What guides the Admission process from application through to decision?
The Admissions Policy and Practices is intended to provide transparency on all matters related to admission, and a complete description of all elements of the admission process, essential to prospective families.

What kind of student are you looking for?
We welcome applicants who show passion and commitment to their education, a strong desire to explore their own potential, and who will engage in the community, both inside and outside of the classroom.

Who can submit an application for enrolment? 
The School accepts applications from a child's legal guardians (parents). In circumstances when a legal guardian is not listed on a child's birth certificate or is not included on an enrolment application, additional documentation is required.

How many spaces are available?
Please refer to the table above for a breakdown of spaces by grade. Please note that for non-intake grades (Grades 1-5, 7, 9-12), space is based on attrition and numbers vary each year.

How many applications do you receive?
The number of applications received varies by year and grade. On any given year or any given intake grade we can receive anywhere from 4:1 to 7:1 applications, per opening.  A specific number of spaces are held for our in-take grades (refer to the table above) and availability for non-intake grades will depend on attrition.

Is there anything I should review before applying?
The Admissions Policies and Practices document provides a thorough outline of our admissions practices. 

Do you recommend families work with an agent or educational consultant?
We do not advise families to use educational consultants and/or agents to assist with the admissions process. Because the admission process is reviewed and updated annually, the information agents and consultants have is often outdated, resulting in families being misinformed about current requirements and process.  If you have questions or would like more information about any aspect of the admissions process, please contact the Enrolment Management & Admissions Office directly and we will be happy to assist you. 

Please note that any communication regarding the status of a candidate and/or her application is done directly with the parent(s) or legal guardians, and not through a third party.

Do you give preference to alumnae or siblings?
When all else is equal, yes. Crofton House School values its community, therefore, when all else is equal, priority consideration will be given to a current family or to the daughter of an alumna. 

Do you accept international students?
Crofton House School is a day school for girls who live with their parent(s) or legal guardian(s) (court documentation must be provided), in the Lower Mainland. At least one parent or legal guardian must have Canadian citizenship, Permanent Residency status or a Work Visa.
 

When should we submit our application?
Applications are available one calendar year in advance of the school year you are considering. For example, applications for September 2025 will be available September 2024. 

What are your deadlines?
Please refer to the table above for important admission dates. 

Do you interview all applicants and when will I know if my daughter has an interview?

• Applicants for Junior & Senior Kindergarten who have met the preliminary admissions requirements, based on the In-House Assessment, will be invited to a parent interview. Applicants will receive communication about an interview and next steps at the end of January. 
• All applicants for Grade 6 are required to complete a family interview. Interviews will be held in November and December, 2024.  You will be able to book your interview through your applicant portal. Please note that the application must be submitted and approved by our office before you receive access to book your interview.  
• Applicants for Grade 8 who have met the preliminary admissions requirements, based on the application, report cards, and in-house assessments, will be invited to an interview. Applicants will receive communication about an interview and next steps in January. 
• For all other grades applicants who have met the preliminary admission requirements, based on the application and report cards, will be shortlisted. Shortlisted applicants will receive communication about an interview and next steps, regardless of if a space is available. 

How can we prepare for our interview?
The interview provides an opportunity for the School to learn more about your daughter, including her interests and activities, and to answer any questions you may have about us as well.  It is a conversation between yourselves and an Enrolment Management & Admissions team member. No preparation is required, nor are you required to bring any supplementary materials.

What is the format of the interview?
Interviews are offered both in person and virtually. We recognize logistics might be challenging, so families are encouraged to select the format that works best for them. Whether held virtually or in person, the interview is the same. The interview format has no bearing on admission decisions.  

• Junior and Senior Kindergarten interviews will take place with parents only, and take approximately 30 minutes.
• Grade 6 interviews are with parents and the applicant together and take approximately 45 minutes. 
• Grade 8 interviews take place with both the student and parents separately and take approximately an hour. 
• Grades 1-5 interviews will take place with parents only, and take approximately 30 minutes. 
• Grade 7 interviews are with parents and the applicant together and take approximately 45 minutes.
• Grade 9-12 interviews take place with both the student and parents separately and take approximately an hour. 

What can my daughter expect from her in-house assessment?
The in-house assessment or observation is an opportunity to see how your daughter thinks and interacts within a Crofton House School context, and with other applicants of her grade group. Each assessment is led by a faculty member and involves both group and one-on-one activities, all designed to get to know your daughter as a learner. The in-house assessments also provide a valuable opportunity for your daughter to see what the Crofton House School experience might be like for her. In-house assessment dates are listed in the table above. Note: For all applicants (Junior Kindergarten - Grade 8): attendance at our in-house assessment/observation is mandatory.

