Page 16 - StudyTravel Magazine September 2025 Issue

STUDENT TRENDS IN

THE USA & CANADA

SECONDARY FOCUS

Secondary schools in the USA and Canada
face ongoing challenges despite steady
international student demand. Visa issues
could hinder further growth, reports
Bethan Norris.

SECONDARY
Photo above: Besant Hill School. Photo below: Pickering College

econdary schools processing times. While In terms of student nationalities,
in the USA and our focus is on the CAPS-I statistics revealed a decrease
SCanada have K-12 sector, we in student enrolments from Germany
been struggling remain proactive (-20 per cent), Korea (-16.5), Italy
to recover their and supportive in (-26) and Spain (-17) in 2023/24, which
international guiding families Bonnie McKie, Executive Director
student numbers through these of CAPS-I said was due to a huge
to pre-Covid highs processes.” increase in students from Europe the
(October 2024, Spe- The latest year before due to pent up demand.
cial Report), although statistics from “Enrolment from these markets
both countries have CAPS-I (bit.ly/4nNSAiB) seems to have ‘normalised’ but is still

seen steady increases in for the 2023/24 academic significantly higher than reported
enrolments over the last few year saw a slight rise in in any year pre-pandemic,” she told
years. The introduction of visa quotas international student numbers of StudyTravel Magazine .
in Canada in 2024 – although not 2.3 per cent at 115 member schools.

directly affecting secondary school However, the total number of short “The US & Canada have
visas – has added further barriers and long-term students (34,070) was seen steady enrolment
within the sector for those intending still a long way off the 45,813 figure increases over the

on further study within the country. recorded for 2018/19. last few years”
And in the USA, the election of Presi- Jessie-May Rowntree from
dent Trump at the beginning of the Pickering College in Ontario says Leilani says that student enquiries
year, subsequent student visa regula- that international enrolments at are currently positive from a range
tion changes/disruption and anti- the school this year have remained of student markets. “Students from
immigrant rhetoric have impacted the steady. However, she adds, “In recent China and Vietnam continue to show
appeal of the country as a destination months, we’ve seen a noticeable strong interest in our programs.
for overseas study. increase in enquiries—particularly We also receive applications from
IN CANADA from families exploring alternatives students in the Middle East, and
while some face challenges with
to US boarding schools due to
evolving visa policies and geopolitical study permit approvals, we remain
Leilani Parial from English Montreal concerns. Canada’s reputation for committed to supporting them
School Board in Quebec says, safety, inclusivity, and academic through the process. Encouragingly,
“Recent political and immigration excellence continues to resonate with we’ve seen growing interest
developments have raised some families seeking a stable environment from South American
concerns regarding student visa for their children’s education.” countries, particularly Brazil

SEPTEMBER 2025 13