Private schools are a well-established aspect of British Columbia's education system. This province provides many strong private schools that offer a wide-range of choice, such as boarding, Montessori, Waldorf, Reggio Emilia, special needs, gifted, preschool, and alternative. Read more
Langley, British Columbia — Whytecliff is a safe, empathetic & supportive place for teens with a diverse range of learning needs / personal challenges. Our positive community & high-growth environment pulls each child up to be their very best! View School Profile.
Grades:
8 to 12 (Coed)
Type:
Progressive
Tuition:
$8,900 to $19,500
Living:
Day/Homestay
Enrollment:
47
Avg. Class:
3 to 6
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Southpointe Academy is one of the few schools in Canada delivering the full IB Continuum Programme from Kindergarten to Grade 12, Moving from AP to the IB Diploma Programme for Grades 11-12 in 2023.
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Independent Kindergarten to Grade 12 boarding and day school in Victoria, BC, Canada focusing on outstanding preparation for life. Find out how a SMUS education can benefit your family.
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GNS is an independent JK-12 International Baccalaureate boarding and day school in Victoria, BC, that challenges and supports each of our students to do their best through truth and courage in learning and in life.
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Stratford Hall takes learning beyond IB with its IDEA Lab, OEE and partner schools, where students strive to develop harmony between the urban and natural world through activities like camping, music, and orienteering.
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We identify the experiences that facilitate education that empowers the individual and fosters a community of collaborative contributors through interdisciplinary, integrated integrated projects.
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HongDe School provides K-Grade 7 students a Chinese (Mandarin) bilingual education in a safe and supportive learning environment that recognizes the individual needs of each student.
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St. Margaret's School is a girl-centred day and boarding school, an IB World School (DP Candidate), and Canada’s first all-girls STEM-X school. Leadership skills are a core focus.
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Brookes Westshore, an IB World School on beautiful Vancouver Island, BC, offers grades 4 to 12 and both day and boarding programmes, with an average class size of 15 students.
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Kenneth Gordon Maplewood School is a centre of excellence in developmentally informed instruction that empowers children with learning disabilities in a passionate, progressive and inspiring learning environment.
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We emphasize critical thinking, as well as innovation, joy, and curiosity.
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Claren Academy is a future-focused independent school located in the heart of Vancouver. We give students the tools to be creative, competent, and happy in their changing world.
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Queen Margaret's School is a gender inclusive independent day/boarding university preparatory school in Duncan, BC that focuses on preparing young trailblazers...no two journeys are the same.
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Pear Tree School’s mission is to provide a complete, inclusive, and stimulating education that nurtures the intellectual, social, emotional, physical, and ethical development of every student.
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Authentic Montessori Preschool. Students completing our 3 year program at The Maria Montessori School test extremely well. We balance academics, exploration and skills guided by your child's natural interests.
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Vancouver's only dedicated STEM high school, VISST offers the full BC curriculum with accelerated & enriched STEM including computer science starting from Grade 8. Students will learn from domain experts and PhDs.
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Our four year program is developed to equip and inspire students to cultivate their humanity. We are distinctly different: a small IB middle school that fosters intellectual engagement, citizenship and leadership.
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We understand the importance of developing a well rounded individual. Our Tech, Art and Sport Expert Streams are integrated with the Academic curriculum to amplify our students’ growth into capable and confident adults.
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Beginning in Grade 8, our unique Shawnigan journey purposefully guides students through a distinct, unparalleled and bold educational experience on our stunning waterfront campus on Canada’s beautiful West Coast.
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By inspiring excellence – the continuous pursuit of personal best - in education and life, Mulgrave strives to equip lifelong learners to thrive in a diverse and interdependent world.
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ArtsCalibre Academy empowers students through creativity, mindfulness and leadership. We offer comprehensive educational programs for Preschool through Grade 12.
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Brockton School is an independent, co-ed, non-denominational, IB World School inspiring the growth of outstanding humans, from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12.
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Unisus empowers global minded citizens and was founded by leaders at the top Independent Schools in BC. The school is rooted in the IB/Innovation/Technology, Entrepreneurship/ Outdoor Education - Offering Day & Boarding.
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With a 40-acre campus, Aspengrove School teaches the International Baccalaureate curriculum through a team of passionate faculty committed to providing an exceptional educational experience for their students.
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Alexander Academy is a private high school offering the BC Dogwood High School Diploma and a unique University Transfer Program in a culturally rich and academically challenging environment.
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Bodwell High School in North Vancouver is a boarding school that enrolls 650 students. Tuition starts at $21,500. We provide Education for a Changing World. The school's motto is "Strength in Diversity."
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With over 120 years of excellence in all-girls’ education, our rigorous academic program is complemented by strong arts, design technology and athletic programs. Financial assistance is available.
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Brentwood is a leading university prep school that brings to life student choice through its bold tripartite program. We are a true boarding school, not merely a school with boarding, and the ocean is our playground.
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Collingwood creates opportunities for our JK to Grade 12 students to excel. Our four strand approach is delivered through a comprehensive educational experience that is collaborative, interdisciplinary and relevant.
