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Our District

Children play in the background of image with Welcome to the Vancouver School Board

The Vancouver School District 39 is a large, urban and multicultural school district that includes some of the most affluent and impoverished urban neighbourhoods in the country. This setting provides wonderful opportunities as well as serious challenges.

LogoWe wish to acknowledge that we are on the shared traditional territories of the Coast Salish people and acknowledge the Musqueam,  Squamish, Sto:lo, and Slay-wa-tooth Nations... and for this we are thankful. It is with respectful consideration that the programs and services that are provided to students and families are sensitive to the cultural protocols of these communities (click here to learn more about our Aboriginal Education programs) 

The Vancouver School District is among the most diverse public school systems in Canada with an annual enrolment of approximately 54,000 students in Kindergarten to grade 12. In addition, the Vancouver School District provides educational programs and services to full-time Adult Education and Continuing Education students.

Our programs and services address the extraordinary and complex challenges associated with a diverse district. Our goal is to serve the needs and tap the potential of each of our students so that they may achieve their unique potential.

Vancouver schools are involved in a wide range of partnerships with cultural, arts, and service organizations. The district also offers a multitude of services and program options to meet student interests and needs.

Our Mission

To enable students to reach their intellectual, social, aesthetic and physical potential in challenging and stimulating settings which reflect the worth of each individual and promote mutual respect, cooperation and social responsibility.

Download the Ready Reference (pdf) for contact information for all VSB schools, adult education centres, district facilities and district staff.

EnrollmentDiversityOur Schools
  • 29,000 Elementary students
  • 26,000 Secondary students
  • 2,500(FTE) Adult education students
  • 9,300 Students in continuing education programs
  • 1,410 Students in distributed learning programs
  • 14,000+ Students take Summer school courses

 

  • 25% of K-Grade 12 students are designated ESL
  • 60% speak a language other than English at home
  • 126 languages have been identified in our schools
  • 7% of elementary and secondary students are special education learners
  • 9% of elementary students are French Immersion learners
  • 4% of secondary students are French Immersion learners
  • 16% of students participate in a school meal program
  • 2,000 students attend full day kindergarten
  • 4% of secondary students are Aboriginal learners
  • 2000 self-identified Aboriginal students representing 600 bands and nations attend Vancouver schools

 

 

  • 90 Elementary schools, including 17 elementary annexes
  • 18 Secondary schools
  • 7 Adult education centres
  • One Distribute Learning School - Vancouver Learning Network. The program has two locations: the elementary program is housed at Garibaldi Annex and the secondary program is housed at John Oliver Secondary.
  • District programs include early and late French Immersion (18), Mandarin Bilingual, Fine Arts, Gifted and Montessori
  • 56 district programs connected to our secondary schools addressing a wide range of needs from remedial to enrichment
  • 12 Community school teams