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Boarding schools in British Columbia

Your guide to private boarding schools in BC

Here’s OUR KIDS guide to boarding schools in British Columbia. This includes schools in Vancouver, Victoria, Surrey, Burnaby, and Richmond. These schools offer rigorous academic programs from middle through high school, enriched by arts, athletics, outdoor education, and a thriving campus life designed to foster student growth and community.

Tuition for BC boarding schools typically aligns with premium private education, often ranging from the low-$30,000s up to the high-$90,000s per year, depending on grade level, boarding arrangements, and additional offerings. These immersive, well-rounded environments deliver excellent value for families seeking a transformative educational experience in BC.

For a complete guide to boarding in Canada, including information about admissions, please see our introductory guide to boarding schools.

2. How do you choose a boarding school in BC?

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

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.

Upcoming open house events

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.

3. How much is tuition at BC boarding schools?

When exploring the cost of boarding schools in BC, it's important to note that tuition typically aligns with the broader range of private school tuition, with additional charges for housing, meals, and residential support.

To help manage expenses, many British Columbia boarding schools offer financial aid, including needs-based bursaries and merit-based scholarships. These programs aim to ensure that students of diverse backgrounds—regardless of family income—can access and enrich the school community. Larger and more established schools often provide the most generous financial support.

For a detailed overview, explore our guide to financial aid and scholarships. Below is the current tuition and boarding cost range at BC boarding schools:

Institutional metrics

Academics

Special needs support

Course pedagogies

Extracurricular clubs

Extracurricular sports (competitive)

Private and independent schools are a well-established and highly supported part of British Columbia's education landscape. Over 85 percent of B.C.'s private schools receive provincial funding, totaling more than $150 million annually. The BC Ministry of Education inspects and regulates these schools, and all are accountable to the School Act, which outlines their core responsibilities and compliance requirements.

British Columbia also supports private schooling through various tax incentives. For example, part of the tuition paid to faith-based institutions may qualify as a charitable donation, making families eligible for a tax credit.

What are the graduation requirements for private boarding schools in B.C.?

High school graduation requirements in British Columbia are set by the provincial Ministry of Education. To earn a high school diploma—referred to as the Dogwood Diploma—students must complete a total of 80 credits. Each credit corresponds to 30 hours of in-class instruction.

Graduation requirements include:

• 48 credits from required courses
• A minimum of 28 elective credits
• 4 credits for Graduation Transitions

The Graduation Transitions component is designed to help students prepare for life after high school. It includes:

• 150 minutes per week of moderate to vigorous physical activity in Grades 10, 11, and 12
• 30 hours of work experience and/or community service
• Completion and presentation of a personal transition plan outlining post-secondary and career goals

Regardless of when a student begins their program, they must meet all graduation requirements and demonstrate proficiency in one of Canada’s two official languages to receive the Dogwood Diploma. In some cases, students may be awarded the Evergreen Certificate, which recognizes high school completion but is not equivalent to the Dogwood Diploma.