Why Surrey Schools?
Surrey is chosen by families who have relatives in the area or a parent accompanying the student, or who want to arrange accommodation through a provider of their own choice. The district's broad network of high schools offers a large number of options. Its international program has been running since 2001, and 700 international students study in the district today. Students are admitted at every level from Kindergarten to grade 12, so siblings can study in the same district. Elementary intakes are in September and January.
- Breadth of choice: a program can be chosen from among more than twenty high schools.
- Short program: suitable for families who want to start with a three- or four-month experience.
- Freedom in accommodation: parents can choose the host family through a provider they select themselves.
Reasons: the features that make Surrey strong
In British Columbia more than 85 percent of parents choose public schools, and the schools are well funded by the provincial government. Surrey, known as the City of Parks, is made up of six separate town centres.
- Large network: there are 125 schools, and international students are accepted at 21 high schools. This keeps the variety of academic and elective courses high.
- IB and AP: both programs are offered, so students can choose the advanced pathway that fits their target university.
- Science Academy: the science academy lets students interested in science concentrate on that field.
- ESL support: ESL instruction is provided to international students who need it, so a language gap does not hold back academic progress.
- Dogwood Diploma: graduates receive the same diploma as their local peers.
- Insurance included: annual health insurance is included in the tuition fee and does not need to be budgeted separately.
- Flexible programs: full-year, single-semester, three-month, four-month and graduation programs are offered, along with Online Learning and Academic Summer School options. The duration can be adjusted to need.
Cost analysis: what one school year costs
| Item | CAD | As published on CAPS-I |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition, one school year | 17,500 | $17,500 |
| Application fee | 250 | $250 |
| Health insurance | 0 / included | included in the tuition fees |
| Homestay, full year | see text | The Surrey School District does not provide homestay services – not applicable; Custodianship: not provided by SD36 |
| Total of the published items, without homestay | 17,750 | Homestay is priced by the homestay provider and is not included in this total. |
Tuition alone works out to about CAD 1,750 per school month over a 10-month year. 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 district has also published CAD 17,750 for the 2027–28 school year.
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 17,500, this fee is CAD 1,500 above the median of CAD 16,000 among 35 public school districts in British Columbia.
Outcome: a student who builds their own path among many options
A family that brings its own accommodation solution is offered a wide choice of schools and programs, and the student benefits from the variety of a large system.
- Academic depth: the student can follow an IB, AP or science-focused pathway.
- Mild climate: summers are comfortable and winters are mild. Mountains, the ocean and lakes are close by.
- Sports and arts: there are soccer, basketball, hockey and athletics teams, as well as music and drama clubs.
- Transport: the nearest airport is Vancouver International Airport.
Who it suits and what to consider
- Suitable profile: students who have a reliable accommodation arrangement in Canada and can manage themselves in a large school environment.
- Accommodation and guardianship: the district does not provide homestay or guardianship services and refers families to external providers. The host family's first language must be English. For students under 17 arriving without a parent, a guardian must be arranged separately.
- Calendar and cost: the application deadline is May 31 for the September intake and October 31 for the February intake. Tuition is CAD 17,500 and the application fee is CAD 250. The current fee should be confirmed with the school before applying.
- Apart from the three- to four-month programs, longer-term study requires a Study Permit. IRCC assesses the application, and a PAL is not required for high school. Intakes are in September, and high school students can also start in February. Recognition in the student's home country is handled by that country's education authority.
To plan your choice of high school in Surrey together with an accommodation and guardianship plan, you can request a free preliminary consultation with Canadian Edu Centre.