Located in the city of Victoria, St. Michaels University School is a boarding and day school with a global reputation for academic excellence. Students from around the world are challenged by an extensive curriculum, including Canada’s most established Advanced Placement program with 25 courses and the AP Capstone Diploma. Intellectual stimulation combined with exceptional values-based athletics, arts and leadership programs make SMUS a school that inspires excellence in all students while preparing them for life.
The academic atmosphere at St. Michaels is supportive and progressive, beginning with a Reggio Emilia program that sets a tone of curiosity and collaboration that is carried through the upper grades. The boarding program sets the foundation for the school, establishing a community of service, involvement, and excellence not only in students’ academic life, but in their social lives and physical health as well. The program of pastoral care is broad and robust, something that derives in part from the context that the boarding program provides. The motto of one of the two founding schools is retained today: “nothing is great unless it is good.” That’s telling. Care and support are considered to be as important as challenge and excellence, and students are encouraged to engage with the entire spectrum of curricular and extra-curricular programs. The ideal student is one able to thrive in a rich, challenging, diverse academic and social atmosphere.
Additional notes: Visit https://www.smus.ca/community/support/transportation for more information.
Gallery showcasing school life and general photos of St. Michaels University School.
Student athletes can play and compete in a variety of sports, including rowing, basketball, soccer, field hockey and sailing.
SMUS is a place where musicians and performers can cultivate their talents under expert tutelage.
The Richmond Road campus is home to our Middle & Senior schools.
Open to Grades 6-8, our Middle School is a lively campus filled with extracurricular opportunities and interesting programs. Our experiential exploratory program is an opportunity for students to try new things.
Outdoor education is a big part of the SMUS experience, bringing the learning outside of the classroom.
Science students visit the nearby Bamfield Marine Science Centre for hands-on lessons to study coastal aquatic life.
Gallery showcasing specific locations and facilities found at St. Michaels University School.
Win a scholarship worth up to $80,000 to St. Michaels University School - One of Canada's top-ranked boarding schools!
The Best School Year Ever contest has launched, and we are searching for North America's best high school students to join our community starting in September 2024. Win 1 of 3 borading scholarships for students interested in joining our boarding community. If you know a student who would be great for the SMUS community, please encourage them to enter the contest at bestschoolyearever.ca. The deadline to enter is December 1, 2024.
Reggio Emilia programs are offered by some schools at the preschool and elementary level. The approach aims to develop curiosity and problem-solving skills through the liberal use of projects (as opposed to activities or lessons): teachers design projects for children around their demonstrated interests. Projects can be geared to an individual student, a small group of students, or the class as a whole. They can last from a few days to the whole year. Art is strongly emphasized and is typically incorporated into every project. Teachers actively participate in projects alongside students, rather than sitting back and observing. The philosophy calls for a high degree of parent involvement as well, particularly when forming curricula and project plans (which happens throughout the academic year).
Focus |
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Academic |
DIBELS Testing: This school does not use DIBELS testing to assess reading progress.
Subject | offered |
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Evolution as consensus theory | |
Evolution as one of many equally viable theories | |
Evolution is not taught |
Subject | offered |
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Biology | |
Chemistry | |
Ecology | |
Geology | |
Meteorology | |
Physics | |
Physiology | |
Zoology |
Subject | offered |
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Canadian lit | |
American lit | |
European (continental) lit | |
World (non-Western) lit | |
English lit | |
Ancient lit |
Subject | offered |
---|---|
Chinese-Cantonese | |
Chinese-Mandarin | |
French | |
German | |
Greek | |
Italian | |
Japanese | |
Hebrew | |
Latin | |
Russian | |
Spanish | |
ESL |
Subject | offered |
---|---|
Acting | |
Dance | |
Drama/Theatre | |
Graphic Design | |
Music | |
Visual Arts |
Expressive | |
Disciplined |
Subject | offered |
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Computer science | |
Robotics | |
Web design |
Flexible pacing style | offered |
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Subject-streaming (tracking) | |
Multi-age classrooms as standard | |
Ability-grouping (in-class) as common | |
Frequent use of cyber-learning (at-their-own-pace) | |
Regular guided independent study opportunities | |
Differentiated assessment |
SMUS offers no/limited support for students with learning difficulties or special needs.
Subject Ttype | offered |
---|---|
Learning strategy and study counselling; habit formation | |
Extra support and minor accommodations for children experiencing subclinical difficulties |
Subject Ttype | offered |
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Accommodations | |
Modifications | |
Extra support |
Read our guide to special needs schools and special education
Curriculum delivery: Acceleration and enrichment (There is an equal emphasis on acceleration and enrichment.)
