INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS & EDUCATION GUIDE
Education Options Independent School Directory
Should You Redshirt Your Child? Independent Schools & Education Guide
1
& Independent School Directory Independent Schools Education Guide
LOCATION
GRADES
PHONE
WEBSITE
Alexander Academy
Vancouver
9-12
604-687-8832
alexanderacademy.ca
Blessed Sacrament School
Vancouver
K-7
604-876-7211
ess.vancouver.bc.ca
Canada Royal Arts High School
Vancouver
8-12
604-354-1194
ciraschool.com
Century High School
Vancouver
10-12
604-730-8138
centuryhighschool.ca
Claren Academy
Vancouver
K-7
604-428-6694
clarenacademy.org
Columbia Academy
Vancouver
9-12
778-379-6811
columbiaacademy.ca
Explore academic excellence at Columbia Academy, a distinguished K-12 private school in downtown Vancouver. Our mission: guiding students to top-tier universities.
Columbia College
Vancouver
10-12
604-683-8360
columbiacollege.ca
Corpus Christi School
Vancouver
K-7
604-321-1117
cchristi.ca
Crofton House
Vancouver
K-12
604-263-3255
croftonhouse.ca
Eaton Arrowsmith School
Vancouver
4-10
604-264-8327
eatonarrowsmith.com
Franklin School
Vancouver
8-12
604-876-8812
franklinschool.ca
Fraser Academy
Vancouver
2-12
604-736-5575
fraseracademy.ca
Hongde Elementary
Vancouver
K-5
604-416-0386
hongdeschool.ca
Immaculate Conception School
Vancouver
K-7
604-224-5012
cisva.bc.ca
Johnathan Academy
Vancouver
8-12
604-971-6888
johnathana.ca
King David High School
Vancouver
8-12
604-263-9700
kdhs.org
LaSalle College Vancouver High School
Vancouver
10-12
604-355-1626
lasallecollegevancouver.com
Little Flower Academy
Vancouver
8-12
604-738-9016
lfabc.org
Lowell High School
Vancouver
10-12
604-336-0456
lowellhighschool.ca
Madrona School
Vancouver
K-9
604-499-7303
madronaschool.com
Notre Dame Regional Secondary
Vancouver
8-12
604-255-5454
ndrs.org
Our Lady of Perpetual Help
Vancouver
K-7
604-228-8811
olphbc.ca
Our Lady of Sorrows
Vancouver
K-7
604-253-2434
cisva.bc.ca
Pacific Spirit School
Vancouver
K-10
604-222-1900
pacificspiritschool.org
Pattison High School
Vancouver
10-12
604-608-8788
pattisonhighschool.ca
Pear Tree Elementary
Vancouver
1-7
604-355-2155
peartree.school
Qawsain Knowledge House
Vancouver
K-9
604-783-9011
qawsain.ca
Royal Canadian College
Vancouver
10-12
604-738-2221
royalcanadiancollege.com
St Andrew’s
Vancouver
K-7
604-325-6317
cisva.bc.ca
St Anthony of Padua
Vancouver
K-7
604-261-4043
sapadua.ca
St Augustine’s
Vancouver
K-7
604-731-8024
cisva.bc.ca
St Francis of Assisi
Vancouver
K-7
604-253-7311
sfaschool.ca
St Francis Xavier
Vancouver
K-7
604-254-2714
sfxschool.ca
St George’s School
Vancouver
K-12
604-221-3608
stgeorges.bc.ca
St John’s Academy
Vancouver
9-12
604-683-4572
sjavan.ca
St John’s School
Vancouver
K-12
604-732-4434
stjohns.bc.ca
St Joseph’s
Vancouver
K-7
604-872-5715
saintjosephschool.ca
St Jude’s
Vancouver
K-7
604-434-1633
stjude.ca
St Mary’s
Vancouver
K-7
604-437-1312
cisva.bc.ca
St Patrick Regional Secondary
Vancouver
8-12
604-874-6422
stpats.bc.ca
St Patrick’s Elementary
