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Understanding Pembroke's School Options
Pembroke families have access to all four publicly funded Ontario school systems, alongside independent and flexible online secondary models. Under the Ontario Education Act, public education is divided between secular and separate (Catholic) school boards in both official languages.
The English secular system is administered locally by the Renfrew County District School Board (RCDSB), whose head office is located in Pembroke. The English Catholic system is governed by the Renfrew County Catholic District School Board (RCCDSB), which is also headquartered in the city. Francophone families access secular instruction through the Conseil des écoles publiques de l’Est de l’Ontario (CEPEO) and Catholic instruction through the Conseil des écoles catholiques du Centre-Est (CECCE). Both Francophone boards operate regional campuses in Pembroke, providing continuous elementary-to-secondary programming.
| Education system | Board serving Pembroke | Headquarters / administrative base | Local secondary presence |
|---|---|---|---|
| English Public | Renfrew County District School Board (RCDSB) | Pembroke, ON | Fellowes High School |
| English Catholic | Renfrew County Catholic District School Board (RCCDSB) | Pembroke, ON | Bishop Smith Catholic High School |
| French Catholic | Conseil des écoles catholiques du Centre-Est (CECCE) | Ottawa, ON (Regional Office) | Centre scolaire catholique Jeanne-Lajoie |
| French Public | Conseil des écoles publiques de l’Est de l’Ontario (CEPEO) | Ottawa, ON (Regional Office) | École élémentaire et secondaire publique l’Équinoxe |
Flexible options beyond the home school
While public boards serve fixed geographic attendance zones, families seeking scheduling flexibility, specialized electives, or course acceleration often turn to independent private education. Accredited online options provide an essential bridge for students whose local school may not offer a specific senior prerequisite or timetable slot.
Notable Top Schools in Pembroke
Public secondary education in Pembroke and its immediate commuting corridor is anchored by schools offering comprehensive academic and technological programming. The RCDSB coordinates secondary education across Renfrew County, with institutions tailored to address urban and rural learning needs.
Fellowes High School
- Pembroke
- RCDSB
Fellowes High School is the primary English public high school in the City of Pembroke, serving students in Grades 9 through 12. As a cornerstone of secondary education in Renfrew County, Fellowes is recognized for its extensive technical education facilities, comprehensive university and college preparatory courses, and established French Immersion track.
The school distinguishes itself through its Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) offerings, which include Transportation Technology, Construction Technology, Health and Wellness, Arts and Culture, and Manufacturing. According to RCDSB curriculum documentation, Fellowes maintains extensive automotive and construction workshop environments that allow students to earn recognized industry certifications prior to graduation. The school also partners directly with Algonquin College’s Pembroke Campus, offering dual-credit courses that let students complete college-level coursework while fulfilling Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) graduation requirements.
Valour JK–12 School
- Petawawa
- RCDSB
Located in adjacent Petawawa, Valour JK–12 School operates within Pembroke’s immediate secondary catchment and serves a significant number of military-connected and civilian families. Constructed as an integrated campus, Valour is the largest physical educational facility operated by the RCDSB.
Valour provides secondary students with French Immersion programming, specialized athletics, and targeted SHSM concentrations in Health and Wellness. The school’s unique K–12 structural continuum provides smooth intermediate-to-secondary transitions, modern science laboratories, and access to outdoor learning spaces connected to the Ottawa Valley trail system.
Mackenzie Community School
- Deep River
- RCDSB
Positioned upriver in Deep River, Mackenzie Community School serves the northern portion of the upper valley under the RCDSB. Due to its proximity to the Chalk River Laboratories and Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL), the school has developed an academic profile characterized by strong engagement in STEM, physical sciences, and environmental research.
Mackenzie operates on an integrated JK–12 model, offering French Immersion and SHSM programs tailored to environmental resource management and technological design. Its graduates routinely transition into competitive engineering and applied science faculties across Ontario.
Opeongo High School
- Douglas
- RCDSB
Opeongo High School is centrally located in Douglas, serving students from the Whitewater Region, Eganville, and surrounding rural townships south and east of Pembroke. The school is renowned across the county for its active agricultural and environmental community connections.
Opeongo features dedicated SHSM programs in Agriculture, the Environment, and the Construction Trades. Its expansive rural campus supports robust athletic programs, forestry management training, and hands-on technological studies, making it an appealing option for families focused on primary resource management and practical trades.
