Schools and Communities

The Rocky Mountain International Student Program (RMISP) is pleased to provide international students with top-quality curricular and extra-curricular opportunities to learn, play, and grow in School Districts 5, 6, 19 and 91. All RMISP high schools are committed to academic excellence in learning environments that are innovative, collaborative, and engaging.

Students can choose any of our public high schools in Golden, Invermere, Kimberley, Cranbrook, Fernie, Sparwood, Revelstoke, Vanderhoof, and Fort St. James (on a space available basis). Placements are also available at Laurie Middle School (Grade 7-9) in Cranbrook.

Our schools are known for small classes with supportive teachers and a low ratio of international students to Canadian students.

Explore our communities:

Golden

The town of Golden is located three hours west of Calgary and serves a population of approximately 6,725 people, including surrounding areas. Golden is nestled between the Purcell and Rocky Mountain ranges. Tourists from all over the planet visit Golden for the area's world-class outdoor recreation. Golden is home to Kicking Horse Mountain Resort, often ranked as one of the top ten ski resorts in North America.

Distance from school to downhill ski area: 15 kms

Community amenities and clubs:

Golden Secondary School

Grades: 8-12
Number of students: 320
Semester (grades 10-12) / Linear (grades 8-9)
Popular Courses: Outdoor Education, Metalwork, Genocide Studies, Physics, French Immersion (Langue et Culture de la Francophonie)
Fall Sports: Boys Soccer, Volleyball, Cross-country Running, Aquatics
Winter Sports: Basketball, Ski/Snowboard
Spring Sports: Golf, Mountain Biking, Rugby, Girls Soccer, Track & Field
Eagles Athletics

GSS Course Selection - Grades 10-12

GSS Course Selection - Grades 8-9

Invermere

Invermere is a lakeside resort community with a population of about 3,500 in town and 10,000 in the surrounding area. It is the economic center of the Columbia Valley and boasts many unique, vibrant shops and services. Panorama Mountain Resort is about 20 minutes west of Invermere and is serviced by a free shuttle during ski season.

Distance from school to downhill ski area: 22 kms

Community amenities and clubs:

David Thompson Secondary School

Grades: 8-12
Number of students: 460
Semester (grades 11-12) / Combined linear, semester, term (grades 8-10)
Popular Courses: Culinary Arts, Leisure & Recreational Activities, Theatre, Psychology, Computer Programming, Law Studies, Creative Writing
Fall Sports: Mountain Biking, Boys Soccer, Girls Rugby, Volleyball, Cross-country Running
Winter Sports: Badminton, Basketball, Curling, Ski/Snowboard
Spring Sports: Archery, Golf, Mountain Biking, Rugby, Girls Soccer, Track & Field
Lakers Athletics

DTSS Course Selection - Grade 10-12

DTSS Course Selection - Grade 8-9

Kimberley

Kimberley is a four-season resort community with a population of 8,500. It is located on the slopes of the Purcell Mountain Range across the valley from the world-famous Rocky Mountains. The town is located only 20 minutes from Cranbrook, the region's largest city. The Kimberley Alpine Resort is located within city limits and it is easily accessible to students.

Distance from school to downhill ski area: 4 kms

Community amenities and clubs:

Selkirk Secondary School

Grades: 8-12
Number of students: 540
Semester (grades 10-12) and Linear (grades 8-9)
Popular Courses: Outdoor Education, Foods, Hockey, Concert Choir, Visual Arts, Intensive French, Physical Geography, Social Justice
Fall Sports: Boys Soccer, Rugby, Volleyball, Cross-country Running, Swimming
Winter Sports: Badminton, Basketball, Ski/Snowboard, Curling
Spring Sports: Golf, Mountain Biking, Rugby, Girls Soccer, Track & Field
Storm Athletics

SSS Course Selection - Grades 8-12

Cranbrook

Cranbrook, RMISP's largest community with over 20,000 residents, is a regional center serving a surrounding area of nearly 50,000 people. It offers most of the services found in much larger cities including an international airport, shopping malls, block stores, the College of the Rockies, city buses, arts and movie theatres, fitness gyms, a 4,500-seat arena, a junior "A" ice hockey team, climbing gym, an indoor aquatic centre and other excellent recreation facilities. Cranbrook is located about 25 minutes from the Kimberley Alpine Resort.

Distance from school to downhill ski area: 32 kms

Community amenities and clubs:

Mount Baker Secondary School

Grades: 10-12
Number of students: 1,000
Semester
Popular Courses: Outdoor Education, Spanish, Entrepreneurship, Guitar, Food Studies, Drafting, Chess, Computer Programming, Law Studies, Anatomy and Physiology
Fall Sports: Mountain Biking, Boys Soccer, Rugby, Volleyball, Cross-country Running
Winter Sports: Badminton, Basketball, Ski/Snowboard
Spring Sports: Mountain Biking, Rugby, Girls Soccer, Track & Field
MBSS Sports/Athletics
MBSS Wild Theatre

MBSS Course Selection - Grades 11-12

MBSS Course Selection - Grade 10

Laurie Middle School

Grades: 7-9
Number of students: 370
Linear
Popular Courses: Woodwork, Metalwork, Computers, Art, Foods, Outdoor Education
Fall Sports: Volleyball
Winter Sports: Basketball
Spring Sports: Track & Field

LMS Course Selection - Grade 9 Electives

LMS Course Selection - Grade 8 Electives

Fernie

Brick and stone facades of the historic downtown. — Photo: Downtown Fernie by Mitch Winton / KootenayRockies.com

The city of Fernie, with a population of 6,500, has a beautiful, historic downtown area, an indoor aquatic centre, a hockey arena, the Fernie Arts Station, and many trendy restaurants, coffee shops, and stores. The Fernie Alpine Resort is about 10 minutes from the town and is world famous for its powder skiing.

