WestCoast Families Independent Schools & Education Guide 2024

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

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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

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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

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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.

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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.

8

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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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instagram.com/columbia_academy Independent Schools & Education Guide

9

&

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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