Notable Catholic High Schools in Pembroke
Catholic secondary education in Pembroke combines Ontario curriculum standards with Catholic social teachings and pastoral care. Catholic secondary schools in Ontario operate with open-access admissions for Grades 9 through 12, allowing students of all religious backgrounds to register without requiring a baptismal certificate.
Bishop Smith Catholic High School
- Pembroke
- RCCDSB
Bishop Smith Catholic High School is the primary English Catholic secondary institution serving Pembroke, Petawawa, and the surrounding rural townships. Administered by the RCCDSB, the school operates in a Grade 8 to 12 configuration and enrolls approximately 900 intermediate and secondary students.
Integrating Grade 8 into the high school campus eases the transition into secondary studies by giving intermediate students early access to specialized laboratories, technical classrooms, and guidance services. Bishop Smith offers an established French Immersion program alongside a diverse range of Specialist High Skills Majors, including Hospitality and Tourism, Health and Wellness, Construction, and Justice, Community Safety, and Emergency Services. The school’s hospitality wing operates a commercial kitchen classroom, and its co-op program maintains strong ties to regional emergency services and healthcare providers.
St. Joseph's Catholic High School
- Renfrew
- RCCDSB
While located approximately 45 minutes south of Pembroke in Renfrew, St. Joseph’s Catholic High School serves as Bishop Smith’s sister secondary institution in the RCCDSB. Serving Grades 8 through 12, St. Joseph’s enrols approximately 400 students and offers a close-knit school community.
St. Joseph’s offers robust SHSM pathways in Health and Wellness and Construction Trades, as well as an active arts curriculum and experiential dual-credit placements with regional community colleges. It forms a key pillar of Catholic secondary delivery in the southern Renfrew County corridor.
Open-access secondary enrollment
Under Ontario education legislation, Catholic secondary schools receive public funding and provide open access for Grades 9 through 12. Students participate in regular school activities and take an annual religion or ethics credit as part of their timetable.
French-Language Schools in Pembroke
Under Section 23 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, Canadian citizens living in Ontario whose first language learned and still understood is French, or who received their primary instruction in French, have the constitutional right to have their children educated in French-language facilities. Pembroke maintains dedicated French Catholic and French secular public schools to serve this community.
Centre scolaire catholique Jeanne-Lajoie
- Pembroke
- CECCE
Centre scolaire catholique Jeanne-Lajoie is Pembroke’s French Catholic educational facility, operated by the CECCE. The secondary pavilion (Pavillon secondaire) delivers instruction in French from Grade 7 through Grade 12.
Jeanne-Lajoie functions as an essential cultural and educational anchor for the Francophone community across Pembroke, Petawawa, and Garrison Petawawa. The school provides full OSSD curriculum pathways taught in French, enriched by technological options, sports teams, and Francophone cultural events. Graduates achieve a high degree of bilingual proficiency, qualifying for bilingual post-secondary degree programs and positions within public administration and defence.
École élémentaire et secondaire publique l'Équinoxe
- Pembroke
- CEPEO
Operated by the CEPEO, École élémentaire et secondaire publique l’Équinoxe provides secular French-language education within a unified JK through Grade 12 campus. Serving the broader Pembroke and upper valley region, l’Équinoxe emphasizes individualized learning within small class settings.
The secondary program at l’Équinoxe combines direct classroom teaching with specialized e-learning options through the provincial French-language consortia. This structure ensures students can take specialized senior electives and pathway prerequisites while studying in a French first-language environment.
French Immersion is different
French Immersion at Fellowes and Bishop Smith is a bilingual pathway within English-language boards. Jeanne-Lajoie and l'Équinoxe provide French first-language education in a Francophone school environment.
Specialty Programs & Curricula in Pembroke
Pembroke’s secondary schools deliver an array of Ontario Ministry of Education specialty programs designed to tailor learning to specific academic and vocational goals.
