In-person registration closed March 15

Please note registration at the Welcome Centre will be closed on Friday, March 15. Service will resume on Monday, March 18.

 

2024-2025 New Student Registration

Note: If you cannot book a registration appointment with us because there are no available slots, please visit our Welcome Centre to register in person.

You can find us at 820 – 6th Street, New Westminster (on the south side of the New Westminster Secondary School building), Monday to Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

  • While we encourage you to book an appointment, please note that should you not be able to find a suitable appointment time or if all appointments are booked, we will accommodate walk-in registrations as long as they are within business hours (Monday to Friday 9:00 am – 3:00 pm, excluding holidays).  Please see “How to register a new student as a parent or legal guardian” for the list of required documents to bring with you.
Note: You only need to register your child if they are not already attending school in the district. You do not need to take action if your child is already enrolled in a district school or if they are transitioning between elementary, middle, or high school.


Student Registration Instructions

  • Book a 10-minute appointment with our Registration Team.
  • If you need a translator for your appointment, please let us know in advance and we will do our best to accommodate your request.
  • Book an appointment now
 

Required documents

After you book your appointment:

 

Registering after the normal registration period is over

The process is the same (i.e. you must make an appointment with our team and bring the required documents on the day of your meeting). However:

  • Students who register after the normal registration period is over will be placed at a district school where space is available.
  • The team will do its best to place students in appropriate catchment schools, but this is not always possible if a school or the grade has no space.
  • If a school/grade is full, students will be placed in an alternative school.
  • Visit our Registration Team at the Welcome Centre located in New Westminster Secondary School (enter through the south side of the building at 820 - 6th Street, New Westminster).
  • Bring a completed registration form and copies of the documents outlined in the Document Guide for Parents and Caregivers OR Bring original versions of the documents outlined in the Document Guide for Parents and Caregivers and our team will help you print, photocopy, and complete the required paperwork.
  • If you do not have the suggested documents outlined in the Document Guide, our team will be happy to speak with you confidentially to find a solution.

The process is the same if you are looking to register a student during the current school year (i.e. you must make an appointment with our team and bring the required documents on the day of your meeting). However:

  • New students who register during the current school year will likely not be placed in their school of choice, as spaces at catchment schools fill quickly during the normal registration period.
  • If a school/grade is full, students will be placed in an alternative school.
  • If you are unable to book a suitable appointment time, our Registration Team can accommodate walk-ins at the Welcome Centre located in New Westminster Secondary School (enter through the south side of the building at 820 - 6th Street, New Westminster).

 

  • Although we do our best to place new students at their preferred schools, it is regrettably not always possible. Our district has significant building capacity challenges because of limited space in schools and a growing student population.
  • If the number of requests for a catchment school exceeds the number of available spots, the district reserves the right to use a lottery system to determine placements.
  • The district will confirm all school placements for enrollment requests received within the registration window by the end of March 2024.
  • Learn more about the building capacity challenges at our schools.

 

If you have questions about new student registration or need help, please call the Registration Team at 604.517.6200 or email us.

 

Programs of Choice

The regular application period for French Immersion, Montessori, and the Home Learners Program for the 2024-25 school year is now closed.

Application waitlists for all Programs of Choice open at 9 a.m. on April 3, 2024.

NOTE: Students must already be registered with the district before they can submit an application for a Program of Choice.

 

Programs of Choice Application Process

  • All new Early French Immersion students with sibling status will be given priority.
  • Applications for Kindergarten or Grade 1 entry received within the regular application period will be entered into a lottery to determine placement. If you apply before the deadline, it doesn't matter when you submit; your chances of winning a spot remain the same.
  • Students applying to join the program in Grade 2 or higher will be placed as space permits and based on when they submit their application (i.e. submit early for a better chance at placement). Students applying for Early French Immersion that starts in Grade 2 or higher must have previously been in Early French Immersion program in another District.
  • Join the waitlist
  • Students with sibling status have priority.
  • Students who submitted an application using the previous application process (prior to June 2015) are next in priority.
  • All other applications will be entered into a lottery to determine placement. If you apply before the deadline, it doesn't matter when you submit; your chances of winning a spot remain the same.
  • Join the waitlist
  • All new Montessori students with sibling status will have priority.
  • Applications for Kindergarten or Grade 1 entry received within the regular application period will be entered into a lottery to determine placement. If you apply before the deadline, it doesn't matter when you submit; your chances of winning a spot remain the same.
  • Students applying to join the program in Grade 2 or higher will be placed as space permits and based on when they submit their application (i.e. submit early for a better chance at placement).
  • Join the waitlist
  • The Ministry of Education made revisions to policies that affect how the Home Learners Program is funded and offered.
  • New Home Learners Program students with sibling status have priority. Placement will follow the priorities outlined in Administrative Procedure 220.
  • Join the waitlist

 

Out-of-Catchment and transfer applications

Please note the following conditions before you submit an application:

  • Only students with siblings attending out-of-catchment schools (who will still be attending the school at the time the younger sibling starts in September, 2024) may apply for out-of-catchment transfers.
  • Only students with siblings attending as an out-of-district student (who will still be attending the school at the time the younger sibling starts in September, 2024) may apply for out-of-district placement at schools (other than New Westminster Secondary School).
  • Only New Westminster Secondary School is open for out-of-district applications and only submissions from students attending district middle schools will be considered.

Out-of-Catchment and Out-of-District Applications

Please note: Only students with siblings attending out-of-catchment schools (who will still be attending the school at the time the younger sibling starts in September, 2024) may apply for out-of-catchment transfers.

Applications open at 9 a.m. on February 5, 2024. Application forms will begin accepting submissions at the appointed date and time.

If you have questions about out-of-district applications, please email us.


Did you know our schools are facing a significant capacity crisis? As New Westminster's population grows, so, too, does the number of students who enter our school district. Learn more about our capacity crisis and how it will impact families with school-aged children in New Westminster Schools.

Please note: Only students with siblings who are attending a district school as an out-of-district student (and who will still be attending the school when the younger sibling starts in September 2024) may apply for out-of-district placements at schools other than New Westminster Secondary.

Applications open at 9 a.m. on February 5, 2024. Forms will begin accepting submissions at the appointed date and time.

If you have questions about out-of-district applications, please email us.


Did you know our schools are facing a significant capacity crisis? As New Westminster's population grows, so, too, does the number of students who enter our school district. Learn more about our capacity crisis and how it will impact families with school-aged children in New Westminster Schools.

Please note: Only New Westminster Secondary School is open for out-of-district applications and only submissions from students attending district middle schools will be considered.

Applications open at 9 a.m. on February 5, 2024. Forms will begin accepting submissions at the appointed date and time.

If you have questions about out-of-district applications, please email us.


Did you know our schools are facing a significant capacity crisis? As New Westminster's population grows, so, too, does the number of students who enter our school district. Learn more about our capacity crisis and how it will impact families with school-aged children in New Westminster Schools.

 

Sanctuary Schools Policy

New Westminster Schools is the first district in British Columbia to introduce a Sanctuary Schools Policy. This ensures a New Westminster family’s immigration status does not affect their child’s ability to access safe and welcoming educational opportunities.