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On this page we cover boarding schools in the province of British Columbia. This includes schools in Vancouver, Victoria, Surrey, Burnaby, and Richmond. For a complete guide to boarding in Canada, including information about admissions, please see our introductory guide.
School Name | Pace | Cost | |
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St. Margaret's School (est. 1908)
Victoria, British Columbia St. Margaret's School (est. 1908) is an independent school in Victoria, BC, offering empowering education for girls from JK to Grade 12. At SMS, girls don't just get equal opportunity; they get every opportunity. View profile |
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$15,980 to $65,125
View profile |
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St. Michaels University School (est. 1906)
Victoria, British Columbia Independent Kindergarten to Grade 12 boarding and day school in Victoria, BC, Canada focusing on university and life preparation. Find out how a SMUS education can benefit your family. View profile |
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$20,090 to $82,770
View profile |
Brookes Westshore (est. 2009)
Victoria, British Columbia Brookes School Canada, an IB World School on beautiful Vancouver Island, offers grades 4 to 12 for both day and boarding students with an average class size of 12 students. View profile |
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$9,500 to $52,550
View profile |
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Shawnigan Lake School (est. 1916)
Shawnigan Lake, British Columbia Shawnigan Lake School is the largest boarding school in Canada. Located in Shawnigan Lake on Vancouver Island, we offer a comprehensive program to 500 young men and women in grades 8-12. View profile |
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$29,780 to $77,850
View profile |
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Bodwell High School (est. 1991)
North Vancouver, British Columbia Bodwell High School in North Vancouver is a boarding school that enrolls 650 students. Tuition starts at $23,500. We provide Education for a Changing World. The school's motto is "Strength in Diversity." View profile |
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$25,250 to $47,725
View profile |
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Brentwood College School (est. 1923)
Mill Bay, British Columbia Brentwood is a truly co-educational, progressive day/boarding school for Grades 8 to 12 located on an oceanfront campus on Vancouver Island, BC. Tuition runs from $30,000 to $78,000. View profile |
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$30,000 to $78,000
View profile |
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UWC Canada (est. 1974)
Victoria, British Columbia The UWC National Committee of Canada and Pearson College UWC represent the United World Colleges in Canada. We are seeking daring young Canadians who aspire to make the world a better place. View profile |
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Varies
View profile |
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Unisus School (est. 2016)
Summerland, British Columbia UNISUS was founded by the leaders of the top Private Schools in BC. Based on IB Education/Innovation/Technology, Entrepreneurship/ Outdoor Education. Boarding, Sports Academies and Global Partnerships/Opportunities. View profile |
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$12,500 to $51,500
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Maple Leaf World Schools - Canada (est. 2017)
Richmond, British Columbia MLWS offers a unique university school model - a high school located on a university campus. We offer university pathway with “Dual acceptance” opportunity, and students share the state-of-the-art university facilities. View profile |
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$22,950 to $38,750
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Queen Margaret's School (est. 1921)
Duncan, British Columbia Queen Margaret's School is a co-ed independent day/boarding university preparatory school in Duncan, BC. View profile |
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$13,000 to $61,750
View profile |
Our boarding school guide has advice specific to finding boarding schools in Canada. For insights that are more general (on how to evaluate school options) we recommend you review our hub on choosing a school. You can also read our guides to questions to ask private schools and questions students get asked at school interviews.
Private school expos are ideal launching pads for your school-finding journey. All expos are held in the fall at a number of centres across Canada. There are three expos hosted in Ontario, one in Toronto, one in Halton-Peel, and one in Ottawa. Expos are also held each fall in Vancouver, Montreal, and Calgary. All are opportunities to speak with administrators from leading boarding schools within the regions in which the expos are held.
Word-of-mouth is another powerful tool in your school-finding arsenal. The Our Kids private school discussion forum allows you to discuss your options and debate topics around gifted education. You can use our community of parents, educational experts, alumni, and schools to help answer your questions and stimulate your thinking.
Attending open houses is obviously a great way to learn more about a school and get a feel for the environment. For some advice on open house visits, go here. For questions to ask that are specific to boarding programs, refer to our main boarding school hub.
Broadly speaking, the cost of boarding reflects the cost private school tuition in general, though with premiums added to cover housing and meals.
Many schools offer financial aid, including scholarships and bursaries. Financial aid is needs-based, and financial aid programs are created as a means of broadening the student base and attracting students, independent of means, who will contribute most to the culture of the school. Generally speaking, the larger and more expensive schools provide the most aid.
You can read more about financial aid and scholarships in our dedicated guide.