Vancouver
K-7
604-879-4411
spev.ca
Stratford Hall
Vancouver
K-12
604-436-0608
stratfordhall.ca
The Westside School
Vancouver
K-12
604-687-8021
thewestsideschools.ca
Vancouver Christian
Vancouver
K-12
604-435-3113
vancs.org
Vancouver College
Vancouver
K-12
604-833-7769
vancouvercollege.ca
Vancouver Formosa Academy
Vancouver
7-12
604-436-2332
vfa.bc.ca
Vancouver Hebrew Academy
Vancouver
K-9
604-266-1245
vhebrewacademy.com
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Independent Schools & Education Guide
3
Vancouver Talmud Torah Elementary
LOCATION
GRADES
PHONE
WEBSITE
Vancouver
K-7
604-736-7307
talmudtorah.com
VISST
Vancouver
8-9
604-566-7836
visst.ca
West Coast Christian School
Vancouver
K-12
604-255-2990
westcoastchristianschool.ca
West Point Grey Academy
Vancouver
K-12
604-222-8750
wpga.ca
York House School
Vancouver
K-12
604-736-6551
yorkhouse.ca
Deer Lake SDA School
Burnaby
K-12
604-434-5844
deerlakeschool.ca
Fawkes Academy
Burnaby
K-12
604-299-4144
abacentre.ca
Holy Cross Elementary School
Burnaby
K-7
604-299-3530
cisva.bc.ca
John Knox Christian, Elementary Campus
Burnaby
K-6
604-522-1410
johnknoxbc.org
Our Lady of Mercy
Burnaby
K-7
604-526-7121
ourladyofmercy.ca
St Francis de Sales
Burnaby
K-7
604-435-5311
sfdsschool.ca
St Helen’s
Burnaby
K-7
604-299-2234
cisva.bc.ca
St Michaels
Burnaby
K-7
604-526-9768
cisva.bc.ca
St Thomas More Collegiate
Burnaby
8-12
604-521-1801
stmc.bc.ca
Whytecliff Agile Learning Centre
Burnaby
8-12
604-438-4451
walc.ca
Coquitlam College, Brookmere Secondary
Coquitlam
11-12
604-939-6633
coquitlamcollege.com
Greater Heights Learning Academy
Coquitlam
K-12
604-937-3641
ghla.ca
Our Lady of Fatima
Coquitlam
K-7
604-936-4228
fatimaschool.ca
Queen of All Saints Elementary
Coquitlam
K-7
604-931-9071
qasbc.ca
Royal Bridge High School
Coquitlam
12
604-474-3718
royalbridge.ca
Traditional Learning Academy
Coquitlam
K-11
604-931-7265
traditionallearning.com
Delta Christian School
Delta
K-7
604-946-2514
deltachristianschool.org
Immaculate Conception School
Delta
K-7
604-596-6116
cisva.bc.ca
Sacred Heart
Delta
K-7
604-946-2611
shsdelta.org
Southpointe Academy
Delta
K-12
604-948-8826
southpointe.ca
604-566-7836 604-566-7836 www.visst.ca 4
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Independent Schools & Education Guide
5
LOCATION
GRADES
PHONE
WEBSITE
Al-Hidayah School
New Westminster
K-7
604-524-2752
alhidayahschool.ca
John Knox Christian, Secondary Campus
New Westminster
7-12
604-523-1580
johnknoxbc.org
PALS Autism Society (School Program)
New Westminster
1-12
604-251-7257
palsautismschool.ca
Purpose Independent Secondary School
New Westminster
8-12
604-512-6888
purposesociety.org
Urban Academy Junior
New Westminster
K-7
604-524-2211
urbanacademy.ca
Urban Academy Senior
New Westminster
8-12
604-524-2211
urbanacademy.ca
Bodwell High School
North Vancouver
8-12
604-998-1000
bodwell.edu
Brockton Preparatory School
North Vancouver
K-12
604-929-9201
brocktonschool.com
Cousteau L’Ecole Francaise Interna’le
North Vancouver
K-9
604-924-2457
cousteauschool.org
