Now in its inaugural year, St. George’s Grade 12 Pre-University program offers a small, highly personalized pre-university year designed to help students not only get into university but thrive once they arrive. The program leads to the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD), an internationally recognized credential that opens doors to universities in Quebec, across Canada, the United States, and abroad. For students currently in Grade 11, at St. George’s or at other schools, the Pre-University year provides a compelling option: a one-year, relational pre-university experience with strong academics, individual advising, and rich opportunities to build leadership and real-world pathways.
Why Grade 12 Pre-University instead of CEGEP?
For many years, CEGEP offered a stable next step for Quebec high school students, with a wide range of programs and clear pathways to local universities. That remains true for many young people today. At the same time, recent shifts such as new language laws, funding pressures, larger class sizes, and increased competition for spots in some programs have led more families to look for a different kind of pre-university experience.
Why Grade 12 Pre-University at St. George’s?
Families weighing Grade 12 versus CEGEP, or choosing between several pre-university programs, often ask a simple question: Why here?
At St. George’s, the answer begins with scale and philosophy. Our Grade 12 Pre-University program is intentionally small. The program was built for young people who want a guided transition year, with more support and connection than a large CEGEP or big Grade 12 program can typically provide.
“We chose the program because the teachers and leadership at St. George’s are genuinely committed to each child’s learning. That kind of dedication is rare and truly defines our school. It shapes strong students, not just for this year, but for the years ahead.”
— Jane Brandman ’85, St. George’s Grade 12 Pre-University Parent
Whether students attended St. George’s High School or are joining the community for the first time, they step into a school that has long specialized in progressive, experiential, whole-student learning. This approach fosters learning by questioning, doing, and reflecting. At the core of the Pre-University year, a rigorous curriculum is paired with enrichment and individualized guidance so that each student can shape a purposeful, confident path to university.
“Our Grade 12 program is a continuation of the St. George’s experience in the best way. We’re still focused on progressive education and the whole person, but now the horizon is university. Every decision, courses, assessments, co-curriculars, and advising are made with that next step in view.”
— Dani Jansen, High School Teaching and Learning Coordinator
Stuart Szabo, St. George’s High School Parent and Harvard Alumni Interviewer presents to Grade 12 Pre-University Students
Designed for What Comes Next
For many years, CEGEP offered a stable next step for Quebec high school students, with a wide range of programs and clear pathways to local universities. That remains true for many young people today. At the same time, recent shifts such as new language laws, funding pressures, larger class sizes, and increased competition for spots in some programs have led more families to look for a different kind of pre-university experience.
Students choose from three curricular pathways: Science, Commerce, and Humanities, each aligned with different post-secondary directions. All pathways include core courses in English, Enriched English – Critical Literacy and Environment, Resources, & Sustainability and Sociology – Understanding Social Change. Each student will then take specialized courses dependent on their pathway, such as Advanced Biology, Advanced Chemistry, Advanced Functions, Advanced Physics, Analyzing Current Economic Issues, Calculus, Canadian and International Law, Ethics, Social Responsibility and Leadership and World History Since the 15th Century. The result is a timetable that feels challenging and university-ready, but still anchored in discussion, reflection, and relationships.
In a recent visit to speak with the Grade 12 cohort, Harvard Alumni Interviewer and current High School parent, Stuart Szabo reflected on how Universities are changing what they look for in applicants. Individuals with genuine passions stand out.
“As a St. George’s parent of two high school students, one of the most interesting things I see about St. George’s is that the school embraces student creativity and individuality. These are fantastic qualities that top schools are looking for, and I think are also essential traits that the world needs.”
— Stuart Szabo, St. George’s High School Parent and Harvard Alumni Interviewer
The Pre-University year is designed with that reality in mind. Course choices, co-curricular expectations, and portfolio-building experiences all help students present themselves as whole people, with a clear sense of direction and readiness.
Expert Teachers, Individual Support
One of the program’s defining strengths is the combination of expert teaching and intensive individual support. All Grade 12 courses are taught by St. George’s teachers, educators trained not only in their subject areas, but in the science of learning. They bring a deep understanding of assessment, differentiation, and adolescent development to the OSSD curriculum, and they work together to ensure that Semester 1 and Semester 2 both build toward university-level expectations.
“If I was to use one word to describe teaching and learning at St. George’s, it would be ‘relational’. Our approach is about so much more than just the delivery of content, it’s about creating an environment where our students have the tools, support, and freedom to think critically and participate in the type of academic discourse they will encounter in university. It is about fostering a love of learning, a tolerance for ambiguity, and an innate curiosity that will guide our students through the complexities of the world.”
— Luke Welton, Canadian and International Law Teacher
Because the cohort is small, academic counselling is personalized. A dedicated Pre-University Program Coordinator meets with each student to map out courses, identify university programs, plan application timelines, and review personal statements and supplementary requirements. From the first planning conversation after registration to the moment students sign their offer letters, families have a consistent guide. For parents, this level of attention is deeply reassuring.
Accommodations and learning supports continue as well. Students with Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) maintain access to the tools and flexibility that help them succeed, such as extended time or quiet test spaces, under the guidance of the school’s Learning Enrichment team.
Inside the Grade 12 Year
Day-to-day, St. George’s Grade 12 Pre-University feels like a bridge between high school and university.
Students have a dedicated Pre-University lounge with study spaces, a conference-style table for group projects, and a comfortable seating area. It serves as their hub: a space to work independently and collaborate with classmates. Alongside this, Grade 12s have access to the full campus, the Learning Commons, gym, fitness centre, and a dedicated classroom while following a schedule that blends structured class time with blocks for independent work and advising.
Common courses bring the cohort together regularly, building a sense of community across pathways. Students debate global issues in sociology, explore climate and sustainability in environmental studies, and sharpen their thinking in enriched English. In between, they dedicate themselves to their specialized courses aligned to their chosen pathway.
Grade 12 student participates in the RSEQ GMAA Cross Country race.
Co-curricular life remains central. Grade 12 students participate in athletics, performing arts, clubs, and committees. and are encouraged to step into leadership roles. For many, it becomes one more year to play, perform, compete, and contribute at the heart of school life before moving on to much larger institutions.
Building Portfolios and Advising
Beyond marks and course codes, the St. George’s Grade 12 Pre-University program focuses on helping students build experiences, stories, and networks they can carry into their applications and adult lives.
Through the school’s enrichment and portfolio development programming, students meet industry professionals, university students, and admissions-connected speakers in fields such as medicine, engineering, business, and the arts. Where possible, students also engage in shadowing experiences, such as spending time in a hospital setting for those exploring health sciences, or connecting with business alumni for those interested in commerce. These encounters help students test their assumptions before committing years of study to a particular path.
Leadership and community engagement remain key expectations. Grade 12 students are encouraged to take on advanced roles in athletics, arts, and student life, coaching younger teams, mentoring in clubs, leading pods, or launching initiatives aligned with their interests.
“Post-secondary institutions are seeking students who demonstrate curiosity, initiative, and a genuine commitment to collaborative learning. At St. George’s, we design our Grade 12 experience to foster exactly these attributes. Through rigorous academic engagement, meaningful leadership opportunities, and a culture that values contribution to the community, our students learn not only to excel individually but to strengthen the learning environment for everyone around them.”
— Nedim Agir, Pre-University Coordinator
For families inside and outside the St. George’s community, the Grade 12 Pre-University program offers a distinct option in Montreal’s pre-university landscape: a small, relational, academically rigorous year that prepares students to enjoy learning and excel in a university setting.
