Funding for BC Independent Schools Saves Government Money

BC’s policy allowing a portion of parents’ tax dollars to follow their child to the independent school of their choice, saves the BC government money. Eliminating this school choice would cost BC taxpayers tens of millions to hundreds of millions of dollars each year.
From 2012/13 to 2022/23, the share of BC students enrolled in independent schools increased by 13.1 percent, while the share of students attending government public schools decreased by 1.7 percent.
Research shows the average incomes of families with children attending independent schools in BC are similar to the incomes of families with children attending government public schools. Only 7.7 percent of BC independent schools could reasonably be defined as “elite schools.”
In 2020/21, the average per-student cost of a student attending government public school was $14,601. The same year, the average per-student cost to government of a student attending independent school was $8,685. The BC government saves $5,916 on average for every student who attends independent school rather than government public school.
Looking specifically at the costs, if 10 percent of independent school students migrated to government public schools because provincial independent school funding was eliminated, the BC government would need to increase spending by $51.6 million per year. If 25 percent of independent school students migrated to government schools, it would cost government an additional $129.1 million per year. If 50 percent migrated, it would cost an additional $258.2 million each year.