British Columbia offers a wide variety of highly regarded private and independent high schools. Because private schools offer numerous distinct advantages, such as smaller class sizes, they will prepare your child for the world beyond high school. Read more
Access school reviews, insights, and comparisons through our comprehensive reports below.
These are the leading schools that Our Kids editors have covered most extensively so far, providing detailed insights and thorough analysis of their programs, student life, and more.
"St. George's School in Vancouver offers university-preparatory program to Canadian and International boarding students from Grade 8 to 12. The School's mission: Building Fine Young Men. One Boy at a Time.
—From the school
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"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!
—From the school
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 Shawingan Lake, British Columbia "A close-knit IB school blending flexible pathways with outdoor and hands-on learning. We nurture curiosity, confidence, and critical thinking in a supportive community focused on developing balanced, capable humans." —From the school
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 Victoria, British Columbia "We identify experiences that enhance learning, empowering individuals while fostering a community of collaborative contributors. This is achieved through interdisciplinary projects that are seamlessly integrated." —From the school
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 Mill Bay, British Columbia "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." —From the school
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 New Westminster, British Columbia Rousseau Street/Braid Street "Where students belong, think critically, and act with purpose. Urban Academy blends innovative learning, creativity, and meaningful experiences to shape confident, future-ready leaders." —From the school
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 Surrey, British Columbia 64th Avenue/Fraser Highway "Crescent Heights Academy offers a rigorous academic curriculum that integrates arts, sciences, and athletics, preparing students for success in post-secondary education." —From the school
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 Vancouver, British Columbia Beatty/Robson ""Learn. Serve. Lead." Dedicated to helping hard-working students get accepted into the world's top Universities." —From the school
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 North Vancouver, British Columbia Wellington Dr/Fromme Rd "Cousteau School offers a bilingual French-English education with a dual curriculum: the French Ministry of Education program and the BC curriculum, fostering academic excellence and global citizenship." —From the school
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 North Vancouver, British Columbia Harbourside Drive/ "A globally oriented university-preparatory day and boarding school combining BC academics, diverse perspectives, and structured pathways that evolve with students from Grades 8–12." —From the school
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 Summerland, British Columbia "UNISUS blends an IB education with personalized learning, Scholar-Athlete Academie, Enrichment Programs & weekend boarding adventures within a supportive, close-knit community; inspiring growth beyond the classroom." —From the school
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 Burnaby, British Columbia Boundary Road/Canada Way "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!" —From the school
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 Victoria, British Columbia "Brookes Westshore is an IB World School on Vancouver Island, BC, offering small class sizes, engaging teachers and a caring community to boarding and day students from grades 4 to 12." —From the school
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 Vancouver, British Columbia West Broadway/Stephens Street "Every subject connects at Pear Tree. Math, science, and writing weave through real-world themes — not isolated lessons. Students graduate with curated portfolios and verified skills, not just grades." —From the school
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 Vancouver, British Columbia Broadway/Granville "Vancouver's only dedicated STEM high school, VISST offers the full BC curriculum with accelerated & enriched STEM. Students will learn from domain experts and PhDs in small classes." —From the school
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 Kelowna, British Columbia Hwy 97/John Hindle Drive "Here, curious, driven students thrive in an environment that balances academic excellence with arts, athletics, and character development. Cutting-edge STEM labs, creative studios, and new Athletics Centre!" —From the school
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 North Vancouver, British Columbia "Brockton is a gender-inclusive IB World School where every student matters, every family matters, community matters, and learning for life matters." —From the school
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 Vancouver, British Columbia West Georgia Street/Robson Street "We aim to create the opportunity for students to achieve their learning goals. In collaborative learning spaces, students explore content, ideas and perspectives to better understand the world around them." —From the school
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 Squamish, British Columbia "Our highly engaging courses foster advanced academic skills in written and oral communication, critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration." —From the school
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In British Columbia, private and independent schools are a popular choice for parents. Approximately 12.1% of the province's student population attend a private or independent school (source: Measuring Choice and Competition in Canadian Education, the Fraser Institute, February 27, 2014).
Some popular schools in BC include boarding, special needs, boys, girls, and faith-based (such as Christian, Jewish, Catholic, and Islamic). BC also has schools featuring an alternative curriculum, such as Montessori, Waldorf, and Reggio Emilia.
Read our guide on questions to ask high schools you're considering.
Many British Columbia private high schools offer enrichment programs including Advanced Placement (AP) International Baccalaureate (IB), and gifted programs. AP refers to courses administered by the College Board. If your child scores a 4/5 or a 5/5 on an AP exam, he or she may receive a university course credit that applies to their university transcript. IB is a comprehensive program that is more challenging than the regular high school curriculum. The IB diploma program requires students to take courses in six subject areas and complete more community service than the province mandates. The schools seek to foster citizens of the world, rather than mere students.
Many private schools exceed the requirements of the provincial curriculum, as they try to make high school as much like university as they possibly can. Many BC private high school listed below have superb track records in university placement.
Extracurricular activities are an important part of learning outside of the classroom. Many universities and employees look for well-rounded students. British Columbia's private and independent secondary schools offer diverse extracurricular options.
High school is a big jump from middle and elementary school. To avoid falling behind, your child might need special assistance outside of the classroom. Private schools in British Columbia are known to have dedicated teachers who will spend extra time with your child to ensure that he or she understands the material.
If British Columbia's government determines that a private school has substantially contributed to the province, it will receive a provincial grant. Schools collect grants according to the number of enrolled students. The province pays full grants for students who are "enrolled for a minimum of 600 hours from July 1 to May 15 of the school year." Schools qualify for partial grants for students who "receive less than 600 hours of instruction."
B.C. also offers special education grants to aid schools in "meeting the expenses associated with adapting or modifying the educational programs for students who qualify for special education grants." BC Education has additional information about independent school funding classifications.
In British Columbia, the Office of the Inspector of Independent schools enforces all aspects of the province's School Act, which establishes every school's duties. Even if a private school is not funded, it is still subject to strict regulations and inspections. However, the more a school is funded, the more requirements it must meet. While independent schools have freedom in their teaching styles, educational philosophies, and curricula, they are still required to meet provincial standards, such as educating students in English language, math, science, social studies, and French. Of course, private schools are very likely to greatly exceed standards set by the province.
Meet with British Columbia's top ranked private schools and the best boarding schools across Canada at the Vancouver Private School Expo in November. Learn about schools in Vancouver, North Vancouver, Victoria, Vancouver Island, Kelowna, Surrey, Duncan, Burnaby, Richmond, Kimberley, and elsewhere. This one-day event is a must for any parent or student considering an alternative education.
How many British Columbia private high schools are there?
There are 19 British Columbia private high schools that are Our Kids trusted members.
How much is tuition at British Columbia private high schools?
Tuition fees for British Columbia private high schools range from $7,290 to $96,300 per year with an average tuition of $28,753 per year.
What’s the largest school?
Of the British Columbia private high schools, the largest is St. George's School with 1202 students in Grades 12 to K.
Are British Columbia private high schools good?
We interviewed both parents and students. You can read reviews about British Columbia private high schools on this page.
Is there a private school expo where I can meet with British Columbia private high 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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