Bodwell High School
- Why
- Families seeking a mild climate · Families wanting full supervision
- Because
- 24/7 boarding supervision · Three-tier academic structure · Transition courses
- Result
- Budget at a glance · Safe independence · Proximity to western universities
- Benefit
- Premium · CAD 7,150 above the median, with IB, AP and boarding with supervised study
- Cost
- CAD 59,500 (headline annual fee with boarding) · about CAD 5,950 per school month
Why Bodwell High School?
The school is an answer for families who want their child to live near Vancouver on the west coast, in a mild climate, but supervised around the clock.
- Families seeking a mild climate: Those who want to avoid harsh winters.
- Families wanting full supervision: Parents who want their child in a structured daily routine in a school residence.
- Families seeking a multinational setting: Those who want a student body without one dominant nationality.
Reasons: features that set Bodwell apart
The features below come from the school's international student and tuition pages. Each is paired with its effect on daily student life.
- 24/7 boarding supervision: Constant supervision in residence, plus evening study periods with academic support, keeps each student's day planned from start to finish.
- Three-tier academic structure: IB MYP in grades 8 and 9, the BC curriculum in grades 10 to 12, and AP in the senior years let students progress within a framework suited to their age.
- Transition courses: Students do not need fluent English on arrival. Language-supported bridge courses let them keep up with BC courses while their English develops.
- Real World Academies: The STEM Academy and the Innovative Media Academy let students deepen their interests through project-based work.
- Boarding options: Full boarding and Sunday-to-Thursday weekday boarding give flexibility to families who live nearby in Vancouver.
- Diversity: Students come from more than 40 countries, so English is naturally the everyday language of communication.
- Two intakes: September and February starts also allow short programs of one term or one year.
Cost analysis: what one school year costs
The annual total with full boarding is CAD 59,500 for 2027-28, of which tuition is CAD 32,300 and boarding CAD 24,000.
| Item | CAD | When |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | 32,300 | listed with the annual fees |
| Boarding | 24,000 | listed with the annual fees |
| Activities | 1,200 | listed with the annual fees |
| IT | 900 | listed with the annual fees |
| Insurance | 1,100 | listed with the annual fees |
| Application | 350 | one-time |
| Damage deposit | 1,200 | one-time |
| Uniform | 1,300 | one-time |
| Guardian declaration | 400 | one-time |
| Headline annual fee with boarding | 59,500 | 2027-28 |
| One-time fees in the first year | 3,250 | added to the first year only |
The headline fee works out to about CAD 5,950 per school month over a 10-month year, accommodation and meals included.
Day, weekday boarding and homestay fees are not stated; books and trips are not included; confirm current figures with the school
Fees were compiled in October 2026 and change every school year; confirm the amount with the school before applying.
How this fee compares
At CAD 59,500, this fee is CAD 7,150 above the median of CAD 52,350 among 12 private schools with boarding included.
Outcome: what it means for the family
The structured boarding routine and the phased academic program let a student enter a new education system in a controlled way. For families, this means:
- Budget at a glance: Tuition is CAD 32,300, boarding CAD 24,000, activities CAD 1,200, technology CAD 900 and insurance CAD 1,100, for an annual total of CAD 59,500.
- Safe independence: The student lives away from home but learns to take responsibility within a supervised setting.
- Proximity to western universities: The Dogwood diploma counts as a provincial diploma when applying to universities in British Columbia.
- Later move to a host family: After two terms in residence, a student may apply to move to a homestay arrangement organized by the school.
Benefit analysis: what the investment buys
The student works toward the BC Certificate of Graduation (Dogwood Diploma) plus International Baccalaureate (IB), Advanced Placement (AP) and STEM / STEAM, taught and assessed by certified Canadian teachers.
Every lesson, club and team runs in English, which turns English into a working language rather than a school subject.
A choice of on-campus boarding or a carefully placed homestay, with staff responsible for the student’s daily routine.
Digital Arts and Media and Fine Arts let the student build a profile beyond grades.
A Canadian transcript, teacher references and extracurricular record that Canadian and international universities review directly.
Cost–benefit at a glance
| Measure | Value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Annual investment | CAD 59,500 | Headline annual fee with boarding, from the cost analysis above |
| Per school month | CAD 5,950 | Over a 10-month school year |
| Price position | +CAD 7,150 | vs. median CAD 52,350 · 12 private schools with boarding included |
| Specialty programs | 5 | International Baccalaureate (IB), Advanced Placement (AP), STEM / STEAM, Digital Arts and Media and Fine Arts |
| Living arrangement | Boarding & homestay | Included in the cost analysis where the school publishes it |
| Language support | Immersion | No separate ESL program in our data; we confirm with the school |
| Value verdict | Premium |
CAD 7,150 above the median across 12 private schools with boarding included. The higher price is worth it when the student will use what it pays for: IB, AP, boarding with supervised study, Digital Arts and Media and Fine Arts.
Who it suits and what to consider
- One-time fees: The application fee is CAD 350, the damage deposit CAD 1,200, uniforms CAD 1,300 and the custodianship declaration CAD 400, all paid separately. Books and trip costs are not included. Families should confirm current fees with the school before applying.
- Cost level: The Vancouver area is one of Canada's more expensive regions, and the total budget is higher than that of many private schools in Ontario.
- Rainy winters: The climate is mild, but winters can bring long stretches of rain.
Practical notes
Applications for the September and February intakes should be prepared several months ahead. The school issues custodianship declarations for international boarding students. Recognition of the Dogwood diploma in the student's home country is assessed by that country's education authority.
Let us plan the application timeline for the September and February intakes and your child's grade placement together. Contact us for a free preliminary consultation.