Moving for a school? Read this first.
See how every catchment area compares, from elementary to secondary. But moving is expensive, and it doesn't guarantee a place.
Moving gives priority, not a guaranteed place
- Full schools: BC law gives catchment children priority only if there's space. Vancouver listed 14 of its 87 elementary schools as full for 2026–27; new catchment families there can be placed at another school.
- Timing: move before kindergarten or Grade 1 registration, or before your district's Grade 8 address date (in Vancouver, January 1 of Grade 7). Families who arrive late are placed where there's space.
- Proof: districts ask for a lease or a purchase agreement with subjects removed, plus a utility bill. A relative's address or a short-term rental isn't accepted.
- Where the elementary decides the secondary (North Vancouver, West Vancouver, Delta and likely Surrey), moving after your child starts elementary may not change the secondary.
- Cheaper routes exist: French Immersion and Catholic school can lead to a strong secondary without moving. Compare them for your address.
Catchment areas, rated from elementary to secondary
Tap an area on the map or pick one from the list.
Loading the map…
Looking in another district?
These districts keep their catchment maps on their own sites. Look up an address there, then see how its schools compare on FirstBell's school pages or the path comparison.
Ratings compare each school's provincial test results with the BC average and mostly reflect who lives in an area, not only how well a school teaches. Areas with a strong rating often have higher home prices. Maps: District of North Vancouver and City of Surrey, under their open data licences. Always confirm your catchment and whether a school is full with the district before you move.