St. Michaels University School

Victoria

British Columbia

Canada

Overview

At St. Michaels University School, we believe many of the most important lessons — both intellectual and personal — enable students to discover not only who they are as individuals but who they can become. Committed to academic excellence, we offer a range of truly outstanding courses as well as exceptional athletic, performing arts, outdoor education and extracurricular programs. Our students pursue passions from creative writing to environmental science while immersed in an international environment. Located in beautiful Victoria, British Columbia, SMUS boarders benefit from all Vancouver Island has to offer, from kayaking along the coast to studying botany on Mount Tolmie. Though the SMUS campus is in a quiet, residential neighbourhood, Victoria’s vibrant downtown — and its restaurants, art galleries, theatres and stores — is a short distance away. Residential life boasts contemporary boarding facilities for students from 20 countries around the world, from Germany to Barbados to Japan. On-campus concerts, intramurals, poetry readings, sports and other events keep boarders entertained when school is not in session, and weekends offer an opportunity to explore downtown, go on trips with fellow boarders, and compete in inter-house games. Our English as a Second Language program further opens up our school for international students. SMUS graduates attend top universities around the world and in Canada, from Yale to McGill to Oxford. Our alumni are renowned athletes, actors, and entrepreneurs; our students are challenged to meet their full potential in everything they do.

Academics

Summary: Committed to academic excellence, SMUS challenges and engages its students intellectually, in and out of the classroom. All students expand their potential in many areas, especially leadership. SMUS prepares its students for both post-secondary education and for life in an ever-changing world. One of the first schools in Canada to adopt the Advanced Placement programme, SMUS now offers 27 AP courses. From 2D Design to Physics C, we offer an impressive array of AP courses that allow our students to pursue their passions to the highest degree. Our faculty engages students on a daily basis, constantly integrating new techniques and approaches into their classrooms and taking an interest in each and every student that passes through their doors.

Department Director Denise Lamarche

Student/Teacher Ratio: 6:1

Average Class Size: 17

Summer Programs: Offered

Full Time Teachers: 93

Number of AP Courses Offered: 27

Teachers Holding Advanced Degrees: 50%

Number of IB Courses Offered: 0

Noteworthy Information:
- 382 AP exams written in 2008 - 84% of our students received an AP mark of 3 4 or 5

Learning Support

Evening Study Assistance
Learning Center
Learning Differences Support
Peer Tutoring
Study Skills Assistance
Subject Tutoring
Technology Center
Writing Center

English

Creative Writing
Literature

History

World History

Foreign Languages

Chinese-Mandarin
French
German
Japanese
Spanish

Humanities / Social Sciences

Economics
Psychology

Sciences

Biology
Chemistry
Earth Science
Environmental Science
Marine Biology
Physics

Math

Computer Studies

Computer Applications
Multimedia

Music

Band
Choral Music
Orchestra

Performing / Visual Arts

Acting
Art History
Ceramics
Debate
Directing
Drama
Drawing
Painting
Portfolio
Pottery
Printmaking
Production
Publications
Studio Art
Theater Arts
3-D Art

Special Programs

Exchange Programs
Leadership
Outdoor Education

Distinctive or New Programs

Experiential Programme: This Unique Programme Is Offered To A Limited Number Of Grade 10 Students By Application. For The First Two Terms Of The Year The Participants Have A Regular Smus Academic Schedule. During The Third Term Students Are Taken Out Of The Regular Curriculum And Exposed To A Variety Of Activities That Provide Them With Hands-on Learning Experiences. The Overarching Theme Of The Programme Is To Develop An Awareness Of Self Self And Others And Self And Environment.

Campus Life

Dorm Life

Number of Dorms: 6

Average Students Per Dorm: 40

Number of Girls Dorms: 3

Number of Boys Dorms: 3

Dorm Amenities

Game Room
Laundry Facilities
Lounge
Wireless Internet

Other Dorm Amenities

Private Bathrooms

Student Life

With more than 80 councils, clubs and activities, the SMUS campus is always busy. Acoustic concerts, house games, poetry readings, fundraisers and more are weekly events. Visitors include former finance ministers and travelling musicians, and our boarders actively contribute to an international spirit.