International Baccalaureate & Advanced Placement
Formal International Baccalaureate (IB) World School accreditation and designated Advanced Placement (AP) programs are not offered in Pembroke’s secondary schools. Families seeking advanced university-preparation coursework, international credential enrichment, or accelerated STEM preparation often use independent, Ministry-inspected online secondary credit providers to complete advanced courses outside their local school timetable
Local model: advanced OSSD courses and flexible online enrichment
French Immersion & French First-Language
French Immersion: Both Fellowes High School and Bishop Smith Catholic High School offer recognized French Immersion certificates requiring students to complete at least 10 credits taught in French, including four sequential French language credits and six subject-area electives.
French First-Language: Jeanne-Lajoie and École l’Équinoxe deliver 100% of core curriculum instruction in French, ensuring first-language acquisition and cultural immersion.
Bilingual and Francophone pathways
Specialist High Skills Major
According to ontario.ca, SHSM is a Ministry-approved specialized program allowing students in Grades 11 and 12 to focus on a specific economic sector while meeting OSSD requirements. Students complete a designated bundle of credits, earn recognized industry certifications, and participate in experiential cooperative education placements.
Transportation, Construction, Health, Hospitality, Justice and more
Technical Studies & Dual Credits
A major asset for secondary students in Pembroke is the local presence of Algonquin College’s Pembroke Campus. Through the School-College-Work Initiative (SCWI), senior students from Fellowes, Bishop Smith, and regional schools can participate in dual-credit programs, earning an OSSD credit and an Algonquin College course credit simultaneously.
Forestry, Environmental Science, Nursing and Motive Power Trades
SHSM sectors aligned with Renfrew County
- Transportation Technology: Housed at Fellowes High School, preparing students for heavy-duty equipment, automotive repair, and aerospace logistics.
- Construction & Trades: Active at Fellowes High School and Bishop Smith Catholic High School, emphasizing framing, carpentry, and electrical pre-apprenticeship.
- Health & Wellness: Available at Fellowes and Bishop Smith, connecting students to placements at the Pembroke Regional Hospital and community care facilities.
- Hospitality & Tourism: Anchored at Bishop Smith Catholic High School, utilizing a commercial teaching kitchen.
- Justice, Community Safety & Emergency Services: Offered at Bishop Smith, preparing youth for military, policing, and emergency medical services.
| Program framework | Program model & focus | Participating Pembroke schools | Post-secondary destination |
|---|---|---|---|
| French Immersion | 10 credits completed in French; focuses on functional professional bilingualism. | Fellowes High School, Bishop Smith Catholic High School | Bilingual university degree tracks, public service, defence. |
| French First-Language | Complete OSSD delivered in French under Charter Section 23 protections. | Centre scolaire catholique Jeanne-Lajoie, École l’Équinoxe | Francophone and bilingual post-secondary institutions, education, governance. |
| Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) | Ministry-bundled sector courses, industry certifications, and co-op placements. | Fellowes High School, Bishop Smith Catholic High School | Apprenticeship training, polytechnic colleges, direct technical employment. |
| College Dual-Credit (SCWI) | Concurrent high school and college credit acquisition. | Fellowes High School, Bishop Smith Catholic High School (with Algonquin College) | Direct entry into diploma, applied degree, and trade programs. |
| Flexible Online Credit Study | Asynchronous, Ministry-inspected OSSD credit courses taken alongside day school. | Canadian Virtual School | College, university prerequisite completion, credential upgrading. |
Use rankings carefully
How Are Toronto Schools Ranked?
Families evaluating secondary schools often consult performance data published by the Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) or independent ranking tables compiled by the Fraser Institute. While these metrics provide a window into standardized assessment participation, they must be interpreted within their methodological limits.
EQAO tests assess Grade 9 Mathematics and Grade 10 literacy (the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test, or OSSLT). The Fraser Institute aggregates these specific test results into a composite score to publish relative school rankings. However, educational researchers and school boards caution against relying on these scores as a definitive measure of overall educational quality.
What standardized rankings capture
- Grade 9 Mathematics assessment performance
- Grade 10 OSSLT literacy performance
- Composite comparisons based on a limited set of test outcomes
Important methodological limits
- Narrow Standardized Focus: They do not evaluate specialized technical shops, music or theatrical arts programs, dual-credit completion, or extracurricular athletics.
- Sensitivity to Cohort Size: Small shifts in moderate-size cohorts can generate wide annual score changes.
- Socioeconomic and Demographic Factors: Rankings correlate closely with parental household income and family stability and do not reflect the adaptability required for transient military families.
