Proposed School Boundary Revisions

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The Richmond School District’s Board of Education gathered valuable information from the public during its consultation on the Long Range Facilities Plan (LRFP) from February – June 2019. Subsequent to the approval of the LRFP, district staff reviewed all school catchments and identified opportunities to align boundaries, reduce the number of major road crossings, and develop options to reduce the number of split-feeder elementary schools.

The District is now beginning the next phase of facilities planning. It is important to note that families that have a child currently attending a school with a proposed school boundary revision will:

  • not be affected by the boundary revision,
  • have the choice to remain at the school in their current catchment or transfer to a school in their newly proposed catchment,
  • have the choice to enrol any siblings in their current catchment or their newly proposed catchment.

Who is affected?

As of September 2020, all new students living in an adjusted catchment area will be part of the newly formed catchment.

All school boundary revisions can be found in the “Proposed School Boundary Revisions” section on the right-hand side of this page. Only those schools impacted by a boundary revision will be listed.

If you have any feedback, please respond by November 15, 2019 by providing your comments online or by submitting written feedback to your school. The Board of Education is committed to a robust consultation process and will:

  • Authentically engage in an inclusive and meaningful way;
  • be accountable to maintain and grow our relationships in an honest, transparent, and responsible way;
  • and listen in order to make decisions that are best for our students.

All comments will be considered prior to the Board of Education making a decision on the proposed boundary revisions on December 11, 2019.


学区通告

2019年2月至6月期间关于长远设施规划(Long Range Facilities Plan, LRFP)的公众咨询为列治文学区的教育委员会提供了极为有价值的信息。在长远设施规划经批准之后,学区工作人员审阅了所有学校的校区分界,确认了有关校区边界划分、减少主要道路交通口数量,并发展方案用以减少多选生源小学的数量。

于2019年10月21日起,列治文学区将开始下一阶段的设施规划。如果您所在的校区分界将面临任何改动, 您所在的学校校长将会与您沟通。值得特别注意的是,如果您家中的孩子目前就读的学校将会面临校区分界改动,你的家庭将:

  • 不受校区边界改动的影响,
  • 可以选择按照目前的校区分界升学, 或按照新校区分界申请转学去新校区内的学校,
  • 可以选择按照目前的校区分界注册任何兄弟姐们入学,或按照新校区分界注册入学新的校区。


谁会受到影响?

2020年9月起,居住在新校区分界的所有 新生 入学申请, 将按照新校区分界分配入学。

如果您有任何回馈,请于2019年11月15日之前在Let’s Talk网站上留下您的评论,或向您的学校提交书面回馈意见,学务委员会致力于创建一个健全的咨询流程,并将:

  • 真正地以开放包容,积极有意义的方式进行意见征询;
  • 全力打造诚实、透明、负责的相互关系;
  • 倾听意见,为学生做出最佳决策。

学务委员会将在2019年12月11日作出决议以前, 考虑所有收获的建议。

The Richmond School District’s Board of Education gathered valuable information from the public during its consultation on the Long Range Facilities Plan (LRFP) from February – June 2019. Subsequent to the approval of the LRFP, district staff reviewed all school catchments and identified opportunities to align boundaries, reduce the number of major road crossings, and develop options to reduce the number of split-feeder elementary schools.

The District is now beginning the next phase of facilities planning. It is important to note that families that have a child currently attending a school with a proposed school boundary revision will:

  • not be affected by the boundary revision,
  • have the choice to remain at the school in their current catchment or transfer to a school in their newly proposed catchment,
  • have the choice to enrol any siblings in their current catchment or their newly proposed catchment.

Who is affected?

As of September 2020, all new students living in an adjusted catchment area will be part of the newly formed catchment.

All school boundary revisions can be found in the “Proposed School Boundary Revisions” section on the right-hand side of this page. Only those schools impacted by a boundary revision will be listed.

If you have any feedback, please respond by November 15, 2019 by providing your comments online or by submitting written feedback to your school. The Board of Education is committed to a robust consultation process and will:

  • Authentically engage in an inclusive and meaningful way;
  • be accountable to maintain and grow our relationships in an honest, transparent, and responsible way;
  • and listen in order to make decisions that are best for our students.

All comments will be considered prior to the Board of Education making a decision on the proposed boundary revisions on December 11, 2019.


