This guide gathers what international students and their families need to know before applying to Chatham Christian School（查塔姆基督学校）, a private Christian day school in Chatham, Ontario, Canada. It covers the school’s structure and programs, the international application process, published cost information, and the school year rhythm. Every fact below comes from the school’s official website, accessed on August 5, 2026; the school does not publish a uniform fee schedule on that site, so costs are described only to the extent the official pages state them.
About Chatham Christian School
Chatham Christian School is an independent, non-denominational Christian school located at 475 Keil Dr S, Chatham, Ontario. It is operated by the Calvin Christian School Society of Chatham and governed by a board of directors elected from supporting parents and community members. The school’s own history page says its roots go back to the early 1950s, when Dutch immigrant families in the area wanted a school founded on Christian faith; Chatham Christian School first opened in 1957 with 93 students in a three-room schoolhouse, and moved into its current Kindergarten through Grade 12 facility in 1999. The website’s current figures describe 513 students, 57 staff members and more than 20 extracurricular activities. The school describes itself as independent of government funding, financed through family tuition and donations, and registered as a charity.
Programs: JK to Grade 12 and the Ontario Diploma
Chatham Christian School offers elementary education from Junior Kindergarten through Grade 8 and secondary education from Grade 9 to Grade 12. The curriculum follows the scope and sequence of the Ontario Ministry of Education, delivered from a Christian worldview, and the school states its high school is inspected on a bi-annual basis by the ministry. Graduates of the secondary program receive the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD), which requires at least 30 credits, a pass on the provincial literacy test and a required number of volunteer hours; students planning to attend university need at least six university or college level preparation courses in their senior years. High school students also take two Bible courses plus selections from the school’s Our World and Our Society course groups, which the website ties to the school’s own high school diploma. Class sizes are small, and the school emphasizes character and Christian morality alongside academics. Co-curricular options listed on the site include band, choir, art, athletics and various clubs, with sports teams in cross-country, basketball, volleyball, soccer, badminton and track.
International Program and Entry Requirements
Chatham Christian School runs a dedicated International Program and says applications for the upcoming school year are now being accepted. International students receive the same instruction and support services as resident students, plus one-on-one ESL (English as a Second Language) tutoring to improve their English and help with homework and class assignments; the school says this individual tutoring has helped its international students gain university acceptance. For international students not living with a parent, the International Education Program arranges homestay placements.
The application steps listed on the official page are: complete the International Student Application; provide school records for the past two years; and submit a photocopy of the passport. Once a student is accepted, Chatham Christian School issues a Conditional Letter of Acceptance; the official Letter of Acceptance, which is required to apply for a student visa, is issued after the school receives a deposit. The school does not publish a minimum English test score for international applicants on the pages used for this guide, and it does not state a fixed application deadline — the official page simply notes that applications are being accepted. Visa and statutory eligibility are matters for government rules, which the school’s website does not summarise; check current Canadian study permit requirements against official government sources.
Costs: What the Official Site Publishes
Chatham Christian School’s website does not publish a unified tuition and fee schedule. The enrollment page states that, as an independent school, it receives no government funding, so families pay tuition; it also mentions tuition assistance programs for families new to Christian education and for enrolled families needing financial aid, payment plan options, and charitable donation receipts for a portion of tuition paid. For the international program, the official page states that tuition and program-related expenses must be paid in full at least 30 days prior to the start of the program, and that the official Letter of Acceptance follows receipt of a deposit. Because no amounts are published on the official site, this guide does not supply figures; the fee schedule the school provides for a specific grade level and school year at the time of application is the authoritative source. The FAQ additionally notes that bus service is available at an extra cost, and that the school operates a uniform policy.
School Year, Semesters and Application Rhythm
The school year at Chatham Christian School runs from the beginning of September until the end of June, and the secondary year is divided into two semesters: September to January and February to June. Admissions for the upcoming school year are described as already in full swing on the enrollment page: interested families contact the office for the required paperwork, and after the application is received the principal gets in touch. The school’s office hours are listed as Monday to Friday 8:30 am to 3:40 pm. Because application timing is rolling rather than tied to a published cutoff, families should check the official website for current intake status and any deadlines when planning their timeline, and should build in enough time for the study permit process after the official Letter of Acceptance is issued.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of school is Chatham Christian School? It is a private, non-denominational Christian day school in Chatham, Ontario, offering Junior Kindergarten through Grade 12, operated by the Calvin Christian School Society of Chatham and governed by an elected board.
What diploma do graduates receive? Graduates of Chatham Christian School’s secondary program receive the Ontario Secondary School Diploma, which requires at least 30 credits, the provincial literacy test and required volunteer hours; university-bound students need at least six university or college level preparation courses.
Does Chatham Christian School have an international program? Yes. International students get one-on-one ESL tutoring, the same instruction and support as resident students, and homestay placements when not living with a parent.
What are the application requirements? The official page lists the International Student Application, school records for the past two years, and a passport photocopy; the official Letter of Acceptance for the student visa is issued after a deposit is received.
Is the tuition published? No. The official website describes tuition as covering an independent school with no government funding and mentions assistance programs, but it does not publish fee amounts; the school’s own fee schedule at application time is the authoritative source.
When does the school year run? From early September to the end of June, with the secondary year split into two semesters, September to January and February to June.
Where is the school located? At 475 Keil Dr S, Chatham, Ontario.
Is there an English test requirement? The official pages used for this guide do not publish a minimum English test score; the school provides one-on-one ESL tutoring for international students instead.
All facts in this guide are bounded by the official pages of Chatham Christian School as accessed on August 5, 2026. Programs, fees and intake status change; verify the current terms on the official website before deciding. If you would like to weigh your own academic background, budget and timeline against what this school offers, consult the advisers on this site with your specific situation.