Holy Trinity School
North Vancouver
K-7
604-987-4454
holytrinityschool.ca
Kenneth Gordon
North Vancouver
1-12
604-985-5224
kgms.ca
Lions Gate Christian Academy
North Vancouver
K-12
604-984-8226
lgca.ca
Saplings Nature School
North Vancouver
K-4
778-838-0335
saplingsoutdoorprogram.ca
St Alcuin College for the Liberal Arts
North Vancouver
K-12
604-360-8656
alcuin.ca
St Edmund’s
North Vancouver
K-7
604-988-7364
stedmunds.ca
St Pius X Elementary School
North Vancouver
K-7
604-929-0345
saintpius.ca
St Thomas Aquinas
North Vancouver
8-12
604-987-4431
aquinas.org
Vancouver Waldorf School
North Vancouver
K-12
604-985-7534
vws.ca
Archbishop Carney Regional Secondary
Port Coquitlam
8-12
604-942-7465
acrss.org
British Columbia Christian Academy
Port Coquitlam
K-12
604-941-8426
bcchristianacademy.ca
Hope Lutheran Christian School
Port Coquitlam
K-8
604-942-5322
hopelcs.ca
Our Lady of the Assumption
Port Coquitlam
K-7
604-942-5522
cisva.bc.ca
Ark Elementary
Richmond
K-4
778-990-3520
noahsarkschool.ca
Az-Zahraa Islamic Academy
Richmond
K-9
604-274-7861
azia.ca
BC Muslim School
Richmond
K-7
604-270-2511
bcmaschools.ca
Canada Star Secondary School
Richmond
8-12
604-285-7766
canstarlearning.com
Choice School for Gifted Children
Richmond
K-8
604-273-2418
choiceschool.org
City Vancouver Academy
Richmond
10-12
604-278-6811
cityvanacademy.ca
Cornerstone Christian Academy
Richmond
K-7
604-303-9181
cebccanada.com
Fawkes Academy (DL)
Richmond
1-12
604-261-8782
abacentre.ca
Maple Hill School
Richmond
9-12
604-285-9665
maplehilledu.com
Maple Leaf School, KPU
Richmond
10-12
604-599-2639
mapleleafedu.com
Pythagoras Academy
Richmond
K-8
604-370-0199
pythagorasacademy.ca
Richmond Christian School
Richmond
K-12
604-272-8238
myrcs.ca
Richmond Jewish Day School
Richmond
K-7
604-275-3393
rjds.ca
Rothewood Academy
Richmond
JK
604-279-1818
rothewood.com
St Joseph the Worker
Richmond
K-7
604-277-1115
stjosephtheworker.ca
St Paul School
Richmond
K-7
604-277-4487
stpaulschool.ca
Windsor Hall
Richmond
6-8
604-285-7766
canstarlearning.com
Al-Mustafa School
Surrey
K-2
604-900-2773
amschool.ca
Bibleway Christian Academy
Surrey
K-12
604-576-8188
biblewayacademy.org
Cloverdale Catholic School
Surrey
K-7
604-773-9743
cisva.bc.ca
Diamond School
Surrey
K-12
604-576-1146
diamondschool.ca
Fraser Valley School
Surrey
K-8
604-427-2282
fves.bc.ca
G.A.D. Elementary School
Surrey
K-9
604-595-0888
gadschool.com
Glarea Elevated Learning
Surrey
K-7
604-372-3725
glareaschool.com
Gobind Sarvar School
Surrey
K-11
604-930-2122
gobindsarvar.ca
Holy Cross Regional High School
Surrey
8-12
604-581-3023
holycross.bc.ca
Honour Secondary School
Surrey
8-12
604-992-3982
pcrs.ca
iLearn Secondary School Society
Surrey
8-12
604-590-5504
ilearnhighschool.com
Iqra School
Surrey
K-7
604-583-7530
iqraschool.com
6
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At Rothewood Academy our passion and belief is to help the individual child embrace their inquisitiveness and creativity through play based and natural learning environments.
