PRIVATE SCHOOLS VANCOUVER Ivy Global IVY GLOBAL APPLYING TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS 2ND EDITION WHY PRIVATE SCHOOL? Over the past few decades, Canadian fami- MOST SELECTIVE PRIVATE INSIDE THIS GUIDE: lies have been increasingly exploring educa- SCHOOLS IN THE GREATER tion options outside of the public school VANCOUVER AREA AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS 4 VANCOUVER ISLAND system. In 1970, only 2.5% of Canadian students attended private school; in 1998, St. George’s School HOW TO APPLY 8 that number had risen to 6%. Parents are Crofton House School HOW TO PAY 10 increasingly interested in more individual- ized, specialized curriculum options for their Vancouver College THE SSAT 12 children, and the options available to them York House School are becoming increasingly diverse. Collingwood School AP AND IB 14 PROGRAMS Private schools come in a variety of shapes Meadowridge School and sizes— from traditional boarding and ARTS AND 15 Brentwood College School day schools to single-gender schools, Mon- ATHLETICS tessori programs, French Immersion Shawnigan Lake School OUR SERVICES 16 schools, schools with specific religious affili- are often required to write the Secondary ations, and schools catering to Special Needs School Admission Test (SSAT) and submit GVRD PRIVATE 18 students. These schools have the ability to transcripts, reference letters, and personal SCHOOL LISTINGS set their own independent curriculum and to questionnaires. Students are often asked to limit enrolment. With smaller average class come for an interview so the admissions sizes than most public schools, private officers can evaluate personality as well as schools often put a greater emphasis on indi- academic potential. Schools look for not vidualized instruction and programming. only strong grades and test scores, but also passion, commitment, and enthusiasm for Admissions to the most selective private the private school program. schools can be quite competitive. Students ABOUT IVY GLOBAL Ivy Global is a pioneering education consult- With a location in Toronto, we are com- ing and test prep firm committed to helping mitted to maintaining a strong team of in- our clients gain admissions to private schools structors who are picked from the best and US universities. schools. Their high academic achievement and passion for learning enable them to be Our team of consultants is uniquely qualified academic role models for their students. to provide the highest level of expertise in admissions process. Ivy Global PAGE 4 APPLYING TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS PRIVATE SCHOOLS INTRODUCTION A 2013 article from The Globe and Mail states consider single-gender vs. co-ed schools and “ABOUT that there are more than 1,900 private schools the possibility of boarding programs. There are 338,000 across Canada. For parents trying to find the many different types of private schools, from STUDENTS best fit for their children, the sheer number of traditional boarding and day schools to French ATTEND MORE options can be daunting. Immersion schools, Montessori schools, Spe- THAN 1,900 cial Needs schools, and schools with specific PRIVATE Families searching for the best match should religious affiliations. This booklet will intro- SCHOOLS take into account not only the school’s academ- duce families to the various types of private ACROSS ic reputation, but also its type or affiliation, schools available. CANADA” size, tuition, extra-curricular programs, and campus environment. Families may want to PRIVATE VS. INDEPENDENT? The term “private school” is an umbrella term pendent schools in Canada. It was formed for any school that charges tuition fees and is in October 2009, as the result of a merger operated by individuals and groups outside of between the Canadian Educational Stand- “THE TERM ards Institute and the Canadian Association „INDEPENDENT‟ the public education system. Many private CLASSIFIES A schools are for-profit organizations. of Independent Schools. NON-PROFIT PRIVATE The term “independent” classifies a private The Round Square, a worldwide associa- SCHOOL” school that is run as a non-profit organization tion of more than 70 schools in Canada and is often overseen by a board of trustees. In and abroad with a curriculum emphasis on many provinces, independent schools receive a community service and exchange pro- certain amount of public funding and are ac- grams credited either by a government body or an affiliated organization. Accreditation provides a The Canadian Council of Montessori Ad- third-party reference that the school meets ministrators (CCMA), an organization of certain standards. Montessori schools across Canada Some accreditation organizations for independ- The Association of Christian Schools Inter- ent and private schools include: national (ACSI), an accrediting organiza- tion for Christian schools in Canada, the The Association of Boarding Schools US, and abroad (TABS), an organization serving boarding schools in the US, Canada, and abroad The Independent Schools Association of British Columbia (ISABC) and Catholic Canadian Accredited Independent Schools Independent Schools (CIS), two organiza- (CAIS) is a national organization for inde- tions serving independent schools in Brit- ish Columbia Ivy Global PAGE 5 SINGLE-GENDER SCHOOLS Many private schools offer the opportunity for ship roles. Some all-girls schools in the Greater TOP ALL-GIRLS students to learn in a single-gender environ- Vancouver Regional District include Crofton SCHOOLS IN THE ment. All-girls and all-boys schools design their House School, York House School, Queen GVRD curricula to meet the specific learning needs Margaret’s School, and St. Margaret’s School. Crofton House School and different learning styles of growing girls and boys. Students are able to learn in an en- The International Boys’ School Coalition York House School couraging environment without the distraction (IBSC) is an international organization of all- of the opposite sex. boys schools. IBSC advocates programs that cater to the specific developmental needs of The National Coalition of Girls’ Schools boys, who may mature later when compared to (NCGS) is an organization of all-girls schools in their female peers. All-boys schools offer aca- TOP ALL-BOYS Canada, the US, and abroad. NCGS holds its demic curricula tailored to boys’ learning SCHOOLS IN THE member schools to a high standard in develop- styles, often with strong extracurricular, ath- GVRD ing curricula that address the specific learning letic, and leadership opportunities. Some all- styles of girls— which, the organization ar- boys schools in the GVRD include St. George’s St. George’s School gues, may not be well-suited to a traditionally School and Vancouver College. Vancouver College male-based education model. All-girls schools cite their ability to not only boost girls’ interest in subjects such as math and science, but also build confidence in public speaking and leader- BOARDING SCHOOLS Boarding schools are institutions that provide The Association of Boarding Schools (TABS) TOP BOARDING an on-campus residence for faculty and stu- oversees and advocates for nearly 300 boarding SCHOOLS IN THE GVRD & VANCOUVER dents. Often referred to as “prep schools,” schools internationally. According to a 2004 ISLAND these were once exclusive, elite college prepar- survey of more than 2,700 boarding school atory schools for wealthy families. Today, students, many old myths about boarding Bodwell High School there are many very affordable options and a schools no longer hold true. Boarding schools Brentwood College School wide variety of boarding school types— from are no longer homogenous; many have thriving traditional college preparatory schools to Mili- international student populations. Boarding Queen Margaret’s School tary, Special Needs, and International schools. schools are not for “troubled teens” only; 60% Shawnigan Lake School of students enrolled because of the promise of St. George’s School Boarding schools function as educational insti- a better education. tutions 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and thus St. Margaret’s School offer a vibrant array of extra-curricular and St. George’s School and Bodwell High School St. Michaels University School campus activities. Students learn to live away offer a boarding program in Vancouver. Most from home and gain the skills and responsibility of the boarding schools in British Columbia are to assert their own independence. With many located in Vancouver Island. Some schools of- teachers also in residence, after-school tutoring fering boarding programs in and around Van- is easily accessible. Most schools have on- couver Island include Brentwood College, St. campus counsellors to help with personal and Margaret’s School, and St. Michael’s Universi- academic guidance. ty school. Ivy Global PAGE 6 APPLYING TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS FRENCH IMMERSION SCHOOLS SOME FRENCH French language schools offer partial or com- studied from a young age. French immersion IMMERSION SCHOOLS plete French immersion, allowing students to programs additionally broaden students’ cul- IN THE GVRD acquire an understanding of and faculty in the tural perspectives by exposing them to French French language from an early age. In full literature, art, and history. Henry Hudson School French immersion programs, all courses are Jules Quesnel School taught in French and students interact in French immersion programs in the Greater L'École Bilingue School French with their classmates and instructors. Vancouver Regional District are offered Many French immersion schools