District Overview

We are honoured to be working and learning on the unceded and ancestral territories of the

Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw and St'át'y'emc Nations.

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Medicine Wheel

 

Nestled in the recreation-rich Sea to Sky corridor, just 45 minutes from Vancouver, our school district serves approximately 5,100 students. We are honoured to be teaching within a number of culturally vibrant communities, from Furry Creek to D'Arcy, including the main centres of Squamish, Whistler, and Pemberton. The District also serves six First Nation communities: Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw, Lil’wat, N’Quatqua, Samahquam Ucwalmicw, Skatin, Xa’xtsa, and the Metis, Inuit, and Off-Reserve Nations. We welcome a growing immigrant population and over 200 international students annually. We create safe, purposeful, and powerful learning environments in order that all students can think critically, create, collaborate, contribute, and learn. Rich with an abundance of active learning opportunities, our students love to learn here!

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We serve a diverse community within our corridor.
 

 AREA 
TOTAL POPULATION
(2021)
MEDIAN AGE OF POPULATION
(2021) 
MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME
(2021) 
INDIGENOUS STUDENTS IN AREA SCHOOLS
(2021)
 Squamish
23,819 37.6 $111,000 272 Total (8.4%)
 Whistler 13,982 35.6 $99,000 27 Total (0.2%)
 Pemberton 3,407 36.4 $100,000 241 Total (35%)
 
 
 
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We are a growing community.
 
 
 DISTRICT ENROLLMENT
STUDENT HEADCOUNT 
% INCREASE / DECREASE
September, 2015 4,479 4.7% increase
September, 2016 4,589 2.5% increase
September, 2017 4,924 7.3% increase
September, 2018
4,849 1.5% decrease
September, 2019 4,957 2.2% increase
September, 2020
5,052 1.9% increase
September, 2021 5,138 1.7% increase
September, 2022
5,102 0.7% decrease
September, 2023 5,100 0.1% decrease
 
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We are a Learning Community of:
  • 5,100 students
  • 15 schools - 9 elementary, 1 middle, 3 secondary (including the Squamish Alternate program),1 K-12, and 1 distributed learning school (outreach and online)
  • 1 K-12 school in partnership with School District 78, Fraser Cascade
  • 7 Board of Education Trustees
  • Staff (as of Sept. 30, 2022):
    • 525 teachers 
    • 367 support staff
    • 26 principals and vice-principals
    • 25 senior staff and union-exempt staff
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We are focused on the unique learning style of each student.
 
 
ACADEMIC YEAR OR PROGRAM NUMBER OF STUDENTS
Kindergarten 332
Primary Grades 1 to 3 1,140
Elementary Grades 4 to 7 1,586
Grades 8 to 12 2,202
TOTAL 5,100
 
*Some other groups of students are enrolled and/or cross-enrolled in adult and distributed learning programs.
 
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We are focused on each cohort of learners.
 

COHORT NUMBER OF STUDENTS (SEPT. 30, 2023)
Indigenous 578
English Language Learners (ELL) and English Second Dialect (ESD)  381
International Education 153
French Immersion 1,026
Students with Diverse Needs 728
 
 
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We are focused on Indigenous learners' success, culture, and language.
  • We are guided by the Protocol Agreement with the Squamish Nation and work closely with the Lower St'át'y'emc Nations
  • We are proud of the LEA with the Lil'wat Nation
  • We are committed to implementing a second Indigenous Enhancement Agreement
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We have many important District Advisory Groups.
  • Indigenous Education Council
  • Indigenous Education Committee
  • Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 779 (CUPE)
  • Sea to Sky Teachers’ Association (SSTA)
  • District Parent Advisory Council (DPAC)
  • District Student Leadership Council (DSC)
  • Communities That Care (CTC)
  • Sea to Sky Principals’ and Vice-Principals’ Association (SSPVPA) serve as part of our Educational Leadership Team
 
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We have many important District Partners.
 
District of Squamish Squamish Lillooet Regional District Whistler Pique Magazine
Villiage of Pemberton Big Brothers and Big Sisters Ministry of Children and Families
Kwantlen Polytechnic University Whistler Pique Magazine   Child and Youth Mental Health
Capilano University   Mountain FM   Resort Municipality of Whistler
Quest University   Squamish Reporter eNews     Sea to Sky Community Services
University of British Columbia     Squamish Chief Newspaper RCMP
UBC: NITEP Whistler Community Services   North Shore Mental Health
Whistler Blackcomb Foundation   Squamish Helping Hands Society     Public Libraries
Squamish Foundation Local Community Centers Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Center
Municipal Governments   Community Literacy Tables Free the Children and Me to We
Squamish Breakfast Club Vancouver Community College Rotary Clubs
Royal Canadian Legions  Local Arts’ Councils Kids On The Go (KOTG)
 
 
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We support our youngest learners through important early learning programs. 
  • 3 preschool programs
  • 3 StrongStart Centres
  • 5 before and after school care programs
  • Supporting Parents Along the Road to Kindergarten (S.P.A.R.K.) runs annually in all 3 communities
  • Transition meetings in each school (Preschool to Kindergarten)