New student enrolment priorities and proof of residency requirements in effect for 2018-2019 school year

With the annual registration and transfer request process set to begin in January, schools are preparing for changes to student enrolment priorities and proof of residency requirements.  After extensive consultation, new student enrolment priorities were approved in June 2017, to come into effect for the 2018-2019 school year.  New proof of residency requirements are also being introduced.

The new priorities place greater emphasis on catchment students attending their neighbourhood school, while including priority for siblings attending a school together.

New student enrolment priorities now in effect for the 2018/2019 school year:

1. re-enrolling students
2. a catchment area sibling
3. a catchment area child
4. a non-catchment sibling
5. a non-catchment child
6. a non-school district child

The new enrolment priorities apply to new registrations, transfer requests and student transitions between elementary and middle, and middle and secondary school for English and French programs.  The proposed changes differ from the previous priorities in that non-catchment siblings will no longer have priority over new catchment students, and out-of-catchment students transitioning out of elementary and middle school will no longer follow a school pathway giving them priority over catchment students.

In the new year, letters will be sent home from schools to parents of all grade five and eight students. Non-catchment Grade 5s and Grade 8s will have to apply for a transfer during the K-12 Student Transfer Process if they wish to continue on a catchment school pathway that does not align with their current home address.

Every home address in the Greater Victoria School District is connected to a catchment school. New students register at their catchment school and current students wishing to transfer to a different school must apply at their current school. In addition to proof of school age eligibility and citizenship, new requirements are in place for proof of residential address.

New proof of residency requirements

Home Owners must provide two of the following:

• Purchase agreement of home
• Recent property tax statement
• Home owner’s insurance
• Notice of Assessment
• A purchase agreement (with subject removal and a deposit receipt if a recent purchase)

If a homeowner is able to only produce one of the above, they will be required to also produce two of the following:

• Canadian bank or credit card statement
• BC Vehicle registration
• Income tax statement
• Insurance documents

Renters must provide:

• A rental agreement signed by landlord with landlords contact phone number

In addition to the above, two of the following are required:

• Canadian bank or credit card statement
• BC Vehicle registration
• Income tax statement
• Renter Insurance documents

*Please note, personal information other than address and full name can be redacted for privacy purposes.

Important Upcoming Dates in 2018:

Important Dates in 2023

Parent Information Nights:

For new registrants to the District, Parent Information nights will occur at S.J. Willis, 923 Topaz Avenue.

Parent Information Sessions