Below you'll find the range of costs at British Columbia boarding schools:
Tuition (boarding school) | Students receiving financial aid | Grade eligibility for financial aid | Avg. aid package size (annual) | |
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St. Margaret's School | $55,375 to $65,125 | |||
St. Michaels University School | $54,850 to $71,770 | 20% | K - 12 | $11,685 |
Brookes Westshore | $39,550 to $52,550 | 10% | 7 - 12 | $5,000 |
Shawnigan Lake School | $71,300 | 25% | 8 - 12 | |
Brentwood College School | $47,800 to $66,000 | 27% | 9 - 12 | $19,417 |
UWC Canada | 75% | 12 | $25,000 | |
Unisus School | $43,950 to $51,500 | 30% | 1 - 11 | $3,000 |
Queen Margaret's School | $51,350 to $61,750 | 23% | SK - 12 | $3,000 |
Founding date | Endowment | Admissions rate | Enrollment | Enrollment per grade | |
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St. Margaret's School | 1908 | 65% | 384 | ||
St. Michaels University School | 1906 | $11,200,000 | 1007 | 77 | |
Brookes Westshore | 2009 | 95% | 300 | 43 | |
Shawnigan Lake School | 1916 | $13,500,000 | 60% | 510 | 102 |
Bodwell High School | 1991 | $0 | 60% | 560 | 112 |
Brentwood College School | 1923 | $20,000,000 | 550 | 138 | |
UWC Canada | 1974 | $0 | 25% | 200 | 200 |
Unisus School | 2016 | 70% | 240 | 17 | |
Maple Leaf World Schools - Canada | 2017 | 75% | 121 | 40 | |
Queen Margaret's School | 1921 | 80% | 576 | 36 |
Primary curriculum | Secondary curriculum | Curriculum pace | Academic culture | Average class size | Language immersion | Special needs support | Tech integration |
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St. Margaret's School | Traditional | Standard-enriched | Rigorous | 10 to 20 | No support | Medium integration | ||
St. Michaels University School | Progressive | Standard-enriched | Rigorous | No support | Medium integration | |||
Brookes Westshore | Progressive | International Baccalaureate | Standard-enriched | Rigorous | 12 to 18 | No support | Light integration | |
Shawnigan Lake School | Traditional | Standard-enriched | Rigorous | 17 | Withdrawal Assistance | Heavy integration | ||
Bodwell High School | Progressive | Standard-enriched | Rigorous | 12 to 20 | No support | Medium integration | ||
Brentwood College School | Progressive | Standard-enriched | Rigorous | 16 to 20 | No support | Heavy integration | ||
UWC Canada | Progressive | International Baccalaureate | Standard-enriched | Rigorous | 6 to 16 | Indirect Support | ||
Unisus School | Progressive | International Baccalaureate | Student-paced | Supportive | No support | Heavy integration | ||
Maple Leaf World Schools - Canada | Traditional | Standard-enriched | Supportive | 10 to 20 | Indirect Support | Heavy integration | ||
Queen Margaret's School | Progressive | Standard-enriched | Rigorous | 16 to 22 | No support | Medium integration |
Legend:
St. Margaret's School | ||||||||||||||||||||
St. Michaels University School | ||||||||||||||||||||
Brookes Westshore | ||||||||||||||||||||
Shawnigan Lake School | ||||||||||||||||||||
Bodwell High School | ||||||||||||||||||||
Brentwood College School | ||||||||||||||||||||
UWC Canada | ||||||||||||||||||||
Unisus School | ||||||||||||||||||||
Maple Leaf World Schools - Canada | ||||||||||||||||||||
Queen Margaret's School |
Admission deadline | SSAT required | Interview required | Acceptance rate | Next open house | |
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St. Margaret's School | Day: rolling Boarding: rolling Homestay: rolling | Preschool - 12 | 65% | ||
St. Michaels University School | Day: rolling Boarding: rolling | K - 12 | |||
Brookes Westshore | Day: rolling Boarding: rolling | 6 - 12 | 95% | ||
Shawnigan Lake School | Day: rolling Boarding: rolling Homestay: rolling | 8 - 12 | 60% | ||
Bodwell High School | Day: rolling Boarding: rolling Homestay: rolling | 8 - 12 | 60% | ||
Brentwood College School | Day: rolling Boarding: rolling Homestay: rolling | 9 - 12 | |||
UWC Canada | Boarding: Nov 15, 2017 | 12 | 25% | ||
Unisus School | Day: rolling Boarding: rolling Homestay: rolling | Preschool - 11 | 70% | ||
Maple Leaf World Schools - Canada | Day: rolling Boarding: rolling Homestay: rolling | 10 - 12 | 75% | ||
Queen Margaret's School | Day: rolling Boarding: rolling Homestay: rolling | Preschool - 12 | 80% |
Nursery/Toddler | Preschool | JK | SK | K | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | |
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St. Margaret's School | |||||||||||||||||
St. Michaels University School | |||||||||||||||||
Brookes Westshore | |||||||||||||||||
Shawnigan Lake School | |||||||||||||||||
Bodwell High School | |||||||||||||||||
Brentwood College School | |||||||||||||||||
Unisus School | 90% | 95% | 80% | 80% | 80% | 80% | 80% | 80% | 80% | 70% | 70% | 60% | 25% | ||||
Maple Leaf World Schools - Canada | 75% | ||||||||||||||||
Queen Margaret's School |
