The following facts provide a snapshot of British Columbia’s kindergarten-to-Grade 12 education system as of Sept. 5, 2023.

Enrolment and schools

• As of the 2022-23 school year, there were 1,586 active public schools and 364 active independent schools in British Columbia. Active schools are defined as those where at least one student is enrolled.
• Based on the B.C. resident student head count in public and independent schools in the 2022-23 school year, there were:
  • 577,024 total students in public and 86,201 total students in independent schools;
  • 86,596 students with diverse needs in the province, 3,830 more than the year before;
  • 74,365 Indigenous students in the province, 2,005 fewer than the year before;
  • 76,091 English Language Learning (ELL) students in the province, 6,886 more than the year before;
  • 6,269 students in the francophone school district, Conseil scolaire francophone (SD 093), 146 fewer than the previous year; and
  • 53,356 French immersion students in the province, 438 fewer than the year before.
• The average class size in B.C. public schools in 2022-23 was 22.7 students, which was up by 0.2% compared to 2021-22, but is a decrease from the 23.5 class size average in 2015-16.
• The average class sizes in 2022-23 were:
  • 23 in grades 8 to 12;
  • 24.3 in grades 4 to 7;
  • 20.2 in grades 1 to 3; and
  • 18.3 in kindergarten.

Achievement – Six-year completion rate 2021-22 (The below applies to the six-year completion rates for B.C. residents in the B.C. public school system.)

• 91.4% of all B.C. students completed high school in 2021-22.
• 87.7% of all B.C. students completed high school in 2021-22 with a Dogwood diploma.
• 3.7% of all B.C. students completed high school in 2021-22 with an Adult Dogwood diploma.
• 91.0% of English-language learners completed high school in 2021-22.
• Outcomes for students with disabilities and diverse needs in B.C. are showing steady improvements. Completion rates were 77.3% in 2021-22, up from 62.4% 10 years ago.
• 100% of francophone students in Conseil scolaire francophone School District completed high school in 2021-22.
• 97.9% of French immersion students completed high school in 2021-22.
• 75.0% of Indigenous students completed high school in 2021-22, an increase of 8.8 percentage points from 66.2% in the 2016-17 school year.
• 64.3% of Indigenous students completed high school with a Dogwood diploma in 2021-22, an increase of 6.3 percentage points from 58.0% in the 2016-17 school year.
• 10.7% of Indigenous students completed high school with an Adult Dogwood diploma in 2021-22, an increase of 2.5 percentage points from 8.2% in the 2016-17 school year.
• 46.1% of on-reserve Indigenous students completed high school with a Dogwood diploma in 2021-22, an increase of 0.5 percentage points from 45.6% in the 2016-17 school year.
• 15.8% of on-reserve Indigenous students completed high school with an Adult Dogwood diploma in 2021-22, an increase of 4.1 percentage points from 11.7% in the 2016-17 school year.
• 68.7% of off-reserve Indigenous students completed high school with a Dogwood diploma in 2021-22, an increase of 6.7 percentage points from 62.0% in the 2016-17 school year.
• 9.5% of off-reserve Indigenous students completed high school with an Adult Dogwood diploma in 2021-22, an increase of 2.4 percentage points from 7.1% in the 2016-17 school year.

Feeding Futures fund

• This 2023-24 school year, school districts will receive $71.5 million in Feeding Futures funding to support school food programs.
• Feeding Futures funding invests in building and expanding local school food programs. Through Budget 2023, the Province is investing $214 million over three years to build on the progress made with the Student and Family Affordability Fund to help reduce the challenges of rising food costs for families who need it most.

