Collège des Hauts Sommets: A Unique Haven for Students with Learning Disabilities
The Collège des Hauts Sommets is planning a major relocation and capacity expansion for the 2029-2030 academic year through a municipal partnership. The specialized private secondary institution currently operates in Saint-Tite-des-Caps on the Côte-de-Beaupré, supporting just over 100 students with severe learning and behavioral challenges.
A Specialized Haven on the Côte-de-Beaupré
Inside a High-Need Educational Tier
Operating in a niche educational tier that Director General Marc Charbonneau describes as a “fourth or fifth speed,” the boarding school serves a vulnerable student body. Within this population, 98 percent maintain an intervention plan, 69 percent carry a diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and 46 percent face learning disabilities.
Founded within a former seniors’ residence near route 138 east of Quebec City, the institution functions as a worker cooperative. It combines residential boarding with specialized therapeutic programming such as art therapy and zootherapy.
Philanthropy and the Tuition Model
The financial model relies on an annual tuition fee of approximately $15,000, which includes room and board.
According to Marc Charbonneau, the cost is offset for families in financial need through a strong foundation and philanthropic backing, allowing multiple students to attend without charge. Benoît Letarte, director of the Fondation du Collège des Hauts Sommets, notes that the institution provides constant structural support for adolescents facing hurdles similar to those he encountered as a former drop-out who was later diagnosed with ADHD.
Real Estate Strategy and Village Expansion
Growth plans depend on a real estate transaction involving the sale of the current natural-promontory land to a developer. This transaction will fund the construction of a new facility directly in the heart of the village.
The municipal partnership aims to more than double the school’s total capacity. This will raise the maximum enrollment ceiling to 274 students by the 2029-2030 academic term.
Diversifying Funding Streams for Capital Growth
As the institution prepares for this capital-intensive relocation and expansion phase, administrators are diversifying funding streams. The school organized its very first benefit-show fundraiser for the Fondation du Collège des Hauts Sommets, bringing together technical staging and musical acts during an open-house event overlooking the Saint-Lawrence River.
