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Canada, Vancouver
Let the school know you're thinking of applying — they can share their prerequisites and help you through the process.
It's best to ask — circumstances can change at any time.
The admissions process has five steps: Step 1 Discover Cousteau School by learning about the school's values and educational approach, tuition, and admission criteria; visit the school via an Open House or a private tour and express interest by submitting an inquiry. Step 2 Submit an online application and provide the reasons for interest, pay the $150 application fee, and include the child's latest report cards and, if applicable, the child's Individual Education Plan. Step 3 Schedule a placement assessment for applicants entering Kindergarten, Elementary, or Middle School; exemptions apply for applicants from French Ministry-accredited schools and for Pre-K2, Pre-K3, and Pre-K4. Step 4 Meet with the admissions or leadership team for a personal interview. Step 5 The final decision is based on academic and non-academic factors, including the family's alignment with the school's project and values, space availability, and class composition; families are notified of the final decision as soon as possible.
Cousteau School does not offer an internal financial assistance program. External options include BC's Affordable Child Care Benefit Program for Pre‑K programs, which is income-based; eligibility is determined by family income and applications are assessed on the government site. A School Bursary from the French Government is available and administered by AEFE; bursaries are based on income and assets and applications are reviewed by the Consulate General of France in Vancouver; applications are accepted in two sessions each year, February and September.
Cousteau School is a nonprofit independent institution in Canada offering a dual curriculum that combines the French National Education program with the British Columbia curriculum. Located on the North Vancouver Fromme Road campus, La Calypso, the school serves students aged 3 to 14 in Pre-K through Grade 9 and enrolls 250 learners from 30 nationalities. Instruction is bilingual from early years, in French and English, and the school is affiliated with AEFE and Mission Laïque Française (MLF). Fully accredited by the BC Ministry of Education and the French Ministry of Education, it operates under AISBC principles and a governance board. The campus features the bilingual Library and Documentation Center with Culturethèque access, Forest School for early years, and a wide range of after-school activities—more than 30 clubs, sports, arts and STEAM. Notable programs include field trips, the Terry Fox Run, Eco-School activities, and an emphasis on citizenship and global awareness.
