Lisa, a teacher, participated in the introduction sessions for most Mini Schools twenty years ago, gaining firsthand experience in Mini School teaching. Some Hillhouse students participated in 12 of the 16 programs, including Mini Schools from all schools in Vancouver's West End and some in the East End. Hillhouse teachers were involved throughout the planning and coaching process for Mini School students, gaining a deep understanding of the highlights of each program. They provided accurate planning and guidance based on each student's individual strengths.
Mini School Highlights :
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16 middle schools, 18 elite programs
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Holistic development in academics, arts, science and technology, sports, and leadership.
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Early integration with IB and AP courses
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High university acceptance rate and highly competitive scholarships
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Starting from 7th grade, embark on a different journey of growth.
This is an "academic selection competition" that has attracted the attention of parents throughout the city. It not only represents a higher learning challenge, but also symbolizes the first step towards a top university.
Scan the QR code at the bottom to register and inquire now | Open your exclusive gateway to the future
1. What is a Mini School?
Mini School is an elite education program established by the Vancouver School Board (VSB).
To provide a higher level of learning environment for students with excellent academic performance, proactive learning, leadership and creativity.
✅ Small class sizes (25–30 students per class)
✅ Interdisciplinary Learning
✅ Emphasizes critical thinking and project-based learning ✅ Develops teamwork and leadership skills
2. Overview of each school's highlight projects
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Britannia Community Secondary
Britannia Hockey Academy : Specializing in ice hockey, graduates receive a skills certificate from the Canadian Hockey Association.
Venture Program: Focuses on developing leadership and a global perspective. Grades 8-10 are themed around values, understanding, potential and service. Grades 11-12 enter the IB curriculum. -
David Thompson Secondary
Odyssey Program : A unique program that inspires creativity. Lower grades can accelerate their completion of foundational courses, while upper grades can focus on AP courses. -
Eric Hamber Secondary
Challenge Studio Program : A project-based program that integrates English, social studies, technological innovation, and fine arts to cultivate creative and critical thinking. -
Gladstone Secondary
Gladstone Min i : Emphasizes creativity and leadership, and strengthens academics, independence, and teamwork. -
John Oliver Secondary
John Oliver Secondary : A technology-enhanced, outdoor-integrated curriculum that combines classroom learning with field research to strengthen logic and leadership skills. -
Killarney Secondary
Computer Science Mini School : Focusing on computer science, the curriculum covers areas such as programming, artificial intelligence, systems and network management, cybersecurity, and robotics. -
King George Secondary
King George Mini : Offers intensive courses for creative and ambitious students, covering English, mathematics, science, and social studies. -
Lord Byng Secondary
Byng Arts : Dedicated to arts education, offering courses in visual arts, drama, and music (choral and orchestral). The faculty consists primarily of industry professionals. -
Magee Secondary
Sparts Program : Designed for outstanding students in sports and arts, allowing them to balance academic studies with various professional training and competitions. -
Point Grey Secondary
Point Grey Mini : Emphasizes community service and leadership, and broadens students' horizons through cross-grade courses and outdoor learning. -
Prince of Wales Secondary
Prince of Wales Mini : Established in 1973, it focuses on leadership and holistic development, fostering students who balance academics and personal growth. -
Sir Charles Tupper Secondary
Tupper Mini : Emphasizing critical thinking and leadership practice, students can participate in school committees and engage in a wealth of social, debate, and event planning activities. -
Sir Winston Churchill Secondary
IDEAL Mini : A small, independent campus curriculum that integrates social responsibility, academic excellence, and creative education. -
Templeton Secondary
Templeton Mini : Fosters critical thinking through inquiry and project-based learning, cultivating graduates with initiative and social responsibility. -
Vancouver Technical Secondary
Flex Humanities : Self-directed learning courses focusing on the humanities, covering philosophy, literature, art history, political science, and more.
Summit Program: Enhances science and leadership education, and promotes community engagement and social justice. -
Windermere Community Secondary
Leadership Program : Centered on social responsibility and environmental protection, this program strengthens leadership and problem-solving skills through community activities.
3. Enrollment and Advantages
Admission to Mini School is highly competitive. Seventh-grade students must first pass a standardized written test administered by the Education Bureau (which includes cognitive, writing, and mathematics sections), and then participate in an individual interview conducted by the school to assess their overall qualities and academic potential.
