Admissions
Hello from the admissions office at CMA!
Thank you for visiting our website and your interest in our growing school. It has truly been a pleasure to watch our school evolve since we first opened the doors in the Fall of 2013.
As we continue to grow, some things change and other things stay the same. The admissions team still strives to create a diverse, accepting, safe, and inclusive community of well-rounded learners and we continue to welcome applicants of all faiths, ethnicities, sexual orientations, and gender identities.
Over the past few years, admission to CMA has become much more competitive but offers to attend our school continue to be based upon the strength of the student’s application, available space, the composition of the cohort, references, and recommendations. CMA siblings do have priority provided they meet all admission requirements.
I encourage all families interested in CMA to reach out to me, Tracy Keeling, Director of Admissions & Communications, to start the conversation about our unique school. I am always thrilled to talk about CMA, and my favourite part of this job is supporting families through the application process.
Ms. Tracy Keeling
Director of Admissions & Communications
CMA Admissions Virtual Coffee Talks
June 24 & November 19, 2025
January 29 & February 20, 2026
10:30-11:30 am
Are you interested in CMA for your child? If so, grab your favourite cup of coffee and join our Director of Admissions and Head of School online for an hour of conversation about our school and admissions process.
Please call 604-390-3262 or email [email protected] to pre-register. Once registered, participants will receive the meeting link via email.
Tuition & Fees
Coast Mountain Academy Fee Structure
1. CMA New Family Enrollment Fees
Application Fee: $350.00 CAD
Futures Fund: $5,000.00 CAD
The Futures Fund is a non-refundable registration fee paid one time, per family.
2. Annual Student Tuition
Grade 7-9 $19,400 CAD
Grade 10-12 $19,650 CAD
Tuition can be paid semi-annually in May and September or monthly from May to December. The 8 month payment plan includes a 2.5% financing fee.
3. Enriched Experiential Education Fee (E3 Fee)
Enriched Experiential Education (E3) Fee: $1,625.00 CAD
E3 fees cover all trips and workshops per student, per year.
4. Uniform Costs
All CMA students are required to wear the uniform provided through Cambridge Uniforms. Uniform costs will vary per student but costs are generally $300 – $400 CAD.
5. Information Technology Costs
CMA students will require a laptop with an up-to-date operating system as well as a calculator. Costs associated with the laptop and calculator will vary.
6. Bus Transportation Fees
CMA students who live outside of the Garibaldi Highlands neighbourhood in Squamish can take advantage of our school bus service. Fees vary depending on travel distance. Currently, Squamish residents pay $375 CAD/year and Whistler residents pay $2,025 CAD/year.
7. Siblings Discount
Siblings of current CMA students receive a 10% reduction in tuition.
8. Additional Costs
Possible additional costs include:
- Special order uniform items like toques, baseball hats, jackets, bags, etc.
- Out of province and international trips (airfare, accommodations, meals)
- Activity and entrance fees
- Conference fees
- Musical instrument rental
- Lab costs
- Externally administered exams
- Some external online courses
Financial Aid
CMA is committed to accessibility for all students who show an active interest in their education. We are committed to supporting engaged and inquisitive students who demonstrate integrity and compassion and who commit wholeheartedly to a Coast Mountain Academy educational experience.
We currently offer financial aid in the form of CMA bursaries, which are need-based awards. The bursary amount varies between families as it is based on the current financial need of the family. New student applicants can apply for financial aid before, after, or at the same time as they complete their new student application. Current CMA families can also apply for bursary awards at any time throughout the academic year as the need arises.
Applications are reviewed by Apple Financial Services, but funded by CMA and effectively reduce the amount of tuition owed. The maximum amount of bursary awarded by CMA is $13,000 leaving a minimum of $4,900 tuition to be paid by parents for middle school students and a minimum of $5,900 tuition for senior school students. It is important to note that CMA bursary awards are renewable, but can only be applied to annual tuition, leaving all other fees to be paid by parents, guardians, or other sponsors.
It should also be noted that Apple Financial Services charges an application fee of $130.00 per applicant. Please visit their website for more information, the FAQ page is particularly helpful applefinancialservices.ca/faq.
Apply to CMA
Thank you for your interest in Coast Mountain Academy! If you would like to apply to our school, here is what you need to know…
For the 2024/25 academic year, we will be accepting online applications through our MyCMA portal starting on January 15th through to March 31st. To ensure consideration in the first round of admission offers the student application, supporting documents, and application fee must be received on or before March 31, 2024. After this date, applications will only be considered if space allows.
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Applying to CMA? Here is what we will need:
- A completed CMA Student Application form via MyCMA
- Application fee ($350 non-refundable)
These supporting materials are also required to complete the application process:
- Passport-sized image of the student, taken within the past 12 months
- Copy of applicant’s birth certificate or passport
- Parent/Guardian documentation. We require one of the following: Canadian Birth Certificate/Passport, copy of valid Visa/Permit or PR Card
- Proof of BC residency with current address (utility bill, phone/cable bill)
- Final report cards for the last two years
- IEP’s and Learning Assessments from the last 2 years (if applicable)
Applicants will need to provide an email address for a teacher and a community member willing to act as reference.
Optional:
- Copies of school and/or community achievement certificates
- Copies of awards
- Samples of art
We appreciate the time each applicant invests in their application to CMA. Once the completed application form, supporting materials, and application fees are all received, the application will be reviewed by the Admissions team.
It is important to note that CMA receives more applications than we currently have space to accept. All applications will be reviewed but unfortunately, we can not guarantee admission will be offered to all applicants.
Please feel free to contact our Director of Admissions, Tracy Keeling at 604-390-3262 if you have any questions regarding the admissions process.
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What New Parents Are Saying About Us
“What we really appreciate about CMA is the high level of communication teachers have with not just the kids – but the parents too. I like that I am able to ask a teacher how my son is doing and I get an immediate, detailed response. It’s hard not being able to go in and see the teachers and get a feel for what’s going on. But at CMA I feel connected. As a result, we are then able to help at home to keep my son on task. The teachers also appreciate parent interest – and you never feel like any questions or concerns are an inconvenience. They care about our family!”
– Lee Ann & Gord
(proud CMA Parents)
“My daughter has always enjoyed learning, but previously wasn’t given the opportunity she needed to grow and diversify, or to follow the topics which really excited her. This, over time, caused her joy of learning to ebb and she began to turn away from her passion for exploring new areas and ideas. At CMA, that spark for learning has returned and her excitement to learn, create, and collaborate grows each day! Every day she tells me how much she loves the campus and the feeling of belonging to something more than just a school. For us, CMA has been a turning point in her education and hopefully will continue to be so, as she moves from Middle School to High School at the CMA campus.”
– Lori
(proud CMA Mom)
“We could not be happier with Coast Mountain Academy! Our son was never one to love school until he started at Coast. He is in his second year at Coast and is absolutely thriving and loves all aspects of his experience at the school. The faculty is truly amazing and the curriculum is outstanding. The kids work hard and play harder and the formula the school is using of classroom learning and outdoor leadership is truly exceptional. I recommend this school wholeheartedly!”
– Heidi
(proud CMA Mom)
Proud Member
