Kitsilano is one of Vancouver's most family-friendly neighbourhoods with tree-lined streets, proximity to the beach, a strong sense of community, and some genuinely excellent schools. Whether you've just moved to the area, you're planning ahead, or you're already living here and trying to figure out your options, this guide breaks down the schools in Kits and what you need to know about registration and application timelines.

Let's start with the most important thing: in Vancouver, registration deadlines are real, and missing them can mean waitlists. 

The Vancouver School Board

All public schools in Kitsilano fall under the Vancouver School Board (VSB), officially School District No. 39. The VSB operates on a catchment model, meaning your child is automatically assigned to a "neighbourhood school" based on your home address. You can find your catchment school using the VSB's online school locator tool at vsb.bc.ca.

Beyond your catchment school, you can also apply to "choice programs", like French Immersion or Fine Arts but these require separate applications with their own deadlines.

VSB Main Registration Page: vsb.bc.ca/page/5190/student-registration-kindergarten-to-grade-12

Public Elementary Schools in Kitsilano

Bayview Community Elementary
2251 Collingwood Street, Vancouver, BC V6R 3L1 (604) 713-5433  vsb.bc.ca/bayview

Bayview is a well-regarded neighbourhood elementary school serving Kindergarten through Grade 7. Known for a welcoming community atmosphere, it sits in the quieter, residential north end of Kitsilano near the waterfront. It operates as an English-language catchment school.

Gordon Elementary with French Immersion

2896 West 6th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V6K 1X1 (604) 713-5403  vsb.bc.ca/gordon

Gordon is a popular neighbourhood school that also offers a French Immersion stream, making it a destination for families who want bilingual education for their children from an early age. French Immersion at Gordon feeds into the French Immersion program at Kitsilano Secondary.

Henry Hudson Elementary with French Immersion

1551 Cypress Street, Vancouver, BC V6J 3L3 (604) 713-5441  vsb.bc.ca/henryhudson

Henry Hudson is another highly regarded Kitsilano elementary school with both an English and a French Immersion stream. The school emphasizes arts and physical education alongside individualized learning approaches. It's a popular choice for families in the south Kitsilano catchment area.

Lord Tennyson Elementary with French Immersion

1936 West 10th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V6J 2B2 (604) 713-5426  vsb.bc.ca/lordtennyson

Lord Tennyson is one of the feeder schools for Kitsilano Secondary's French Immersion program, making it popular with families planning a French-language education pathway all the way through high school. Grades K–7, with both English and French Immersion streams.

Public Secondary Schools in Kitsilano

Kitsilano Secondary School — with French Immersion

2706 Trafalgar Street, Vancouver, BC V6K 2J6 (604) 713-8961  vsb.bc.ca/kitsilano

"Kits Secondary" is the neighbourhood public high school for Grades 8–12 and one of the most well-known high schools in Vancouver. The school has a long and proud academic and cultural tradition, founded in 1917. It offers rigorous programming including Advanced Placement (AP) courses, a French Immersion stream, and pre-employment programs. Extracurriculars are a big part of the culture here.

Students moving from Grade 7 to Grade 8 at a VSB school do not need to register separately this transition is coordinated automatically by the elementary school.

Independent & Private Schools in Kitsilano

Fraser Academy — Grades 2 to 12
2294 West 10th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V6K 2H8 (604) 736-5575  fraseracademy.ca

Fraser Academy is BC's only day school dedicated entirely to students with dyslexia and language-based learning differences. If your child has been diagnosed with dyslexia, or you suspect they might have a reading or writing challenge that isn't being met in a mainstream school, Fraser Academy is worth exploring.

The school serves Grades 2–12 in small classes of 7–12 students, with a 3:1 staff-to-student ratio. Every student receives daily Orton-Gillingham language instruction, a gold standard for dyslexia treatment and the curriculum is delivered in a way that suits the way dyslexic learners think. Over 95% of Fraser Academy graduates are accepted into post-secondary programs.

Bursary assistance of up to 50% (some families report accessing up to 70% in combined tax relief and bursary) is offered based on financial need, assessed by an independent third party.

General Application Deadlines:

• First round: December 1
• Second round: February 16
• A psycho-educational assessment is required as part of the application

fraseracademy.ca/admissions/how-to-apply

St. Augustine's School — Kindergarten to Grade 7

2154 West 7th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V6K 0E3 (604) 731-8024  faithandfoundation.com

St. Augustine's is one of the oldest Catholic schools in Vancouver, serving Kindergarten through Grade 7. It's an independent school under the Catholic Independent Schools of the Vancouver Archdiocese (CISVA), with a strong academic reputation. It has consistently placed in the top five percent of BC schools in provincial assessments. The school community is close-knit and faith-centred.

