Central Okanagan Public Schools (District No. 23) is the 5th largest in the province and includes the communities of Kelowna, West Kelowna, Lake Country, and Peachland. With a growing student population of 25,000 Canadian students, our 32 elementary schools, 8 middle schools and 5 high schools offer a comprehensive curriculum which includes academic and elective courses as well as a wide variety of extra-curricular opportunities.
Schools offer multi-level academic courses in English, mathematics, modern languages, science, and social studies as well as Advanced Placement options. Students can also select from a multitude of elective courses in the areas of physical education, business education, design, computer studies, robotics, technology education, home economics, music, dance, visual arts, leadership, and career education.
Unique courses such as medieval armory, journalism, mixed martial arts, musical theatre, cybersecurity are offered at some schools as is French Immersion programming. Academies in the areas of baseball, golf, firefighting, hockey, lifeguarding, mountain biking, outdoor education, soccer, and swimming are popular with students.
With fewer than 2% ESL students in schools, the Central Okanagan offers a complete English Immersion experience for international students. Our program staff, teachers, principals, and host families work together to ensure that students are academically successful, improve their English language skills, and return to their home country with positive lifelong memories of their Canadian study abroad experience.
Program Established: 2006
Programs Offered: Full Year, 1 Semester
Specialized Programs: Advanced Placement, French Immersion, Sports Academies, Firefighting Academy, Computer Information Systems Administration (CISM)
Language(s) of Study: English, French
Total number of schools: 45
High schools for International Students: 5
Middle schools for International Students: 8
Total Students: 25,000
Total International Students: 400
International Students Accepted for Grades: K-12 accepted into the International Student Program. Grades 7-12 accepted into the homestay program.
Nearest Airport: Kelowna International Airport
The Central Okanagan region is located just east of Vancouver. A short 50 minutes by air, Kelowna and West Kelowna are the largest cities in the interior of British Columbia with a total population of approximately 250,000 people.
The Central Okanagan community offers the best of city life with shopping, dining, arts, and entertainment, as well as diverse recreation opportunities in a beautiful natural setting. Offering a wide variety of activities in the distinct four seasons, our community is a popular destination for tourists worldwide.
Central Okanagan Public Schools operates its own Homestay Program for international students. Each homestay is carefully screened to ensure it meets the expectations and high standards for hosting international students from around the world. Host families receive training and are supported and supervised by our Program homestay coordinators.
Our homestay coordinators make every effort to ensure that students are matched and placed with a host family that has compatible values, interests, and hobbies.
Note: K-6 international students must live with a parent during their program.
Students are encouraged to participate fully in extracurricular school activities as well as activities organized by the International Student Program.
Outside of scheduled classes, international students have options to become involved in various extracurricular clubs or school team sports. Examples of clubs that may be offered at a school include animation, anime, avid readers, board games, cheerleading, chess, choir, climbing/bouldering, debate, diversity (gay/straight alliance), environmental/sustainability, fitness, gardening, leadership, peer tutoring, ping pong, robotics, rowing, slam poetry, theatre (dramatic & musical).
Students can also tryout for sports teams at their school which may include sports such as basketball, cross country running, field hockey, football (American), rugby, soccer, tennis, track & field, ultimate frisbee, or volleyball.
In addition to any school extracurricular activities, students are encouraged to participate in monthly school activities specifically organized by school staff for international students as well as the monthly International Student Program activities organized by program staff. Examples of these opportunities may include barbeques for students & their host families, bowling, visiting corn mazes, attending hockey games, and dances, as well as seasonal activities like cookie decorating, curling, pumpkin carving, skating, snowshoeing, snowtubing, and water sports.
Fully supervised multi-day excursions to Vancouver, Victoria, the Rocky Mountains & Banff are also available for students to register to attend.
Entrance Dates: September entrance for full year (10 month) students. September intake and February intakes for semester (5 month) students.
Application Deadlines: Open (accepting applications for 2025/26)
Application Fee: $200 (one time only)
Full Year Tuition Fee: $15,000 (2025/26)
1 Semester Tuition Fee: $8,300 (2025/2026)
Annual Health Insurance Fee: $1,200
Annual Homestay Placement Fee: $400
Homestay Monthly Fee: $1,200
All funds are in Canadian dollars
Prices are subject to change, please confirm fees during the application process.
General Inquiries Email: international.education@sd23.
Website: internationaleducation.ca
Mailing Address: 1040B Hollywood Road S
City: Kelowna
Province: BC
Postal Code: V1X 4N2
Phone: 250-470-3258
Please complete the form below to request more information
