A scan of data currently collected across Canada related to children and youth and publicly funded K-12 school systems. We have organized the data sources by region beginning with Canada-wide data, followed by headings for each province or territory.
Pan-Canadian Education Data
Pan-Canadian Education Data
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| Administrative Data | Assessment Data | Other Data |
- This data scan will be updated regularly – Read the guidebook here.
- All provinces and territories are represented. Scroll down for more.
Census of Population
Administrators: StatCan
Age Group: All Canadians
Frequency and dates: Every five years (first in 1666)
Most recent cycle: 2021
Purpose: Demographic, employment and education information about everyone in Canada conducted every 5 years. Can be linked to other datasets at the level of dissemination area.
Pan-Canadian Education Indicators Program (PCEIP)
Administrators: StatCan and CMEC
Age Group: K-PSE
Frequency and dates: Every year since 2009
Purpose: Presents a statistical portrait of the elementary, secondary, and postsecondary education systems in various formats such as data tables, fact sheets, and reports. Includes enrolment, education financing information, number of educators and graduation rates by province / territory.
Open Database of Educational Facilities
Administrators: StatCan
Age Group: ECE-PSE
Frequency and dates: One-time
Most recent cycle: 2025
Purpose: A harmonized list of all the educational facilities in Canada, including preschools, elementary and secondary schools, vocational and post-secondary education settings, with location information.
The Canadian Index of Multiple Deprivation (CIMD)
Administrators: StatCan, St. Michael’s Hospital
Age Group: Neighbourhoods
Frequency and dates: Updated with new Census data, first developed in 2016 and building on the CanMarg, which was developed in 2001
Most recent cycle: 2021
Purpose: An index of marginalization based on multiple demographic indicators organized into four dimensions: residential instability, ethno-cultural composition, economic dependency, and situational vulnerability.
Pan-Canadian Assessment Program (PCAP)
NWT and Nunavut have not yet participated
Administrators: CMEC
Age Group: Grade 8
Frequency and dates: Every 4 years (formerly every 3 years since 1996)
Most recent cycle: 2023
Purpose: Standardized assessment of Grade 8 students across Canada in the areas of reading, writing, and science (formerly the School Achievement Indicators Program).
Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA)
Administrators: OECD, CMEC
Age Group: 15-yearolds
Frequency and dates: Every 4 years as of 2025 (formerly every 3 years since 2000)
Most recent cycle: 2025
Purpose: An international large-scale standardized student assessment in the areas of reading, mathematics and science (as well as other special topic areas occasionally) administered to a sample of 15-year olds in participating countries (and in Canada’s case, individual provinces) around the world.
Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS)
BC, AB, NB, ON, QU, NL (as separate regions)
Administrators: IEA, CMEC
Age Group: Grade 4
Frequency and dates: Every 5 years since 2001
Most recent cycle: 2021
Purpose:An international large-scale standardized student assessment of student reading literacy administered to a sample of Grade 4 students in participating countries (and in Canada’s case, provinces) around the world.
Trends in International Mathematics and Sciences Study (TIMSS)
AB, MB, ON, QU, NL (as separate regions)
Administrators: IEA, CMEC
Age Group: Grades 4
Frequency and dates: Every 4 years since 1995
Most recent cycle: 2023
Purpose: An international large-scale standardized student assessment of mathematics and sciences administered to a sample of Grade 4 students in participating countries (and in Canada’s case, provinces) around the world.
Education and Labour Market Longitudinal Platform (ELMLP)
Administrators: StatCan, ESDC
Age Group: Kindergarten to adulthood
Frequency and dates: Updates released every year (earliest available data is 2008)
Purpose: This is a dataset that links Census data with administrative data about post-secondary education and apprenticeship programs in Canada and later tax return information to help better understand student pathways and outcomes over time. This data is also linked to Grade 9-12 administrative data in Ontario and K-12 administrative data in BC.
Elementary-Secondary Education Survey (ESES)
Administrators: StatCan
Age Group: StatCan
Frequency and dates: Every year since 2003
Purpose: Contributes to the PCEIP; standard reporting tool from each province / territory for number of students enrolled in elementary / secondary education, high school graduates, number of educators, and expenditures.