Program | offered |
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Custom subject enrichment (special arrangement) | |
Custom curriculum compacting (special arrangement) | |
Guided independent study (custom gifted arrangement) | |
Cyber-learning opportunities (custom gifted arrangement) | |
Formalized peer coaching opportunities (specifically for gifted learners to coach others) | |
Custom subject acceleration (special arrangement) | |
Career exploration (custom gifted arrangement) | |
Project-based learning (custom gifted arrangement) | |
Mentorships (custom gifted arrangement) |
In grade Gr. 2, SMUS students perform an average of 15 mins of homework per night.
K | 1 | 2 | |
---|---|---|---|
SMUS | 0 mins | 15 mins | 15 mins |
Site Average | 6 mins | 14 mins | 17 mins |
Lettered or numbered grades | Gr. 9 to Gr. 12 |
Prose (narrative)-based feedback | K to Gr. 12 |
Academic achievement reporting | Gr. 6 to Gr. 8 |
Habits and behaviour reporting | Gr. 6 to Gr. 12 |
Parent-teacher meetings | K to Gr. 12 |
Competitive sports: 15
Recreational sports: 5
St. Michaels University School offers 23 clubs and extracurricular programs.
K | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | |
Day (Domestic: in province) | $21,095 | $24,080 | $26,200 | ||||||||||
Day (Domestic: out of province) | $26,955 | $29,925 | $32,055 | ||||||||||
Day (International) | $43,995 | ||||||||||||
Boarding (Domestic: in province) | $57,595 | ||||||||||||
Boarding (Domestic: out of province) | $63,460 | ||||||||||||
Boarding (International) | $75,360 |
Discounts
Discount Type | Enrolment Type | Amount |
---|---|---|
2nd child (sibling) | all students | 5% |
3rd child (sibling) | all students | 5% |
4th child (sibling) | all students | 5% |
Grade range that need-based aid is offered: | K to 12 |
Percentage of grade-eligible students receiving financial aid | 20% |
Average aid package size | $11,685 |
Percentage of total enrolment on financial aid | 20% |
Total aid available | $2,500,000 |
This school works with other. for processing financial applications
Families interested in applying for financial assistance must complete the online application form, which you can access on the Apple Financial Services website. The online application provides instructions and help as you fill out the form. Once you have completed the application for financial assistance on the Apple Financial Services website, you will see directions for forwarding tax (and other) documentation.
The North American Merit Scholarships recognize student achievement as well as a commitment to the School Values: Respect, Courage, Honesty and Service. A limited number of these entrance scholarships are awarded to students who are:
Visit: https://www.smus.ca/admissions/scholarships
For more details, visit:https://www.smus.ca/admissions/scholarshipsThe Vivat Prize is awarded in recognition of a demonstrated commitment to excellence, service and academic success. A limited number of these entrance scholarships are awarded to students who are:
Visit: https://www.smus.ca/admissions/scholarships
For more details, visit:https://www.smus.ca/admissions/scholarshipsWin a once-in-a-lifetime high school experience many students just dream about. Your tuition paid for a full year to live and study on campus at St. Michaels University School, one of Canada’s top-ranked boarding schools.
To be eligible to enter the Contest, you must be a resident of Canada or the United States and be between Grades 8-12. You can find the full eligibility criteria on www.bestschoolyearever.ca.
See the website: www.bestschoolyearever.ca.
For more details, visit:https://www.smus.ca/admissions/scholarshipsGrades | Gender | Living Arrangement | Enrolment | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Group 1 | JK to Gr. 12 | Coed | Day | 745 |
Group 2 | Gr. 9 to Gr. 12 | Coed | Boarding | 258 |
Total enrolment | 1,003 |
Average class size | Varies |
% of international students (total enrolment) | 25% |
Number of different nationalities within student population | 45 |
Five-day boarding program offered | No |
% in boarding (grade-eligible) | 35% |
K | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Day Enrollment | 26 | 35 | 33 | 36 | 40 | 43 | 63 | 68 | 78 | 87 | 98 | 83 | 94 |
Boarding Enrollment | 6 | 31 | 42 | 86 | 74 | ||||||||
Class Size | 5 | 10 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 |
Assessment | Required | Grades |
---|---|---|
Interview | K - 12 | |
SSAT | ||
SSAT (out of province) | ||
Entrance Exam(s) | 1 - 12 | |
Entrance Essay | 1 - 12 |
Day students: Rolling
Boarding students: Rolling
Offer mid-year entry: No
Application fee: N/A
Registration fee: N/A
Deposit: N/A
Please visit the Admissions pages on the SMUS website for more information.
This is the percentage of applicants typically accepted into the school. So if 50 students are admitted out of 100 applicants, the school has an overall acceptance rate of 50%.
