ADMISSIONS

An open house includes a campus tour and meetings with teachers, staff, and students. Hosting open houses is a typical practice among schools.

• Why it matters

  A school visit offers a firsthand look at the environment, culture, and daily life of the school. It provides an opportunity to ask questions, observe interactions, and verify your expectations directly. It's a vital part of an informed choice.

See the deadline distribution for all other schools we cover below.

• Application deadline by enrollment type(s)

  Month	St. John's Academy Shawnigan Lake	Other schools
  	Rolling admissions	Fixed deadline	Rolling admissions
  September	Day and Boarding admissions	0%	90% of all other schools have rolling admissions
  October		Less than 1%
  November		1%
  December		7%
  January		2%
  February		1%
  March		2%
  April		Less than 1%
  May		Less than 1%
  June		Less than 1%
  July		0%
  August		Less than 1%

  Unlock to view how other schools compare.

• Why it matters

  The admissions timeline helps you plan and prepare for key milestones, including school visits, application submission, and acceptance notifications.

See data for other schools below.

• What St. John's Academy Shawnigan Lake says it looks for in students

  We seek students who are curious, engaged, and willing to challenge themselves academically and personally. Successful applicants demonstrate a growth mindset, a strong work ethic, and a genuine desire to learn—not just for grades, but for understanding.
  
  Because we are an IB school, we value students who ask questions, think critically, and approach learning with openness and initiative. We also look for young people who contribute positively to their community: respectful, compassionate, collaborative, and willing to support others.
  
  Adaptability, resilience, and integrity are key traits for success at St. John’s Academy Shawnigan Lake. Students who thrive here are those who embrace new experiences, take responsibility for their learning, and are ready to grow into thoughtful, confident, and caring leaders.

• Why it matters

  A school's acceptance rate gives you an indication of how competitive the admissions process is. Understanding this can help you set expectations and make strategic decisions about where to apply. Please note that the acceptance rates provided here are approximate.

See grade-by-grade admissions requirements at St. John's Academy Shawnigan Lake and how they compare with other schools.

• Breakdown by grade

  Grade	Required by St. John's Academy Shawnigan Lake					% of schools requiring
  	Interview	SSAT	SSAT (out of province)	Entrance exam	Entrance essay
  Gr. 4		-	-	-	-	Interview: 54%, SSAT: 1%, Exam: 22%, Essay: 4%
  Gr. 5		-	-	-	-	Interview: 55%, SSAT: 1%, Exam: 24%, Essay: 5%
  Gr. 6		-	-	-	-	Interview: 59%, SSAT: 2%, Exam: 25%, Essay: 7%
  Gr. 7		-	-	-	-	Interview: 61%, SSAT: 2%, Exam: 27%, Essay: 10%
  Gr. 8		-	-	-	-	Interview: 62%, SSAT: 1%, Exam: 26%, Essay: 10%
  Gr. 9		-	-	-	-	Interview: 48%, SSAT: 1%, Exam: 23%, Essay: 11%
  Gr. 10		-	-	-	-	Interview: 47%, SSAT: 1%, Exam: 19%, Essay: 11%
  Gr. 11		-	-	-	-	Interview: 47%, SSAT: 1%, Exam: 19%, Essay: 12%
  Gr. 12		-	-	-	-	Interview: 42%, SSAT: 1%, Exam: 15%, Essay: 10%

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• What St. John's Academy Shawnigan Lake says about the application process

  Application fee: $300

  Registration fee: N/A

  Deposit: N/A

  
  Description:

  Application Steps:

  1. Submit your application through Open Apply

  2. Pay the $300 application fee.

  3. After the application is complete the following items must be uploaded to their online checklist: documents to upload, must be translated, and of good quality, in PDF or Jpg format:

  • Birth Certificate 
  • Citizenship Document (if applicable) 
  • Student Photo 
  • Report Card 
  • Teacher Reference Form 
  • IEP or Psychoeducational Assessment (required only if applicable) 
  • Custodial Agreement (required only if applicable). If parents do not share parental responsibility, an original and complete order or an executed separation agreement from the BC Supreme Court or BC Provincial Court must be presented to the school to confirm any guardianship, parental responsibilities, parenting time, or custody agreement pertaining to the child. *Please ensure that all pages for the order are included. We are not able to accept partial or incomplete orders. * If there is a court order issued outside of the province of British Columbia, please provide an original and complete document from the issuing jurisdiction, including official translation if applicable.

  4. English Assessment: for any newcomers to Canada and/or international applicants, whose first language is not English, will be required to take our Vital English Assessment, or provide one of the following supplementary English assessments:  

  • IELTS 
  • TOEFL  
  • Duolingo

  5. Parent(s) Legal guardian(s) Proof of Citizenship & Residence:

  • Canadian passport, or citizenship or immigration documents for at least one parent or documented legal guardian, (for international students, custodian is not applicable) 
  • Primary Proof of Residence* 
    • Must be valid at the date the student’s application is submitted
    • Month-to-month tenancy agreements are not accepted without an initial set term (typically one year). 
    • If all utilities are included in the tenancy agreement, you will be required to provide supplemental support documents to confirm your address. 

  If you cannot produce at least one utility bill, you will be required to produce a minimum of three current, supplemental documents, with a parents’/legal guardians’ name showing the residential (service) address.

  Supplemental Documents accepted:

  • ICBC car registration/insurance
  • Credit card statement
  • Bank statement
  • Homeowner or tenant’s insurance documents for the address cited, with at least one of the parents/guardians as the named insured 
  • One of: BC Driver’s Licence, BC ID, or BC Services card

  6. Interview and/or assessment:

  • Grade 4 & 5 applicants: once the checklist items outlined above are complete, our admissions department will contact the applicant’s family to invite the student in for an in-class shadow day and grade level assessment. 
  • Grade 6 to 12 applicants: once the checklist items outlined above are complete, our admissions department will contact the applicant’s family to invite the student in for an interview.

  7. Admissions Decision:

  Following the interview and/or assessment, the Admissions Department will email that parent(s)/legal guardian(s) within two (2) weeks, with one of the following admissions decisions: Offer of enrollment, Wait-pool, or Declined.

  Offer of Enrollment: to confirm a student’s enrollment, families will have 2 weeks from the offer letter sent, in order to pay feeds outlined in the invoice sent with offer.

  Wait-pool: Student who are placed in our wait-pool are due to lack of available space in the grade applied to. Our admissions department will reach out to the applicant if space should become available from the wait-pool offer sent to the end of August.

  If no space becomes available, then our Admissions team will reach out in September to ask if the family would like the application to be held over for potential enrollment the following year.

  Declined: Our Admissions team will outline reasoning for declining an applicant. It may not be that the student is ready to join our school, and in those instances, those that are declined are invited to apply for the following admissions year.

  8. Student Enrolment:

  • Local Day Students: If a student is offered enrolment, a deposit of $2,000 and completion of an Enrolment Contract will be required to secure a student’s space.
  • Boarding Students: Payment in full within 2-weeks.

   

• Why it matters

  Understanding admission requirements is crucial as you assess your fit with a school and the likelihood of acceptance. These requirements often reflect the school's educational priorities.