North Vancouver School District (SD44) sits where the mountains and the ocean meet — backed by forest, facing the sea, about a 20-minute drive from downtown Vancouver and roughly 90 minutes from the world-class ski resort of Whistler Blackcomb. It combines city convenience with a striking natural setting.

The district is comprehensive: 26 elementary schools and six secondary schools that accept international students, serving around 17,500 students. Alongside the world-renowned BC curriculum, schools offer a rich range of specialty programs — arts, music, outdoor education, athletics, digital media and technology. Its six high schools each have their own character — Handsworth, Argyle, Carson Graham, Seycove, Sutherland and Windsor — offering the International Baccalaureate (IB), AP courses, French immersion, band and strings, business education, and the Young Entrepreneurship and Leadership Launchpad (YELL). Each school takes a limited number of international students through select placement, helping every student integrate into their local school community.

The district notes that its graduates are awarded significant scholarships each year (actual awards depend on individual circumstances and district information), and runs a homestay program to support secondary international students in Canadian community life. A strong fit for students who want solid academics alongside an outdoor, mountains-and-ocean setting, while staying close to Vancouver. (fine print) * Programs, availability, scholarships and fees are subject to North Vancouver School District's current information and individual circumstances.