Meet Pear Tree School's admission team at the Private School Expo: Vancouver (Oct 26). RSVP NOW
The big picture on Pear Tree School
We summarized the school ourselves
Pear Tree is young, and has all the attributes of youth: energetic, engaging, fun. The day program grew out of the Pear Tree education programs, and launched in 2016. So, it’s fresh, and indeed that’s an attraction. The feel is a great one, and that’s not to be underestimated—creating the right environment, the right feel, is important. With Pear Tree, it’s that vibrant feel that creates the first impression. The program is the definition of progressive, with small classes, hands-on instruction, and built around links across areas of the curriculum. Students are required to work collaboratively, solving problems together, and to engage creatively with each other and with technology. Activity is important, as is nutrition, which is just as it should be. The ideal learner is one who will thrive in an active, creative, small-group oriented environment.
We questioned the school adminstration
1. Who are you, as a school?
"Pear Tree School’s mission is to provide a complete, inclusive, and stimulating education that nurtures the intellectual, social, emotional, physical, and ethical development of every student. We aim to equip our students with the skills, knowledge, and values needed to lead fulfilling lives and make a positive impact on the world. By combining academic excellence with a whole-child approach, we strive to inspire and empower our students to be lifelong learners, critical thinkers, and responsible citizens."
Real-World Skills via Theme and Project-Based Learning
BC Curriculum 'Plus': Updated with Global Trends & Future Skills
Small class sizes (16 students): Personalized Attention & Tailored Learning
Healthy Hot Lunch Program: Boosts Daily Focus & Long-Term Development
Daily P.E. (1hr/day): Mix of Team Sports & Solo Activities for All-Round Development
Individualised Goal Setting and Personalised Learning
Digital Portfolios Connect Home & School
2. What do you do differently and uniquely well?
"At Pear Tree School, we prioritize a well-rounded education, combining traditional subjects with real-world applications. Our approach, supported by Master's educators, fosters...(more)
"At Pear Tree School, we prioritize a well-rounded education, combining traditional subjects with real-world applications. Our approach, supported by Master's educators, fosters critical thinking, creativity, and vital 21st-century skills.
We emphasize environmental awareness, global citizenship, and personal well-being, ensuring students grow into confident, knowledgeable individuals.
Trust us to prepare your child for the future with a curriculum that’s both comprehensive and deeply engaging."
3. What tradeoffs has your school made to serve families in this way?
"At Pear Tree School, our mission to provide a holistic, inclusive education that prepares students for all life's aspects inherently involves trade-offs to maintain our core...(more)
"At Pear Tree School, our mission to provide a holistic, inclusive education that prepares students for all life's aspects inherently involves trade-offs to maintain our core values and vision:
Personalization over Standardization:
We prioritize personalized learning that caters to student needs, which means we often eschew the one-size-fits-all approach dominant in traditional educational settings. This commitment promotes creativity and critical thinking over rote memorization.
Collaboration over Competition:
Unlike schools that emphasize competitive success as a benchmark for student achievement, Pear Tree encourages collaboration. We believe that cooperative learning helps build interpersonal skills and prepares students for real-world challenges.
Innovation over Tradition:
Our forward-thinking, innovative teaching methods sometimes comes at the expense of classical education models, but it equips our students with relevant skills, mindset and values for today’s dynamic world."
4. What key junctures in your school's history have most shaped its present?
"SCHOOL YEAR:
2011/12 - Founding of Pear Tree Education (main organization)
2016/17 - Founding of Pear Tree School (K-7)
2020/21 - Expansion of Pear Tree School
2024/25 -...(more)
"SCHOOL YEAR:
2011/12 - Founding of Pear Tree Education (main organization)
2016/17 - Founding of Pear Tree School (K-7)
2020/21 - Expansion of Pear Tree School
2024/25 - Launch of Middle School Annex (expansion to grades 8-9)
2025/26 - Launch of Yaletown Campus"
5. What type of student is a good fit for your school?
"Characteristics of Ideal Students:
Enthusiastic Learners: Students who are naturally curious and motivated to explore new ideas and concepts.