LOCATION
GRADES
PHONE
WEBSITE
Khalsa School Newton
Surrey
K-7
604-591-2248
khalsaschool.ca
Khalsa School Old Yale Road
Surrey
K-7
604-951-2333
khalsaschool.ca
Khalsa Secondary School
Surrey
8-12
604-585-8200
khalsaschool.ca
Newbridge Academy
Surrey
K-7
778-291-0110
newbridge-academy.ca
Our Lady of Good Counsel
Surrey
K-7
604-581-3154
olgcschool.ca
Pacific Academy
Surrey
K-12
604-581-5353
pacificacademy.net
Regent Christian Academy
Surrey
K-12
604-599-8171
regent.bc.ca
Rothewood Academy
Surrey
JK
604-279-1818
rothewood.com
Sikh Academy
Surrey
K-7
604-599-3828
sikhacademy.ca
Southridge School
Surrey
K-12
604-535-5056
southridge.ca
St Bernadette
Surrey
K-7
604-596-1101
cisva.bc.ca
St Matthew’s Elementary
Surrey
K-7
604-589-7545
stmatthewselementary.ca
Star of the Sea
Surrey
K-7
604-531-6316
sosschool.ca
Surrey Christian School
Surrey
K-12
604-498-3233
surreychristian.com
Surrey Muslim School
Surrey
K-9
604-599-6608
bcmaschools.ca
Traditional Learning Academy Online
Surrey
K-12
604-575-8596
schoolathome.ca
White Rock Christian Academy
Surrey
K-12
604-531-9186
wrca.ca
St Michaels University School
Victoria
K-12
250-592-2411
smus.ca
Collingwood School
West Vancouver
K-12
604-925-3331
collingwood.org
Mulgrave School
West Vancouver
K-12
604-922-3223
mulgrave.com
St Anthony’s
West Vancouver
K-7
604-922-0011
saswv.ca
Rothewood Academy
White Rock
JK
604-279-1818
rothewood.com
White Rock
8-12
604-560-8210
sjp2academy.com
At Rothewood Academy our passion and belief is to help the individual child embrace their inquisitiveness and creativity through play based and natural learning environments.
At Rothewood Academy our passion and belief is to help the individual child embrace their inquisitiveness and creativity through play based and natural learning environments.
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Independent Schools & Education Guide
7
&
Independent Schools Education Guide
Education Options for Your Child
I
n the province of British Columbia, all kids between the ages of 6 and 16 (approximately grades 1 through 10) must attend school in some form. And all schooling must follow the curriculum set out by the BC government. Everyone knows about the traditional public-school method, and this is the route most kids take, but it’s always beneficial to learn about all your options.
Public School
This is the traditional type of schooling that most kids in the province attend. Public school is available from kindergarten right through to grade 12 and is free for any child to attend as it is government funded. Most neighbourhoods will have at least one public school for all levels of schooling.
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Private School
There are several different types of private schools available throughout the province, all with different focuses. Private schools typically receive little to no government funding, so parents must pay for their children to attend. Just a few of the many private school options are religious schools, Montessori Schools, boarding schools, and singlegender schools. A lot of parents feel these types of school fit with their values more than other types of schooling. Some private schools are elementary only, high school only, or offer all grades.
Distance Education
Distance Education is offered through most school districts for little to no cost as it is typically part of the public school system.
Students are given curriculum and potentially some in-person or online education from teachers, however, they are expected to go through the materials and learn it themselves. Support is available via online chats or email, and exams are typically completed in a central location or online via a supervisor. Distance education is offered for all levels of schooling, but it tends to be more popular with the middle or higher grades.
