Top-Rated Schools in Richmond, BC: A 2026 Guide for Families

Richmond's schools are one of the biggest reasons families ask me to find them a home here. As a Richmond-area real estate agent with Luxmore Realty, I get the schools question on nearly every buyer call — which catchment is this house in, is French Immersion offered, can my daughter get into the IB program. This guide walks through how Richmond's school system is organized, what programs are available, and how to think about schools when you're house-hunting in Richmond, BC.

Key Takeaways

• Richmond is served by School District No. 38 (Richmond), which operates 53 schools for roughly 23,107 students, according to SD38's own district profile.
• Richmond Secondary is the only school in the district offering the IB Diploma Programme for Grades 11-12, per the school's official site.
• Early French Immersion is offered at select elementary schools, including Homma Elementary in Steveston, with online applications each winter for the following school year.
• A secondary school boundary review is underway in 2026 following the opening of Odlin Crescent Elementary, so buyers should always confirm current catchment boundaries before writing an offer.
• School catchment does not override the fundamentals — commute, home type, and budget still matter as much as which school a property feeds into.

How Richmond's School District Is Organized

Richmond falls entirely under School District No. 38 (Richmond), a single district covering the whole city from Steveston to East Richmond. According to the district's own published profile, SD38 operates 53 schools serving approximately 23,107 students. That single-district structure is actually a nice simplifying factor for buyers coming from bigger, fragmented metro areas — you're not juggling three or four separate district websites to figure out where a home falls.

Every property in Richmond has an assigned elementary and secondary catchment school based on its address. Those boundaries aren't static. The district approved updated catchment boundaries for Odlin Crescent, Tomsett, Talmey, Brighouse, and Cook Elementary in early 2026 after a new elementary school opened at Odlin Crescent, and a related secondary boundary review is underway pending board approval later this year. If a listing's catchment school is a selling point for you, don't rely on an old real estate listing or a general web search — check the current boundary directly through the district before you get attached to a specific house.

French Immersion and Enrichment Options

For families weighing bilingual education, Richmond offers Early French Immersion starting in kindergarten at a handful of elementary schools, including Homma Elementary in the Steveston area. Instruction runs primarily in French through the end of Grade 2, with English Language Arts introduced as a subject starting in Grade 3, per the district's French Immersion program page. Placement isn't automatic — families apply online each winter, and in recent years results have gone out in February with a short window to confirm or decline a spot.

Beyond French Immersion, some Richmond elementary schools also offer enrichment options like Montessori programming. Program availability shifts from year to year based on enrolment and staffing, so if a specific program is a must-have for your family, it's worth confirming directly with the school rather than assuming it will still be offered when your child reaches the eligible grade.

Secondary Schools: IB, Mini School, and Beyond

At the secondary level, Richmond Secondary School holds the district's IB Diploma Programme, offered to Grade 11 and 12 students as a magnet program — meaning students from across Richmond (not just the immediate catchment) can apply, per the school's own program page. It's the only school in the district currently offering the IB Diploma track, so if that's a priority for your teenager, it's worth understanding the application process well before Grade 11.

Hugh Boyd Secondary previously ran an IB Middle Years Programme for Grades 8-10, but that program was discontinued district-wide in 2025, according to the school's own communication to families. If you've seen older listings or blog posts referencing Hugh Boyd's MYP, that information is now out of date — always check a school's current program page rather than older secondary sources.

Steveston-London Secondary, formed in 2007 through the merger of the former Steveston Secondary and Charles E. London Secondary, serves the Steveston and Broadmoor areas and is one of the district's larger comprehensive high schools. Richmond's other secondary schools each have their own mix of academic, arts, and athletics programming, and program offerings can and do change, so I always recommend a direct check with the school before a family finalizes a decision based on one specific program.

What This Means When You're House-Hunting

In my experience helping Richmond buyers, school catchment is often the single factor that narrows a search fastest — sometimes faster than budget. A family set on the Richmond Secondary catchment, for example, is looking at a meaningfully different set of streets than a family targeting Steveston-London's boundary. That's useful information, but it can also cause buyers to overlook good homes just outside a preferred line.

A few things I tell every family working with me on this:

School catchments can and do shift, as the 2026 boundary review shows, so a home's catchment school today isn't guaranteed for the life of your ownership. Program availability (French Immersion seats, mini-school spots, IB places) is competitive and application-based in many cases, not a guarantee tied to your address. And a home just outside your top-choice catchment is sometimes the better financial and lifestyle decision once you weigh in commute, lot size, or renovation potential.

Frequently Asked Questions About Richmond BC Schools

Q: What school district serves Richmond, BC? Richmond is entirely served by School District No. 38 (Richmond), a single district operating 53 schools for about 23,107 students across the city.

Q: Does Richmond have an IB program? Yes. Richmond Secondary School offers the IB Diploma Programme for Grades 11 and 12 as a magnet program open to students across the district, not just those in its immediate catchment.

Q: How do I find out which school a Richmond home is zoned for? Catchment boundaries are set by SD38 and can change, as they did for several elementary schools in early 2026. Always confirm current boundaries directly with the district rather than relying on an older listing.

Q: Is French Immersion available in Richmond? Yes, Early French Immersion is offered at select elementary schools including Homma Elementary in Steveston, starting in kindergarten, with applications typically due in winter for the following school year.

Q: Are Richmond's secondary school boundaries changing? A secondary boundary review is underway in 2026 following the opening of a new elementary school at Odlin Crescent. Families should check with the district for the latest status before assuming a current catchment will stay the same.

Ready to Find the Right Richmond Home for Your Family?

Richmond's school system gives families real choice — a strong neighbourhood secondary school, a French Immersion track, or a shot at the district's IB Diploma Programme — but the right fit depends on matching a home's actual catchment to what your family needs, and confirming that information before you fall in love with a listing. I help Richmond families do exactly that every week, cross-referencing current district boundaries against the homes that make sense for their budget and lifestyle.

If you're planning a move within Richmond, or into Richmond from elsewhere in Metro Vancouver, I'd love to help you sort out the schools question alongside the rest of your home search. Call me at (778) 960-8269 or visit stephaniewong.ca to start the conversation.