Collaborative Spirits: Those who...(more)
"Characteristics of Ideal Students:
Enthusiastic Learners: Students who are naturally curious and motivated to explore new ideas and concepts.
Collaborative Spirits: Those who excel in team settings and understand the value of learning from and contributing to the group.
Creative Thinkers: Individuals who enjoy thinking outside the box and applying their knowledge in innovative ways.
Adaptable and Resilient: Students who are not deterred by setbacks and are adaptable to various learning contexts.
Families Best Suited for Our School:
Value Holistic Development: Families who believe education should develop not just academic abilities but also social, emotional, and ethical skills.
Supportive of Innovation: Parents who value innovative teaching methods and a curriculum that incorporates technology and real-world applications.
Community-Oriented: Those who appreciate a strong, supportive community and the importance of building interpersonal relationships within the school setting."
6. Under what conditions would you advise a family against choosing your school?
"Pear Tree School's unique educational approach and philosophy mean that it isn't the perfect fit for every student or family. Our commitment to a holistic, integrated curriculum...(more)
"Pear Tree School's unique educational approach and philosophy mean that it isn't the perfect fit for every student or family. Our commitment to a holistic, integrated curriculum and a nurturing community environment sets us apart, but these same qualities might not align with the expectations or values of all families. Here are some conditions under which we might advise a family to consider other options:
1. Preference for Traditional Education Models (i.e. preference for rote memorization, textbooks)
2. High Value on Competitive Success
3. Expectation for Conventional Homework and Testing
4. Desire for a Specialization (e.g. STEM only) at K-12 Level
5. Preference for Less Parental Involvement
6. Desire for Name-Brand Prestige and 'Guaranteed' Entrance to Ivy League Universities
7. Prioritize Campus Size and Facilities Over Quality of Education"
7. To your knowledge, why do families choose your school over others?
"Families choose Pear Tree School over others primarily for its innovative approach to education that values and nurtures each student’s individual abilities within a holistic...(more)
"Families choose Pear Tree School over others primarily for its innovative approach to education that values and nurtures each student’s individual abilities within a holistic and integrated curriculum. Here are key reasons why families prefer our school:
1. Our 'Why' and Mission
2. Holistic Education Approach
3. Integrated Theme & Project-Based Learning
4. Personalized Learning Environment
5. Community and Values
6. Progressive and Future-Focused
Parents see Pear Tree not just as a school, but as a community that plays a pivotal role in developing competent, capable, and ethical individuals."
8. How would you characterize your school's image amongst the public?
"Pear Tree School is recognized for its innovative and holistic approach to education, deeply resonating within our community and beyond as a pioneering institution that prepares...(more)
"Pear Tree School is recognized for its innovative and holistic approach to education, deeply resonating within our community and beyond as a pioneering institution that prepares students not just academically, but as well-rounded individuals poised to navigate and contribute positively to the modern world.
Public Image and Prominent Features of Pear Tree School:
1. Innovative Educational Practices
2. Holistic Development Focus
3. Community and Inclusivity
4. Progressive Learning Environment
5. Environmental and Social Awareness"
9. What aspect of your school is underappreciated?
"Often overlooked, the core of Pear Tree School's success is The Pear Tree Method—an advanced, all-encompassing educational approach.
"Often overlooked, the core of Pear Tree School's success is The Pear Tree Method—an advanced, all-encompassing educational approach.
Unlike other schools, every teacher here utilizes this method, ensuring a unified, effective learning experience. Our approach isn’t just better; it’s meticulously designed to meet the evolving needs of modern youth.
It reflects our commitment to setting new standards for student outcomes by addressing every aspect of a child's development."
10. What might families find surprising about your school?
"Parents are often surprised by how deeply integrated our values are in every aspect of Pear Tree School, far beyond expectations. Unlike schools that only espouse values, we live...(more)
"Parents are often surprised by how deeply integrated our values are in every aspect of Pear Tree School, far beyond expectations. Unlike schools that only espouse values, we live them—comprehensively and daily.