Facilities

Basketball Court
Fitness Center
Indoor Basketball Court
Technology Center
Volleyball Court
Squash Court
Soccer Field

Other Facilities

Rugby Field

Clubs & Organizations

Amnesty International
Astronomy Club
Chess Club
Community Service
Computer Club
Debate Club
Diversity Club
Dorm Proctors
Drama Club
Environmental Club
Food Council
Foreign Language Clubs
Honor Council
International Club
Investment Club
Literary Magazine
Math Club
Model UN
Newspaper
Outing Club
Peer Counseling
Peer Tutoring
Photography Club
Sailing Club
Student Activities
Student Government
Student Publications
Theater Club
Weightlifting Club
Yearbook
Yoga Club
Radio Station

Arts & Athletics

Summary: From AP courses in visual arts, a student theatre society and multiple bands to our 23 sports teams, with 15 competing at varsity level, our artists and athletes keep very busy. Music is part of our curriculum, and all students are physically active in recreational and competitive sports such as rowing, rugby and squash. Every year students can also perform in a musical at a professional playhouse in downtown Victoria.

Arts Department Director: Chris Bateman

Athletics Department Director: Lindsay Brooke

Arts

Acting
Art History
Ceramics
Debate
Directing
Drama
Drawing
Painting
Portfolio
Pottery
Printmaking
Production
Publications
Studio Art
Theater Arts
3-D Art

Interscholastic Sports

Badminton
Basketball
Crew
Cricket
Cross Country Running
Field Hockey
Golf
Mountain Biking
Rugby
Sailing
Soccer
Squash
Swimming
Tennis
Track and Field
Volleyball
Rowing

Recreational Sports

Aerobics
Alpine Skiing
Badminton
Basketball
Bowling
Camping
Canoeing
Crew
Cricket
Cross Country Running
Dance
Field Hockey
Golf
Hiking
Kayaking
Mountain Biking
Outdoor Education
Rafting
Rock Climbing
Rugby
Sailing
Snowboarding
Soccer
Softball
Squash
Surfing
Swimming
Table Tennis
Tennis
Track and Field
Ultimate Frisbee
Volleyball
Weight Lifting

Graduates

Summary: Our five-member university counselling department helps students navigate the myriad of post-secondary options, and guides them through application procedures. SMUS hosts more than 100 universities from around the world each year. In 2019, our 144 graduates earned $3 million in scholarship offers and a combined 600 university acceptances.

College Information

Percentage of graduates who attend college: 98%

Middle Percentile of SAT Scores	Reading	Math	Writing
25th percentile
75th percentile

Notable Alumni

Steve Nash

Class of 1992

NBA All-Star and founder of the Steve Nash Foundation

Stewart Butterfield

Class of 1991

Co-founder of Flickr & Slack

Kenneth Oppel

Class of 1985

Award-winning author who wrote his first novel in his Gr. 12 year

Manoj Sood

Class of 1981

Star of CBC's hit show Little Mosque on the Prairie""

Merit

Merit Scholarships: Offered

Students Receiving Merit Scholarships: 2%

Average Merit Scholarship: 20,000

Current Endowment Amount: $15,000,000

Interested in St. Michaels University School?

Vital Information

Student Body Type: Coed

Total Boarding: 253

Total Day: 742

Total Enrollment: 995

Boys: 495

Girls: 500

Boarding Grades Offered: 8-12

Day Grades Offered: K-12

School Type: Elementary, Middle, High School

Dress Code: Casual

Applications Accepted: SAO

Application Deadline: Rolling

Tuition & Financial Aid

7-Day Boarding: $54,850

5-Day Boarding: N/A

Day Tuition Fee: $24,950

Need-Based Aid: Offered

Payment Plans: Offered

Students Receiving Aid: 20%

Average Awarded: $13,000

School Finances