Nursery/Toddler | Preschool | JK | SK | K | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | |
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St. Margaret's School | |||||||||||||||||
St. Michaels University School | |||||||||||||||||
Brookes Westshore | |||||||||||||||||
Shawnigan Lake School | |||||||||||||||||
Bodwell High School | |||||||||||||||||
Brentwood College School | |||||||||||||||||
UWC Canada | 25% | ||||||||||||||||
Unisus School | 80% | 70% | 70% | 60% | 25% | ||||||||||||
Maple Leaf World Schools - Canada | 75% | 75% | 75% | ||||||||||||||
Queen Margaret's School |
Math | Science | Literature | Humanities Social Sciences | Foreign Languages | Fine Arts | |
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St. Margaret's School | Equal Balance | Equal Balance | Equal Balance | Equal Balance | Equal Balance | Creative |
St. Michaels University School | Equal Balance | Equal Balance | Equal Balance | Equal Balance | Equal Balance | Equal Balance |
Brookes Westshore | Equal Balance | Equal Balance | Equal Balance | Perennialism | Communicative | Creative |
Shawnigan Lake School | Traditional Math | Equal Balance | Equal Balance | Communicative | ||
Bodwell High School | Equal Balance | Equal Balance | Equal Balance | Equal Balance | Equal Balance | Equal Balance |
Brentwood College School | Traditional Math | Expository | Traditional | Perennialism | Communicative | Creative |
UWC Canada | ||||||
Unisus School | Equal Balance | Inquiry | Equal Balance | Equal Balance | Equal Balance | Creative |
Maple Leaf World Schools - Canada | Equal Balance | Equal Balance | Equal Balance | Equal Balance | Equal Balance | Equal Balance |
Queen Margaret's School | Equal Balance | Equal Balance | Equal Balance | Equal Balance | Communicative | Equal Balance |
Student council | School newspaper | Yearbook | Radio club | Photograph club | Art club |
Choir | Band | Dance club | Yoga club | Drama club | Debate club |
Chess club | Math club | Science club | Robotics club | Computer club | Environmental club | Outdoor club | Community service |
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St. Margaret's School | ||||||||||||||||||||
St. Michaels University School | ||||||||||||||||||||
Brookes Westshore | ||||||||||||||||||||
Shawnigan Lake School | ||||||||||||||||||||
Bodwell High School | ||||||||||||||||||||
Brentwood College School | ||||||||||||||||||||
UWC Canada | ||||||||||||||||||||
Unisus School | ||||||||||||||||||||
Maple Leaf World Schools - Canada | ||||||||||||||||||||
Queen Margaret's School |
Badminton | Baseball | Basketball | Cricket | Equestrian | Football | Golf | Gymnastics | Ice Hockey | Lacrosse | Rowing | Rugby | Soccer | Softball | Squash | Swimming | Tennis | Track and Field | Volleyball | Wrestling |
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St. Margaret's School | ||||||||||||||||||||
St. Michaels University School | ||||||||||||||||||||
Brookes Westshore | ||||||||||||||||||||
Shawnigan Lake School | ||||||||||||||||||||
Bodwell High School | ||||||||||||||||||||
Brentwood College School | ||||||||||||||||||||
UWC Canada | ||||||||||||||||||||
Unisus School | ||||||||||||||||||||
Maple Leaf World Schools - Canada | ||||||||||||||||||||
Queen Margaret's School |
Private and independent schools are a well-established and highly supported aspect of British Columbia's education system. More than 85 percent of B.C.'s private schools receive some provincial funding, totaling in excess of $150 million in provincial funding support each year. The BC ministry of education inspects and regulates private schools, and all schools are accountable to the School Act which identifies their core responsibilities and requirements.
British Columbia supports private schooling through tax incentives. Additionally, a portion of tuition paid to faith-based institutions may be accounted as a charitable donation and eligible for a tax credit.
High school graduation requirements are set by British Columbia's Ministry of Education, not the federal government. In order to earn a high school diploma—named the Dogwood Diploma—students are required to complete 80 credits, where each credit represents 30 hours of in-class instruction. To graduate, a student must ear 48 credits for required courses, a minimum of 28 elective credits. Students are also required to earn 4 credits for Graduation Transitions, a requirement intended to prepare students to make a successful transition to life after graduation.
These are:
Regardless of when students begin their programs, all must fulfill all graduation requirements and demonstrate competence in one of Canada's two official languages in order to earn a graduation diploma. A high school completion certificate, known as the Evergreen Certificate, is granted in some cases, and is not equivalent to the Dogwood Diploma.
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