What truly astonishes parents is our genuine whole-child approach, where every staff member contributes to each student's growth. Our unmatched Healthy Hot Lunch Program and diverse daily P.E. surpass expectations.
It's not just education; it's a community where values turn into action."
11. What improvements or changes has your school made recently?
"Pear Tree School is continually evolving - on literally a weekly basis - to meet the needs of our students, families and our Mission.
1) Facility Upgrades
2) Introduction of a...(more)
"Pear Tree School is continually evolving - on literally a weekly basis - to meet the needs of our students, families and our Mission.
1) Facility Upgrades
2) Introduction of a comprehensive Co-Curriculars program
3) Implementation of a mid-term report card
4) Expansion of Parent Workshops
5) Development of systems, processes and checklists to further standardize our approach schoolwide and across multiple campuses
6) Further enhancement of our rigorous teacher recruitment and pre-service training process
7) Expansion to secondary school grades"
12. How will your school change in the next 5 years?
"Over the next 5 years, we will have accomplished the following:
1) Completion of K-12 grade offering
2) Additional K-7 campuses around Vancouver
3) Launch of a dedicated...(more)
"Over the next 5 years, we will have accomplished the following:
1) Completion of K-12 grade offering
2) Additional K-7 campuses around Vancouver
3) Launch of a dedicated Grade 8-12 facility"
Preschool (current) — Our daughter’s experience at Pear Tree School has been very positive. She feels welcomed, engaged, and valued as both a student and an individual. She especially enjoys the diverse curriculum that balances academic learning with creative subjects like music and physical education. The warm and inclusive school environment has helped her build strong friendships and feel a true sense of belonging. If there's one thing she appreciates most, it’s how the teachers genuinely care about each student and take time to ensure they are supported in both their learning and social growth. There’s very little she finds disappointing—she actually looks forward to school every day. The atmosphere fosters not only academic growth but also emotional confidence, which we believe is essential at her age.
K (current) — We’ve found Pear Tree to be a great choice for our son. The level of personalization achieved with such small-sized groups has proven very helpful in keeping him interested and engaged. We love that all teachers—not only his own but also others in the school—know him by name, as do the other students, which has given us a true sense of community. We also love the theme/project-based approach, the early use of technology, and the multiple field trips and experiences (including amazing PE-related ones) he’s had so far. Finally, the healthy hot lunch program has been a lifesaver, and we’ve noticed that our son is eating a greater variety of foods after being involved in this program.
We always go back to our son's feedback after his first few weeks at Pear Tree Elementary - 'This school is definitely my kind of place". This sentiment hasn't changed in the two years that he has attended the school. We feel that our son is able to allow his curiosity to lead his learning whilst being encouraged, challenged and supported not only by his teachers but also by his peers. The diversity in daily activities doesn't leave room for boredom which is definitely suitable for an energetic child like ours. For a pre-teen, one of the current and most favoured activities would be the use of technology in the everyday learning environment. Whether it's coding or using a tablet to create a presentation, or an app to learn a new math concept, Pear Tree has very purposefully integrated technology in a way that is beneficial for all students. It would be unfair for us to not share that one of our son's best parts of his school day is the snack and lunchtimes!
Our energetic 8 year-old son loves Pear Tree because of the active learning activities, centered around engaging projects. For example, last term, his class did a project on Pioneers, and he got to make his own pioneer wagon and use math and other skills to calculate what he would need to pack in the wagon to see our family through the many-months journey across the continent. The project culminated in a field trip to Fort Langley, where the kids got to see pioneer life in action, while dressing up as pioneers themselves.
Our son also really enjoys the hour-long PE classes that he does everyday, including going to an actual gymnastics school and learning martial arts with a sensei at a nearby dojo. He also really likes the other kids and loves his teacher. At his old school, he would be sad on Sundays about going back to school, but those days are over thanks to Pear Tree.
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