Thursday January 29, 2026 | LANGFORD, BC
Education news analysis | by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
The schools of Sooke School District 62 (SD62) have long been experiencing classroom population pressures.
The continual pressure on classroom space has resulted from the housing boom in the west shore (Langford and Colwood) and Sooke that started around 2008.
By 2014, SD62 had a facilities district principal to coordinate the building of schools in concert with population growth.
A few years ago SD62’s executive estimation of student population growth was considerably inaccurate (due to not realizing how many people may now live under one roof in smaller units like condos, due to the cost of living), resulting in further overcrowding and catchment issues.
Since that time, SD62 has continued to play catch-up, despite opening as many new schools as they could find land and funding for.
Catchment not guaranteed:
At the individual family level, this has had various impacts, including not having classroom space in the catchment are of one’s home location (i.e. primary address).
One of the reasons parents choose certain locations to raise their family is for some surety as to what schools will be availabe.
Despite education-system efforts, not all schools often equal opportunities as there are impacts as to municipality, overall income level of the level, and involvement by parents.
Location of SD62 schools:
SD62 schools are located across a wide geographical area, in Langford, Colwood, Sooke and Metchosi, to deliver public education to residents of Langford, Colwood, Sooke, Metchosin, Highlands and the Juan de Fuca areas (including East Sooke, and west of Sooke up to Port Renfrew). There are 28 SD62 schools:
- 19 elementary schools
- 5 middle schools
- 3 secondary schools
- 1 adult/alternative school
SD62 schools serve families within the traditional territories of the Coast Salish: T’Sou-ke Nation, SĆIȺNEW (Beecher Bay) Nation, and the Nuu-chah-nulth: Paaʔčiidʔatḥ(Pacheedaht) Nation and some of the traditional territories of the MÁLEXEŁ (Malahat) Nation, and the Lək̓ʷəŋən peoples of Songhees and Esquimalt Nations.
Kindergarten registration:
New students coming into the school system at the Kindergarten level to start in September 2026 have had since Monday (January 26) to register; that SD62 Regular Kindergarten registration closes on Friday January 30 at 11:59 pm.
After January 31, Kindergarden registrations will continue to be accepted; however, students registering on January 31 will not be included in a lottery (if required) for their in-catchment school. These students may be placed at an overflow school if space is not available.
It’s stressful enough for parents getting their child prepared for kindergarten. For families impacted by the catchment-area problem, this is an additional challenge to deal with.
Registration for 2026/2027 French Immersion Kindergarten and Nature K Kindergarten has closed.
Force-transfer is now a thing:
A force-transfer student is one who was placed in an overflow school by the district due to capacity limits at their in-catchment school.
The term is relatively new, as SD62 has become accustomed to their classroom population challenge.
School change request:
Starting February 9, 2026, families of students who were force transferred to an overflow school must submit a School Change Request (SCR) if they want their child to return to their in-catchment school, said SD62 in a statement on January 16.
SD62 provides information for parents:
“This information also explains what happens if your child was force transferred in the 2025/26 school year and you want them to stay at the overflow school they are currently attending.”
The school district cautions that submitting a School Change Request does not guarantee approval.
“Priority is always given to students who live within the school’s catchment area. In most cases, out-of-catchment requests are not approved due to limited space,” says SD62.
Families may submit an SCR if:
✅ Their child was force transferred to an overflow school, and they want to return to their in-catchment school
✅ They have moved to a new address and want their child to attend their new in-catchment school in September 2026 (proof of residency will be required)
✅ They want to request a transfer to an out-of-catchment school
School Change Request Timeline:
- Application period:
February 9 at 8:00 AM to February 20 at 11:59 PM - Apply online:
SD62 change requests - Notification of results:
By June 1, 2026
What Happens Next?
Your child was force transferred and you do NOT submit an SCR.
- Your child will remain at their current school by choice going forward
- They will no longer be considered a force-transfer student
- They will follow the feeder school pathway of the current school
- They will not be eligible for school bus transportation
- If you want to return to your catchment school in the future, you must go through the SCR process
Your child was force transferred, and you apply for a School Change Request to return to your in-catchment school, but no space is available:
- Your child will remain a force-transfer student
- They will remain eligible for district-provided school bus transportation
You apply for a School Change Request to attend your in-catchment school and are approved:
- Your child will attend their in-catchment school beginning September 2026
- They may be eligible for school bus transportation
You apply for an out-of-catchment school and are approved:
- You are choosing to attend a school outside your catchment
- Your child will follow the feeder pathway of the out-of-catchment school
- Your child will not be eligible for school bus transportation
SD62 Board:
The SD62 board of education is chaired by school trustee Amanda Dowhy.
The other six trustees on the board are: Cendra Beaton, Russ Chipps, Christine Lervold (vice-chair), Ebony Logins, Trudy Spiller, and Allison Watson.
The next school trustee election comes up in October this year.
===== RELATED:
NEWS SECTIONS: SD62 | WEST SHORE LOCAL | SOOKE LOCAL