Can I choose my daughter's assessment date?
The Enrolment Management & Admissions team will assign all applicants their assessment date and time. There are no alternative assessment dates available. Please review the table above for the assessment dates. If you have an unavoidable conflict that requires a specific morning or afternoon seating, please contact our office well in advance of the assessment. Accommodations for assessment times will be taken into consideration but are not guaranteed.

How do we prepare for the in-house assessment? 
No academic preparation is needed for the assessment. Instead, as your daughter will partake in group and individual activities, we do recommend that she has a good night's rest and not come hungry. We also find that talking about the assessment too much beforehand can add unnecessary pressure. No matter her age we want your daughter to feel as comfortable as possible so she can enjoy the experience, and be herself. For applicants to JK and SK, it might help for your daughter to know she will spend time with other girls and teachers, away from you. All assessments will be in-person at Crofton House School.

Do you accept donations as part of the admissions process? 
Staff members may not accept gifts from prospective families and donations are not considered as part of the admissions process.  While Crofton House School would not be the school that it is today if not for the generosity of our parents and the wider school community, a family's ability to support the School financially is not a criteria for admission.

Does it help to visit the Enrolment Management & Admissions office multiple times during my application?
As an applicant family we welcome you to visit the campus as many times as is necessary to help you make a fully-informed decision. Visit dates and information can be found on the Visit CHS page. Demonstrated interest, however, is not tracked or recorded. While we are always happy to meet with our applicant families, your application will not be evaluated based on your attendance at events.

How are admissions decisions made?
There are many factors that go into admission decisions. Each candidate is thoughtfully considered by an Admissions Committee, and all elements of her file are reviewed holistically, including report cards, interview, references, and in-house assessments. 

Once each candidate is reviewed individually, the committee then reviews the class as a whole and seeks to admit students and families who represent a range of diverse interests and experiences. 

What does it mean that my daughter is in the waitpool?
If you receive a decision letter stating that your daughter is in the waitpool, it means she has met our entrance criteria, however, as we are limited in the number of spaces for each grade, she did not fall within our first-round offers.  Candidates in the waitpool will be re-considered should additional offers be made. There is no ranking in the waitpool, hence why it is a “pool” not a “list.” Should a space become available, each candidate within the waitpool is reviewed again to determine suitability for the vacated space. Families in the waitpool will be contacted only if and when a space has become available. 

Can my daughter reapply if the waitpool expires or she is not admitted? 
Yes, we welcome families to reapply to the following year. However, since our admissions timeline and deadlines vary year to year, we encourage you to visit our website regularly or contact our office for the most up-to-date and grade-specific information. 

What is the difference between shortlist and waitpool? 
The shortlist is a step in the admissions process, where candidates who meet the initial admission requirements will be invited to continue through the process. The waitpool is a final admission decision, which means the candidate met the entrance criteria however did not fall within our first-round offers.

What supporting documents will we need?
Once your application is submitted you will gain access to your Applicant Checklist, where you will upload all required supporting documents. Details for each required document will be listed on your Applicant Checklist. All applicants are required to submit the following:

• Applicant’s long-form Birth Certificate 

• Parent/Guardian's Canadian Immigration Documents (eg. passport, permanent residency card, work visa, or study visa)

• Contact information for a chosen reference 

• Previous year final report card (if applicable)

• Current year mid-term report card (once available)

• Psychological Educational Assessment (Psych-Ed) and/or Individual Education Plan (IEP) if applicable

Do I need to provide a reference letter? How many do I need? 
We only require one confidential reference, which is completed by submitting the referee's contact information through our Confidential Reference Form on the Applicant Checklist. The referee does not need to prepare a letter as an electronic Confidential Reference Form will be sent to them directly from our office. Please do not submit additional reference letters, as they will not be reviewed. This is to ensure a fair and consistent admissions process for all applicants. 

Who should be my referee? 
Within the application form, you will be asked to provide the contact information of someone who has preferably taught your daughter in an academic setting, to be a reference. For example, a teacher or a school principal may be considered as referees. If not available, you may choose a co-curricular supervisor such as a coach or skills teacher. We discourage families from naming a private tutor or a family member. 

Will certificates or awards be considered?
Only the required documents outlined on your applicant checklist will be reviewed as part of the admissions process. We do not accept any supplementary materials.

What is the minimum SSAT score?
We do not have a specific SSAT score that we expect for admission, as it is viewed as one piece of the admissions process. All candidates are reviewed as a whole and in relation to the other candidates. Meaning, we consider SSAT scores in conjunction with other components of the application, such as: in-house assessments, report cards, interview, Confidential Reference Form, and the application form.