Survey of Federal Government Expenditures in Support of Education (FEDEX)
Administrators: StatCan
Age Group: K-PSE
Frequency and dates: Every year since 1980s
Purpose: Contributes to the PCEIP; survey of financial expenditures completed by each province / territory for all education including post-secondary.
Financial Information of Elementary and Secondary Schools (FINESS)
Administrators: StatCan
Age Group: K-12
Frequency and dates: Every year
Purpose: Contributes to the PCEIP; administrative data reported at the school board or district level to the provincial / territorial government and then to the federal government about expenditures in elementary / secondary education.
Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children (HBSC)
Administrators: WHO, Public Health Agency of Canada
Age Group: Ages 11, 13, 15
Frequency and dates: Every 4 years since 1989
Most recent cycle: 2022
Purpose: To gain new insight into, and increase understanding of, adolescent health and well-being in their social context. For example, this study tracks bullying, school experience, body image, social media use, family and peer relations, etc.
Canadian Longitudinal Health Survey on Children and Youth (CHSCY)
Canadian provinces (excluding reserves, foster homes, institutionalized settings and territories)
Administrators: Offord Centre (McMaster), StatCan, Public Health Agency of Canada
Age Group: Ages 1 to 23 (ages 1 to 17 for cross-sectional, plus ages 5 to 23 for longitudinal follow-up)
Most recent cycle: 2023
Frequency and dates: Since 2019
Purpose: A longitudinal study tracking children and youth as they develop. Data collected in areas of physical and mental health as well as access to (and barriers to accessing) supports and services.
First Nations Regional Early Childhood, Education and Employment Survey (FNREEES)
First Nations communities across Canada
Administrators: First Nations Information Governance Centre
Age Group: Birth to adulthood
Frequency and dates: Unclear intervals since 2013
Most recent cycle: 2013
Purpose: A cross-sectional survey designed to measure the status of early childhood development, education, and employment among First Nations children, youth and adults living in First Nations reserves and Northern communities across Canada.
First Nations Regional Health Survey (FNRHS)
First Nations communities across Canada
Administrators: First Nations Information Governance Centre
Age Group: Birth to adulthood
Frequency and dates: 2002, 2006, and 2015
Most recent cycle: 2015
Purpose: A cross-sectional survey designed to measure the status of early childhood development, education, and employment among First Nations children, youth and adults living in First Nations reserves and Northern communities across Canada.
Canadian Student Tobacco, Alcohol and Drugs Survey (CSTADS)
NB declined to participate in 2021/22
Administrators: StatCan, Health Canada, University of Waterloo
Age Group: Grades 7-12
Frequency and dates: Every 2 years since 1994
Most recent cycle: 2022
Purpose: Provides data on tobacco (including vape), alcohol, and drug use and related issues among Canadian students (Grades 7-9 / 10-12) attending generalizable samples of private, public, and Catholic schools.
Early Development Instrument (EDI)
Administrators: Offord Centre (McMaster)
Age Group: Kindergarten
Frequency and dates: Variable (every 2-3 years in AB and ON) since 1998
Purpose: Teacher-administered assessment of developmental health (skills and behaviour) of children as they transition from early childhood education to school (e.g., before Grade 1). Students are assessed on the domains of physical health and well-being, language and cognitive development, social competence, communication skills and general knowledge, and emotional maturity.
Middle Years Development Instrument (MDI)
BC, YK, and NWT
Administrators: UBC
Age Group: Grades 4-8
Frequency and dates: Variable (every year in some areas) since 2006
Purpose: Self-report questionnaire of children in Grades 4-8 that can provide a holistic picture of how children in the middle years are doing at school, at home, and in their community. Students report on areas of physical health and well-being, connectedness, social and emotional development, school experiences, and use of out-of-school time.
Canadian Survey on Early Learning and Child Care (CSELCC)
Administrators: StatCan
Age Group: Birth to 5 years
Frequency and dates: Since 2019
Purpose: Provides information from parents and guardians on early learning and child care arrangements for children aged 0 to 5.
