We are excited to welcome kindergarten registration applications for children born in 2020, turning 5 in 2025. These children will begin kindergarten in September 2025. Online registration begins November 1, 2024.
Families are encouraged to register any time during the priority 1 registration period (November – January) for the best chance at attending their catchment school. All registration applications completed any time during the priority 1 registration period will receive placement decisions via emails from the school by February 7, 2025.
As per district policy, a student will normally attend the school located in their catchment area in which their parents or legal guardians reside unless there is no physical, resource or program space available. This provision may need to be applied more frequently, potentially resulting in more students needing placement outside their catchment school.
Current 2024/25 enrolment and registration situations for elementary schools.
Current 2025/26 enrolment and registration situations for elementary schools.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Complete the online registration form, which includes uploading required documents. Once the form and documents are submitted, a Central Registration staff member will contact you to discuss next steps.
In addition to registering for kindergarten, families are able to apply for a district program option such as French Immersion or Montessori. For more information on these programs, please visit the district program options website.
Online applications for kindergarten district program options open November 1 and close January 17, 2025. Acceptance or waitlist emails for district program options will be sent to parents by February 7, 2025.
Students who are registered with the Richmond School District are able to apply for an out of catchment transfer. For 2025/26, the round 1 transfer application period will be open February 3-28, 2025. Transfer decisions will be provided to parents by March 10, 2025.
A student will normally attend the school located in the catchment area in which their parents or legal guardians reside unless there is no physical, resource or program space available. You can find your catchment school by using the school locator.
Priority 1 registration period opens November 1, 2024 and closes January 17, 2025.
Families who apply to register their 2025/26 kindergarten children anytime during this time period will have the best chance at attending their catchment school.
Priority 2 registration period opens January 18, 2025 and closes May 9, 2025.
Registration applications accepted during this time period will be subject to availability of program, resource and physical space available at the catchment schools. For some families, this will result in being placed at a nearby school by the District Administrator for Central Registration. All priority 1 registrations will be placed prior to placing any priority 2 registrations.
| Priority 1 Registration Period | Priority 2 Registration Period | Late Registration Period |
|---|---|---|
| November 1, 2024 – January 17, 2025 | January 18, 2025 – May 9, 2025 | May 10, 2025 – Ongoing |
| Applications received during this period will receive a placement decision by February 7 , 2025. | Applications received during this period will receive a placement decision by May 16, 2025. | Applications received during this period will receive a placement decision by September 5, 2025. |
All registrations are submitted using the online registration form. Central Registration staff will then contact parents by phone or email.
Letters of Acceptance are needed by parents/legal guardians who:
- Have refugee status.
- Have a valid work permit and proof of employment. Work permits must be valid for minimum one year.
- Have a valid study permit and have been accepted into a qualifying degree or diploma program. Study permits must be valid for minimum one year.
- Are on an international government sponsored contract.
- Have a child who is in the care of the Ministry of Children and Family Development.
For more detailed information about funding eligibility for students in British Columbia, please visit http://bit.ly/2WvBdoD.
If you meet the criteria above and currently live in Richmond, please send an email with your name and contact phone number to educationoffice@sd38.bc.ca. A staff member will contact you to discuss next steps.
As per district policy, a student will normally attend the school located in their catchment area in which their parents or legal guardians reside unless there is no physical, resource or program space available.
Schools will have a set number of available kindergarten spaces, referred to as a “sustainable cohort” size. As per district policy, kindergarten registration applications will be processed in the following order.
- Students with a catchment sibling who will attend the school and program in 2025/26
- Students with a non-catchment sibling who will attend the school and program in 2025/26
- Catchment students
- Students with a non-Richmond resident sibling who will attend the school and program in 2025/26
If there are more applications to register than spots available, a random draw (lottery) within the category will be held.
No. All registrations received during the priority 1 period will be considered equal. Registrations are not prioritized by date and there is no preference given to a registration that is received in November compared to a registration that is received in January. Please register any time from November 1, 2024 to January 17, 2025 that is convenient for your family. If there are more applications to register than spots available, a random draw (lottery) within the category will be held.
If you did not find your answers above and have further questions, please contact Central Registration at 604-668-6058.