A Fraser Institute report says the share of kindergarten-to-grade 12 students attending independent schools is increasing nationwide, with B.C. recording the sharpest drop in public-school enrolment over two decades.
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A new report from the Fraser Institute finds that more families across Canada are choosing independent schools for kindergarten through grade 12, contributing to declines in enrolment at government-run public schools in every province over the past two decades.
The report says B.C. has experienced the most pronounced shift away from public schools, where the proportion of students attending independent schools now stands at 13.2 per cent, roughly one in eight students. The findings are framed as part of a broader trend that the report says is occurring nationwide.
The report includes perspectives from Pacific Spirit School (PSS), an independent learning community for elementary and high school students. Co-principal David Darling said the school’s appeal is tied to its smaller size, which he described as helping children feel seen and supported.
Darling said parents who choose the school often want a setting where students feel safe and valued, describing that need in terms of reducing how isolated children can feel in larger environments.
Kyla Kinzel, PSS’s vice-principal, said the school’s approach involves smaller class sizes that, in her view, allow for stronger relationships between teachers and students. She said the school’s model is based on a “child-honouring” philosophy and a scale of about 15 students with more than one teacher.
The report credits an exploration-based learning model for helping students stay curious, and includes examples from parents and students connected to PSS about what they say they value in that environment.
The report also points to possible reasons for the decline in B.C. public-school enrolment. Education study author Paige MacPherson, a senior fellow with the Fraser Institute, said the shift could reflect dissatisfaction with local government-run public schools.
MacPherson said some families appear willing to make financial sacrifices to attend independent schools, attributing that decision to concerns they associate with public schooling such as declining Programme for International Student Assessment results and escalation of violence, according to the report.
The report also includes parents describing academic fit and pace as a factor. One parent, Marcelo Mota, said his son had difficulty with the way material was delivered in another setting and that he learned “something new every day” at PSS, describing the difference in terms of a more individualized learning experience.
Another parent, Kristin Hopkins, said choosing PSS helped her daughter feel safe, and she described earlier efforts to school her at home as demanding. The report attributes her views to the idea that a stable, supportive school environment “is worth everything.”
For students, the report highlights what it says are perceived benefits of the school’s structure. A grade 11 student named Oscar described enjoying small class sizes and one-on-one interaction from teachers, saying his parents chose the school when he was younger and that his needs were supported.
A grade 9 student identified as Yash told the report they enjoy a four-day school schedule, including having Fridays off to pursue other interests. The report also notes that some of the student’s comments link the schedule to reduced stress and less competition.
Overall, the report suggests the movement toward independent schooling is not limited to one region or one type of school experience, but instead reflects a wider shift in how families evaluate safety, learning pace, and classroom scale within the kindergarten-to-grade 12 system.
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