ParticipACTION Report Card
Administrators: ParticipACTION and Health Active Living and Obesity Research Group (HALO-CHEO)
Frequency and dates: Every 2 years since 2005
Most recent cycle: 2024
Purpose: A national report card on physical activity, active play, active transportation, organized sport, physical activity, sedentary behaviours, sleep, and 24-hour movement behaviour.
Youth Mental Health Data Hub
Administrators: Mental Health Research Canada (MHRC) and GreenShield
Age Group: Ages 16 and older
Frequency and dates: Variable
Purpose: A dashboard of mental health related data, including mental health indicators, access to mental health support, and barriers to support, linked to demographic information.
Opportunities for Physical Activity at School Study
Administrators: Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute (CFLRI)
Age Group: K-12
Frequency and dates: Every 5 years since 2001
Most recent cycle: 2020
Purpose: This survey collects cross-sectional data on policies and programs available at school to support participation in physical activity and sport.
Canadian Health Measures Study (CHMS)
Canadian provinces (excluding reserves, remote regions, and territories)
Administrators: StatCan
Age Group: Age 1-79
Frequency and dates: Every 2 years since 2007
Most recent cycle: 2024
Purpose: A study of a sample of Canadians that uses clinical measurements and questionnaires about health, lifestyle, environments, and demographic factors to track health trends.
Canadian Survey on Disability (CSD)
Administrators: StatCan, ESDC
Age Group: Age 15 and older
Frequency and dates: Every 5 years since 1983 in some form
Most recent cycle: 2022
Purpose: Survey a sample of Canadians with disabilities to understand educational experiences, accessibility needs, and accommodations as well as general health, substance use, and isolation.
Labour Force Survey (LFS)
Administrators: StatCan
Age Group: Age 15 and older
Frequency and dates: Every month since 1945 in some form
Purpose: Monthly survey providing details of employment and unemployment among Canadians aged 15 and older.
Indigenous Peoples Survey (IPS)
Administrators: StatCan
Age Group: Indigenous Canadians on- and off-reserve, ages 1 older
Frequency and dates: Every 5 years since 1991
Most recent cycle: 2022
Purpose: A survey of a sample of First Nations people living off reserve, Métis and Inuit in Canada to provide data on the social and economic conditions, including educational experiences and activities, physical and mental health, and socio-economic conditions.
General Social Survey (GSS)
Administrators: StatCan
Age Group: Age 15 and older
Frequency and dates: Every 5 years since 1988 in some form
Most recent cycle: 2019
Purpose: Survey of a sample of Canadians on different aspects of safety (e.g., on a recent survey, cyber bullying and cyber stalking victimization).
Canadian Internet Use Survey (CIUS)
Administrators: StatCan
Age Group: Age 15 and older
Frequency and dates: Every two years since 2005 (previously HIUS from 1997 to 2003)
Most recent cycle: 2022
Purpose: A survey of Canadians to learn about their digital skills and internet and technology usage and habits, linked to demographic information such as age, location, and household composition.
Parachute: Pan-Canadian educator survey series
Administrators: Canadian Teachers’ Federation
Age Group: K-12
Frequency and dates: Recurring at unclear intervals since 2024
Most recent cycle: 2025
Purpose: A survey of elementary and secondary teachers across Canada to assess their working conditions, physical and mental health, and factors contributing to teacher attrition.
Provincial Approach to Student Information (PASI)
Administrators: Alberta Government
Age Group: K-12
Frequency and dates: Every year (earliest available 2015)
Purpose: A repository of student information that is available online in real time shared between Education Alberta, school authorities, schools, parents, and students.
(Alberta) Provincial Achievement Test (PAT)
Administrators: Alberta Government
Age Group: Grades 6 and 9
Frequency and dates: Every year (earliest available 2019)
Purpose: Province-wide standardized student assessments in the areas of literacy, numeracy, science and social science in Grades 6 and 9.
