More B.C. parents opting for private schools: Report

Advertisement 1 This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Breadcrumb Trail Links HomeNewsLocal News More B.C. parents opting for private schools: Report B.C. has the highest share of students enrolled in independent schools in Canada, says a Fraser Institute study. Author of the article: By Cheryl Chan Published Sep 12, 2026 Last updated 1 hour ago 2 minute read Join the conversation Families are increasingly looking beyond the public school system, suggests a Fraser Institute report looking at student enrolment in Canada. Getty Images/iStockphoto Article content More B.C. parents are choosing private schools over the public school system, with the province having the highest share of students enrolled in independent schools in Canada, according to a new study. Article content The Fraser Institute report, released earlier this week, found that over the past 2½ decades the share of B.C. students attending public schools has fallen from 90.7 per cent of all students to 86.2 per cent — a decline of 4½ per cent, the largest in the country. Article content Article content Article content “Every province has seen a decline in the proportion of students enrolled in the public system from 2000-01 to 2023-24,” said the report, with B.C. and Alberta recording the largest drops. “The general reduction in public school enrolment has been met both with increased enrolment in independent schools and with a larger share of families choosing to home-school their children.” Article content Sunrise Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. Sign Up By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Article content The trend is reflected across the country. Article content In B.C., the proportion of students attending independent schools — which includes elite private schools, faith-based schools and schools serving students with special needs — grew from 8.7 per cent to 13.2 per cent, the highest in Canada. Article content Across Canada, enrolment at independent schools grew as a share of total enrolment, says the Fraser Institute report. PHOTO BY FRASER INSTITUTE Article content Quebec was second at 11.9 per cent followed by Manitoba at 8.7 per cent. Article content In absolute numbers, the number of students enrolled in independent schools in B.C. grew by nearly 54 per cent, reaching about 91,700 students in…