学区通告

2019年2月至6月期间关于长远设施规划(Long Range Facilities Plan, LRFP)的公众咨询为列治文学区的教育委员会提供了极为有价值的信息。在长远设施规划经批准之后,学区工作人员审阅了所有学校的校区分界,确认了有关校区边界划分、减少主要道路交通口数量,并发展方案用以减少多选生源小学的数量。

于2019年10月21日起,列治文学区将开始下一阶段的设施规划。如果您所在的校区分界将面临任何改动, 您所在的学校校长将会与您沟通。值得特别注意的是,如果您家中的孩子目前就读的学校将会面临校区分界改动,你的家庭将:

  • 不受校区边界改动的影响,
  • 可以选择按照目前的校区分界升学, 或按照新校区分界申请转学去新校区内的学校,
  • 可以选择按照目前的校区分界注册任何兄弟姐们入学,或按照新校区分界注册入学新的校区。


谁会受到影响?

2020年9月起,居住在新校区分界的所有 新生 入学申请, 将按照新校区分界分配入学。

如果您有任何回馈,请于2019年11月15日之前在Let’s Talk网站上留下您的评论,或向您的学校提交书面回馈意见,学务委员会致力于创建一个健全的咨询流程,并将:

  • 真正地以开放包容,积极有意义的方式进行意见征询;
  • 全力打造诚实、透明、负责的相互关系;
  • 倾听意见,为学生做出最佳决策。

学务委员会将在2019年12月11日作出决议以前, 考虑所有收获的建议。

Guest Book

Please feel free to provide any comments or feedback regarding the proposed school catchment revisions: 

CLOSED: This discussion has concluded.

Palmer already has huge issues with high traffic volume which the layout of the school and the neighbourhood cannot accommodate. Additionally the push to have French only and English only schools is short sighted. There is huge enrichment on both sides by these students being able to attend a dual track school. There are many friendships and interests that cross the immersion boundaries and allow for a robust and lively student body. I strongly urge the board to reconsider implementing the propose catchment changes and to reach out to the community for feedback first. Your decision will impact the lives of students and families for many years to come. The current proposal is inherently flawed in that it appears many important factors were not considered or ignored. Your decision may spell the death knoll for families in some communities like South Arm. Surely together with public and teacher consultation, we can come up with a better plan!!!

CBeresford over 4 years ago
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In speaking with parents, we would like to see the school board recognize FI students as part of the school population when assessing if a school is at capacity or not. The idea that FI students are not part of the 'catchment' doesn't match the reality that the schools operate like they are. We would also like the board to consider schools that are connected to community centers and schools that are functioning well and at capacity (including FI) in deciding how to rezone. Understanding that you are trying to meet the needs of a changing population distribution, why would you consider consolidating (closing) McRoberts when it is a well attended school in an active and vibrant community and connected to a well used community center? If there are concerns about Cambie, as it is also connected to a community center, why not consider trying to increase the student poulation there? Has consideration been made to add mini programs to Cambie?

CBeresford over 4 years ago
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I am frustrated with the proposed boundary changes & disagree completely with the changes to the McRoberts catchment. Both my kids currently attend the EFI program at Whiteside. We purposely purchased our home in this area so that we would be walking distance from both Whiteside & McRoberts. The proposed catchment change for McRoberts would have my children walking to McNair (a 25 min walk crossing two intersections) versus a 5 min walk across Williams. In many cases siblings at McRoberts come to Whiteside at the end of their school day to pick up their siblings, how would this work with them 15 min away instead of 2? What I'm always surprised about is that when making these decisions students in the FI program are always thought of as "out of catchment" which is not the case. We literally live across the street from McRoberts and anyone looking at the new catchment map would laugh if I told them my kids won't be going to the school that I can see from my front door. Ridiculous!

Emah over 4 years ago
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Our family strongly disagrees with the proposed boundary changes for McMath Secondary.

We live closer to Byng Elementary, but due to catchment lines our kids attend Westwind. Now because of those lines, our children will now be expected to commute all the way to Steveston London - approximately 3.5 kms - vs a 2 minute walk. It is very unfair. Our neighbourhood families shouldn't have to endure this to accommodate out of catchment French Immersion. Families that purchase or rent homes to be in the McMath catchment shouldn't be penalized.

Parents may have to drive their kids to Steveston-London therefore increasing our carbon footprint or take on the cost of transit. We could always say "the kids can just walk" - but they won't be walking to the neighbourhood high school - we are talking about a 3.5km walk with heavy backpacks in Vancouver weather. Big difference!

Please, please reconsider.

