Surrey's school district is the largest and fastest-growing in BC. That growth has brought real challenges — portables, staggered schedules, and program reductions. Here's a clear look at where things stand, what it means for your child, and what alternatives some families are exploring.
When Saakshi Khanna's seven-year-old came home during last September's heat wave saying his classroom was uncomfortably hot, she understood why. His classroom — one of twelve portable units at Walnut Road Elementary — doesn't have air conditioning or attached bathrooms. It's one of over 400 portables across the district.
Her other son attends one of the six Surrey high schools now using staggered start times to manage building capacity. Some days he starts early, some days late. "Every single day I have to ask my child if it's an early start or a late start," one parent at another staggered-schedule school described.
For many families, these changes have raised questions about what school looks like for their children — and what options exist.
Surrey's school district has grown by an average of 2,598 students per year over the past two years — triple the rate of the previous decade. The district now serves over 83,000 students and projects continued growth, driven by the province's housing targets of 27,000+ new units in Surrey alone.
To keep pace, the district estimates it needs $5 billion in school construction over five years. For context, the entire provincial capital budget for all schools across BC is $3.75 billion over three years. The scale of the challenge is significant, and solutions will take time.
In the meantime, schools are managing capacity in a variety of ways. Some programs have been reduced — the Grade 7 band program, for instance, is no longer offered at some schools. Bus services for students with diverse needs have been adjusted. StrongStart, the free pre-kindergarten program, faced potential closure before being maintained with reduced hours.
"You feel detached from the school in portables. You don't feel like you are part of the school."— Surrey student, District Focus Group, December 2023
In December 2023, the Surrey School District conducted focus groups with students about their experiences. The feedback was revealing. Most students said their school experience had changed over the past two years as enrollment grew.
Students described temperature challenges in portables that can be cold in winter and warm in late summer. They noted that access to teachers and counsellors felt more limited as class sizes grew. Course selection has become more competitive. Younger students entering secondary school described adjusting to staggered schedules they hadn't experienced before.
For the 2025–26 school year, the district also introduced a hybrid learning model for some Grades 10–12 students, where students attend some classes in person and others online from home — a capacity management approach that some families are still adjusting to.
When schools are managing high enrollment, some things naturally shift. Teachers have less one-on-one time with each student. Counsellors carry larger caseloads, which can make it harder to build the kind of relationships that help catch when a child is struggling. Extracurricular programs sometimes get reduced when budgets are redirected toward core capacity needs.
For families who value things beyond standardized academics — a sense of belonging, a school community that knows your child by name, an environment where your family's values are understood — these are the areas that tend to feel the impact of enrollment growth first.
One education advocate noted that staggered schedules can make it harder for students to participate in clubs, teams, and the social aspects of school that support healthy development, since staff who typically run those programs may be needed in classrooms.
Across the district, principals have also reported growing demand for food programs and family support services — a reflection of the broader pressures many Surrey families are navigating alongside school capacity challenges.
"It's just not the right environment for the kids to learn."— Surrey parent, CBC News
Many Surrey parents are thinking carefully about their children's school experience — and for some, that means exploring what else is available.
Families across the district are looking into a range of options: private schools, out-of-district transfers, and homeschooling co-ops. Among Sikh families in Surrey — who make up a significant portion of the city's population — one option has been growing steadily since 2008.
Sikh Academy is a fully accredited BC Curriculum day school in Surrey, serving Kindergarten through Grade 8. Students follow the same provincial curriculum as any public school — but in an environment designed for the experience public school can no longer provide.
No portables. No staggered schedules. No hybrid Zoom overflow. Small class sizes where teachers know every student's name. And something no public school in Surrey offers: a Sikh perspective woven into daily learning — including Punjabi language, kirtan, gatka, and Gurmukhi.
"We accept students from all walks of life, in the spirit of equality and oneness that is core to our Sikh values," the school states. "Whether your family is deeply rooted in Sikh tradition or just beginning your journey, you belong here."
"Everyone was on the same page and working well together. We built strong connections with the admin, teachers, and parents, and made lifelong friendships along the way. That sense of belonging and family was always present."
"My children have always felt appreciated and supported by their teachers and staff, and as a parent, I have always felt welcomed."
For families considering private school, the question often comes down to fit — whether the environment, the values, and the community are right for your child. Many families find that exploring in person makes the decision clearer than any amount of research.
Sikh Academy offers flexible tuition plans and encourages families to get in touch about what works for their situation. But the first step is simpler than that.