- No Measure of School Climate: Tests do not capture teacher mentorship, mental health support, bullying prevention, or experiential workplace learning.
Families are encouraged to view standardized rankings as only one reference point among many, prioritizing direct visits, guidance consultations, and program alignment over single-number ratings.
Flexible Online Learning in Pembroke
In mid-sized regional centres like Pembroke, secondary schools must manage class sizes carefully. This can sometimes result in local scheduling conflicts, alternating-year elective courses, or canceled specialized sections. To address these timetable gaps, students increasingly combine their traditional day-school classes with flexible online learning.
Canadian Virtual School (CVS) provides an Ontario Ministry of Education–inspected private online high school option (BSID #882250) that has granted valid OSSD credits since 2008. Because CVS is fully inspected by the Ministry, every credit completed is recognized by all public school boards, the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre (OUAC), and the Ontario College Application Service (OCAS).
Resolve Timetable Conflicts
When two mandatory university prerequisites run during the same period, students can enroll in individual subjects through the CVS Course Catalog.
Summer Acceleration
Students can use CVS summer school courses to complete demanding subjects ahead of time and free timetable space for co-op, SHSM certifications, or athletics.
Grade Upgrading
Students looking to boost an earlier grade can take an online upgrade course asynchronously, moving through the curriculum at their own pace.
Credit Recovery & Homeschool Support
Students can catch up on credits without waiting for the next semester, while homeschool families use CVS registration for inspection-backed OSSD credits.
Ministry-inspected
BSID #882250
OSSD credits
Ontario teachers
Year-round enrolment
Flexible learning
Student perspectives
How Flexibility Can Help
Stories like these are common among applicants who use online courses strategically.
Liam, a Grade 12 student in Pembroke, planned to apply to competitive health sciences programs at Ontario universities. When his local high school scheduled Grade 12 Chemistry and his final SHSM co-op placement during the exact same morning block, his timetable became conflicted. Rather than abandoning his co-op placement at the regional hospital, Liam registered for Grade 12 Chemistry through Canadian Virtual School. Studying asynchronously during his evening hours and weekends, he completed the laboratory work, kept his hospital co-op placement intact, and had his final science credit submitted directly to OUAC in time for consideration.
Grade 12 · Pembroke
Kendra, a student living just outside Pembroke, was working toward admission into Algonquin College’s Forestry Technician program. Balancing full-time competitive equestrian training with high school made following a standard brick-and-mortar daily bell schedule difficult. Her family used Canadian Virtual School to complete her Grade 11 and 12 mathematics and science credits on a self-paced schedule. This arrangement provided the flexibility she needed to maintain her athletic training while meeting the admissions criteria for Algonquin’s Pembroke campus.
Student · Renfrew County
A practical parent checklist
How to Choose the Right School for Your Child
Selecting a secondary school in Pembroke requires matching a student’s interests and learning style with each school’s unique academic offerings and physical resources. Consider the following checklist when evaluating your options:
Specific Pathway and Career Focus
Determine whether your student thrives in hands-on, trade-focused learning or prefers theoretical academics. Students interested in automotive or construction trades benefit from the specialized workshops at Fellowes or Bishop Smith, while those pursuing outdoor and environmental sciences may appreciate dual-credit options linked to Algonquin College.
Language Goals and Legal Rights
Decide whether French Immersion, available in English public and Catholic settings, or full French-first-language education through Jeanne-Lajoie and l'Équinoxe best suits your family's language profile and career plans.
Daily Commute and Transportation Logistics
Renfrew County encompasses a broad geographic region. Factor in bus travel times for rural feeder communities, especially for students participating in after-school athletics or co-op placements.
Learning Environment and School Scale
Consider whether your child thrives in a larger secondary setting like Bishop Smith or Fellowes, or would benefit from the close-knit, continuous environment of a combined K–12 school like Valour, Mackenzie, or l'Équinoxe.
Need for Scheduling Flexibility
If your student is involved in high-level athletics, manages a chronic health condition, or requires niche university prerequisites not offered locally, look for a school environment that readily supports supplementary learning through providers like Canadian Virtual School. Families with specific planning questions can reach out to their guidance office or contact CVS admissions directly.
Common parent questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best high schools in Pembroke?