RS over 4 years ago
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Although I understand, and do not necessarily disagree, with with need to close a high school in the South Central area, I am having significant difficulty understanding the logic of the choice of McRobert's over another school. By the district's own stats, McR is the only school in the area that is at their targeted operating capacity at 85% - their own long-term projections (without the boundary changes), keeps that number at 85%. The districts numbers have Palmer currently at 50%, and long tern at 62%; McNair currently at 60%, long tern 70%, and SLSS at 74%, up to 80% long term. Furthermore, McR is only second to SLSS in total students. So why would the district look to impact the largest number of students and families. Even should they argue that FI is it's own program and could be moved, they are still not taking into account they are displacing and impacting all those families. As well, McR is adjecnt to South Arm - do not discount the benefit of having the 2 together.

ahill over 4 years ago
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We don't agree with the boundary changes! They don't make sense for the kids to walk to school, thus forcing parents to drive (more traffic) or take the bus (further costs). But what a lot of parents don't know if that this is only Phase One. The boundary changes are in preparation to CLOSE one high school and one elementary school in the south central area. This was not communicated with the boundary changes, but it is in the Long Term Facilities plan (over 700 pages). Low enrollment is cited, but the board doesn't "count" French Immersion students. They are a bubble viewed as moveable. For example, McRoberts is considered under enrolled, but is full! The French Immersion track is strong & flourishing, but the students don't count!! They don't realize that a lot of these kids actually live in the catchment areas. Regardless, these kids are part of the whole school and the community. The learner should come FIRST. And that means not taking them out of their community!

GlenBC over 4 years ago
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I completely disagree with the proposed McMath to Steveston-London boundary change. We are backing the McMath field which in a reasonable mind mean my children would be able to attend that high school when the time comes, but instead you are proposing we send our children to a school which is 31 minutes walk compared to the less the 5 minutes (of walking up a greenbelt and not on any busy roads) to a high school right there. Its mind boggling this would even be a suggestion!

TabathaK over 4 years ago
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As well, have they looked at the overall facilities. McNair has only one gym - can they support an increase in the number of students? What will be the impact on their sports programs - there is not enough space to support grades 8-12 basketball usage with only one gym, with more kids. McRobert's and Palmer both have 2 gyms and could better support sports programs. The Board's long range plan indicates that all the schools need upgrades, so unless they are looking at the value of the land to sell off, financial considerations should be moot.

ahill over 4 years ago
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Furthermore, I think the Board needs to look at the comments - especially those around commutes - and think if they are truly following their stated vision - that Richmond is the best place to learn and lead. Having longer commutes to school (especially if there is a school within a 15 minute walk), does not make Richmond the best place to learn. And if the Board does split FI and community stream kids from one Elementary school, it will definitely ensure that vision is not being fulfilled. As well, they would not be fulfilling their Mission of cultivating a safe, accepting and engaging community as you will have isolated the FI kids from their English peers. I also wonder why the Board would choose to close the largest of the 3 High Schools in the South Central region, thereby displacing the highest number of students, instead of looking at closing Palmer. McNair and McRoberts both have over 950 students, whereas Palmer is under 600.

ahill over 4 years ago
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I am interested in what the long range plans for all the schools is. If there are planned closures, I would like to know what the reasons behind closing an individual school are. There are rumours, and I think the Board needs to clarify it's plans. I have heard of McRobert's potentially closing, which I happen to think is a poor choice. If that were to happen, you would be dividing 2 elementary school populations - Whiteside and Bridge. If that were to happen, I believe the Board would be intentionally segregating French Immersion students. Elementary school students should be moving together to one school as they have already created a community within their school. If the two streams were to be separated at the high school level, the Board would be impacting relationships kids have already formed, which can be instrumental in ensuring they have an easier transition into high school.

ahill over 4 years ago
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I strongly disagree with boundary change regarding moving Burnett catchment to Boyd! My two kids are at Grauer and it takes them less than 10 minutes to walk to Burnett and they don’t need to cross any major road. But with the boundary change, they have to walk around 30 minutes and cross 2 busy major roads Blundell and Francis to get to Boyd. That doesn’t make sense! Much longer walk and crossing 2 major roads increase their chance of accident. Being working parents, we can’t drive the kids to school in the morning. With the proposed boundary change, we have to worry about not only the kids safety but also their spending too much time commuting to school. Please reconsider!

Shelly over 4 years ago
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We completely disagree with the new boundaries being proposed on the West of No.1 Road and North of Steveston Highway. 1. My child who will be in high school next year should be able to walk back and forth safely from school. Hugh Boyd is so much farther from our home than Mc Math...crossing major intersections and walking the roads on dark winter days should be given enough consideration for the safety of our children. 2. Friendships play a major role in a child's social and emotional health and well-being. Just knowing that my child can walk to and from high school with friends and families that have grown with us gives us much more security that our child will be okay in high school because we know that they can always look out for each other. This is the same community she has grown with and built friendships with for the past 7 years of elementary school.
SAFETY and SECURITY (physical, social and emotional) of our children should always be considered when making such changes.

