WHEN young families are searching for a new home to better fit their changing lives, local schools are often top of the list when differentiating between neighbourhoods. Some areas may have convenient amenities, some may have vast green space, while others may be very well connected to the surrounding parts of the city. ALL of these attributes are important to family life, but for young families, which school's catchment area your new home falls within tend to be a top consideration.
Here we take you through the top public secondary schools in Metro Vancouver as ranked by the Fraser Institute. While we acknowledge that the Fraser Institute’s criteria for top schools is limited, it is nonetheless a good place to begin when considering neighbourhoods to live and schools to consider.
Lord Byng
Location: 3939 West 16th Avenue
Neighbourhood: West Point Grey
2015-16 Rank: 19/293
Established in 1925, Lord Byng Secondary School is named in honour of Julian Hedworth George Byng. The school is well-known for its Byng Arts Mini School program and their wide range of sports and music programs. Some alumni have carried successful careers in the arts, including Chris Haddock, a screenwriter best known for popular television series such as MacGyver and Da Vinci’s Inquest, as well as installation artist Stan Douglas, whose work can be seen in the Woodward's building on Hastings Street.
Sir Winston Churchhill
Location: 7055 Heather Street
Neighbourhood: Kerrisdale
2017-18 Rank: 62/251
Sir Winston Churchill Secondary School first opened in 1956 and since the 1980s has been internationally recognized for its International Baccalaureate Diploma Program. The school has students with birthplaces listed in over 50 countries. The curriculum, supported by the integration of technology, focuses on individualized learning for each student with the belief that given support and caring, all students are able to achieve high levels in one or more areas.
Eric Hamber
Location: 5025 Willow Street
Neighbourhood: South Cambie
2017-18 Rank: 70/251
Home to upwards of 1,700 students, Eric Hamber Secondary School sees roughly 70% of their senior class graduate with honors. Opened in 1962 and having been renovated and expanded multiple times, the school has recently been approved for redevelopment. The construction of a newly approved 80 million dollar structure will begin in 2022. The building constructed with LEED gold standards will include a child-care facility. In addition to a strong academic program, including tailored programs for gifted students (The Challenge Program), Eric Hamber is also home to Canada’s largest high school fashion design program.
Kitsilano
Location: 2550 10th Avenue West
Neighbourhood: Kitsilano
2017-18 Rank: 79/251
Founded in 1917, Kitsilano Secondary School celebrated its centennial just last year. Proudly demonstrating a strong academic program, the school enhances learning through a French Immersion Program in addition to programming designed for students who are having learning difficulties (Kits Pre-Employment or emotional fragile students (Vinery Program( . Beyond academics, Kitsilano is home to a strong sports program offering basketball, rugby, soccer, and hockey.
Point Grey
Location: 5350 East Boulevard
Neighbourhood: Kerrisdale
2017-18 Rank: 106/251
Built in 1929 in a Collegiate Gothic style, Point Grey Secondary welcomes all types of learners to their well-rounded curriculum incorporating arts and sports, along with strong academic programs. With Advanced Placement courses in Biology, Calculus, Chemistry, Computer Science, English, Physics, and Psychology, it’s no surprise that eighty-five per cent of graduates continue with post-secondary education. Interesting fact: popular comedians Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg both attended Point Grey Secondary and wrote the movie Superbad based on their experiences at the school and even named their company Point Grey Productions.
Looking to buy a home in the catchment area for one of these great schools? Contact me today.
Location: 3939 West 16th Avenue
Neighbourhood: West Point Grey
2015-16 Rank: 19/293
Established in 1925, Lord Byng Secondary School is named in honour of Julian Hedworth George Byng. The school is well-known for its Byng Arts Mini School program and their wide range of sports and music programs. Some alumni have carried successful careers in the arts, including Chris Haddock, a screenwriter best known for popular television series such as MacGyver and Da Vinci’s Inquest, as well as installation artist Stan Douglas, whose work can be seen in the Woodward's building on Hastings Street.
Sir Winston Churchhill
Location: 7055 Heather Street
Neighbourhood: Kerrisdale
2017-18 Rank: 62/251
Sir Winston Churchill Secondary School first opened in 1956 and since the 1980s has been internationally recognized for its International Baccalaureate Diploma Program. The school has students with birthplaces listed in over 50 countries. The curriculum, supported by the integration of technology, focuses on individualized learning for each student with the belief that given support and caring, all students are able to achieve high levels in one or more areas.
Eric Hamber
Location: 5025 Willow Street
Neighbourhood: South Cambie
2017-18 Rank: 70/251
Home to upwards of 1,700 students, Eric Hamber Secondary School sees roughly 70% of their senior class graduate with honors. Opened in 1962 and having been renovated and expanded multiple times, the school has recently been approved for redevelopment. The construction of a newly approved 80 million dollar structure will begin in 2022. The building constructed with LEED gold standards will include a child-care facility. In addition to a strong academic program, including tailored programs for gifted students (The Challenge Program), Eric Hamber is also home to Canada’s largest high school fashion design program.
Kitsilano
Location: 2550 10th Avenue West
Neighbourhood: Kitsilano
2017-18 Rank: 79/251
Founded in 1917, Kitsilano Secondary School celebrated its centennial just last year. Proudly demonstrating a strong academic program, the school enhances learning through a French Immersion Program in addition to programming designed for students who are having learning difficulties (Kits Pre-Employment or emotional fragile students (Vinery Program( . Beyond academics, Kitsilano is home to a strong sports program offering basketball, rugby, soccer, and hockey.
Point Grey
Location: 5350 East Boulevard
Neighbourhood: Kerrisdale
2017-18 Rank: 106/251
Built in 1929 in a Collegiate Gothic style, Point Grey Secondary welcomes all types of learners to their well-rounded curriculum incorporating arts and sports, along with strong academic programs. With Advanced Placement courses in Biology, Calculus, Chemistry, Computer Science, English, Physics, and Psychology, it’s no surprise that eighty-five per cent of graduates continue with post-secondary education. Interesting fact: popular comedians Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg both attended Point Grey Secondary and wrote the movie Superbad based on their experiences at the school and even named their company Point Grey Productions.
Looking to buy a home in the catchment area for one of these great schools? Contact me today.
