school, I value the connectedness of our community and the wonderfully diverse and vibrant individuals who contribute to the school every day.
The stories I hear from alumni and past parents all have a common thread: a deep love for the school, the friendships made, and the lessons learned inside and outside the classroom. For most, it has been life-changing and the influence of a teacher, houseparent, staff member, coach, or classmate has molded their personal and professional path.
BCS is a special place that offers a unique experience and we are committed to continuing to see the school thrive. We provide a multitude of opportunities for students to live and learn in a culture of equality, inclusion, and respect. These are highlighted by the school’s core values: Lead, Grow, Engage, Experience, and Explore.
We are proud that BCS is a leader in independent school education. We are proud that our faculty, staff, administration, and volunteers are committed to educating and shaping the next generation of global citizens and world leaders. We are proud that our students value and cherish respect, perseverance, independence, and leadership.
As we turn our attention to the upcoming 2022-23 school year, we are approaching it with excitement and anticipation as we purposefully design the best possible education and life experience for all our students. We also have many renovations and upgrades planned throughout our 250-acre campus this spring and summer and we look forward to unveiling these improvements when the students arrive in September.
It is an exciting time to join BCS and I invite your entire family to share in that excitement as you embark upon your BCS journey and begin living the experience of a lifetime. I hope you enjoy learning more about what makes our school unique, why students are happy here, and why our mission is to create a caring community of learning and development, where cultures connect and individuals matter. I wish you and your family health and happiness and a year ahead filled with joy and fulfillment.
Kind regards,
Michel Lafrance
32nd 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.
Read full article
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