2 more Surrey schools will see extended days due to overcrowding
Sullivan Heights Secondary is one of two more schools in Surrey to open with extended days in the 2025-26 school year. (Surrey Schools photo)
More high schools are joining the list of ones in Surrey to run on extended days for students next year.
Extended day schedules for students mean that the school day is lengthened and the affected students attend on an altered schedule. So far, six schools have introduced extended days: Grandview Heights, Fleetwood Park, Lord Tweedsmuir, Kwantlen Park, Tamanawis and Salish secondaries.
"Last year, due to a shortfall of schools and classroom spaces, the Surrey school district had to move to an extended day model at six secondary schools," deputy superintendent Andrew Holland said at the regular school board meeting Wednesday night (March 12).
This model allows for a 15 per cent increase in capacity in those schools, according to the district. With overcrowding affecting nearly every school in the district, officials warned last year that the initial six would likely only be the first batch impacted.
"Due to a continued shortfall of classroom spaces, two more schools — Fraser Heights Secondary and Sullivan Heights Secondary — will be moving to an extended day model for next year," Holland shared in the update.
All eight schools will have five blocks instead of the traditional four, but students will still only have four classes in a day to attend. Students either attend the first four blocks, starting their school day earlier, attend the last four and attend school later than usual, or attend the first and last two blocks with a longer break in the middle.
Sullivan Heights used to be the district's most overcrowded school until it received a constructed addition, which opened to students in 2022. Even by its opening, however, portables on-site were still needed, and now, extended days are needed additionally.
Don Christian Elementary will also be closed to in-catchment students for next year, joining Forsyth Road and Bayridge elementaries with registration halted.
In these situations, staff are working closely with the parents and families to find placement at another school in the community.
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