For a child with a strong talent or interest, a specialty program can be a way into a school outside your catchment. But not every program works that way. District programs of choice usually do: getting in is the placement. Most sport academies don't: your child stays at their own school, or must already attend the host school.
26 of these programs can change your school. Every card says which, with the district's own wording and a link to the official page.
Kindergarten choice application, places by draw (siblings first). Half the day in Mandarin, half in English.
District choice programs are separate from cross-boundary: register at your catchment school, then apply for the program.
Choice application, places by draw. All Vancouver families are eligible.
A district choice program: all students who live in Vancouver are eligible.
Choice application at any grade, as space allows.
A district choice program, applied for outside the cross-boundary process.
Choice application.
"There is no catchment areas for this program."
Mainly at Grade 4, with no Mandarin needed. Siblings first, then a draw. Grades 5–6 only if there's space and some Mandarin literacy.
A district choice program, applied for outside the cross-boundary process.
Application, then a shortlist is auditioned or interviewed (band, choir, drama, media, strings or visual art).
A district choice program: getting in means attending Lord Byng. Vancouver residents only.
Applied for through the District Registry. On the ice about four times a week.
One of Vancouver's district choice programs: getting in means attending Britannia.
For students training 25+ hours a week at a provincial or national level, with a flexible timetable. Highly selective.
A district choice program: getting in means attending Magee.
Application, usually with an interview. About 1,400 students apply for about 500 Grade 8 places.
District choice programs: getting in means attending that school. Vancouver residents only.
Application through the District Registry.
A district choice program.
Tryout: a place depends on making the academy team.
Players don't apply to AVPA and coaches handle the transfer, but the district doesn't say catchment is waived.
A district-wide program of choice. The district doesn't publish the entry grade or method.
Called a district-wide program of choice; Burnaby says programs at other schools may need a Cross-District Transfer.
Application, report card, teacher questionnaire and interview. Up to 29 students per year.
"When they are accepted, the students will be admitted into A.R. MacNeill Secondary for the three years."
Application.
"Richmond area students who want to transfer to RHS for the I.B. Diploma Programme do not need to complete a District Transfer Form."
Application, places by random draw (siblings first, then Richmond residents).
Priority goes by living in Richmond, not by catchment.
Application and interview; an 86% average is recommended.
Students from other North Vancouver schools who get an offer submit a transfer request to Carson Graham.
Kindergarten lottery (rank up to 3 programs); for Grades 1–7, contact the school.
Surrey's program lottery has no catchment priority: "You do not need to live near the school."
Kindergarten lottery; for Grades 1–7, contact the school.
Placed through Surrey's program lottery, without catchment priority.
Kindergarten lottery.
Placed through Surrey's program lottery, without catchment priority.
Kindergarten lottery.
Placed through Surrey's program lottery, without catchment priority.
Application; info session in January. SAIL Secondary (Grades 8–10) applies in spring.
Open to Surrey residents.
Application.
Described as "a district program of choice", open to any Surrey Grade 10 student.
Starts in Grade 5, in place of French.
"Students from nearby schools can also register if there is space available."
Kindergarten or Grade 1, by random draw. Chinese language arts, math, career education and PE in Mandarin.
"If you have been accepted into a Program of Choice (French Immersion, Mandarin Bilingual and Montessori) for September, you do not need to apply for cross catchment."
Kindergarten draw, siblings first. Late Montessori (Grade 6) is very competitive: recent years only took students from K–5 Montessori.
Programs of choice don't need a cross-catchment application.
150 places a year. Forms, school referral and a test.
"If accepted to IB, you will not need to complete a cross catchment application."
Application and interview; oversubscribed.
A whole school of its own, so acceptance means attending it.
Application, tests and possibly an interview.
"Successful candidates attending other high schools in our district must transfer to West Vancouver Secondary School."
Kindergarten application; one class per school.
"Catchment areas are in effect for the program." Out-of-catchment transfers were closed except for siblings in 2026–27.
Prospect form; private academy with buses from across the region.
"All our student-athletes are required to attend North Delta Secondary." Whether a non-catchment form is still needed isn't stated.
Register at your catchment school and ask for Traditional in the comments.
Each school serves a whole area (Pebble Hill: Tsawwassen and Ladner; Jarvis: North Delta). The other area needs a non-catchment application.
Kindergarten lottery. Other main intakes at Grades 3, 8, 9 and 10; Grades 8–12 need an audition and interview (no portfolio).
"Any student in the Langley School District can register, and if accepted, can attend a choice program."
Kindergarten lottery, then waitlist. A long waitlist.
"A Choice School and as such has no defined catchment area."
Central choice application; LEAP needs a parent info session.
Langley choice programs: children accepted into Kindergarten don't need to register at their catchment school.
Application. (Pre-IB in Grades 9–10 is only for students in the R.E. Mountain catchment.)
"A District Choice Program… open to all residents of Langley."
Registration form; any skill level.
"Students from outside Langley Secondary may attend any academy for the full year or just the academy semester."
Their own Kindergarten registration phases in January.
Choice programs, but in-catchment children still come first, and most students are assigned to their catchment school.
Application.
"Open to students in [SD42] as well as students from neighbouring districts."
Checked against district and school websites on 2026-10-04. Fees and dates change each year.