Despite an overall increase in Vancouver’s population, both the birth rate and the number of school-aged children continue to decline in the city, resulting in a 26-year history of generally declining enrolment at the VSB. Although there is growth of school-aged children in certain high-density areas such as Olympic Village, the North Cambie Corridor, and Downtown core, this is offset by the declining number of school aged children in other areas in Vancouver. Several factors contribute to the enrolment decline including an ageing population, reduced birth rate, and housing unaffordability resulting in more families with school aged children moving out of the city.

Enrolment History

The chart below illustrates the trend of declining enrolment in relation to overall population growth in the District. Since 1997, the population in the City of Vancouver and UBC/UEL areas has increased by about 160,000 whereas in the same period VSB enrolment has declined by close to 9,000 students. In 10 years, by 2032, the area is expected to have an increase of around 84,000 residents whereas VSB is forecast to have approximately 43,000 students, a decrease of nearly 5,000 students from 2022 numbers.  

Enrolment Forecast 

The total District operating capacity for K-12 schools is 57,398* spaces. The District’s enrolment peaked in 1997 with close to 57,000 kindergarten to Grade 12 students. As of September 30, 2022, enrolment for the 2022-23 school year was 48,580 students, meaning that today, there are about 9800 surplus spaces available to accommodate future unanticipated enrolment growth. Additionally, a new school at Coal Harbour is expected to open in 2024, increasing the District’s operating capacity further. As the graph illustrates below, the impact of development and increasing population has not offset the decline in school aged children (5-17 years old), and hence the decline in enrolment. 

*Excludes Carleton Elementary and Garibaldi Annex, neither of which accommodate students.