Homeschooling
Homeschooling is an option that has become a lot more popular in the last decade or so. Homeschooling means that you are teaching your children at home, using your own methods and materials, as long as the BC curriculum is followed. Some parents join up and teach all their children together,
while others prefer one-on-one styles with their own children. You will now find homeschool meetup groups, swim times, and other options in most neighbourhoods as this type of schooling grows in popularity. Homeschoolers typically must register with their local public school and can gain access to curriculum and possible funding to purchase teaching materials.
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Nature and Forest-Based Schools
This is another type of schooling that has become a lot more popular in the last few years. Many cities now offer at least one nature school option for their community members. The curriculum is taught all or at least mostly outdoors, using a hands-on nature based approach. Nature schools receive little to no government funding, so the parents must pay for this type of schooling, however, many are co-op based and have lower fees if the parents are involved in the teaching process. The goal of most nature and forest schools is to give students plenty of time to connect with nature, explore their creativity, and create meaningful connections with their communities. Nature-based preschools seem to be the most popular in most cities, however, you’ll find some schools that are elementary-based, or some that offer all levels of schooling.
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Specialty Education
Some children with physical or learning limitations may benefit from specialty education programs offered in the community. Depending on the school district, some of these schools may be offered as a public-school option, however, many of these schools will rely on the parents to pay for their child’s education. Specialty education schools are usually offered for all levels of schooling, however, depending on the learner’s needs, school may not be offered full time.
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instagram.com/columbia_academy Independent Schools & Education Guide
9
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Independent Schools Education Guide
Should You Redshirt Your Child?
R
edshirting is the term used when you delay your kindergarten child entry by a year. So, instead of having them enter kindergarten the year they turn five, they enter the year they turn six. In BC, kindergarten is a full-day program, and it can be too much for some young children to handle. Redshirting has become increasingly popular in North America over the past few years, and you may wonder if it’s the right move for your child.
Is Your Child Ready?
This is the main factor for figuring out if you should redshirt your child or not. We know that deciding if your child is ready for kindergarten can be tough as registration is often months before the start date, and as we have all seen, kids can significantly learn and mature in short periods of time. However, if your child is significantly lacking some important skills such as sharing, using words to express
basic needs, the ability to follow simple directions, or do simple things themselves, it may be worth considering giving them another year to practice these skills before they start kindergarten.
How Old Is Your Child?
Since children are allowed to start school the year they turn five, this can mean anyone with a birthday from January right through to December can start. As we know, all kids develop at different rates, however, a child born in the beginning of January will have had longer to develop important skills than a child who is born at the end of December. Many people who redshirt have children born later in the year.
What Does Your Daycare or Preschool Suggest?
If you’re unsure if you should redshirt your child, it may be worth having a conversation with their daycare provider or preschool teacher. They likely see a lot of children the same age and may be able to let you know if they think your child is on track for kindergarten.
What Does Your Elementary School Suggest?
If you’re still struggling with your decision, you may want to talk to the administrators at the elementary school you will be attending. They may have guidelines to consider or allow you to be evaluated by staff to see what they suggest.
Can You Afford It?
Unfortunately, today, with many families having two working parents, paying for another year of daycare or preschool may simply not be an option for you. You may have no choice but to enroll your child in kindergarten the first year they are eligible.
Is Your Child a Boy?
This question may not seem fair, but research shows that boys typically benefit from redshirting more than girls. Boys tend to show slower social development at this age and may have some trouble keeping up when they first start school. It is important to note that boys certainly catch up with the girls within a few short years, no matter when they start.
Don’t Stress Too Much About it!
While there are advantages and disadvantages of redshirting, studies show that even if kids struggle in their first year or two of elementary school due to maturity or skill level, they often catch up and are at the same level as their peers by grades two or three. Make your decision based on what you feel is right for your child and everything should work out fine.
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Independent Schools & Education Guide
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