Secondary Focus: Student trends in the USA and Canada

Secondary schools in the USA and Canada have been struggling to recover their international student numbers to pre-Covid highs (October 2024, Special Report), although both countries have seen steady increases in enrolments over the last few years. The introduction of visa quotas in Canada in 2024 – although not directly affecting secondary school visas – has added further barriers within the sector for those intending on further study within the country. And in the USA, the election of President Trump at the beginning of the year, subsequent student visa regulation changes/disruption and anti-immigrant rhetoric have impacted the appeal of the country as a destination for overseas study.

In Canada

Leilani Parial from English Montreal School Board in Quebec says, “Recent political and immigration developments have raised some concerns regarding student visa processing times. While our focus is on the K-12 sector, we remain proactive and supportive in guiding families through these processes.”

The latest statistics from CAPS-I (bit.ly/4nNSAiB) for the 2023/24 academic year saw a slight rise in international student numbers of 2.3 per cent at 115 member schools. However, the total number of short and long-term students (34,070) was still a long way off the 45,813 figure recorded for 2018/19.

Jessie-May Rowntree from Pickering College in Ontario says that international enrolments at the school this year have remained steady. However, she adds, “In recent months, we’ve seen a noticeable increase in enquiries—particularly from families exploring alternatives to US boarding schools due to evolving visa policies and geopolitical concerns. Canada’s reputation for safety, inclusivity, and academic excellence continues to resonate with families seeking a stable environment for their children’s education.”

In terms of student nationalities, Canadian Association of Public Schools – International (CAPS-I) statistics revealed a decrease in student enrolments from Germany (-20 per cent), Korea (-16.5), Italy (-26) and Spain (-17) in 2023/24, which Bonnie McKie , Executive Director of CAPS-I said was due to a huge increase in students from Europe the year before due to pent up demand. “Enrolment from these markets seems to have ‘normalized’ but is still significantly higher than reported in any year pre-pandemic,” she told StudyTravel Magazine.

Leilani says that student enquiries are currently positive from a range of student markets. “Students from China and Vietnam continue to show strong interest in our programs. We also receive applications from students in the Middle East, and while some face challenges with study permit approvals, we remain committed to supporting them through the process. Encouragingly, we’ve seen growing interest from South American countries, particularly Brazil and Mexico. In addition, there has been steady engagement from students in Germany, Italy, and Spain. More recently, we’ve received inquiries and applications from Eastern European countries for the 2025/26 school year, signaling new and exciting opportunities for cultural exchange and collaboration.”

Jessie-May adds, “Looking ahead, we anticipate continued global uncertainty, both political and economic, that will influence decision-making among families considering international education. The rise of international schools within students’ home countries adds further complexity. More than ever, we will rely on the expertise and insight of our agent partners to help identify families who are aligned with the mission and values of Pickering College.”

In the USA

Schools in the USA report that conditions are challenging with US universities expecting international student numbers to fall this year: bit.ly/3IAEAIT. However, demand remains high, according to Tracy How from Besant Hill School in Ojai, CA. “Over the past 12 months, we’ve continued to see strong global interest, though there has been a slight dip in international enquiries and applications as some families take a more cautious approach due to the current US visa landscape,” she explains. “Even so, many international families remain eager to pursue a meaningful secondary school experience in the USA, and we’ve been encouraged by the consistency of that interest.”

According to the latest statistics from Sevis, the number of F-1 and M-1 visa holders at US secondary schools increased between 2024 and 2025 by eight per cent, although it remained 34 per cent down on figures for 2019.

Chinese and Vietnamese student numbers increased between 2024 and 2025, while Korean and Spanish students showed a notable decline. With a strong dependence on Asia for student recruitment some schools report that they are trying to diversify in order to shore up numbers in the future. Tracy says, “Our largest international student populations come from China and South Korea, and those numbers have held pretty steady. We’re also seeing growing engagement from other regions – likely thanks to expanded outreach efforts and strong referrals from current families and agents.”

Christy Horst from Lancaster Mennonite School in Lancaster, PA, says that international enquiries have increased over the last year, although “cost and visa refusals have kept our numbers from growing significantly”. She adds, “I am hopeful that with strong educational opportunities in the USA, we will continue to grow and recruit secondary students from abroad to prepare them for higher education in the USA. Some factors, including US administration decisions on immigration and visas, are out of our control and it remains to be seen how that will affect the next few years. We’ve been putting more resources into marketing and support services for our international students at the same time that some US high schools are closing programs, so we hope that will help our International Student Program to thrive.”