Every June, families across Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique wait for one announcement: the Ministry of Education's release of Caribbean Primary Exit Assessment results and secondary school assignments. For many households it is the most emotional point in a child's schooling, because secondary schools carry strong reputations, long histories and loyal alumni, and the school a child attends shapes friendships, travel and sometimes opportunities for years.
This guide explains how placement works, what parents can influence, how transfers are requested, and how to weigh a school's reputation against practical factors such as distance and fit. It also lists secondary schools by area as a starting point. Procedures are set by the Ministry each year and published with the results, so read that year's notice carefully.
How placement works
Placement is based mainly on the Caribbean Primary Exit Assessment, which combines continuous assessment in Grades 5 and 6 with an external component developed by the Caribbean Examinations Council. Under the Universal Secondary Education policy, children who complete primary school are assigned a secondary school place; in recent years the Ministry has reported placing almost the entire cohort, typically somewhere above 1,500 students across the state.
Parents indicate preferred schools through the primary school during Grade 6. Assignments then take into account results, preferences, school capacity and, in practice, where the child lives, so that students are not routinely sent across the island. High-demand schools in St George's fill with the highest scorers who chose them, while many children are placed in schools in or near their own parish.
Results are usually released in June with a summary report and transfer procedures. The new school year starts in early September, and schools hold orientation sessions for incoming Form 1 students over the summer.
Parents of children with special educational needs, medical conditions or disabilities should tell the primary school and the Ministry well before results are released, so that placement can take account of accessibility, support staff and travel. Supporting documents from doctors or educational psychologists help.
Secondary schools by area
This is not a complete or ranked list, but it covers many of the schools families ask about. Confirm current details with each school.
- St George's and the south: Grenada Boys' Secondary School (founded 1885), St Joseph's Convent St George's, Presentation Brothers' College, the Anglican High School, Wesley College, J.W. Fletcher Secondary School, St George's Institute, Boca Secondary School, Beacon High School and Westmorland Secondary School.
- St George's north and the west coast: Happy Hill Secondary School and, in St John, St Rose Modern Secondary School and St John's Christian Secondary School.
- St David: Westerhall Secondary School and St David's Catholic Secondary School.
- St Andrew: Grenville Secondary School, St Joseph's Convent Grenville, St Andrew's Anglican Secondary School and Grenada Christian Academy.
- St Patrick and St Mark: MacDonald College, Mt Rose Seventh-day Adventist Secondary School and St Mark's Secondary School.
- Carriacou: Bishop's College and Hillsborough Secondary School. Students from Petite Martinique generally travel to Carriacou for secondary school.
Weighing a school: what actually matters
Travel time. A daily journey of an hour or more on two route buses each way wears children down and eats into homework and sleep. Proximity is often undervalued when families focus on a famous name.
Subject offering. Schools differ in the CSEC subjects they offer, particularly in sciences, technical and vocational subjects, visual and performing arts and foreign languages. If a child has a clear interest, ask what is available in Forms 4 and 5.
Single-sex or co-educational. Several traditional schools are single-sex, including Grenada Boys' Secondary School, Presentation Brothers' College and the St Joseph's Convent schools, while most others are mixed. Families have strong views either way.
Ethos and pastoral care. Church-run schools carry religious traditions, and schools vary in how they handle discipline, guidance counselling and support for students who struggle. Speak to current parents, not just alumni.
Exam results in context. Schools that receive the highest CPEA scorers will naturally post strong CSEC results. A school that lifts students from modest starting points may be doing the better job.
Activities. Sport, music, cadets, debating and clubs matter for wellbeing, and inter-school competitions are a big part of secondary life.
Safety and supervision. Ask how the school manages arrivals and departures, supervision at break times and contact with parents if a child is absent. For younger Form 1 students travelling alone for the first time, these routines matter a great deal.
If you want a transfer
The Ministry publishes transfer procedures with the results each year. The general pattern is as follows.
- Read the published transfer procedure and deadline as soon as results are out; the window is short.
- Approach the school you want first to ask whether it has places, since transfers depend on space.
- Submit the request in the format and to the office the Ministry specifies, with the child's results and a short explanation, such as distance, health or family circumstances.
- Keep the original placement until a transfer is confirmed in writing; do not withdraw the child first.
- If the transfer is refused, accept the place and review at the end of Form 1, when some schools have vacancies as families move or emigrate.
Preparing a child for Form 1
The jump from primary to secondary school is bigger than many parents expect. Children move from one class teacher to a different teacher for each subject, carry heavier bags, travel further, and meet students from across the parish or island. Those who settle well usually have had a calm summer with some reading, a practice run of the journey and a clear sense of the new routine.
Orientation sessions held by many schools before term are worth attending. They explain the timetable, rules, uniform and expectations, and give children a chance to see the buildings before the first day. Parents should ask how the school supports students who need help with literacy or numeracy, and how to contact form teachers.
In the first term, watch for signs of stress: tiredness from long journeys, worries about new friendships, or homework that piles up. A quick conversation with the form teacher early in the year is easier than trying to fix problems at the end of the first term, when reports arrive and patterns have set in.
Mistakes families make
The first is treating the placement as the end of the story. Many successful professionals in Grenada attended schools that were not first choices, and a motivated student with supportive parents can do well almost anywhere. Spending the summer before Form 1 sulking about the assignment does a child no favours.
The second is buying uniforms and books before confirming the placement and any transfer. Uniforms differ by school, and suppliers are busy in August; wait until the position is final, then shop early.
The third, for families arriving from abroad, is assuming a child can simply enrol in a preferred school. Children coming from overseas are placed through the Ministry and the schools on the basis of age, records and space. Bring school reports, transcripts and any assessment reports, and contact the Ministry months ahead.
A fourth mistake is comparing children. Siblings, cousins and neighbours placed at different schools often lead to unhelpful remarks at family gatherings. Children take these comments to heart; celebrating the effort made in Grades 5 and 6, whatever the result, sets a better tone for the secondary years.
Frequently asked questions
When are CPEA results released in Grenada?
Results and secondary school assignments are usually released by the Ministry of Education in June, along with a summary report and transfer procedures. Primary schools then distribute individual results to parents.
Can parents choose a secondary school in Grenada?
Parents state preferences during Grade 6, and these are considered alongside CPEA results, school capacity and location. A first choice is not guaranteed, particularly for the most popular schools in St George's.
What happens if a child scores below 50 per cent in the CPEA?
Under the Universal Secondary Education policy, children are still placed in a secondary school. Schools and the Ministry may provide additional literacy and numeracy support for students who need it in Form 1.
Where do children from Petite Martinique go to secondary school?
Students from Petite Martinique generally attend secondary school on Carriacou, at Bishop's College or Hillsborough Secondary School, travelling by boat or boarding with relatives during the week.
Can a student change secondary school after Form 1?
Yes, transfers can happen later if the receiving school has space and the Ministry approves. Changes become harder in Forms 4 and 5 because CSEC subject options and School-Based Assessments differ between schools.
