St. Margaret's School: A Detailed Report with Information, Reviews, and Insights

Pages in this report:

Grades
JK — Gr. 12
Gender
All girls
Class Size
15 — 20 students
Tuition
$19,992 to 74,006/year
Language of instruction
English
Associations
CAIS, ISABC, IB
Enrolment
225 day students, 60 boarding students
Curriculum
Traditional & International Baccalaureate
EBROCHURE
View eBrochure

Next open house
N/A
Application Deadline
Rolling (Day students), Rolling (Boarding students)

School address

1080 Lucas Avenue, Victoria, British Columbia, V8X 3P7 (MAP)

Busing available (View details)

School Busing:

St. Margaret's School offers bus transferring. Service options offered are airport pick-up.

The regions St. Margaret's School offers busing from are:

Victoria

Our Perspective

How we see St. Margaret's School

Our Kids Feature Review

Canada’s first all-girls STEM school.
Oldest continuous independent school on Vancouver Island.
Emphasis on leadership and experiential, interdisciplinary learning.

The 50-page review of St. Margaret's School is part of our series of in-depth accounts of Canada's leading private schools. It provides a unique and objective perspective on the school's academics, programs, culture, and community.

Read our in-depth review

Key insights from our research

Your first step onto the campus of St. Margaret’s School feels like a breath of cool, calming fresh air. The school sits on the southern end of Vancouver Island, a short drive from downtown Victoria, B.C. The campus is shaded by pine trees, next to a small lake, with a playing field, outdoor learning spaces, and wooded trails.
Walking across campus—between the buildings that house the Junior School, dining hall, design labs, science facilities, gymnasium, and more—you’re likely to be struck, as you come around any corner, by a view of ‘Mt. Doug’.
Watching over St. Margaret’s School, in the near-distance, is Mount Douglas—or ‘PKOLS,’ in the Indigenous SENĆOŦEN language. In the valley below, you have St. Margaret’s School. Standing on the campus, it can be hard to believe you’ve barely left the city limits of Victoria.

See all our top insights

School's Perspective

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How St. Margaret's School sees itself

The school administration answered our questions

Who are you, as a school?

"St. Margaret's School (SMS) is a girls-centred, International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme school. At SMS, we are focused on STEM-X education. We provide a personalized learning experience in an environment where students can be daring, gain confidence and discover their passions. Our student-directed programs equip students with the knowledge, attitudes, and courage to thrive in their studies, careers, and life. SMS is an independent day and boarding school located in Victoria, BC, Canada."

SMS is Western Canada's only girl-centred boarding school
SMS was the first girls-school in Canada to integrate a STEM curriculum into daily programs
Visual and performing arts options are woven into our weekly programs
Athletes can pursue both individual and team sports in our indoor and outdoor athletic facilities
Our residences, just steps from school, offer both community with dorm sisters and private spaces
Near lakes, parks and ocean, our location and climate provide outdoor activities throughout the year
SMS offers a bias free, non-denominational education focused on building confident leaders

What do you do differently and uniquely well?

"Since 1908, St. Margaret's has evolved to support the growth, learning and goals of young women. Programs inspire girls to develop confidence, express and pursue their ideas, ask questions in a safe environment, and expand their view of the world and their place in it. This exceptional day and boarding school community values each voice, each culture, and each personal journey. Students flourish where they feel valued and encouraged to become leaders."

To your knowledge, why do families choose your school over others?

"St. Margaret's challenges and overcomes gender biases of the traditional classroom by offering a welcoming, girl-centred culture of self-discovery and achievement. Girls are encouraged to see themselves as leaders.
Our STEM-X programs provide an enhanced curriculum and hands-on learning to serve multiple learning styles.
The natural setting is perfectly suited to indoor and outdoor experiential learning."

What aspect of your school is underappreciated?

"When your classroom includes a 22-acre wooded campus the learning experiences becomes heightened and special. The temperate climate of Vancouver Island allows many year-round activities outdoors at nearby parks, lakes and the ocean.

Our campus is purpose-designed for experiential learning beyond campus walls, with classroom doors leading directly to nature trails, learning gardens and outdoor classroom spaces."

What might families find surprising about your school?

"SMS celebrates the common threads of friendship, growth and exploration that bind us together. We also honour our widely varied cultures, languages, and beliefs. While our name may begin with 'Saint' the school does not offer religious programming. We welcome many faiths, religions, cultural observations and personal identities.

Families comment on the friendly and collegiate atmosphere of our campus where students from Junior Kindergarten to Senior School often spend time together."