Why Calgary Board of Education?
Families whose child's English level is not yet settled, but who want them to study in a large, liveable Canadian city, consider this board. Alongside academic courses it offers engaging electives and extracurricular activities. The nearest airport is Calgary International Airport, which makes international travel planning relatively easy. Students are placed in one of eight high schools.
- Language by level: for students who want to start at the level that matches their English.
- Big city: for parents looking for a city with strong health care, infrastructure and cultural amenities.
- Interest in the arts: for young people who want to pursue music, dance, drama or visual arts seriously.
Reasons: the advantages of the Calgary Board of Education
Calgary hosted the 1988 Winter Olympics. The board's international program has been running since 2002, and 350 international students currently study in the system.
- Tiered ESL: ESL programs are offered at different levels according to proficiency, so the student is neither overwhelmed nor held back.
- Full academic access: regular courses such as mathematics, science, social studies and English follow the same path as those taken by Canadian students.
- Advanced Placement: students preparing for university can take advanced-level courses.
- Arts and career courses: Choir, Jazz Band, Dance, Art, Drama, Career and Technology Studies, French and Spanish courses are available.
- Large scale: in a system of 251 schools and 142,000 students, international students are placed in eight high schools, and the variety of clubs is high.
- Supervised homestay: Canada Homestay Network families go through an interview, a home inspection, reference checks and a police record check, and English is spoken at home.
- The city: Calgary receives 2,300 hours of sunshine a year and is the sunniest major city in the country, so daylight is plentiful despite the winter cold.
Cost analysis: what one school year costs
| Item | CAD | As published on CAPS-I |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition, one school year | 13,500 | $13,500 (special dietary needs: an extra $2,000 charged for a full year and $1,000 for one semester) |
| Application fee | 250 | $250 |
| Health insurance | 550 | Health Insurance: $550 (full year); $275 (one semester) |
| Homestay, full year | 17,104 | Homestay fee: $17,104 (full year); $9,604 (one semester). Homestay fees are for information only and should not be considered as a quote. |
| Estimated first-year total | 31,404 | Tuition, the listed fees, insurance and homestay for one school year. |
Tuition alone works out to about CAD 1,350 per school month over a 10-month year. With homestay and the listed fees, the year comes to about CAD 3,140 per month. Flights, pocket money, the study permit fee and biometrics are not included.
The tuition figure for the 2026–27 school year was confirmed on the district's own website on 11 October 2026.
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 13,500, this fee is CAD 1,400 above the median of CAD 12,100 among 17 public school districts in Alberta.
Outcome: a student who builds their language step by step and becomes independent in the city
The student starts at their own language level and over time takes full part in regular courses. The family knows that accommodation and guardianship registration are handled through a single provider.
- Comprehensive accommodation package: the fee covers registration, orientation, guardianship registration, student monitoring and airport pickup.
- Canadian friends: sports and arts clubs make it easier to form friendships.
- Liveable city: Calgary is cited as the third most liveable city in the world on measures of health care, infrastructure, culture and environment.
- Emergency support: the homestay program provides 24/7 emergency access.
Who it suits and what to consider
- Suitable profile: students who can take responsibility for themselves in a large school environment and who need language support.
- Age and cost: the homestay program is for students aged 15 and over. Full-year accommodation is CAD 17,104 and exceeds the tuition fee. The application fee is CAD 250 and health insurance is CAD 550. The current fee should be confirmed with the school before applying.
- Calendar: the application deadline is the last Friday of April for September entry and the last Friday of September for February entry.
- A Study Permit is required for the full year. IRCC decides on the application, and high school students are exempt from the PAL. For students with special dietary needs, a CAD 2,000 surcharge applies to full-year accommodation. February entry is open only to grades 10 to 12. Recognition in the student's home country is handled by that country's education authority.
Let us identify together the right Calgary high school for your child's English level. Book an appointment for a free preliminary consultation with Canadian Edu Centre.