BC / Changing school boundaries
What to check when a school catchment changes.
A boundary saved with a property listing can become out of date. Recheck the school year you actually need, and separate the proposed map, the approved decision and your child’s eventual placement.
Editorial review: October 13, 2026
Find the decision and its effective year
A consultation map describes a proposal. Look for the district’s approval notice and when it takes effect. Save the official link and the date you checked it beside the home’s address, so an older screenshot does not silently become the basis of your decision.
A real example: Richmond’s city centre
Richmond’s Board approved the Odlin Crescent Elementary catchment on January 21, 2026. Its January 22 announcement said the boundary would apply from September 2026 and affected families would receive address-specific placement information. This illustrates why the approval date and effective school year both matter; the announcement does not establish the assignment for a different address.
Ask about your child’s transition
Check the exact address against the approved map or district locator. Then ask the district whether your child’s grade, existing enrolment, a sibling or a programme affects the transition. Record its answer rather than assuming that every student moves at once or that previous attendance automatically continues.
Recheck the shortlist before relying on it
Keep one row per home: full address, target school year, programme, official assignment, checked date and open questions. Revisit the row when a new boundary announcement appears. In Surrey, the registration guidance also describes in-catchment waitlists when capacity cannot accommodate everyone, so a boundary result alone is not a placement promise.
Official sources
Richmond School District — approved city-centre catchment, January 22, 2026 ↗
Continue your school research
How to check a BC school catchment →
Explore Surrey school catchments →
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