Alberta Education Assurance (AEA) Survey
Administrators: Alberta Government
Age Group: Grades 4, 7, 10
Frequency and dates: Every year
Purpose: Survey of students, teachers and parents to gather important information on what is working well and where there is room for improvement in Alberta public schools including learning engagement, safe and accepting schools, parental involvement, and citizenship education.
(Alberta) Class size data
Administrators: Government of Alberta
Age Group: K-12
Frequency and dates: Every year (2004 to 2019 available)
Purpose: All secondary school class sizes reported at the school and course level from 2004 to 2019.
The COMPASS Study
ON and AB
Administrators: University of Waterloo, Health Canada
Age Group: Grades 9 to 12
Frequency and dates: Since 2012
Purpose: Study (with longitudinal cohort of ~4,500 students) tracking school experiences like bullying and connectedness at school, as well as physical and mental health measures over time. Data about school-level intiatives are also collected from school administrators.
(BC) Headcount
Administrators: British Columbia Government
Age Group: K-12
Frequency and dates: Every year (earliest available 1991)
Purpose: Publicly available headcount and class size data including disaggregated enrolment data by home language, student programs, grade, and school.
Student Learning Survey (SLS)
Administrators: British Columbia Government
Age Group: Grades 4, 7, 10, 12
Frequency and dates: Every year (earliest available 2016)
Purpose: Annual province-wide census of Grade 4, 7, 10 and 12 students, parents and staff to learn about school experience (e.g., feelings of preparedness for the future, mental health, physical health, confidence in the school system) for planning, research and advocacy.
BC Adolescent Health Survey (BC AHS)
Administrators: British Columbia Government, McCreary Centre Society
Age Group: Grades 7-12
Frequency and dates: Every 5 years since 1992
Most recent cycle: 2023
Purpose: The survey gives an evidence base of youth health trends, emerging issues, and risk and protective factors for healthy development through questionnaires about student experience, recreational activities, home life, economic, physical, and mental well-being, and demographic factors.
Youth Development Insturment (YDI)
Administrators: UBC
Age Group: Grades 10-12
Frequency and dates: Every year since 2020
Purpose: An online self-report questionnaire that can collect information about youth development at the population level; the data may be broadly used to better understand the developmental trends, health, and well-being of adolescents. The YDI has five dimensions: physical and mental well-being, social and emotional development, social well-being, learning environment and engagement, and navigating the world..
(Manitoba) Enrolment Report
Administrators: Manitoba Government
Age Group: K-12
Frequency and dates: Every year (earliest available 2000)
Purpose: Public education enrolment by home language, student programs, grade, and school, plus class size information
(Manitoba) Provincial Assessment Program
Administrators: Manitoba Government
Age Group: Grades 3, 4, 7, 8, 10 and 12
Frequency and dates: Every year since 2012
Purpose: Province-wide standardized student assessements administered to students in Grades 3 (and 4, if in French Immersion) as well as Grades 7 and 8 in areas of reading / literacy and mathematics / numeracy.
(Newfoundland and Labrador) Education Statistics
Administrators: Newfoundland Government
Age Group: K-12
Frequency and dates: Every year (easliest available is 1970s for enrollment data)
Purpose:Administrative information about Newfoundland and Labrador’s public schools including number of teachers by gender and certification teahcer salary, and student enrolment by grade.
(New Brunswick) Enrolment Report
Administrators: New Brunswick Government
Age Group: K-12
Frequency and dates: Every year (earliest available is 2010 for some data)
Purpose: Reports about staff and students including number of graduates, number of staff, student-teacher ratios, and student enrolments by grade, academic program, and combined classes.
(NWT) Indigenous language program enrolments
Administrators: Government of Northwest Territories
Age Group: K-12
Frequency and dates: Every year (2017 to 2022 available)
Purpose: NWT Indigenous language program enrolments by grade, community type and education body.
(NWT) Course completion
Administrators: Government of Northwest Territories
Age Group: K-12
Frequency and dates: every year
Purpose: NWT high school core course outcomes by subject, grade, and community type.