Investments in learning

• The Ministry of Education and Child Care is investing $8.05 billion for kindergarten-to-Grade 12 education in 2023-24, which is $2.4 billion more than in 2016-17. This is a total increase of 43.5%.
• Budget 2023 provides a $627 million increase for kindergarten-to-Grade 12 public schools and also includes a $11-million increase to child care funding.
• In Q3 2022-23, B.C.’s public kindergarten-to-Grade 12 schools had:
  • 13,800 full-time equivalent educational assistants, 4,400 more than in 2016-17.
  • 37,000 full-time equivalent teachers, 4,560 more than in 2016-17.
  • 1,040 full-time equivalent counsellors, 303 more than in 2016-17.
  • 3,080 full-time equivalent administrators (e.g., principals, superintendents), 339 more than in 2016-17.
• Targeted funding of $838 million will support students with special needs, a $95-million increase compared to last year and an 80% increase since 2016-17.
• Targeted funding to support Indigenous students is estimated to rise to $110 million next school year, a 58% increase since 2016-17.
• Rural school districts are receiving $359 million for the next school year to assist with the unique challenges they face supporting students and staff. This is $87.2 million more than in 2016-17.
• This year, school districts will receive approximately $59.2 million through CommunityLINK and $26.5 million via the Equity of Opportunity Supplement to help fund programs that support vulnerable children and youth.

Capital investments

• Government is working to make sure all kids in B.C. get the quality education and opportunities they deserve.
• Budget 2023 commits $3.4 billion for capital projects over the next three years, which includes $865 million in 2023-24 for new and expanded schools, seismic upgrades, maintenance, playgrounds and property purchases for future schools. 
• The $865 million in capital funding for B.C.’s school facilities in 2023-24 is $411 million more compared to 2016-17.
• The provincial government is improving safety for students and staff by accelerating seismic upgrades at B.C. schools, with $763 million in funding earmarked over the next three years.
• Government created an ongoing $5-million annual Playground Equipment Program (PEP) in 2018. Through Budget 2023, funding was used for 25 universally accessible playgrounds in 25 school districts, reducing parents’ need to fundraise for school playgrounds.
• Since the PEP started in 2018, government has invested $35 million to fund new playgrounds at 256 schools throughout the province, benefiting more than 63,000 students.
• In 2022-23, government continued its rapid pace of capital investment, with 30 school capital projects achieving occupancy. Specifically:
  • Eight additions to existing schools, which add much needed capacity and reduce the reliance on portables at schools like Valleyview Secondary in Kamloops, Vedder Elementary in Chilliwack, and Sullivan Heights Secondary in Surrey.
  • Four new school projects, which ensure that students in growing communities have a place to learn through recent investments at Pexsisen Elementary and Centre Mountain Lellum Middle in Langford, Stitos Elementary in Chilliwack, Eagle Mountain Elementary in Abbotsford, and Regent Road Elementary in Surrey.
  • One replacement school at Quesnel Junior school, which will provide students with a new, modern learning environment.
  • Seventeen seismic projects, which provide relief to students, teachers, staff, and parents knowing that they are attending a seismically safe facility every day.
  • Recently complete seismic investments include: Bayview Community Elementary in Vancouver, Ucluelet Secondary in Ucluelet, Cilaire Elementary in Nanaimo, and James McKinney Elementary in Richmond.
• As part of Budget 2023, the Province is providing $261.1 million in 2023-24 for school-maintenance projects, including $41 million to upgrade heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems at 101 schools throughout B.C.
• Since 2020, the Province has invested $194.4 million to assist school districts with upgrading ventilation and filtration in thousands of classrooms.
•  There are nearly 1,600 public schools in B.C., and 100% of them are regularly inspecting and maintaining their HVAC systems.

Child care on school grounds

• The Province prioritizes child care as schools are built or replaced, working with school districts, local communities, Indigenous governments and non-profits to determine where the need is greatest.
• Since 2018, the Province has funded the creation of more than 11,000 new spaces on school grounds, with more than 2,600 of these spaces in 30 school districts operational and providing care for children.
• As of Sept. 1, 2023, families with children in eligible before- and after-school child care programs and licensed half-day preschools will be saving up to $145 per child, per month on their child care fees.