Distance from school to downhill ski area: 9 kms

Community amenities and clubs:

Fernie Secondary School

Grades: 7-12
Number of students: 500
Semester (grades 10-12) and Linear (grades 7-9)
Popular Courses: Active Living, Fitness and Conditioning, Drama, French, Photography, Automotive Technology, 20th Century World History
Fall Sports: Boys Soccer, Volleyball, Cross-country Running, Swimming
Winter Sports: Basketball, Ski/Snowboard, Curling
Spring Sports: Badminton, Golf, Mountain Biking, Rugby, Girls Soccer, Track & Field
Falcons Athletics

FSS Course Selection - Grades 10-12

Sparwood

The community of Sparwood is located less than 30 minutes from Fernie and the Fernie Alpine Resort. Sparwood is one of the highest-elevation towns in Canada and is known for the coal mining that takes place on a large scale in the nearby mountains. Sparwood has 4,200 residents.

Distance from school to downhill ski area: 38 kms

Community amenities and clubs:

Sparwood Secondary School

Grades: 7-12
Number of students: 300
Semester (grades 10-12) and Linear (grades 7-9)
Popular Courses: Active Living, Fitness and Conditioning, Law Studies, Contemporary Indigenous Studies, French
Fall Sports: Boys Soccer, Volleyball, Cross-country Running
Winter Sports: Badminton, Basketball, Ski/Snowboard
Spring Sports: Archery, Golf, Mountain Biking, Girls Soccer, Track & Field

SpSS Course Selection Handbook

Revelstoke

A busy and pretty city set in the Columbia Mountains. — Photo: Revelstoke by Don Weixl / KootenayRockies.com

The city of Revelstoke, with a population of 8,500, is an active community situated on the edge of Mt. Revelstoke National Park and just west of world-famous Glacier National Park. The city is well known for its access to outdoor recreation activities, particularly those involving mountains and snow! Revelstoke Mountain Resort is globally known for its amazing powder and for having the largest vertical descent of any ski area in North America.

Distance from school to downhill ski area: 6 kms

Community amenities and clubs:

Revelstoke Secondary School

Grades: 8-12
Number of students: 400
Blended (semester and linear courses)
Popular Courses: Criminology, Environmental Science, Entrepreneurship and Marketing, Social Justice, Automotive Technology, Skateboarding, Volleyball
Fall Sports: Boys Soccer, Volleyball, Mountain Biking, Cross-country Running
Winter Sports: Badminton, Basketball, Curling, Ski/Snowboard
Spring Sports: Golf, Mountain Biking, Girls Soccer, Track & Field

RSS Course Descriptions - Grades 9-12

Vanderhoof

Vanderhoof is in the geographical centre of British Columbia, located on the banks of the Nechako River. It is a regional hub serving approximately 10,000 people. It is famous for its abundant wildlife - moose, deer, elk and bears. It is also a great fishing spot in summer and winter. Vanderhoof offers ample outdoor recreational opportunities including horseback riding, biathlon, snowmobiling, skating and indoor swimming at the new Vanderhoof Aquatic Centre (opened in 2019).

Distance from school to downhill ski area: 74 kms

Community amenities and clubs:

Nechako Valley Secondary School

Grades: 7-12
Number of students: 550
Semester (grades 10-12) and Linear (grades 8-9)
Popular Courses: Tutoring, Food Studies, Photography, Environmental Science, Woodwork, Automotive Technology, Spanish, Japanese, Law Studies
Fall Sports: American Football, Rugby, Boys Soccer, Volleyball, Cross-country Running
Winter Sports: Archery, Badminton, Basketball, Curling, Ski/Snowboard
Spring Sports: Rugby, Golf, Mountain Biking, Girls Soccer, Track & Field

NVSS Course Selection - Grade 11-12

NVSS Course Selection - Grade 10

NVSS Course Selection - Grade 9

Fort St. James

Fort St. James, located in north-central British Columbia, is a small community of 1,400 people, situated on the southeastern shore of Stuart Lake. Surrounded by Provincial Parks and many lakes, Fort St. James is known for four season outdoor activity and many wildlife species. Short, warm summers and snowy winters are the norm. Fort St. James is one of the oldest settlements in BC with a fascinating history as a former fur trading community.

Distance from school to downhill ski area: 15 kms

Community amenities and clubs:

Fort St. James Secondary School

Grades: 8-12
Number of students: 250
Semester (grades 10-12) and Linear (grades 8-9)
Popular Courses: Food Studies, Genocide Studies, Outdoor Education, Environmental Science, Metalwork
Fall Sports: Boys Soccer, Volleyball, Cross-country Running
Winter Sports: Basketball, Ski/Snowboard
Spring Sports: Girls Soccer, Track & Field

FSJSS Course Selection - Grades 11-12

FSJSS Course Selection - Grades 9-10

With so many great RMISP schools to choose from, deciding which one to attend can be a really difficult decision! All our schools and communities have something truly special to offer, you just need to figure out which community is best for you. Rest assured, all RMISP schools are committed to academic excellence, and students in all communities have access to a local homestay coordinator, monthly program activities and community amenities like ice arenas, tennis courts and swimming pools. If you have a specific interest or request, contact us for more information or view our comparison chart PDF:

Schools and Communities Comparison Chart

Schools and Communities

Explore our communities:

Golden

Golden Secondary School

Invermere

David Thompson Secondary School

Kimberley

Selkirk Secondary School

Cranbrook

Mount Baker Secondary School

Laurie Middle School

Fernie

Fernie Secondary School

Sparwood

Sparwood Secondary School

Revelstoke

Revelstoke Secondary School

Vanderhoof

Nechako Valley Secondary School

Fort St. James

Fort St. James Secondary School

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