British Columbia

Private schools top Fraser Institute rankings

Only two public schools appear in the Fraser Institute's top 20 secondary schools in B.C., as private schools continue to dominate the controversial School Report Card ranking system.

Vancouver's York House ranked top in B.C.

The Report Card rates 284 public and independent schools based on several factors, but primarily on mandatory provincial exams in grades 10 through 12. (Reuters/Vincent Kessler)

Only two public schools appear in the Fraser Institute's top 20 secondary schools in British Columbia, as private schools continue to dominate the controversial School Report Card ranking system.

Public school Okanagan Mission is ranked 17th, while Vancouver's University Hill is slightly lower at 18th, ranking jointly with private schools Kelowna Christian and King David.

Private school York House rated the highest, with a perfect score of 10 out of 10, followed by Crofton House, Southridge, St George's and West Point Grey.

Top 20 B.C. Secondary Schools

  1. York House
  2. Crofton House
  3. Southridge
  4. St George's
  5. West Point Grey
  6. Little Flower
  7. Brentwood College
  8. St Michaels
  9. Meadowridge
  10. Collingwood
  11. Southpointe
  12. Relevant
  13. St Margaret's
  14. Timothy Christian
  15. Vancouver College
  16. Richmond Christian
  17. Okanagan Mission
  18. University Hill = Kelowna Christian = King David

[Source: Fraser Institute]

The Fraser Institute suggests private schools score better, because they are more accountable to parents.

The institute also found 26 secondary schools across B.C., including 21 public schools, have seen their academic performance improve over the past five years.

It also found 42 of the schools it measured fell further down the rankings list.

The lowest ranked secondary schools in the province were jointly Century International in Vancouver, Kumsheen in Lytton and Nisga'a in New Aiyansh.

The Report Card rates 284 public and independent schools based on several factors, but primarily on mandatory provincial exams in grades 10 through 12.

It also includes information about each school’s make-up, including parents’ average income, the percentage of ESL students and the percentage of special needs students.

The British Columbia Teachers' Federation has argued schools should not be ranked based on standardized testing.

With files from the CBC's Steve Lus.