Student Entry Points
This shows approximately how many openings there are likely to be in each grade in a typical year, as well as the estimated acceptance rate for each grade level.
Student Type | K | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Day Acceptance (Acceptance rate) | 25 - 30 | 0 - 5 | 0 - 5 | 0 - 5 | 0 - 5 | 0 - 5 | 10 - 15 | 5 - 10 | 5 - 10 | 5 - 10 | 0 - 10 | 0 - 10 | 0 - 5 |
Boarding Acceptance (Acceptance rate) | 5 - 15 | 25 - 35 | 30 - 35 | 15 - 25 | 0 - 5 |
Average graduating class size | 158 |
Students accepted into post-secondary studies upon graduation | N/A |
Percentage of students who attend post-secondary institutions outside of Canada | N/A |
Students who attended a Ivy+ school Number of students in the past 5 years that that attended one of Harvard, Yale, Princeton, University of Pennsylvania, Dartmouth, Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Stanford, University of Chicago, Oxford or Cambridge (UK) | 53 |
University of Victoria | 20% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
McGill University | 4% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Simon Fraser University | 4% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
University of British Columbia | 4% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
University of Toronto | 4% |
St. Michaels University School Graduates’ Post-Secondary Studies:
Aggregate of All Schools’ Post-Secondary Studies:
Career planning | |
Internships | N/A |
Mentorship Program | |
University counseling |
Alumnus | Grad Year | Accomplishment |
---|---|---|
Steve Nash | 1992 | Professional basketball player (two-time NBA MVP) and philanthropist. |
Kenneth Oppel | 1985 | Young adult and children's author - famous for the Silverwing series. Winner of the Governor General's Literary Award in 2007. |
Stewart Butterfield | 1991 | Founder of Flickr, co-founder of Slack entrepreneur and businessman. |
Leslie Hope | 1982 | Actress - famously playing Teri Bauer in the Fox TV show 24. |
Rachel Curran | 1990 | Director of Policy in the Canadian government, reported directly the the Prime Minister. |
Simon Ibell | 1996 | Founder of the iBellieve Foundation. |
Melissa Sawyer | 1994 | Founder and Executive Director of the Youth Empowerment Project (YEP) in New Orleans. |
Ann Makosinski | 2015 | Inventor of the thermoelectric flashlight and eDrink Coffee Mug. Recipient of the Sustainable Entrepreneurship Award of Excellence, named in Top 30 under 30 lists in Time, Entrepreneur and Glamour. |
Jelena Mrdjenovich | 2000 | Eight-time Women's World Champion boxing champion. |
Evan Adams | 1983 | Deputy Chief Medical Officer of Public Health with the First Nations and Inuit Health Branch and award winning actor. |
From all my enquiries, anecdotal, empirical, and statistical, SMUS is a world-class school built on the solid foundations of its extended community. At the heart of that community are the students, some drawn into boarding from a diverse range of cultures and others who are deeply rooted in Victoria and its environs. The students are inspired by a large, dedicated and highly qualified faculty who over the years have established a reputation for going beyond the call of duty to nurture individual interests and enthusiasm.
The school mission is to aim for the “excellence in all of us.” As anyone who aspires for the highest standards will know, this is no easy task. A starting point is that “you have to be good to be great” but an outstanding education requires a holistic view that provides opportunities for the development of the mind, body, and the soul to enable young people to ask the big questions and really find out who they are.
We believe in both passion – come with a spark of enthusiasm and it will be fanned into a blaze – and compassion – education is a shared experience and we all journey together. Indeed, the school’s commitment to service and leadership has a reach far beyond BC; it is truly international.
Learning should be fun, but it should also be appropriately challenging. Rigor instills resilience, which we are told will be increasingly important as the world becomes more competitive. This should also be the time for reflection; the chance to pause and think and dream.
SMUS students have achieved remarkable success in a broad range of professions. Many report that this is down to quiet inner confidence, the ability to think independently, and a commitment to civilized values.
By providing a vast range of competitive sports, clubs, and activities, we hope to provide something for everyone to find their niche.
We invite you to come and meet us at our beautiful sites on Richmond Road and Victoria Avenue, and to find out first-hand the blend of people, place, tradition and innovation that makes St. Michaels University School such a special place.
September 25, 2017
The Best School Year Ever® Contest is Back!
Win a once-in-a-lifetime high school experience many students just dream about.
Read full article
May 19, 2017
SMUS Appoints Award-Winning UK Educator as New Head of School
St. Michaels University School Appoints Mark Turner as New Head of School
Read full article
December 13, 2013
Take a (Virtual) Tour Around Campus
Experience the beautiful campus here at St. Michaels University School by taking a guided virtual campus tour.
Read full article
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