Although admission is highly competitive, the advantages upon graduation are significant. The academic background of Mini School graduates is often highly recognized by universities, who consider the strengths of Mini School graduates during the admissions process. What students learn and acquire at Mini School will undoubtedly contribute to their success in gaining admission to their desired universities. In short, entering Mini School not only enhances students' academic competitiveness but also provides opportunities to obtain scholarships and choose their ideal university and major.
4. How to apply
Vancouver Mini School's Admissions Process :
Application submission (before December) → Individual interviews conducted by each school (January-February) → Admission announcement and confirmation (March).
While the admission requirements and examination processes for mini-schools in Vancouver are generally consistent, there are subtle differences between schools. A detailed comparison follows:
Target audience :
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It mainly recruits students who are graduating from 7th grade and will be entering 8th grade.
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Applicants must be Vancouver residents. Some schools accept applications from outside their district and are not restricted by district.
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Students should have excellent academic performance and possess interests and potential relevant to the features of the Mini School they are applying to.
Application process :
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Applications are typically submitted before December of Grade 7. Applicants must complete an online application form in advance and can usually select up to three Mini School preferences.
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Transcripts from elementary school (grades 6 and 7) are required as part of the comprehensive evaluation.
Interviews at various schools :
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After passing the written test, each Mini School will organize a personalized interview, which mainly assesses the student's overall qualities, communication skills, interests and strengths, and potential for the corresponding course.
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Interviews take many forms, and some schools require art students to submit a portfolio or demonstrate their work (such as Lord Byng's art program).
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Some schools also conduct brief interviews with parents to assess the family's level of support and cooperation.
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The interview elimination rate is approximately 60%.
Admissions Announcement :
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Each school selects students based on their overall academic performance and interview results.
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Admission results are usually announced in March, and students must confirm their enrollment by the end of March.
Differences between schools :
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Some mini-schools add special testing components to their entrance exams. For example, art schools require portfolios and art tests, while science and technology schools focus on math and logic tests.
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Some mini schools may place more emphasis on assessing students' leadership, social responsibility, or critical thinking skills in their interview questions.
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The opening hours for each school's information session vary, so parents and students can check the specific requirements in advance.
5. Format of written tests for various mini-schools in Vancouver
Written test format:
Cognitive ability test: covering logical reasoning, graphic reasoning, mathematical operations, and language comprehension, to examine students' thinking flexibility and comprehensive analytical ability.
The mathematics section mainly covers algebra, geometry, probability and statistics. The difficulty level of the questions is equivalent to that of intermediate to upper elementary school students, and the focus is on testing problem-solving skills and mathematical application abilities.
Language expression and writing: This includes reading comprehension and written expression, focusing on the ability to grasp the main idea of an article, logical thinking, language organization and expression. Essays generally require the discussion of personal opinions or experiences.
Comprehensive judgment questions: Some schools have added material analysis or situational judgment to test students' information integration and critical thinking skills.
6. Key points for exam preparation at various mini-schools in Vancouver
Key points for exam preparation :
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Logical reasoning training: This cultivates students' abilities in inference, induction, and deduction, which can be achieved through solving logic problems and similar IQ questions.
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Strengthening Mathematical Foundations: Focus on reviewing factors, common divisors, basic geometry, word problems, and simple algebra, emphasizing understanding and flexible application.
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Improve reading and writing skills: Read more comprehension articles, practice summarizing paragraph main ideas, expressing viewpoints, and writing argumentative essays to cultivate independent thinking skills.
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Time management skills: Due to the limited time in the written test, it is necessary to improve the speed and accuracy of answering questions and avoid spending too much time on a single question.
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Familiarize yourself with the question types: Do more past exam papers and mock exams to familiarize yourself with the question structure and question patterns, and improve your confidence in answering questions.
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Specifically for students who want to apply to Mini Schools in arts or leadership, prepare a portfolio or interview presentation. The written test may focus slightly on the corresponding subject.
💡Hillhouse Tips :
While the specific question types may vary slightly between different Mini Schools, they all generally focus on core abilities such as logical thinking, mathematical calculation, and text comprehension. It is recommended that candidates prepare comprehensively from both cognitive training and basic subject knowledge, emphasizing the improvement of language expression and logical reasoning to adapt to the diverse question types in the written exam.
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