Schools in Kelowna

How do Kelowna public schools work?

Kelowna public schools work on a catchment system: your home address decides which elementary, middle and secondary school your child attends. SD23 covers Kelowna, West Kelowna, Peachland and Lake Country, and public school is free for BC residents. Most elementary schools run from kindergarten to Grade 5 or 6, and middle schools run to Grade 8 or 9. Students then move to one of five main high schools: KSS, Rutland Senior, OKM, Mount Boucherie or George Elliot. Each has a different focus. KSS has the most AP courses, Rutland Senior has the best trades shops and OKM is known for sports. French Immersion runs from kindergarten to graduation at select schools. You can ask for a school outside your catchment, but transfers depend on space and have to be renewed each year. For a school-by-school look, see our elementary and middle school guides, and the SD23 district overview.

How do you enroll a child in a Kelowna school?

You enroll a child in a Kelowna public school by registering with SD23, either online at sd23.bc.ca or in person at your catchment school. New registrations for the next school year open in early February. Start by entering your address in the SD23 school locator to find your catchment school. Then gather proof of BC residency (a lease, utility bill or purchase papers), your child's birth certificate or passport and immunization records. Bring past report cards and any IEP paperwork if your child has one. Children start kindergarten in September of the year they turn five. If you're moving mid-year, the school handles registration directly. Before- and after-school care programs often have waitlists, and so do daycares for younger siblings, so check our best daycares in Kelowna list early. Our school enrollment guide has a step-by-step timeline, and the bus routes and school calendar pages cover the rest.

What private and online schools are in Kelowna?

Private schools in Kelowna are independent schools that charge tuition and run outside SD23, usually with smaller classes. The best known is Aberdeen Hall Preparatory School at 950 Academy Way, an independent school from preschool to Grade 12 next to UBC Okanagan. Kelowna Christian School offers faith-based education from preschool to Grade 12, with its high school on Benvoulin Road. For learning from home, SD23 runs eSchool23, SD23's online public school, and Heritage Christian Online School is a Kelowna-based independent online school. BC independent schools are inspected by the Ministry of Education, and Group 1 schools follow the BC curriculum. Private does not automatically mean better. Many families find their SD23 catchment school just as strong, so compare both.

How do you choose a school in Kelowna?

Choosing a school in Kelowna starts with your child, not a school's reputation or online ratings. Consider whether they do better with structure or more freedom, and whether they need learning support. Then match that to programs: AP and trades differ most between high schools, and French Immersion is only offered at some schools, so it may not be your catchment school. SD23 uses an inclusive model, and students with an IEP get support in regular classrooms. Contact the district before you move so support is in place on day one. Open houses usually run in January and February, and parent Facebook groups and PAC meetings are good places to ask current families. For most families, the catchment school is the right start. Check catchments before you sign a lease or buy, using the SD23 school locator.

What colleges and universities are in Kelowna?

Kelowna's two main post-secondary schools are UBC Okanagan and Okanagan College. UBC Okanagan is a campus of the University of British Columbia that opened in 2005 and had 11,791 students in September 2025. It's a research university with programs in arts, science, engineering, management, health, education and medicine, and the campus sits near Kelowna International Airport. Okanagan College serves more than 15,900 students a year across four campuses, and its Kelowna campus on KLO Road is the largest. It offers diplomas, certificates, trades apprenticeships and university transfer courses. Many students save money by doing their first year or two at the college, then transferring to a university. Secondary students can also earn college credits early through SD23's dual-credit programs with Okanagan College. Read our higher education guide for programs, private colleges and student life.