Academics

Cornerstone offers a rigorous, enriched program that meets and extends the B.C. Ministry of Education learning standards. Our goal is to build strong academic foundations, high personal standards, and confident, capable learners.

What You Can Expect at Cornerstone

  • The BC curriculum, enriched with extended learning that inspires curiosity and deepens understanding

  • High expectations for effort, independence, quality, and pride in one’s work

  • Strong results on provincial assessments, with particular success in mathematics

  • Home reading in every class to develop confident readers and a lasting love of literature

  • Individualized instruction that meets students where they are while supporting continued growth and meaningful challenge

  • Modern learning skills—including typing, research, coding, and responsible technology use—introduced thoughtfully and at developmentally appropriate stages

  • Small class communities and low student-to-teacher ratios, allowing educators to know each child well and provide meaningful individual guidance

Student-Teach Ratios

By maintaining classes with a low student teacher ratio, Cornerstone children receive significant individual attention.  Student teacher ratios:

  • Kindergarten – 12 students per teacher

  • Grades One and Two – 15 students per teacher

  • Grade Three to Seven – 15 - 18 students per teacher

Accreditation

Cornerstone Montessori School is a non-profit society and a Class 1, secular, co-educational independent school accredited by the B.C. Ministry of Education. The school operates under a Board of Governors, with day-to-day leadership provided by administration.

Our Approach

Cornerstone combines the strongest elements of Montessori education with the academics, technology and experiences students need for the world they are growing into. In K–2, two full-time teachers in each classroom allow for highly individualized instruction, with students progressing according to readiness rather than being limited by grade-level expectations. Grade 3 serves as an intentional bridge, adding structured academics, research and technology while maintaining Montessori foundations. In Grades 4–7, students learn from subject-specialist teachers and use personal MacBooks for research, digital projects, web design, coding, CAD and 3D printing. Across every grade, we extend beyond the BC curriculum with thoughtful, challenging units and engaging discussion. The result is a program that evolves with the child—building the independence, knowledge and confidence that inspire a lifelong love of learning.