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Parents sometimes wish for their children to attend a school that is not their catchment school. In such cases,
parents must first register at their catchment school.
School District 43 uses a random draw process for Cross Catchment Applications (using in-district priority, then out-of-district).
If enrollment projections show that space is available, Cross Catchment transfer applications will be accepted in accordance with the following priorities:
- sibling of a child who will be in attendance at the Cross Catchment school in the following year;
- a child residing within the SD43 residential boundaries (could include private or homeschool); and
- non-school district resident child.
For schools with capacity issues, the district may use grade and program-specific placements as well as one-to-one school placements to accommodate student movement in the process.
The School Locator tool on the District web site provides a student's designated catchment area schools. Catchment is based on permanent home address. Student address must correspond to the address in the school's record system.
There are two separate applications:
- Kindergarten Cross Catchment
- Grades 1-12 Cross Catchment (including a section to confirm sibling status)
Important Information About Schools at Capacity
A cross catchment application does not guarantee approval of the cross catchment request as many factors influence the number of cross catchment requests that each individual school can accommodate.
For example, a number of schools are near, or have reached, capacity and it is anticipated they will continue to be in this position for the next few years. Be aware that the District can only approve cross catchment applications up to the current and future available space in any given school and students within the catchment have priority for placement.
*Coast Salish Elementary School will consider families from the Smiling Creek Elementary School catchment area as a first priority for cross catchment acceptance.*
** Smiling Creek Elementary School is at/near capacity and will only accept sibling requests from cross catchment applications.
*** École Dr. Charles Best Secondary School is at/near capacity and will greatly limit the number of cross catchment applications accepted.
Approval of a cross catchment application is only applicable to the designated school requested by the student and assigned by the District.
Changing levels from elementary to middle, or middle to secondary school, outside of the student's assigned catchment school requires a cross catchment application and approval.
Application Process for Cross Catchment
- Applications will be processed based on the availability of space in schools and on a RANDOM DRAW PROCESS. (using in-district priority then out-of-district)
- The application requires the student Personal Education Number (PEN) (can be found in the MyEd BC Family Portal), child's birth date, home address, name of current or assigned school, and the name of the requested school(s). For students starting Kindergarten in September, you do not need to provide the student number/ PEN.
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All Kindergarten students must be registered for Kindergarten at their catchment school between Tuesday, February 4, 2025 and Thursday, February 6 2025. using the online form on their catchment school website. Cross Catchment Applications may only be completed after registration at catchment schools.
- Kindergarten students who have a sibling at a school outside their catchment, will be accepted at the sibling's school (provided the sibling will still be in attendance the following school year) and are requested to register for their sibling's school between Tuesday, February 4, 2025 and Thursday, February 6, 2025. Therefore, Kindergarten parents/guardians do not need to fill out a Cross Catchment Application verifying sibling status. The exception to this is for a Program of Choice. Parents must complete the online Kindergarten Programs of Choice Application for siblings to attend the same program. Kindergarten children with siblings in a Program of Choice must still apply online.
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Grades 1-12 students, who have a sibling at a school outside their catchment, will be accepted at the sibling's school (provided the sibling will be in attendance the following school year). Parents still need to complete the Cross Catchment Application confirming sibling status.
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International Students
- Ministry-funded international students (Work permit, Study permit, Diplomat) may apply during the Cross Catchment application period.
- Fee-paying international students should contact the International Education office for questions regarding their catchment school.
Telephone:604.936.5769
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Parents/ guardians will be informed by email about the results of the application some time during the first week in March. Successful applications will automatically be registered to the new school. Schools will contact successful applicants.
To apply for Cross Catchment
Cross Catchment applications for 2024 are no longer being accepted.
Cross Catchment application forms for September 2025 will be available from Friday, February 7, to Wednesday, February 12, 2025.
