Royal Vale

As part of the English Montreal School Board, Royal Vale is one of the few schools which houses both an elementary and secondary sector. Royal Vale is situated in Notre-Dame-de-Grace. The school has no territorial boundaries and the students come from all areas on and off the Island of Montreal. No busing is provided, consequently parents are solely responsible for transportation of their children or they may opt to participate in an extensive car-pooling system which is organized yearly by the Royal Vale Elementary Home & School Association.

History

Royal Vale first opened its doors to receive approximately 125 students from Pre-kindergarten to grade 4 in 1987-1988 at the Dupuis location. A dedicated group of parents, teachers and administrators had a vision: to create a full French immersion alternative math/science school which would provide an enriched instructional program with a special emphasis on Jewish Heritage Studies and various supplemental programs incorporated into the school day. Their mandate was to establish such a school comprising kindergarten to secondary V students.

In 1992 and each subsequent year, due to the overwhelmingly successful beginning of the school and the school's program, classes expanded steadily, going from kindergarten to grade 6 with an approximate population of 325 students.

In 1992, due to increasing demand and growing enrollment, Royal Vale relocated its facilities to the present location on Somerled Avenue in Notre-Dame-de-Grace.

During the following five years, three secondary classes were added at each consecutive level.

The present school population is stable with an enrollment of 450 secondary students and 340 elementary students.

Enrollment policy

Royal Vale School selects students who demonstrate strong academic skills in the areas of math and science and who exhibit a proficiency in French and English. Students will be accepted at Royal Vale based upon the following criteria:

* Applications will be taken from any student who is eligible for English language instruction. All applicants, regardless of school of origin (other than those identified in point 7), will be treated equally.
* All applicants for Kindergarten will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.
* New applicants for Grades 1 through to Secondary 5 will write a qualifying skills test. Tests in Math, French and English will be administered in Japreceding the academic year for which a student has applied.
* Based on the results of the qualifying tests, applicants and their parents/guardians may be invited for interviews to help ascertain their willingness to participate in all aspects of the life of the school, e.g. academic, extra-curricular, etc.
* The most recent report card and the report card from the last completed academic year will be required to complete an applicant's file.
* Final selection will be made by a committee after having reviewed all test and interview results as well as completed documentation.
* Siblings of Royal Vale students and students in Royal Vale's Grade six class who meet the entrance requirements will be given priority for placement.