Fees
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“Beachcombers is the whole package. Wonderful staff. Great location. Good policies. It is the whole package. I believe that my children would not be doing so well at any other school!” |
2016-2017 School Year Fees – please see FAQ’s below
Please Note:
- On-reserve Indigenous students may transfer Federal education dollars; we invite you to contact us with any questions.
- International students do not qualify for the Provincial education residency grant; please enquire for further information.
All Students (Primary, Middle School, Preschool, & Daycare, but excluding Monday-only Program):
- New registration: $235 ($200 initial + $35 with fees)
- Returning registration: $35
- Supplies: $185
- Fundraising: $100
- Primary Tuition: $4060
- International Student: $9,975 (without residency status).
- Per Family Discount with two sibling students: $504
- Third sibling: free tuition; registration, supply and fundraising fees apply.
- There will be some fieldtrip fees during the year.
- There are additional fieldtrip fees for an over-night fieldtrip for middle-school students that varies year-to-year; please enquire.
- 4 Mornings: $3,448 tuition
- 2 Mornings: $1726 tuition
- 2 Mornings + 2 Afternoons: $3244 tuition
- 4 Full Days: $6,484 tuition
- Annual Registration Fee: $100.
- Fundraising and Supply Fees: $150.
- Annual Monday Program Fees: $1530, due June 1st.
- Registration and supply fees are included in regular school fees.
- Annual Monday Fees for full-time students and preschool students: $1260, due June 1st.
Please note: Fees subject to change. Fees are non-refundable.
Payment Options: Beachcombers offers three payment options. For more information, please enquire.
Fieldtrips: While the cost of some fieldtrips are included in the cost of tuition, there will be others each year in which parents are required to pay some costs. Dolphin Class students can expect to have higher field trips costs over the school year.
Bursaries: Beachcombers Academy offers a very limited number of bursaries; families are expected to donate volunteer time. For more information please see this link. This limited program is intended for low income families who would not otherwise be able to enroll.
Provincial Child Care Subsidy: The Provincial government provides child care subsidies to eligible families. This is applied for by parents. For more information please see the government website.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do Beachcombers Academy students transition to other programs once they graduate?
Beachcombers students who graduate transition well to other programs both academically and socially. Two of our students have gone on to receive the top academic award in their grade level in the school district, and one has received the humanitarian award. Beachcombers' Principal will advise families on programs that may be suitable for their child.
What is the fundraising fee?
Many schools require countless hours of fundraising in the form of bake-sales and selling candy. These kinds of nickel-and-dime fundraisers are time consuming, and typically much of the monies raised come from parents’ pockets in the form of purchases or donations. Over the course of a year, these efforts typically will cost parents about $100 per child. Collecting and keeping track of monies is also time-consuming for staff. We believe that teachers should be educating our children, not fundraising. The fundraising fee will be used for seed money or professional fundraising activities, or applied directly to support school projects. We could include this amount as part of tuition fees, however, there are accounting advantages to separating it out.
What can I do to support the school?
We do have some fundraising activities that parents can participate in, however, there is no financial donation required on the part of parents. Please enquire if you wish to help out!
What is the supply fee?
Beachcombers Academy spends approximately $350 per student each school year for classroom supplies. This includes high quality materials such as bees wax crayons, quality art supplies such as pure wool for felting and water colour paper and paints, agendas, and class-specific annual supplies. Parents are not required to purchase additional supplies.
How is the school funded?
Beachcombers is funded in part by the Ministry of Education and in part by tuition. Beachcombers receives 50% of the 'per student' operating funding that the public schools receive; student fees make up the remainder. Beachcombers Academy & Little Oysters Preschool is operated by Beachcombers Education Society which is a non-profit society. Beachcombers’ tuition rates are some of the lowest on Vancouver Island.
Does Beachcombers Academy require an investment bond?
No, Beachcombers does not require bonds. Many independent schools on Vancouver Island and in BC require families to invest in the school through the purchase of school bonds in order to cover facility costs. Typical bonds are $7,500 to $25,000 per family at the time of enrolment. Choosing not to require bonds is an important part of making our school accessible to families. At inception, facility costs were privately financed. Beachcombers offers an exceptional program while making every effort to remain affordable in contrast to comparable independent schools.
Why do payment schedules start before the school year?
The majority of Ministry of Education funding is received by the school in the last half of the school year, with a substantial portion being received at the very end of the school year. The school is dependent on student fees for operating costs. Additionally, student fees cover new investments and purchase of supplies prior to school start. Most independent schools charge parents an extra fee to pay monthly; this means that parents that can least afford it, pay more. At Beachcombers, we do not charge parents extra for paying monthly; the trade-off is advance payment. It is also worth noting that most independent schools require all fees for the school year be paid by June 1st of the previous school year.
How do Beachcombers fees compare to other schools?
Beachcombers Academy has some of the lowest fees on Vancouver Island, in contrast to comparable independent schools. We have looked at Montessori schools and academic independent schools providing comparable quality programming. Fees on Vancouver Island range from $6,000 to $12,000 annually for primary students; in Vancouver fees increase upwards to $20,000 annually. Rates for comparable half-day preschool programs range from $5,000 to $6,000. And range from $8,500 to $9,700 for similar full-day 5-day-a-week childcare programs.
Why are fees non-refundable?
Beachcombers Academy has fixed costs for supplies, staffing, and operating expenses. Beachcombers Academy commits to spending in the spring of the previous school year. If a student withdraws these costs remain. Additionally the school loses the Ministry of Education funding for that child. This policy helps the school to keep fees lower for everyone. Planning is a critical part of providing a quality program and maintaining stability of staffing and the school.
Will Beachcombers fees rise over time?
You can expect small fee increases over time, in keeping with the public system, to respond to rising costs. We remain committed to remaining one of the most affordable programs on the Island, whilst providing a high quality program.
How does Beachcombers keep fees down?
One of the largest costs for schools is the land and facilities. Beachcombers has the advantage of being in a rural location where land costs are less expensive than urban centres. Compared to schools that spend millions on facilities, Beachcombers has low facility costs. Beachcombers has strategically chosen to remain small, and work within the confines of the existing building. These strategies allow us to keep costs down, and focus expenditures on providing high quality programming while keeping fees low. Additionally, we make very considered financial decisions that prioritize what is best for students; an example is that we choose low-cost landscaping in favour of spending money on quality classroom supplies and special programming. Beachcombers Academy also has low administrative costs.
