Vacouver Isle Public Schools (college, income, quality of life)

[DCB80]

I was wondering what the consensus is regarding the grade and High Schools in the towns outside of Victoria? I'm thinking around Lake Cowichan to Nanaimo on down towards Victoria. Maybe even going the other way in Sooke. I would like to be close to one of the ferries for obvious reasons. Lake Cowichan and Nanaimo appeal due to their proximity to the wilder side of the island.

I live in the States now (suburban Chicago) and am seriously thinking of moving to BC. In a couple of years - my oldest child will be 13 and youngest 10. Their schools right now are considered very good by US standards but I get the feeling, from some admittedly tough to wade figures, that the Canadian Provincial school systems are more rigorous and just flat out better across the board.

Here in the US, the schools are funded mostly by their districts/towns which mean the upper income areas have the better schools. Obviously not a good system. The comparison studies I have seen take the average of US schools which will skew averages down and compare those with the average Canadian schools which are more uniform and higher.

The decision to move is a tough one for us but is a Quality of Life decision and the harder I look the more sense this would make for my Wife and I and most especially the kids. What an eye opener for them BC would be. I have a job situation that would facilitate this for us. We have one more good move in us and now is the time to under take a major one like this. We want to stay put wherever we live next at least till the kids are gone to College. I myself can envision living out my days there in perhaps a more remote part of the Island.

Any opinions would be appreciated. Thanks.