JoMa over 4 years ago
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Westwind students should not be moved from the McMath catchment to the Steveston-London catchment. Here are a few reasons why:
1. French immersion students should be moved into another LFI school so neighbourhood kids aren't left to commute so far. This is not fair to make catchment students commute to accomodate out of catchment students.
2. Most Westwind students have addresses that are closer to the McMath catchment. Our children should not have to commute when we live right beside McMath.
3. By moving Westwind students to Steveston-London, we are increasing our carbon footprint by having to drive our children to school or for them to take transit along a busy road instead of them being able to walk. Safety needs to the first priority, and having students commute along multiple busy roads is not safe.

kelliw over 4 years ago
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We strong disagree with proposal boundary change regarding move McMath to Steveston-London . We live at Merchantman Pl , just walk around 3 or 4 minutes to McMath Secondary. That was the main reason for us to buy property beside the school. Kids can walk to school safely.
If we have to move to Steveston-London, our child has to take bus to school, it cost around 1 hour on the road. It is very inconvenient for us. Not make sense for us! Please consider it! Thanks your kindly understanding!

tinax over 4 years ago
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I wished to have a proposal to move from McNeil to Richmond High.

Many families have challenges with commuting every day. Thank you kindly for understanding!

Atoosa_1355 over 4 years ago
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I live on Baffin Dr next to the Morris park. When I was a teenager (30yrs ago), I walked everyday to Burnett Sec. It just took me 5 mins to walk across Morris park, to Granville Ave then to Burnett. However, the present catchment is "Boyd Sec"! When my kids grow up, I have to drive everryday to No.1 Rd, Blundell Rd, Francis Road, pass thru the busy Seafair Mall to Boyd. I've sent e-mails to School Board before to suggest revision. Please kindly consider including the residences on BAFFIN DR, BAFFIN CT and DAMPIER DR into the Burnett boundary. Thank you very much.

BURNETT123 over 4 years ago
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I live on Baffin Dr next to the Morris park. When I was a teenager (30yrs ago), I walked everyday to Burnett Sec. It just took me 5 mins to walk across Morris park, to Granville Ave then to Burnett. However, the present catchment is "Boyd Sec"! When my kids grow up, I have to drive everryday to No.1 Rd, Blundell Rd, Francis Road, pass thru the busy Seafair Mall to Boyd. I've sent e-mails to School Board before to suggest revision. Please kindly consider including the residences on BAFFIN DR, BAFFIN CT and DAMPIER DR into the Burnett boundary. Thank you very much.

BURNETT123 over 4 years ago
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I strongly disagree with the proposal to close McRoberts and separate the English and French students. The feeder schools for McRoberts work hard to integrate the two streams. Many of my son’s best friends are in English while he is in French. Instead of graduating together, he and the other French students will graduate from Palmer with classmates they don’t know. I know this proposal says “no current students” will be impacted but how is that possible if you close McRoberts before 2024? Unless you are using that infuriating notion that French kids don’t “live” at that school and can be moved anywhere because they drive to school anyway. My son walks and this move would increase the distance by almost a kilometre and have him crossing 2 busy streets. If you are planning to separate French and English, make a French high school so at least something positive would come from the disruption.

lmurdoch over 4 years ago
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Hi there,
My current catchment is Mcroberts, it will be changed to Mcnair soon by subject plan as per today's email from Principal.
I don't agree this change :

1. Unless city wants to close McRoberts in the future, which is obviously a wrong idea, I don’t see the reason for the change.
2. It take about 10 mins to get Mcroberts from Pigott Road. it will take 25 mins to Mc Nair. So every single day, kids living in my area have to spend 50 mins on the street.
3. Safety issue, compared with William road, NO 4 road and Garden city road are busier.
4. Mcroberts has been in Southarm for years, and famous for its French and English program existing parallelly. There is no reason to close it or change it to potential pure French school. Think about Richmond, pure French school may not be highly desired.
5. Mcroberts has less students compared with many schools in Richmond. It is good to maintain mine area in its catchment. Southarm community deserves a high school.

amywang over 4 years ago
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My family lives in the current McRoberts catchment. We completely disagree with the proposed boundary changes. My child will have to travel much further to reach school, crossing two major intersections as opposed to one to reach school. Travel time would go from 5 minute walk to 25 minutes. How does that even make sense? I believe many families feel the same way. NO TO BOUNDARY CHANGE! This decision should not be the decision of the school board alone, it affects the livelihood of many families. Very disappointed

Alan over 4 years ago
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Page last updated: 21 Oct 2019, 05:07 AM