Explore Homestays in Vancouver

Vancouver

Vancouver is a coastal seaport city in Canada, located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. As the most populous city in the province, the 2016 census recorded 631,486 people in the city, up from 603,502 in 2011.

The Greater Vancouver area had a population of 2,463,431 in 2016, making it the third-largest metropolitan area in Canada. Vancouver has the highest population density in Canada with over 5,400 people per square kilometre. With over 250,000 residents, Vancouver is the fourth most densely populated city in North America behind New York City, San Francisco, and Mexico City according to the 2011 census.

In British Columbia, schooling is compulsory up to the age of 16. The education system is divided into an elementary and secondary level. The elementary level covers kindergarten and grades 1 to 7. The secondary level then ranges from grade 8 to grade 12. Often, the secondary level is further subdivided into junior secondary school (grades 8–10) and senior secondary school (grades 11 and 12).

Most Vancouver expats send their kids to the nearest public school. Canadian public schools have scored highly in international student assessments and have a reputation for generally high academic performance.

Public schools may have different profiles. One may put an emphasis on the arts while another has a good reputation for nurturing athletic potential. Also, there are French immersion schools, a public Montessori school, as well as several schools which offer an Early Mandarin Bilingual Program. Once you have decided where to live, you can find more information on the public schools in your area on the local school board’s website.