Priority Kindergarten Registration

While the majority of schools can accommodate all of their catchment students, some schools do not have enough available space to accommodate all catchment students

In the case where a catchment school does not have enough available space to accommodate all students who applied in the priority registration period, an electronic draw determines the offer and waitlist sequence. The draw takes into account priority categories. Your catchment school will either offer your child a spot or will add your child to their waitlist and place your child at another VSB school as close as possible to your catchment school .

Of the 87 VSB elementary schools, 14 schools were identified as full schools for 2026-2027. For planning purposes, below is the list of schools that were identified as full schools. Full schools for the 2027-2028 school year will be determined January 31, 2027

2026-2027 Full Schools:

Carr
Cavell
cəw̓as Ch’elxwá7elch Skwuláw̓txw Seaside
Elsie Roy
False Creek
Fraser
Jamieson
Maple Grove
Nelson
Norma Rose Point
Oppenheimer
Roberts
Sexsmith
šxʷwəq̓ʷəθət Crosstown

Sibling Priority for kindergarten admission is only applicable to students who register between November 1 - January 31. Sibling priority is not applicable to applications received after January 31. Find out more information about: Sibling Priority

Kindergarten applications received and verified between November 1st and January 31

Catchment kindergarten applicants with siblings enrolled at the school (and who will be enrolled next school year) will have priority at their catchment school.
The names of all other catchment applicants will be entered into a random draw for the remaining Kindergarten spaces. Students will be accommodated at their catchment school as space permits.
Students who cannot be accommodated at their catchment school will be placed on the catchment waitlist based on randomized electronic draw order. They will be accommodated at a nearby school that has space

Kindergarten registrations received AFTER January 31

All completed catchment kindergarten applications received after January 31 will be accommodated at the catchment school if there is space, or added to the catchment waitlist in the order received and subsequently placed at a nearby school.

Schools must enroll all in catchments students prior to offering a spot to any Cross Boundary Applicants.

Student Admission, Cross Boundary and Cross Boundary Late Transfer Timeline
Date	Event/Process
November 1	Priority kindergarten registration process opens
January 31	Deadline for priority kindergarten registration and eligibility for kindergarten choice program draw
January 31	Deadline for kindergarten registration to be eligible for catchment kindergarten enrollment draw if required All supporting documentation must be submitted to your catchment school for your application to be considered complete and to be eligible for any applicable electronic draw, should there be more applicants than available space at the school.
First Monday in February	Cross boundary application process opens
Last day in February	Deadline for submission of cross boundary applications
First Monday in March	Late cross boundary application process opens (paper-based forms delivered directly to the cross-boundary school)
By March 31	Schools will communicate to all cross boundary applicants whether the cross boundary application has been accepted, denied, or waitlisted.
Second Friday in June	Deadline for priority enrollment of newly arrived catchment students at their catchment school
Second Friday in June	Deadline for submission of cross boundary applications
First Friday After School Opening	A student is removed from a school’s enrolment if they have not yet attended, and the school has received no prior communication from the parent/guardian.
September 30	Cross boundary waitlists for current school year are dissolved.

Students who complete a kindergarten application in the priority period (November 1st to January 31st) will be accommodated before late applicants.
School Draws will occur if there is not available space for in-catchment applicants. Available space includes physical capacity, resources, staffing, or educational programs available or planned for a school as defined by the district.
If a draw is necessary, all Kindergarten applicants whom completed their applications by January 31st will be entered into the draw
- In-catchment Kindergarten applicants with siblings in attendance at the school (and who will be attending next year) will be placed first.
- The names of all other in-catchment registrants will be entered into a random draw for the remaining Kindergarten spaces.
- Students who cannot be accommodated will be placed on a waitlist in the order in which their name was drawn.
  - Waitlisted students will be placed at a neighbouring school which has available space.
Any applications that are completed after January 31st will be added to the bottom of the waitlist in time and date stamp order.
All students will be offered placement at a Vancouver School. The district will attempt to place students in schools as close to their home as possible.
Students will remain on the ordered waitlist until they are offered a placement. Offers will be made based on waitlist order.

View brochure: