Your Cowichan Valley School District – caring, safe and supportive
The Cowichan Valley School District 79 is on the east coast of Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. The district extends north to Saltair, south to Spectacle Lake on the Malahat, and west to the Lake Cowichan region, including Honeymoon Bay and Youbou.
We provide a comprehensive education program to 8,300 students from kindergarten to Grade 12 at 18 elementary schools, 4 middle schools and 4 secondary schools. The district also operates 6 alternate satellite sites as well as 2 adult education facilities and continuing education programs.
Serving a population of about 63,000 people, the Cowichan Valley is the traditional home of the Coast Salish and is predominantly a rural area. Its major industries are pulp and paper, forestry, fishing, farming, tourism and wineries.
Award-winning athletics and fine arts productions at the district’s secondary schools are a big part of the community pride, and about 120 local businesses support the school district’s Work Experience programs.
Over the past 10 years, the district has experienced a steady decline in enrolment, which is anticipated to continue until about 2010. This decline, which affects everything from school bus routes to provincial government grants to the district, is not unique to the Cowichan Valley School District. Throughout B.C., enrolment has declined by about 42,500 students since 2000-01 and is projected to decline by another 30,000 students over the next five years.
This decline forced the District’s Board of Education to consider closing four schools in 2008, but the Board determined that it would keep all four schools open after considerable public consultation.
The replacement of Cowichan Secondary School is also a high priority for the District. The District is working with community partners to develop a multi-use campus that would include permanent facilities for Cowichan Secondary and for Vancouver Island University (formerly Malaspina University College).
Mission Statement
The mission of the Cowichan Valley School District is to deliver learning opportunities that ensure the individual success of all students, within a safe, caring and supportive environment.