Best schools in Vancouver
Education in Vancouver
The standard of education in Vancouver is generally excellent, with an abundance of choice in both the state and the private sectors. In fact, looking for specific ‘international schools’ is almost unnecessary as the International Baccalaureate is so readily available.
Vancouver is a smorgasbord of schools. They not only offer the Canadian, French or IB curricula but also the option to explore most forms of sport and the arts, so you should be able to find a school pretty much tailored for the individual child.
School intake in Canada is based on the calendar year of birth rather than the academic year. The first day of a new academic year in state schools is always the first Tuesday after Labour Day in September. On that first day the children attend for two hours so the schools can see how many children they have and allocate the teachers accordingly. Although there are no half terms in the state sector, students have a two week break between the winter and summer terms, one spring break week in March and then a long weekend in May before they break up at the end of June. The private sector determines its own term dates, has half terms and offers a more enriched academic environment overall.
Sport is very popular in Vancouver, with ice hockey, soccer, swimming etc running all year. All the clubs in Metro Vancouver (greater Vancouver area) play each other so be ready to drive long distances for matches, whatever your standard and whatever the weather. They also practise late in the evenings on school nights and have matches at weekends.
Choosing a school in Vancouver
Private schools
Private schools are selective and it's advisable to apply early as they are incredibly popular. Fees are generally paid annually before the start of the year and many have hidden costs such as registration fees upon enrolment, a one-off refundable family debenture payment, and extra fees in addition to tuition — so beware of these. Private schools are often chosen by parents for a particular offering or amenity (eg a boarding school, single sex or co-ed), prowess in a particular sport (eg rugby), a school with a long pedigree or with a high number of international students.
State schools
If you are considering sending your child to a state run school, the best place to start your research is the Fraser Institute which ranks all the state schools in Vancouver. These are free to those with either permanent residency status or for those with work permits. The schools are divided into elementary schools and secondary schools. Elementary schools cater for children from kindergarten to grade 7 and secondary are grade 8 to grade 12. Note that the teachers in state schools are all unionised and have lots of professional development days.
Most parents are from a similar demographic, so it bridges the gap for students in the state system. Parents who send their children to the state schools often privately tutor them from grade 10 onwards to ensure they get into their chosen university. Bizarrely, you cannot fail in the state system before grade 10, however in grade 11 and 12 your school reports and attendance are sent to your potential universities, so grades and attendance matter. If you have work outstanding at the end of the academic year, the schools offer the last week to students needing to complete any outstanding work to ensure a pass.
Curriculum
In terms of curricula, you have a choice of either Canadian (leading to the BC Dogwood) or the International Baccalaureate Programmes. Either might include French immersion and in the case of the Canadian curriculum, Advanced Placement courses as well. Parents tend to look at the curriculum offered, the catchment area (places can, quite often, be available outside your catchment area) and the specific needs of the child. Whatever curriculum or concept you choose, all students take the standard eight subjects until they leave school after grade 12. However, those taking the Canadian curriculum and wishing to get credits for university can apply to take AP courses in grade 11 and 12, for some of their subjects.
If you choose French immersion, you only have two entry points without needing assessment - either early French immersion in kindergarten, or late French immersion in grade 6. Some schools offer the International Baccalaureate Primary Years program within a French immersion format. All French immersion schools teach children entirely in French up until grade 8. There are also schools only offering a traditional French education. Once in French immersion, students can then choose a secondary school that offers both French immersion with the Canadian curriculum and AP, or they can swap to the Canadian curriculum taught in English. If the students complete French immersion through to Grade 12 they are awarded a bilingual status.
All the state schools offer different options at different ages, so it's important to understand which schools offer which curriculum, especially at secondary level. Some state secondary schools offer International Baccalaureate Middle Years program only, but not the International Baccalaureate Diploma. Others offer the opposite, so to continue down the IB route fully in the state system, it is likely your child will have to move schools in grade 11. However, the state schooling system is very fluid in Vancouver and children move around a lot.
Specialised academies
On the Northshore, four state schools joined forces to offer academies to any students wishing to focus on a certain sport or robotics. Students attend their own local schools in the morning, then may take the designated bus from their school to the academy of their choice. Depending on popularity, some of these academies are for the elite players, but generally they are open to any pupil who wishes to focus on a certain sport. The academies provide transportation from the schools three times a week taking students enrolled in whichever academy to their relevant destination. Although state schools are free, the academies do charge a monthly fee.
Special education needs in Vancouver
As with any city in Canada, there are specialist schools (mainly private) who cater for children needing that little bit extra, from schools catering to both gifted children as well as dyslexia such as Alcuin College, in Lonsdale, to schools that specialising in dyslexia such as Brockton School in North Vancouver. In the state system children are assessed and provided with a school attendant when necessary, within the school.
Pre-schools, kindergartens and nurseries in Vancouver
Generally speaking, unless choosing to privately educate their children from pre-school, parents choose their closest local neighbourhood pre-school. Those choosing private education choose the school based on the curriculum offered. Once at the school some children remain all the way through from pk to grade 12 and are known as ‘Lifers’.
