ISLAND CATHOLIC SCHOOLS

What ISLAND CATHOLIC SCHOOLS does

Island Catholic Schools (legally Catholic Independent Schools of the Diocese of Victoria, or CISDV) is a non-profit Catholic K-12 school system operating five schools on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, under the spiritual and administrative oversight of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Victoria. The system comprises four elementary schools — Queen of Angels in Duncan (Preschool, K-9), St. Joseph's and St. Patrick's in Victoria (Preschool/Kindergarten, K-7), and St. John Paul II in Port Alberni (Preschool, K-7) — plus St. Andrew's Regional High School in Victoria (Grades 8-12), the only Catholic high school on Vancouver Island. Total enrollment is approximately 3,300 students, with 50+ international students and a 1,600-member alumni network.

The schools deliver the BC Ministry of Education curriculum augmented with diocesan-approved Religious Studies and Christian Family Life programs aligned with the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops' catechesis criteria, using approved resources such as Pearson's Growing in Faith, Growing in Christ. The International Student Program, run by a dedicated Director of International Education, integrates visiting students with Canadian peers for one or two semesters or through graduation, supported by homestay placement and English proficiency services.

The business model combines recurring annual tuition (with a $100 non-refundable application fee and one-month withdrawal notice), 50% BC Ministry of Education operating funding established in 1990, application and homestay fees from international students, and a charitable fundraising program — notably the $20M Catholic Schools Plan capital initiative, the $5M Building on Success campaign for St. Andrew's, and a $2.5M major gift from the Sisters of St. Ann. Distribution is direct-to-family through school-level admissions, parish networks, Parent Support Groups, Local School Councils, and an online alumni community; the organization explicitly receives no government capital funding and funds facilities through donations and asset sales (e.g., the prior St. Andrew's Elementary property).

Name

ISLAND CATHOLIC SCHOOLS

Legal name

Catholic Independent Schools of the Diocese of Victoria (CISDV)

Website

https://cisdv.bc.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1950

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Island Catholic Schools is a non-profit Catholic K-12 system operating five schools on Vancouver Island, BC under the Diocese of Victoria, serving ~3,300 students with BC Curriculum plus diocesan religious education and an International Student Program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Independent K-12 Catholic Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (61111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAJABAC

Faith-Based (Religious) K–12 Schools

Education/K–12 / Primary & Secondary Education/Private & Independent K–12 Schools

Keywords

• Catholic K-12 education
• Faith-based schooling
• Independent school system
• International student program
• Religious education curriculum

Headquarters

HQ city

Victoria

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition Fees: Schools charge yearly tuition fees for student enrollment. The organization receives 50% of the operating costs for public schools from the BC Ministry of Education as government funding. No government funding is available for building of Catholic school facilities. Financial assistance is available for qualified families.
2. International Student Program: International students pay tuition fees including a $250 CDN non-refundable application fee, international tuition, and homestay fees. The program serves students from preschool through grade 12.
3. Capital Campaign Fundraising: The Building on Success Campaign aims to raise $5 million for St. Andrew's Regional High School's Performing Arts Wing and sports field. Funding sources include donations, the Diocesan Appeal, and major gifts such as the $2.5M from Sisters of St. Ann.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Island Catholic Schools operates five K-12 Catholic schools on Vancouver Island (four elementary schools and one regional high school), delivering the BC Ministry of Education curriculum integrated with diocesan-approved Religious Studies and Christian Family Life programs. The system serves Catholic and non-Catholic families through faith-based pre-school to grade 12 education, and operates an International Student Program with homestay and English proficiency support.