What is the English+ Program?
The English+ (English Plus) Program at Crofton House School is an English for Academic Purposes (EAP) course designed by an English language specialist to help students achieve the academic English fluency needed for high school and to prepare them for success in their college and university studies. This highly immersive and tailored program is ideal for students whose first language is not English but have had some schooling, in or outside Canada, where English is the language of instruction. Learn more about the English+ Program.

Who should apply for the English+ program at Crofton House School?
English+ is ideally suited to prospective students who have some schooling, in Canada or another global location, where English was the language of instruction. Applicants selected for the program are typically strong in critical thinking and comprehension skills but require additional support with English written and oral grammar. Learn more about the English+ Program.

How much is tuition?
For a full breakdown of our tuition fees, please visit the tuition fees section. Please note that tuition rates are re-assessed each year, and the values listed may change in the future. 

What fees are associated with applying?
If you are applying for an intake grade (Junior and Senior Kindergarten, Grade 6, or Grade 8), the application fee is $350. If you are applying for a Non-Intake Junior Grade (Grades 1 - 5, 7) the fee is $200, and a Non-Intake Senior Grade (Grade 9-12) the fee is $50. Upon acceptance, a $3000 non-refundable new student registration fee and a $2000 tuition deposit are required for enrolment.

Are uniforms included in tuition fees?
Uniforms are not included in the tuition fees. 

Do you offer scholarships, Financial assistance, or bursaries? 
Financial assistance is available to families with daughters entering Grade 8 who meet admission requirements and demonstrate financial need. It is awarded in the form of a bursary that does not need to be repaid. In order to apply for financial assistance, families must submit financial information to a third party, Apple Financial, for an impartial evaluation of their capacity to meet tuition and related costs.  Financial assistance is evaluated on an annual basis and as such families need to re-apply every year. Bursaries will be renewed annually provided there is continued demonstrated financial need. All recipients receiving financial assistance must remain in good academic standing and contribute fully and positively to the life of the School. For more detailed information, please view the Financial Assistance FAQ tab, or visit our Financial Assistance section. 

All new students applying to Grade 8 are eligible to apply for financial assistance. Our guiding philosophy is to partner with families to bridge the gap between their demonstrated financial need and the full cost of sending their daughter to Crofton House School. The admission criteria and expectations are the same for all students, regardless of their family’s financial circumstances.

There are two steps. First, complete the Grade 8 admissions application making sure you tick the checkbox that asks if you intend to apply for financial assistance. Second, families applying for financial assistance must complete the Financial Aid for Canadian Students (FACS) application form through Apple Financial Services, which will be available after October 1

A family's eligibility for financial assistance is determined through careful and thorough analysis of the information provided on the Financial Aid for Canadian Students (FACS) application, coupled with Crofton House School’s financial assistance methodology. 
 
Together these provide the School with an indication of a family's discretionary income. Crofton House then considers what portion of a family's discretionary income would be available for tuition and related fees and offers a bursary to cover the remaining portion.  

Crofton House offers financial assistance to cover up to 98% of the cost of tuition and all related programmatic costs including textbooks,  technology, uniform, outdoor education and  co-curricular programs, based on a family’s demonstrated financial need. 

In addition to tuition, students from Grade  6–12 can apply to the Beyond the Classroom Fund to cover non-tuition related expenses, regardless of whether they receive financial assistance. The purpose of this fund is to support a student’s full participation in the valuable opportunities that are associated with, and enhance, a student’s academic, athletic, and co-curricular involvement in their education. 

Financial assistance is based on demonstrated financial need as determined by our financial assistance analysis. The bursary is not required to be repaid and loans are not available. 

Yes. When you indicate on the Grade 8 admissions application that you are also applying for financial assistance, the $350 application fee will automatically be waived.  The Admissions Office will send you further information on how other costs associated with applying can also be waived.

Yes. Unless there is a legal financial agreement indicating otherwise, Crofton House School believes that both birth parents or legal guardian(s) have an obligation to contribute to the education of their children to the extent they are able.  

Financial assistance decisions are communicated to families at the same time as the offer of admission.

If there is a change in your family’s financial circumstances at any time within the admission process that results in the need to apply for financial assistance, please contact the Enrolment Management & Admissions Office immediately.

Families that receive financial assistance must go through the Financial Aid for Canadian Students (FACS) application process each year. Provided that a family's financial circumstance remains relatively consistent from year to year, a family can expect to receive the same level of assistance. The Business Office will perform a full analysis each year to determine eligibility for continued financial assistance.

Enrolled students may be considered for financial assistance through a bursary fund available from the Crofton House School Foundation if there is a change to their family’s financial circumstances. 

Crofton House School offers financial assistance in the form of a bursary for new students entering Grade 8, which is based on demonstrated financial need. The admission criteria and expectations are the same for all students, regardless of their family’s financial circumstances. We do not currently offer specific merit-based scholarships.