Located between the mountains and the sea, West Vancouver is the most affluent residential area in the city and one of Canada‘s most desirable places to live. It’s also a top choice for expats looking for an excellent education for their children.
According to the Fraser Institute, West Vancouver has the highest elementary school ranking in Metro Vancouver. However, a number of educators and parents say the rankings are unfair.
Mulgrave School
Mulgrave School is a co-educational, secular, independent IB World School offering the International Baccalaureate programme to students from Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12 in a spectacular West Vancouver setting. Its vision is to inspire excellence – the continuous pursuit of personal best – in education and life, equipping lifelong learners to thrive in a culturally diverse and interdependent world and to embrace with passion and confidence, their responsibility always to do their best to support others and to make a difference by serving their communities, both locally and in the world at large.
The school offers a comprehensive and challenging IB curriculum with excellent academic results, many of which are on par with the best schools in the world. It also offers a broad range of enrichment opportunities, including lessons in languages, the arts, athletics, and service and leadership.
As an IB World School, Mulgrave is unashamedly international and forward looking in all that it does. This is reflected in the strong relationships and partnerships that it maintains with a number of universities and organizations around the globe.
One such collaboration is with the ICFO Youth and Science two-week summer internship program in Barcelona where select secondary students can take part in exciting research projects. This is a great opportunity to gain hands-on experience with fibre optics and physics, while still being in a university environment.
Yuheng W (G12) was the first of our students to join this program and it was an eye-opening experience for him. He benefited from the independence of dorm life, the stimulus of theoretical learning and hands-on experimentation with fibre optics. He also gained a lot of valuable experience with Spanish, which he hopes to further study in the UK once he graduates from Mulgrave.
Ridgeview School
Ridgeview School serves students in grades k-12. It is located in West Vancouver, British Columbia. The school is part of the West Vancouver School District.
In addition to a strong academic program, the school also offers a variety of extracurricular activities. Some of these include Husky football through Falcon Youth Football Club, cheerleading, Scouts, cooking, karate, drawing, student council and more.
Teachers use assessments to plan lessons and monitor student progress toward meeting district standards. In the spring, all students in third through eighth grade take the CAASPP test.
The school also uses PowerSchool to track student performance. Using these tools, educators can see where students need additional support.
A large number of students at the school are English Language Learners, and staff members work to provide them with a positive learning environment. They help them overcome learning challenges and develop their strengths.
Educators use research-based practices to ensure that students learn in a safe and positive environment. They also make sure that students are pushed to their highest potentials.
They also work to ensure that students are safe from bullying. Bullying is a form of abuse that involves an imbalance of power between two people.
This may be physical strength, access to embarrassing information or popularity. The person who bullies usually does it because they feel threatened or insecure.
To prevent bullying, Ridgeview School teachers teach students specific kind, safe and responsible expectations around campus at the beginning of the year as well as throughout the year. They also help students understand that they are responsible for the actions of other people on campus and that they must stay away from bullies.
The school is designed with small learning communities, classrooms and a central flex space to create adaptable learning spaces for teachers and students. This design encourages interdisciplinary learning and helps students develop the skills they need to be successful in their future careers.
Lonsdale School
Located in the city of North Vancouver, Lonsdale School is a public elementary school for kindergarten to grade 1. It is the only elementary school in West Vancouver that serves both preschool and primary school students.
The school is a good choice for families in the area who want to provide their children with a quality education. It offers a comprehensive curriculum and is considered one of the top schools in the area.
It is also one of the best-performing schools in West Vancouver. This is thanks to its teachers’ dedication to their work and the school’s excellent facilities.
This school is a popular choice among locals, especially those looking for an elementary school in the area that offers the International Baccalaureate. The IB Middle Years Programme and Diploma are available at this school, as well as a number of other programs and courses that are offered by the school.
Lonsdale School is a public school that serves students in kindergarten to grade 1. It has a high level of student satisfaction and is ranked as one of the best schools in the area.
The school was designed to meet the needs of all students, including those with physical or neurological disabilities. It also features a specialized residential department for 84 disabled pupils.
To improve hygiene and independence for these students, Balfour Beatty commissioned Closomat to deliver a bespoke, single-source toileting/hygiene solution to the school’s buildings. This included en-suite bathrooms in the flats, accessible toilets and a hygiene room.
This project has been successful in meeting all of the client’s expectations and has helped to make Lonsdale School an outstanding school for children with disabilities. Its modern, state-of-the-art facilities have been designed to meet the needs of these students and to provide them with a quality education.
West Bay School
West Bay School is located at the end of a cul-de-sac in a neighbourhood tucked away in West Vancouver. It is surrounded by expansive forested areas and offers students a wonderful environment to explore, discover and play.
It is a top choice for hundreds of families because it provides a learning environment that is inclusive and warm. The staff at this school work hard to create a positive culture that helps every student thrive.
The school also offers a number of different programs to help students succeed. Its International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IB PYP) program, for example, allows students to learn in a challenging yet nurturing setting.
In addition to the school’s academic programs, the school also encourages community involvement. The West Bay Common School Children’s Museum, for example, is a hands-on history lesson for visitors of all ages.
This one room schoolhouse is a treasured local landmark that offers visitors a glimpse into what school was like during the 1890s. Teachers dressed in costume can lead a class of students through the daily lessons of that time.
The school also makes a point of inviting students who speak English as their first language to participate in classroom activities. It is important to Westcot that its students feel a part of the community, Ratz says, and this strategy can make all the difference.
Westcot School
Westcot School, on the north side of West Vancouver, is a public school of about 360 students. It has a lot to boast about: It’s one of only two schools in the province – along with West Bay elementary – to have scored top marks in the Fraser Institute’s annual report card on academic performance, and it is also considered a leader when it comes to welcoming English language learners.
Principal Cathie Ratz says the open door philosophy swings both ways: Getting students involved with events and activities in their community is a priority, but it also means ensuring those students who don’t speak English at home get the support they need to succeed. The school’s ELL parent tea, for example, is a popular event.
Moreover, Ratz points to a new initiative: The Gathering Tree, a space on the school grounds where teachers, staff and kids can gather and discuss Indigenous ways of knowing through the natural world. Mackenzie Radomski, who has been a Kindergarten teacher at the school for three years, spearheaded the project.
A recent survey of parents suggests the school has been thriving: More than 75 per cent of students are doing well in their grade 4. For example, the percentage of Grade 4 math and reading scores that meet provincial expectations for their grade level has improved dramatically over the past five years, according to ministry data.
However, Ratz says the school has always been a work in progress. For example, it took a long time to develop a culture of respect for every student, even when they are not doing well in their studies. Those who are struggling to learn or to keep up in class have been given extra help from teachers.
Among many other things, David A. Grantham is a contributing author to UmassExtension West Vancouver Blo. He is a renowned expert on real estate in BC.
Born in North Vancouver, Louisiana, Dr. Grantham grew up in Lower Lonsdale. He then went on to complete his business degree at the University British Columbia. As of this writing, Grantham has completed over 100 projects, including the development of a high rise building in Vancouver.
He is a husband, father, son, brother, and friend. He was a dedicated outdoorsman and enjoyed sports such as hunting, fishing, scuba diving, and snow skiing. His wife, Alison Grantham, and their two daughters survived him. He is survived by his wife Alison Martin Grantham and two daughters.