Rather than a single top-ranked institution, Pembroke features several strong secondary schools that excel in different areas. Fellowes High School is known for technical education and varied SHSM options, Bishop Smith Catholic High School offers an integrated Grade 8–12 environment with strong hospitality and healthcare tracks, and Centre scolaire catholique Jeanne-Lajoie provides premier French first-language education. The best school depends on whether a student requires English, French, Catholic, or specialized vocational programming.
What is the difference between public and Catholic high schools in Pembroke?
Public secondary schools are non-denominational and operated by the RCDSB, whereas Catholic high schools are governed by the RCCDSB and integrate Catholic values and religious education. Both boards follow the Ontario provincial curriculum and award the same Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD). Under Ontario law, Catholic secondary schools (Grades 9–12) have open-access enrollment, meaning students of any faith background may attend without restriction.
Which Pembroke schools offer French Immersion, IB, or AP?
Fellowes High School (public) and Bishop Smith Catholic High School (Catholic) offer French Immersion locally. First-language French instruction is provided by Centre scolaire catholique Jeanne-Lajoie and École élémentaire et secondaire publique l’Équinoxe. Secondary schools in Pembroke do not offer formal International Baccalaureate (IB) or Advanced Placement (AP) programs; students seeking advanced enrichment typically turn to accredited online options.
What is SHSM and how does it work in Pembroke high schools?
The Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) is a provincial program that lets Grade 11 and 12 students focus on a specific career sector while earning their OSSD. In Pembroke, schools offer SHSMs in Transportation, Construction, Health and Wellness, Hospitality and Tourism, Arts and Culture, and Justice. Participating students take a customized bundle of courses, complete co-op placements, and earn industry certifications like WHMIS, First Aid, and working at heights.
Can students in Pembroke take high school courses online?
Yes. Students in Pembroke can complete courses online through their local board’s virtual offerings or through independent, Ministry-inspected institutions like Canadian Virtual School](https://canadianvirtualschool.ca/) (BSID #882250). CVS offers asynchronous, self-paced OSSD credits that count toward high school graduation. This provides a flexible solution for resolving timetable conflicts, upgrading marks for university admissions, accelerating credits through summer school, and supporting homeschool programs.
Can non-Catholic students attend Catholic high schools in Pembroke?
Yes. Under Ontario education legislation, Catholic secondary schools receive public funding and must provide open access for Grades 9 through 12. Non-Catholic students can enroll at Bishop Smith Catholic High School without submitting a baptismal certificate. Students participate in regular school activities and take an annual religion or ethics credit as part of their timetable.
Who is eligible to attend French-language high schools in Pembroke?
Under Section 23 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, children of parents who are Canadian citizens and whose native language is French, or who received their elementary schooling in French in Canada, are guaranteed access to French-language schools. Families who do not meet these criteria but demonstrate functional French proficiency may apply through an admissions committee at Centre scolaire catholique Jeanne-Lajoie or École publique l’Équinoxe.
How does Algonquin College partner with high schools in Pembroke?
Algonquin College’s Pembroke Waterfront Campus works closely with regional secondary schools through the School-College-Work Initiative (SCWI). Senior students at schools like Fellowes and Bishop Smith can take dual-credit courses in subjects like environmental science, motive power trades, and healthcare. These courses let students earn high school and college credits at the same time, simplifying their transition to post-secondary education. For details on transitioning from secondary studies to higher education, see our guide on How to Get Into Algonquin College.
Conclusion
The secondary educational landscape in Pembroke balances strong community school traditions, comprehensive trade facilities, and recognized language pathways. Whether completing an apprenticeship-linked Specialist High Skills Major at Fellowes High School, pursuing French Immersion at Bishop Smith Catholic High School, or immersing in French first-language education at Jeanne-Lajoie, local families have access to well-established, funded learning pathways.
When local course availability or scheduling constraints create roadblocks, flexible distance education provides an invaluable alternative. By using accredited, Ministry-inspected courses through Canadian Virtual School, students across Pembroke and Renfrew County can build custom academic timetables, meet post-secondary prerequisites, and achieve their goals on their own schedule.
Find the Right Learning Path for Your Child
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Canadian Virtual School
- Ontario Ministry-inspected private high school
- BSID #882250
- Recognized OSSD credit courses
- Year-round enrolment
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