To prepare for the opening of Grandview Heights Secondary in September 2021, the district has established new catchment boundaries for the South Surrey/White Rock area secondary schools (Earl Marriott, Semiahmoo, Elgin and Grandview Heights) to redistribute enrolment among four schools instead of three.
As planning and construction move forward for the much-anticipated new Grandview Heights Secondary, a new catchment boundary plan has been established to redistribute students in South Surrey and White Rock among four secondary schools instead of three.
Construction is scheduled to begin this spring on Grandview Heights Secondary, located at 16988 25th Ave. With a targeted occupancy date of September 2021, the state-of-the-art school will have the capacity for 1,500 students and alleviate overcrowding at nearby schools.
To prepare for the opening, new catchment boundaries have been developed for Grandview Heights and the three other area secondary schools: Elgin, Semiahmoo and Earl Marriott.
Last year, the district held a series of public meetings, hosted online forums and invited input from the community on four possible boundary options. More than 1,200 parents, students and staff members engaged in the consultation process.
While conflicting community desires were identified in the community engagement process, Option 2B emerged as the overall preferred approach. The Surrey Board of Education received a report on the public consultation at its April 10th public board meeting. (Details of the plan and all the options and feedback can also be found at placespeak.com/sd36capitalplan).
Effective September 2020, the following boundary changes will be implemented:
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Semiahmoo Trail Elementary will feed into Elgin Park Secondary;
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White Rock Elementary catchment (currently split between Earl Marriott and Semiahmoo) will feed to Semiahmoo Secondary.
It is important to note:
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Existing Semiahmoo and Earl Marriott Secondary students are grandfathered. (i.e. past students from either feeder school who currently attend either Semiahmoo Secondary or Earl Marriott Secondary will not be required to move).
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By policy, the sibling rule will apply.
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Earl Marriott Secondary and Semiahmoo Secondary will continue to be closed to new in-catchment students for the 2020 school year.
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Intensive Fine Arts students from White Rock Elementary will be given the option to transition to Earl Marriott Secondary until the regular cross boundary process is restored in 2021.
In September 2021, all students in Grades 8-11 that live in the Grandview Heights Secondary catchment will attend the new school. Grade 12 students will remain at their current secondary school to graduate and the sibling rule will apply. In 2021, it's also anticipated Earl Marriott and Semiahmoo will no longer be closed to new in-catchment students and the regular cross-boundary process will be restored.
The district recognizes this boundary review is a significant undertaking and staff appreciate the extensive and well-considered feedback provided by the school communities. Much thought and care has gone into deliberating the options. The district is committed to working with families to ease the transition to their new catchment schools.