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MLWS-KPU offers a truly unique high school experience. Students receive the support and community of small high school classes along with the academic opportunities of learning within world-class university facilities.
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Our practices in teaching and learning are exemplified by our outstanding academic results and are achieved through the active engagement of the head, heart, and hands.
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Our students learn in a progressive, authentic, inspiring, welcoming, nurturing and in a safe, child-centred environment. Our small size, with one class for each grade, gives a sense of being part of a close-knit family.
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Our rigorous, personalized programme and strong teacher-student relationships enable us to cultivate each student's talents, helping them build on strengths and discover the joy of learning.
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For more information about BC's private and independent schools, visit the Our Kids' Vancouver Private School Expo. Here, you can meet administrators and instructors from some of the best private schools from across BC.
This includes schools in Vancouver, including the Greater Vancouver Area (GVA), Lower Mainland, and Tri-Cities (i.e., Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, and Port Moody). It also includes the cities of Victoria, Burnaby, Richmond, Surrey, Kelowna, Delta, Langley, White Rock, Maple Ridge, Summerland, and more.
British Columbia recognizes the distinct advantages of private and independent schools and therefore funds many of them. The provincial government partially funds private schools according to the quality of education that they provide. To receive funding, a school must meet clearly identified criteria, such as employing only provincially certified teachers. More than 85% of BC's private schools receive some provincial funding, thereby increasing their affordability.
The British Columbia Ministry of Education inspects and regulates private schools in the province. All schools in B.C. are accountable to the School Act which identifies their responsibilities and requirements. The Ministry of Education also educates teachers about their classroom duties and boundaries.
British Columbia has many private and independent schools, so you'll have plenty of options to choose from. Below, we describe some of the main types of private and independent schools you’ll find in BC.
Special needs: Many BC schools offer special education programs. This includes schools with dedicated, integrated, and withdrawal special needs classes. BC private schools support students with a wide range of learning, developmental, behavioural, and physical disabilities. This includes dyslexia, ADHD, Asperger’s, autism, Down syndrome, and more.
Alternative: Alternative schools are more student-centred than traditional or mainstream schools. They tend to emphasize individualized learning, decentralized instruction, and experiential learning, among other things. A popular alternative school in BC is Montessori.
Faith-based: Many BC schools have a faith-based orientation. This means their teaching approach is informed by a particular religion, such as Christianity, Catholicism, or Judiasm.
Advanced academics: BC private schools offer several different kinds of advanced study programs. These schools offer high-level academics, where high-achieving students have the opportunity to study subjects in more depth and breadth, and sometimes at a faster pace. Programs offered include dedicated gifted classes, the International Baccalaureate (IB), and Advanced Placement (AP) classes.
Whether you enjoy lively cities, like Vancouver, Victoria, or Kelowna or you prefer living in beautiful natural scenery in British Columbia, you will find a city or town that suits your family's needs and wants. BC is simply a wonderful place to raise a family! Finding the right school is a little more work, but we have resources to help.
You should begin searching for a private school for your child well before your expected time of enrolment (some parents begin looking for a preschool or daycare when their child is still a baby). Such promptness will give you sufficient time to consider a multitude of necessary factors. Here are some considerations:
Many private and independent schools in BC have unique educational philosophies. For instance, there are language-immersion, special needs, Christian, Catholic, AP, and IB schools. You should find out whether those approaches are suited to your child's educational needs.
Will the school help you fund your child's tuition? Private and independent school need not be beyond your financial means, as many institutions allocate funds to scholarships and bursaries. To find out more about paying for private school, you may consult our list of 18 tips for paying private school tuition.
How far is the school from your home? Distance can be important if your children are young or there is limited public transportation. If you want your child to experience a private school's diverse programs (i.e., extracurricular activities), you might need to drive him or her to school at hours that do not fit your schedule.
What do other students and their parents say about the school? Get as much feedback from school parents as possible.
What is the school's reputation? You could contact a Ministry representative to learn about a given school's reputation. Our Kids also tenuously offers BC private school rankings based on verifiable factors like admission rate, cost and foundation date.
To learn more, read our step-by-step choosing guide as well as our guide to private school questions. You can also read our comprehensive schools profiles on OurKids.net.
On this page, we list the top private schools in BC (British Columbia). Click on a link to learn all about a school, including its location, cost, programs, and curriculum.
How many British Columbia private schools are there?
There are 33 British Columbia private schools that are Our Kids trusted members.
How much is tuition at British Columbia private schools?
Tuition fees for British Columbia private schools range from $3,500 to $75,360 per year with an average tuition of $26,296 per year.
What’s the largest school?
Of the British Columbia private schools, the largest is Collingwood School with 1256 students in Grades JK to 12.
Are British Columbia private schools good?
We interviewed both parents and students. You can read reviews about British Columbia private schools on this page.
Is there a private school expo where I can meet with British Columbia private schools?
Yes. You can meet with private schools and education experts at the Our Kids Private School Expos held every year in September and October. These events are designed for both parents and students. Find event details and ticket info here.
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