Schools in Port Moody, BC: A 2026 Guide for Families

If you’re weighing a move to Port Moody for the schools, here’s the short answer: this city sits inside School District 43 (Coquitlam), one of the largest and most consistently well-regarded public districts in the province, and it offers everything from small neighbourhood elementary schools to Port Moody Secondary’s International Baccalaureate programme. As a Port Moody-area real estate agent with Luxmore Realty, I get this question constantly from families relocating here — so I put together this guide to help you make sense of the options before you start touring homes.

Key Takeaways

• Port Moody schools fall under School District 43 (Coquitlam), which serves the Tri-Cities and is known for consistently scoring above the provincial average in reading, writing, and math.
• Port Moody Secondary School runs SD43’s only International Baccalaureate programme, a draw for academically ambitious students.
• Heritage Woods Secondary, located in the neighbouring Anmore/Port Moody catchment area, has a long track record as one of the Tri-Cities’ most talked-about public high schools.
• Individual school performance data, including exam results and demographics, is published publicly by the BC Ministry of Education through Student Success BC.
• School catchment boundaries directly affect which homes are eligible for which schools — always confirm current boundaries with SD43 before making an offer.

Understanding Port Moody’s School District

Port Moody belongs to School District 43, which also covers Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Anmore, and Belcarra. It’s one of British Columbia’s largest public school districts, serving tens of thousands of students across dozens of schools. Families moving from other parts of the country — or overseas — often ask me how SD43 compares to what they’re used to. My honest answer: it’s a well-funded, well-organized district with a genuine mix of program options, from French Immersion to IB to strong trades and arts pathways at the secondary level.

For official, up-to-date information on any individual school’s boundary, programs, or enrollment, the School District 43 website is the best starting point. I always encourage buyers to confirm catchment details directly with the district before finalizing a purchase, since boundaries can shift.

Elementary Schools Serving Port Moody Families

Port Moody has several neighbourhood elementary schools, including Moody Elementary in the Moody Centre area near the SkyTrain station. Like all BC public schools, individual elementary schools publish annual performance data through the province’s Student Success BC platform, which tracks literacy and numeracy outcomes over time. I’d encourage any family comparing schools to look at a few years of data rather than a single snapshot — trends tell you more than any one year.

In my experience helping buyers in Port Moody, the elementary school a family ends up choosing often comes down to walkability. A lot of the appeal of neighbourhoods like Glenayre and Heritage Mountain is that kids can walk or bike to school, which matters enormously to parents once you’ve lived through a few winters of school-run traffic.

Secondary Schools: Port Moody Secondary and Heritage Woods

Port Moody Secondary School is the city’s flagship public high school and the only school in SD43 offering the full International Baccalaureate diploma programme, alongside its regular graduation stream. For families with academically driven teenagers, that IB designation is often the single biggest factor in choosing where to live within the Tri-Cities.

Heritage Woods Secondary, just over the Port Moody boundary in the Anmore/Eagle Mountain catchment, is another school Tri-Cities families bring up constantly. It’s a newer, well-equipped campus that’s built a strong reputation over the past two decades for both academics and extracurriculars. If Heritage Woods is your target school, I’d strongly recommend confirming your address falls within its current catchment before you buy — SD43 catchment lines for this school have been a common point of confusion for buyers I’ve worked with.

French Immersion and Program Options

SD43 offers French Immersion starting in the early grades at select schools, along with specialty programs in the arts and trades at the secondary level. If a specific program is non-negotiable for your family, contact SD43 directly or check the district’s program pages before you commit to a neighbourhood — program availability can vary by school year and enrollment demand.

How School Catchments Affect Your Home Search in Port Moody

This is where local expertise really matters. Two homes a few blocks apart can fall into completely different school catchments, and that boundary can be the difference between the school you wanted and a 20-minute drive across town. When I’m working with a family who has a specific school in mind — whether it’s Port Moody Secondary for the IB stream or a particular elementary school — the very first thing we do is confirm the catchment for any property before we book a showing. It saves everyone time and heartbreak.

Port Moody’s housing stock ranges from established single-family homes in Glenayre and Heritage Mountain to newer condo and townhome developments near Inlet Centre and Moody Centre, many of which sit within walking distance of the West Coast Express and Evergreen SkyTrain line. That’s a meaningful consideration for families balancing a commute with a school run.

Frequently Asked Questions About Schools in Port Moody, BC

Q: What school district is Port Moody, BC in? Port Moody is part of School District 43 (Coquitlam), which also serves Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Anmore, and Belcarra. It’s one of BC’s largest public school districts.

Q: Does Port Moody have an IB (International Baccalaureate) high school? Yes. Port Moody Secondary School runs SD43’s only IB diploma programme, in addition to its standard graduation stream.

Q: How do I find out which school catchment a specific Port Moody home is in? School District 43 maintains official catchment boundaries at sd43.bc.ca. I always confirm current catchment boundaries with the district before a buyer makes an offer on a home tied to a specific school.

Q: Are there French Immersion schools in the Port Moody area? Yes, SD43 offers French Immersion at select schools starting in the early grades. Availability and starting grade can vary, so check directly with the district for the current school year.

Q: Is Heritage Woods Secondary in Port Moody? Heritage Woods Secondary sits just outside Port Moody’s boundary in the Anmore/Eagle Mountain catchment area but is closely associated with Port Moody and the broader Tri-Cities community. Confirm catchment eligibility directly with SD43.

Ready to Find the Right School Catchment in Port Moody?

Choosing a home in Port Moody often starts with choosing a school — and the two decisions are more connected than most buyers realize. Whether you’re aiming for Port Moody Secondary’s IB programme, a specific elementary school, or simply a walkable family neighbourhood, I can help you narrow your search to homes that actually fall within the catchment you want.

I’m Stephanie Wong with Luxmore Realty, and I help families navigate exactly this kind of decision across Port Moody and the Tri-Cities every day. Call me at (778) 960-8269 or visit stephaniewong.ca/contact to schedule a free consultation, and let’s find a home that fits your family’s school priorities.