FAQs*: General

We have 41 elementary schools (K to grade 7) and 8 secondary schools (grades 8 to 12), with a total of approximately 24,000 students.

Overall about 5% of our student population are international students.  The percentage is smaller in our elementary program than in our secondary program.  Each school varies as the percentage of international students.  Our international students come from over 34 different countries.

On our application form, students can choose up to 3 different schools.  We try very hard to give the student one of his/her 3 choices.  Placement is at the discretion of the International Education Office and is based on numbers and space availability.

Three secondary schools use the semester system and five secondary schools use the linear system.

A semester school (Alpha, Burnaby Central, Burnaby Mountain and Byrne Creek Secondary School) has 2 semesters:

• September to January and February to June, 4 subjects per semester.

A linear school (Burnaby North, Burnaby South, Cariboo Hill and Moscrop Secondary School) has:

• 8 subjects from September to June.

Yes, but no credit for courses can normally be given from February to June.

In a semester school there are 2 semesters; in a linear school, there are 3 terms.

Due to space restrictions, students usually cannot change their school during the school year. However, they can apply in early February to change schools for the following school year.  A Change of School Request form must be submitted to the International Education (IE) Office.

Students can stay up until they graduate or until they turn 19, whichever comes first.

Yes, if they pass the required courses as laid out by the BC Ministry of Education.

We will try to give as much credit as allowed under the BC Ministry of Education regulations for similar work done in the home country. However, some courses are required to have been delivered by a BC teacher in a BC school.

No, we are unable to accept such students.

No. All Burnaby elementary and secondary school have excellent English for Language Learning (ELL) courses, from the beginner’s level and up.

No. Students will do an English assessment during orientation week.

Yes. Only students who have a valid BC public school English course passing mark are exempt from the English assessment at orientation.

No.  English is assessed during orientation week.  Academic work is assessed during the application process based on the previous 2 years of school.

We are looking for the equivalent of a B- average on academic subjects over the past 2 years of school work.

Five years old (Kindergarten)

Students must be under 18 years of age up until December 31 of the year of the school year they are applying for.

Students cannot stay in the high school program after the end of the school year in which they turn 19. Burnaby has an Adult Education Program so older students can complete their graduation program there in the following school year.

Please visit www.studyinburnaby.ca/resources/fees/ fore more information on school fees.

No, not for the K-12 program.

If the natural parent(s) is/are not “ordinarily resident” in Burnaby then yes, you will have to pay fees.

It is mandatory all international students be on the medical insurance plans arranged by the IE Program.

The BC Ministry of Health is now requiring vaccination reports from all BC school children.

The vaccination record is a mandatory form on our application form.  If your child has not had any vaccinations, please prepare a letter from the natural parent, in English, stating why your child has never received any vaccinations, and upload this on the application in the medical section under Vaccinations.

Currently it is not a requirement for students to be vaccinated.  This is a reporting requirement only so that schools know which students are vulnerable should there be a disease break out.  However, due to the several outbreaks of the measles (Rubella) virus in Canada this past year, we strongly recommend students have this vaccine before arriving in Canada.

International students in Canada in the K-12 sector cannot work while in Canada.

All secondary schools have Science labs for physics, chemistry and biology, computer labs, a library, 2 gymnasiums, a weight training room, a dance studio, a drama theatre, music rooms, art rooms, a cafeteria, and much more. Elementary schools have a gymnasium, a library, a music room, computers, and more.

Most elementary students walk to school accompanied by the parent(s) or an older sibling. Some parents may choose to drive their child(ren) to school. Secondary school students usually take public transit (bus and/or Skytrain- Metro). Burnaby School District does not provide a school bus service as we are in a large urban area with a good public transit system.

No.

It’s useful to have one at home for homework, communicating with family and friends, etc., but students do not need to take a computer to school. Schools provide sufficient computer access for students both in and out of class.

Parents and custodians can request the help of an interpreter for school meetings through the school office, the International Education Office, or, at secondary schools, the school International Student Assistant (ISA).