Product overview

Island Catholic Schools is a system of five Catholic independent schools on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, comprising four elementary schools (Queen of Angels in Duncan, St. Joseph's in Victoria, St. Patrick's in Victoria, and St. John Paul II in Port Alberni) serving Preschool through Grade 7/9, plus St. Andrew's Regional High School serving Grades 8-12 as the only Catholic high school on Vancouver Island. The schools operate under the Catholic Independent Schools of the Diocese of Victoria (CISDV) society, following the BC Curriculum enhanced with diocesan-approved Religious Studies and Christian Family Life programs. The system offers a comprehensive International Student Program with homestay placement, and emphasizes academic excellence, Catholic faith formation, and character development across all grade levels.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Queen of Angels Catholic School Catholic elementary and middle school located in Duncan, BC offering Preschool through Grade 9 education with a focus on Catholic faith formation and academic excellence for families in the Cowichan Valley.
• St. Joseph's Elementary School Catholic elementary school in Victoria, BC providing Preschool through Grade 7 education with emphasis on Catholic values and academic achievement; has completed seismic upgrades.
• St. Andrew's Regional High School The only Catholic high school on Vancouver Island, offering Grades 8-12 education. Features a performing arts program, athletic facilities, and strong post-secondary preparation with 95% of students accepted to post-secondary institutions and 72% receiving scholarships.
• St. Patrick's Elementary School Catholic elementary school in Victoria, BC serving students from Kindergarten through Grade 7 with a focus on faith-based education and academic development; has completed seismic upgrades.
• St. John Paul II Catholic School Catholic elementary school in Port Alberni, BC offering Preschool through Grade 7 education with emphasis on Catholic values and community engagement in a tight-knit small-town community.
• International Student Program Comprehensive international student program welcoming students from around the world for one or two semesters or through graduation. Includes full integration with Canadian students, English proficiency support, and homestay placement services.

Quantifiable outcome

• 95% of St. Andrew's students accepted to top Canadian and international post-secondary institutions
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Roman Catholic Diocese of VictoriacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Diocese of Victoria established the Catholic Independent Schools of the Diocese of Victoria (CISDV) society in the early 1950s to own and operate Catholic schools. The Bishop serves as a voting board member, and the Diocese provides spiritual oversight through assigned pastors at each school.
• Diocesan Oversight Committee and Finance Building CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernance bodies overseeing the Catholic Schools Plan implementation, working with the School Board of Directors and local school community representatives.
• Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCCCB provides criteria for catechesis and religious education standards. ICS religious education curriculum is aligned with CCCB criteria from infancy to age eighteen.
• BC Ministry of EducationcoreOthersRegulatory oversight body that certifies Island Catholic Schools as a BC independent school. Provides 50% of operating costs for public schools as government funding. Conducts regular inspections to ensure compliance with Independent Schools Act.
• Tourism VictoriaminorOthersReferral resource for international students providing information about Victoria as a study destination.
• Catholic Independent Schools British Columbia (CISBC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCISBC is the provincial body for Catholic independent schools. Developed the Bully Free School Program with student Code of Conduct and Anti-Bullying policies for member schools.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• St. Michael's University School: Independent K-12 school located in Victoria, BC, directly competing with ICS for families seeking premium private education on Vancouver Island. Similar scale and tuition band, though not faith-based.
• Vancouver College: Catholic K-12 boys school in Vancouver offering the same diocesan religious education framework and BC curriculum integration. Closest functional peer in terms of Catholic independent school model in BC.
• St. Thomas More Collegiate: Catholic K-12 school in Burnaby, BC operating under the same Catholic Independent Schools framework. Directly comparable in mission, curriculum integration, and tuition-based funding model.
• Brentwood College School: Independent boarding school located on Vancouver Island (Mill Bay), serving Grades 9-12. Competes with St. Andrew's for Vancouver Island families seeking premium secondary education, though secular rather than Catholic.
• Glenlyon Norfolk School: Independent K-12 school in Victoria, BC serving approximately 700 students. Direct local competitor for Vancouver Island families evaluating private school options outside the Catholic system.
• Little Flower Academy: Catholic girls school in Vancouver operating under similar diocesan oversight and CCCB-aligned religious curriculum. Direct mission-aligned peer within the BC Catholic independent school network.
• Pacific Christian School: Christian faith-based K-12 school in Victoria, BC. Competes with ICS for faith-oriented families on Vancouver Island, with overlapping values-based education proposition though different theological orientation.
• Shawnigan Lake School: Independent boarding school located on Vancouver Island serving Grades 9-12. Overlaps with St. Andrew's Regional High School for Vancouver Island families seeking premium secondary education.
• BC Christian Academy: Christian faith-based K-12 school in the Lower Mainland operating as an independent school under BC Ministry oversight. Comparable independent school funding model and faith-based education mission.

Regional players

• Archbishop Carney Regional Secondary School: Catholic secondary school in Maple Ridge, BC operated by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vancouver. Part of the broader BC Catholic independent school network, comparable in religious education mission but serving a different Lower Mainland catchment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/island.catholic.schools.cisdv

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ISLAND CATHOLIC SCHOOLS