Priority Kindergarten Registration
Registration is a two-part process.
Step 1:
Step 2: Verifying Documentation
- Contact your catchment school to set up an appointment to bring your supporting documentation
- Bring supporting documentation to your catchment school during your scheduled appointment
- For children born outside of Canada: Book an appointment with a registrar at the Newcomer Welcome Centre (NWC) to complete your registration (an appointment booking link will be provided in the confirmation email after submitting your application - step 1). Visits are by appointment only Please email the NWC at nwc@vsb.bc.ca if you do not receive a link to their bookings page.
The following original documents must be presented to complete your application:
- Proof of British Columbia residency
- Child's original birth certificate
- Applicable Immigration/Citizenship/Permanent Resident Documentation
- Immunization records, if available
Some schools may request additional identification as proof of residency.
NOTE: Some catchment schools may not able to accommodate all kindergarten students who applied during the priority application period. If a school does not have kindergarten spaces to accommodate all student applicants, an electronic draw determines the offer and waitlist sequence. Students who can not be accommodated at their catchment school will be added to the catchment waitlist, and will be placed in another VSB school.
Here is a video of our most recent
District Choice Programs
Families must register at their neighbourhood catchment school during the priority registration period (November 1 - January 31) before applying for kindergarten District choice programs.
Applying for a District choice program is a separate process and runs from January 6 and February 3, 2026. Visit the Kindergarten District Choice Programs page for more information.
Cross-boundary
Families who wish to apply to a school outside of their catchment area, known as cross-boundary, must first register their child at their neighbourhood catchment school.
Applying for cross-boundary is a separate online process and runs during the month of February 2026. Cross-boundary applications will only be considered after all in-catchment students have been accommodated.
More information can be found at cross-boundary registration.
Contact
Contact your neighbourhood catchment school for assistance with the application processes for priority kindergarten registration.
Additional Information
While the majority of schools can accommodate all their catchment students, there are some schools that cannot. Of the 87 elementary schools in the VSB, 14 schools are currently identified as full schools for 2026-2027. For planning purposes, below is the list of schools that are identified as full schools and as such may not have physical space to accept all kindergarten students in their catchment.
All students in the District will be placed in a school, even if you are in an identified full school. The District will do its best to place your child at the nearest school to your catchment school. Applying to a choice program or cross-boundary is optional. The District will automatically place your child at another school as close as possible to your catchment area.
2026-2027 Full Schools:
Carr
Cavell
c?w?as Ch’elxwá7elch Skwuláw?txw Seaside
Elsie Roy
False Creek
Fraser
Jamieson
Maple Grove
Nelson
Norma Rose Point
Oppenheimer
Roberts
Sexsmith
šx?w?q???θ?t Crosstown
Sibling Priority for kindergarten admission is only provided 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:
Kindergarten Applications Received Between November 1st and January 31st
- In-catchment Kindergarten applicants with siblings in attendance at the school (and who will be attending next year) will be placed first at their preferred school.
- The names of all other in-catchment registrants will be entered into a random draw for the remaining Kindergarten spaces. Students will be registered at their preferred location as space permits.
- Students who cannot be accommodated at their preferred location will be accommodated at the location that has space and placed on waitlist for their preferred location in the order in which their name is drawn.
- Between January 31st and the second Friday in June (when school organizations are finalized), students on the ordered waitlist will be offered spaces at their preferred location as space becomes available. This waitlist will remain active until September 15th.
Kindergarten Registrations Received AFTER January 31st
- All completed in-catchment Kindergarten applications received after January 31st, will be considered for enrolment based on date and time stamp order.
- Students will be registered at their preferred location, if there is space, or added to the bottom of the existing waitlist for their preferred location and registered at the location that has space to accommodate them.
NOTE: In the event there are more in-catchment registrants than can be accommodated at either catchment site students will be placed at a neighbouring school until space becomes available.
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 | Registration Process Opens |
January 31 | Deadline for Kindergarten Registration to be eligible for Kindergarten Choice Program Draw |
January 31 | Deadline for Kindergarten Registration to be eligible for Catchment Kindergarten Enrollment Draw if required
|
First Monday in February | Cross boundary application process opens |
Last Friday in February | Deadline for submission of cross boundary applications |
First Monday in March | Cross boundary late transfer application process opens |
By March 31 | School district will communicate whether the cross boundary application has been accepted, denied, or wait-listed. Priority application deadline for Grade One Choice programs. Sibling priority does not apply after March 31. |
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 late transfer applications |
First Friday After School Opening | Date by which student is removed from school register if they have not yet attended and the school has received no prior communication from the parent/guardian |
September 30 | Cross boundary and cross boundary late transfer application waitlists for current school year 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:
Frequently asked questions
- Kindergarten Registration FAQs
- Registration for Children Born Outside Canada
- Kindergarten District Choice Programs