(NWT) Attendance rates
Administrators: Government of Northwest Territories
Age Group: K-12
Frequency and dates: Every year (earliest available 2013)
Purpose: Attendance rates by region type (Yellowknife, regional centres, small communities), by grade, and over time.
Nova Scotia Department of Education Statistical Summary
Administrators: Nova Scotia Government
Age Group: K-12
Frequency and dates: Every year (earliest available is 1980 for graduate data)
Purpose: Administrative information about Nova Scotia’s public schools including number of graduates, number of teachers and administrators by board, and student enrolment by grade and program.
(Nova Scotia) Discovering Opportunities Programs
Administrators: Nova Scotia Government
Age Group: Secondary
Frequency and dates: Every year since 2016
Purpose: A list of the secondary schools in Nova Scotia that offer Discovering Opportunities programs (small-class cohort program that provides work-integrated learning opportunities).
(Nova Scotia) Co-op Programs
Administrators: Nova Scotia Government
Age Group: Secondary
Frequency and dates: Every year since 2017
Purpose: A list of the secondary schools in Nova Scotia that offer co-op programs.
(Nova Scotia) SchoolsPlus sites
Administrators: Nova Scotia Government
Age Group: K-12
Frequency and dates: Every year since 2017
Purpose: A list of the schools that are SchoolsPlus sites, serving as a community hub for other government services from departments of Justice, Community Services, Education, and Health and Wellness (depending on the community’s needs).
(Nova Scotia) Skilled Trade Centres
Administrators: Nova Scotia Government
Age Group: Secondary
Frequency and dates: Every year since 2016
Purpose: A list of schools offering skilled trades programming.
Nunavut Public School Data
Administrators: Government of Nunavut
Age Group: K-12
Frequency and dates: Every year (only 2001 to 2014 available)
Purpose: Nunavut student enrolment and attendance by grade, by sex, by district, and by region, from 2001 to present.
Ontario School Information System (OnSIS)
Administrators: Ontario Government
Age Group: K-12
Frequency and dates: Every year (earliest available 2017)
Purpose: The main data repository for Ontario’s education-related administrative data. It includes demographic information about students (e.g., date of birth, postal code, birth country, gender) as well as educators (e.g., date of birth, credentials, assignments), and information about students’ academic history (e.g., attendance, report card marks, credits, suspensions, special education status).
The Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey (OSDUHS)
Administrators: CAMH, York Univeristy
Age Group: Grades 7-12
Frequency and dates: Every two years since 1977
Most recent cycle (if applicable): 2023
Purpose: Tracks substance use and mental and physical health of Ontario students in Grades 7-12 over time. Longest running Canadian substance use survey.
(Ontario) Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO)
Administrators: Ontario Government
Age Group: Grades 3, 6, 9, 10
Frequency and dates: Every year since 1997
Purpose: Province-wide standardized student assessments of reading, writing and literacy (Grades 3, 6 and 10) and mathematics (Grades 3, 6, and 9).
Ontario Marginalization Index (ON-Marg)
Administrators: Public Health Ontario, St. Michael’s Hospital
Age Group: Neighbourhoods
Frequency and dates: Updated with new Census data, first developed in 2001
Most recent cycle: 2021
Purpose: An index of marginalization based on multiple demographic indicators organized into four dimensions: households and dwellings, material resources, age and labour force, and racialized and newcomer populations.
Annual Ontario School Survey
Administrators: People for Education
Age Group: K-12
Frequency and dates: Annually since 1998 to 2024
Most recent cycle: 2024
Purpose: A voluntary survey of the resources and programming offered in publicly funded elementary and secondary schools in Ontario, tracked over time and used to produce an annual report until 2024.
The COMPASS Study
ON and AB
Administrators: University of Waterloo, Health Canada
Age Group: Grades 9 to 12
Frequency and dates: Since 2012
Purpose: Study (with longitudinal cohort of ~4,500 students) tracking school experiences like bullying and connectedness at school, as well as physical and mental health measures over time. Data about school-level intiatives are also collected from school administrators.