Admissions priority goes to practicing Catholics of St. Augustine Parish, followed by other practicing Catholic families, then other families. Non-Catholic families are welcome to apply.

Admissions timelines:

• Open House / "Interested New Family" evening: held in January each year
• Principal interviews follow the open house
• Acceptance notifications and registration packages go out in mid-February
• Registration packages must be returned by the deadline

office@saschool.ca

Registration and Applications

Vancouver's school registration windows are fixed, and being early rarely gives you an advantage but being late can hurt you.

Public School Kindergarten Registration (VSB)

• Priority registration window: November 1 – January 31
• Children must turn five by December 31 of the year they begin school
• Registration is a two-step process: first, an online application; second, an in-person appointment at your catchment school to verify documents
• After the January 31 deadline, if there are more applicants than spaces, a lottery draw is held in mid-February
• Families are notified of placement by late April

Documents needed:

• Child's birth certificate or Canadian immigration/citizenship documents
• Proof of Vancouver address (property tax statement, rental agreement, or utility bill)
• Parent/guardian photo ID
• Child's immunization records

Kindergarten Registration: vsb.bc.ca/page/5195/priority-kindergarten-registration

French Immersion and Choice Programs (VSB)

If you want French Immersion or another "choice program" (like a fine arts focus or mini-school), there's a separate application process on top of your catchment school registration.

• You must register at your English catchment school first (by January 31) before applying for any choice program
• Choice program application window: January 6 – February 3 (annually)
• You can apply to up to three choice programs
• Applications are submitted online through the VSB portal

French Immersion / Choice Programs: vsb.bc.ca/kindergarten-district-choice-programs

Grades 1–7 School Transfers (VSB)

If you're applying for a choice program in Grades 1–7 (not Kindergarten), the application window runs from January 6 to February 3. Late applications after February 3 receive lower priority.

Grade 8 Secondary School (VSB)

Students moving from VSB elementary schools to Grade 8 at Kitsilano Secondary do not need to register separately. Students coming from outside the VSB (from independent schools or other districts) will need to contact Kitsilano Secondary directly to arrange registration.

A Few Tips 

Don't assume you'll get your first-choice school. Popular programs — particularly French Immersion at Gordon, Henry Hudson, and Lord Tennyson can be oversubscribed. If there are more applicants than spaces, a lottery draw is held. Apply to multiple choice programs if French Immersion is important to you.

Start your independent school research early. Intake processes includes assessment steps and wait pools that take time. Reach out to admissions well before the application deadline.

Registration is not first-come, first-served for public schools. The VSB priority registration window (November 1–January 31) treats all applications equally so there's no advantage to registering on November 1 versus January 15. What matters is getting it done within the window.

Check your catchment boundary. Kitsilano's streets can sit in different catchment zones so don't assume the closest school is your catchment school. Use the VSB's online locator tool to confirm yours.

Keep copies of everything. Application confirmations, appointment records, emails from schools. The registration process involves multiple steps and multiple deadlines, and having a paper trail is helpful if anything gets confused or if you plan to apply to multiple schools.

Quick Reference: Schools in Kitsilano

School Type Grades Phone Website
| Bayview Elementary  | Public  | K–7  | (604) 713-5433  | vsb.bc.ca/bayview
| Gordon Elementary  | Public + French Immersion  | K–7  | (604) 713-5403  | vsb.bc.ca/gordon
| Henry Hudson Elementary  | Public + French Immersion  | K–7  | (604) 713-5441  | vsb.bc.ca/henryhudson
| Lord Tennyson Elementary  | Public + French Immersion  | K–7  | (604) 713-5426  | vsb.bc.ca/lordtennyson
| Kitsilano Secondary  | Public + French Immersion  | 8–12  | (604) 713-8961  | vsb.bc.ca/kitsilano
| Fraser Academy  | Independent (Dyslexia)  | 2–12  | (604) 736-5575  | fraseracademy.ca
| St. Augustine's School  | Independent (Catholic)  | K–7  | (604) 731-8024  | faithandfoundation.com

Useful Links

• VSB School Locator (find your catchment school): vsb.bc.ca/page/60/school-locator
• Kindergarten Registration: vsb.bc.ca/page/5195/priority-kindergarten-registration
• Kindergarten Registration FAQs: vsb.bc.ca/page/5197/kindergarten-registration-faqs
• Choice Programs (French Immersion etc.): vsb.bc.ca/kindergarten-district-choice-programs
• VSB Main Registration Hub: vsb.bc.ca/page/5190/student-registration-kindergarten-to-grade-12
• Fraser Academy Admissions: fraseracademy.ca/admissions
• St. Augustine's Admissions: faithandfoundation.com/adminssion

Note: Registration dates and procedures can change annually. Always confirm directly with the Vancouver School Board (vsb.bc.ca) or individual schools for the most current information before submitting applications.

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