Campbell River School District
- Why
- First time studying abroad · Nature and sports lovers
- Because
- Two comprehensive high schools · Small scale · Advanced Placement
- Result
- Close monitoring · Clear timeline · Accessible island life
- Benefit
- Strong value · CAD 750 below the median, with AP and homestay
- Cost
- CAD 29,800 (estimated first-year total) · about CAD 2,980 per school month
Why Campbell River School District?
Families who worry about their child getting lost in a big city, and who want a setting where teachers know students by name, often choose smaller districts like this one. Choosing a high school here is simple because there are two comprehensive schools.
- First time studying abroad: Students who want to adjust in a small, calm community.
- Nature and sports lovers: Students who value island life and sports programs.
- Intensive English exposure: Families seeking an environment with few opportunities to speak the student's native language.
Reasons: the concrete features that make Campbell River stand out
The district has hosted international students since 2005. Although it is small, its range of courses and programs is surprisingly broad.
- Two comprehensive high schools: International students are placed at Carihi Secondary or Timberline Secondary, so families choose between two clear options.
- Small scale: With about 5,500 students district-wide, students are easier to know and follow within their school.
- Advanced Placement: AP courses are offered, so students in a small city still have access to university-level content.
- Distinctive elective programs: Teen Flight, Digital Media, Video Production and Fine Arts let students explore aviation, media or art in high school.
- Sports programs: IGNITE Sports Training, Sports Leadership and Elite Athletics allow athletes to continue training at school.
- French Immersion: An intensive French program option lets students develop Canada's second official language.
- Flexible duration: Options include a full year, a single five-month semester, and language and culture experience programs, so families can start with a shorter period.
Cost analysis: what one school year costs
| Item | CAD | As published on CAPS-I |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition, one school year | 15,250 | $15,250 |
| Application fee | 400 | $400 |
| Health insurance | 1,150 | $1,150 per year ($575 for 5 months) |
| Homestay, 10 months at CAD 1,210 | 12,100 | Homestay placement fee: $500 per year; Custodianship/Activity fee: $400 per year ($300 for 5 months); Homestay monthly fee: $1,210 |
| Homestay placement fee | 500 | |
| Custodianship fee | 400 | |
| Estimated first-year total | 29,800 | Tuition, the listed fees, insurance and homestay for one school year. |
Tuition alone works out to about CAD 1,525 per school month over a 10-month year. With homestay and the listed fees, the year comes to about CAD 2,980 per month.
The tuition figure comes from the district's CAPS-I page. We could not confirm it, or the school year it applies to, on the district's own website on 11 October 2026; we request the current fee schedule for you before you apply.
The other items are taken from the district's CAPS-I member page, read on 11 October 2026. Items shown as "see text" could not be read as a single amount and are left out of the total.
How this fee compares
At CAD 15,250, this fee is CAD 750 below the median of CAD 16,000 among 35 public school districts in British Columbia.
Outcome: what it means for the student and family
Studying in a small island city helps students build both language skills and confidence in everyday life. Students under 17 who travel without a parent need a custodian, and the fee schedule lists this service separately. Recognition of the diploma in the student's home country is handled by that country's education authority.
- Close monitoring: The small district structure makes it easier to track a student's academic and social progress.
- Clear timeline: Applications close on November 1 and April 30. The preferred entry points for grades 10-12 are September and February.
- Accessible island life: Campbell River Airport (YBL) and Comox Airport (YQQ) are nearby, and the flight to Vancouver takes 40 minutes.
- A real Canadian town experience: The city has a population of over 45,000, and students take part directly in local life.
Benefit analysis: what the investment buys
The student works toward the BC Certificate of Graduation (Dogwood Diploma) plus Advanced Placement (AP), taught and assessed by certified Canadian teachers.
Classes in English every day, with French options that add a second official language.
A screened homestay family provides a private room, meals and daily support, and the district monitors the placement.
Sports Academies, Sports Medicine and Leadership, Elite Athletes and Aviation 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 29,800 | Estimated first-year total, from the cost analysis above |
| Per school month | CAD 2,980 | Over a 10-month school year |
| Price position | −CAD 750 | vs. median CAD 16,000 · 35 public school districts in British Columbia |
| Specialty programs | 5 | Advanced Placement (AP), Sports Academies, Sports Medicine and Leadership, Elite Athletes and Aviation |
| Living arrangement | 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 | Strong value |
CAD 750 below the median across 35 public school districts in British Columbia, while still offering 5 specialty programs. Families get the full Canadian school experience for less.
Who it suits and what to consider
- Suitable profile: Grade 7-12 students who prefer calm to crowds, are interested in outdoor sports and can be self-reliant.
- Cost: Tuition is CAD 15,250. Added costs are a CAD 400 application fee, a CAD 500 annual placement fee, CAD 1,210 per month for accommodation, CAD 1,150 health insurance, a CAD 525 program fee and a CAD 400 custodianship/activity fee. The current fee should be confirmed with the school before applying.
- Location: Overland travel to Vancouver, including the ferry, takes about four hours. This may be inconvenient for families who often want big-city amenities.
Let us decide together between Carihi and Timberline, and between a full year and a single semester, based on your child's situation. Book a free preliminary consultation with Canadian Edu Centre.