PEI Annual Report
Administrators: Prince Edward Island Government
Age Group: K-12
Frequency and dates: Every year (easliest available is 2010)
Purpose: Annual report about PEI’s schools including updates to programming, number of staff and student enrolment by grade.
(Québec) Niveau préscolaire, primaire et secondaire (Élève-PPS)
Administrators: Québec Government
Age Group: PreK-11
Frequency and dates: Every year (in some cases beginning in 1979)
Purpose: Administrative information about children’s demographics, attendance, academic outcomes and diplomas.
(Québec) Tableau de bord de l'éducation
Administrators: Québec Government
Age Group: PreK-11
Frequency and dates: Updates released every year (some data available back to 2013)
Purpose: An interactive dashboard that presents the main indicators and statistics by district / school (depending on variables) for pre-school, primary and secondary education, including student demographics, school staff counts, and diplomas granted.
Québec Survey on the Preschool Path of Kindergarten Students
Administrators: Québec Government
Age Group: Kindergarten
Frequency and dates: Since 2016
Purpose: Parent questionnaire about children’s educational activities in early life, parent views of school, and children’s health (including screen time and physical activity) linked to sociodemographic factors.
Growing Up in Québec study
Administrators: Québec Government
Age Group: Birth to adulthood
Frequency and dates: Since 1998 (new cohort born in 2020)
Purpose: Longitudinal study based on parent questionnaires (and likely student questionnaires in the future) that link health and development information and educational experiences and demographic factors.
(Québec) Indices de défavorisation
Administrators: Québec Government
Age Group: K-11
Frequency and dates: Every year since the late 1990s
Purpose: A socio-economic environment index based on parental education, employment and income, and percentage of children in poverty.
Location of educational institutions in the school network in Québec
Administrators: Québec Government and StatCan
Age Group: PreK-12
Frequency and dates: Regularly updated
Purpose: Provides the location of all public, private and governmental schools for pre-primary, primary, secondary, vocational training, and adult education in Québec.
Québec Survey of Child Development in Kindergarten (QSCDK)
Administrators: Québec Government
Age Group: K-11
Most recent cycle: 2022
Frequency and dates: Every five years (first in 2012)
Purpose: The Québec government administers the Early Development Instrument (EDI) under this study name to all its 5-year-olds every 5 years.
Saskatchewan Student Assessment Program
Administrators: Saskatchewan Government
Age Group: Grades 4, 5, 7, 9, 10
Frequency and dates: Every year beginning in 2025
Purpose: New (launched in 2025) province-wide standardized student assessments administered to students in Grades 4, 7 and 10 in English Language Arts, and to students in Grades 5 and 9 in Mathematics.
(Saskatchewan) School enrolments
Administrators: Saskatchewan Government
Age Group: K-12
Frequency and dates: Every year (earliest available 2020)
Purpose: Annual reporting of enrolment by grade across the province.
(Saskatchwan) Secondary Level Statistics
Administrators: Saskatchewan Government
Age Group: K-12
Frequency and dates: Every year (earliest available 2014)
Purpose: Annual reporting of grade distribution by course, credit attainment, and graduation rates for secondary students across the province, overall.
(Yukon) Student enrolment report
Administrators: Yukon Government
Age Group: K-12
Frequency and dates: Every month (earliest 2008)
Purpose: Monthly reports of student enrolment by school.
Yukon Wide Student Data Report
Administrators: Yukon Government
Age Group: K-12
Frequency and dates: Every year (earliest available 2017)
Purpose: An annual roll-up of educational data and indicators from across the Yukon, including achievement, graduation, and attendance information.
How Are We Doing? Yukon First Nations Report
Administrators: Yukon Government
Age Group: K-12
Frequency and dates: Every year (earliest available 2017)
Purpose: A key resource for understanding the educational performance of Yukon First Nation students in the Yukon’s public school system – companion to the Yukon Wide Student Data Report that focuses on First Nations students across the same indicators.
Last updated June 23, 2025
Are there other sources of Canadian data that we are missing here? Please let us know, contact [email protected].