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Student Programs

Quality Education

The Southeast Kootenay School District is proud of its academic record. According to government statistics, the Southeast Kootenay School District has the highest high school completion rate of all 60 school districts in British Columbia. This is a good indication of the quality of the programs we provide.

Schools

The Southeast Kootenay School District has 5 high schools, 2 middle schools and 13 elementary schools. Four of these schools have special international education programs that include ESL (English as a Second Language). Mount Baker Secondary School, Parkland Middle School and Highlands Elementary are all located in the City of Cranbrook, and Fernie Secondary School is located in the City of Fernie.

Mount Baker Secondary School,  Cranbrook

Mt. Baker Secondary (grades 10 to 12), has a population of about 1,000 students and is the largest school in the District. It has the broadest selection of courses, including large music and theatre performance programs. Sports include basketball, volleyball, soccer, baseball, golf and rugby.

Fernie Secondary School, Fernie

Fernie Secondary (grades 8 to 12) has a population of about 500 students and is located in the heart of the Canadian Rockies. Starting in February, 2007, the school will offer a special ski and snowboard academy which will operate in cooperation with the world-class Fernie Alpine Resort nearby. Other sports include basketball, volleyball, soccer and golf.

Parkland secondary School, Cranbrook

Parkland Middle School was officially opened in 2003 and is nearly brand new. Its population is about 450 students in grades 7 to 9. In addition to basketball and volleyball, the school offers a special ice hockey academy which provides high quality hockey instruction during the school day.

Highlands Elementary School, Cranbrook

Highlands Elementary (grades K to 6) is one of 7 elementary schools in Cranbrook . The School District may accept international students in elementary school if they are accompanied in Canada by a parent or close relative.

School Year

In British Columbia, the school year runs from early September to late June. The first semester runs from early September to early February and the second semester runs from early February to the end of June. One school year lasts 10 months and one semester lasts 5 months.

Students are encouraged to start their studies in either early September or early February, but other start dates may be considered. Students wishing to study for periods shorter than one semester are welcome.

School Holidays
In addition to the summer holidays from late June to early September, there is a two-week Christmas holiday over Christmas (December 25) and New Years (January 1) and a two-week Spring Break in the middle of March.

Programs and Courses
Students may choose an academic program that leads to graduation with a British Columbia High School Diploma - http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/graduation, or may prefer to enroll in a one year English Language and Canadian Culture program. Whichever program is selected, international students participate in a multitude of cultural, recreational and social activities. In turn, international students are invited to share aspects of their own culture to enrich the experience of their Canadian classmates.

For those requiring language assistance, our English as a Second Language program, helps prepare students for advanced academic studies in fully integrated classes.

The range of available courses includes core academic subjects such as English, social studies, mathematics and all sciences, as well as a wide variety of electives including calculus, information technology, theatre performance, concert band and choir, ice hockey, ski and snowboard, outdoor studies, chef training, drafting and design, business education and many more.

Post-Secondary Education Opportunities

International students graduating from high school in the Southeast Kootenay have the opportunity to continue their studies at the College of the Rockies – http://cotr.bc.ca  in Cranbrook or at other post-secondary institutions in the province such as the University of British Columbia and the University of Victoria. Such institutions regularly accept qualified international students into a variety of programs.

Fees

All fees are in Canadian funds (CDN)

Complimentary Services: There is no extra charge for homestay placement, custodianship services or airport pickup and drop off.

Included Activities: Tuition fees include a wide range of activities that might include a trip to world-famous Banff National Park, ski or snowboard lessons (including equipment), river rafting, horseback riding, boating, ice skating, attending ice hockey games , or visiting hot springs or cultural heritage sites such as Fort Steele Heritage Town.

*ESL Options: To be eligible for the special “no ESL” tuition fee option, students must achieve a SLEP score of at least 52. Ideally, students should take the SLEP Test (Secondary Level English Proficiency Test) before they leave their home country. However, if that is not possible, students must first pay the full tuition rate that includes ESL. When they arrive in Canada, they may take the SLEP Test and, if their score is high enough, the ESL portion of their tuition fees will be refunded to them.

School Year: The school year runs from early September to late June. The first semester runs from early September to early February and the second semester runs from early February to the end of June. One school year last 10 months and one semester lasts 5 months.

Intakes: Students are encouraged to start their studies in either early September or early February, but other start dates may be considered.

Short-Term Study: Students wishing to study for periods shorter than one semester are welcome.