Surrey Schools enrolment falls for a second straight year

Surrey Schools says it began the 2026-27 school year with fewer K-12 students for a second year in a row. Regular enrolment fell by 1,182 to 75,795, a decline of 1.5 per cent. A story on the district’s website says this year’s drop is larger than last year’s decline of 871 students. Last year marked the district’s first decline in more than two decades outside the COVID-19 pandemic.

The district reported a total headcount of 85,400 for 2026-27, down 486, or 0.6 per cent, from 85,886 the previous year. That count includes K-12, online, alternate, adult and cross-enrolled students. The province is said to use it to calculate the district’s operating funding. Deputy Superintendent Andrew Holland presented the figures at the Surrey school board meeting on Oct. 7.

Holland said the district anticipates the decline is due to changes in federal immigration policy, as well as people moving farther east within the province or leaving the province. He said the trend follows last year’s change after many years of rapid growth.

Adult learning enrolment fell by 116 to 264, down 31 per cent, and online learning fell by 64 to 259, down 20 per cent. Surrey Schools said that contrasts with last year, when adult learning grew slightly and online learning held steady. International fee-paying student numbers also fell by 50 to 596, a 7.7 per cent decrease.

Trustees asked about the declines across program types. Holland explained that the programs count students differently and at different points during the year. Adult learning students are counted after completing 10 per cent of a course. Because the school year started late, on Sept. 8, many students had not yet completed that portion and could not be included in the count. Holland also said adult learning courses do not start until enough students have enrolled, so the remaining numbers will appear in the February count.

For online learning, students can register at any point in the school year, and the district also counts enrolment in February and May, so numbers can vary from month to month. Alternate learning enrolment fell by 142 to 44, or 24 per cent. Holland attributed the decline to students finding more support in their local schools, removing the need to relocate elsewhere for support. He said the board has opened 14 HOPE programs in recent years and has seen more students stay at neighbouring schools instead of entering an alternate learning program. That means students are getting support in their neighbourhood schools rather than having to attend a specialized school.

The district counted 2,774 Indigenous learners, down 126, or 4.3 per cent. There were 23,818 students receiving ELL (English Language Learners) services, down 604, or 2.5 per cent, in line with the broader enrolment decline. Despite the lower overall numbers, students receiving Level 1 special education funding rose by 3 per cent, from 95 to 98, and those receiving Level 2 funding rose by 5 per cent, from 4,877 to 5,120. Level 1 students may include those who are physically dependent or deafblind. Level 2 can include students with an autism diagnosis or a physical or chronic health impairment. The Level 3 count, for students who may need intensive behaviour intervention, fell by 163 to 627, a 21 per cent decrease.

Surrey Schools says no programs or services have been cut. Holland acknowledged at the board meeting that enrolment may continue to dip in coming years, but said the district will return to growth over the longer term. For the current school year, he said, the decline will not affect students. Although enrolment is down about 1,200 students, it is within the board’s projection and the Board Enrolment Stabilization Fund it set aside, so the district does not anticipate cuts to student programs or services.

Unless identified as headcount, the district’s enrolment figures are full-time-equivalent counts, adjusted for students who attend part-time, take more than eight courses or enrol for one semester. Surrey school board meetings are open to the public. The next meeting is scheduled for Nov. 4 at 7 p.m. Agendas are posted in advance; people can attend in person or watch the video livestream on the Surrey Schools website at https://www.surreyschools.ca/board-meetings.