Vernon & Coldstream Schools Guide: 2026 Rankings and Homes by Catchment
Shown above: every home for sale in the Coldstream Elementary and Kidston Elementary catchments (Coldstream was the top-rated public elementary school in 2026, and Kidston has the strongest five-year record), straight from the MLS and updated daily. Below, I rank every school in Vernon, Coldstream and Lumby and link each one to the homes for sale in its catchment. Call or text Sarah, my assistant, at 604-227-4810 any time if you'd like help matching a home to a school.
How I rank Vernon's schools
The ratings below come from the Fraser Institute's 2026 Report Card on British Columbia's Elementary Schools, published in September 2026. It scores 1,032 public and independent schools out of 10 using the province's Grade 4 and Grade 7 Foundation Skills Assessment results from 2025. I also show each school's five-year average, because one year can bounce around, especially at small schools.
Test scores are only part of the picture. Class sizes, programs, child care, the walk to school and your own kids matter just as much, so I've added what each school is known for on its page.
Vernon and Coldstream elementary schools, ranked
| Rank | School | Type | 2026 rating | 5-yr avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vernon Christian School | Independent (Christian), Preschool–12 | 7.9 | n/a |
| 2 | Coldstream Elementary | Public, K–7 | 7.8 | 6.7 |
| 3 | École Beairsto Elementary | Public French Immersion, K–7 | 7.2 | 6.5 |
| 4 | Kidston Elementary | Public, K–7 | 7.1 | 7.0 |
| 4 | BX Elementary | Public, K–7 | 7.1 | 6.5 |
| 6 | St. James School | Independent (Catholic), K–7 | 6.7 | 7.0 |
| 7 | Harwood Elementary | Public, K–7 | 6.5 | 5.6 |
| 8 | Hillview Elementary | Public, K–7 | 6.1 | 6.6 |
| 9 | Silver Star Elementary | Public, K–7 + Montessori | 5.7 | 6.1 |
| 10 | Okanagan Landing Elementary | Public, K–7 | 5.0 | 5.5 |
| 11 | Lavington Elementary | Public, K–7 | 4.9 | 5.9 |
| 12 | Ellison Elementary | Public, K–7 | 4.7 | 5.1 |
| 12 | Mission Hill Elementary | Public, K–7 | 4.7 | 4.5 |
| 14 | J.W. Inglis Elementary (Lumby) | Public, K–6 | 4.0 | 4.4 |
| 15 | Alexis Park Elementary | Public, K–7 | 3.4 | 4.0 |
Tied schools share a rank. Cherryville Elementary, Pleasant Valley Christian Academy and the Okanagan Indian Band's Cultural Immersion School aren't rated in the report.
Public elementary school catchments
In School District 22 (Vernon), your address decides your catchment school. Click a school to see every home for sale in its catchment:
- Coldstream Elementary: central and east Coldstream. Highest-rated public school in 2026 (7.8).
- Kidston Elementary: the north end of Kalamalka Lake and west Coldstream (7.1, five-year average 7.0).
- BX Elementary: North BX, the Foothills and Silver Star Road (7.1).
- Harwood Elementary: Harwood and the Swan Lake corridor (6.5, one of the most improved).
- Hillview Elementary: south East Hill, Middleton Mountain (Vernon side) and South BX (6.1).
- Silver Star Elementary: north East Hill, and home of the district Montessori program (5.7).
- Okanagan Landing Elementary: Okanagan Landing, Adventure Bay and Bella Vista (5.0).
- Lavington Elementary: Lavington and the east Coldstream Valley (4.9).
- Ellison Elementary: Westmount and South Vernon (4.7).
- Mission Hill Elementary: Mission Hill, the Commonage and Predator Ridge (4.7).
- Alexis Park Elementary: Alexis Park, downtown, Swan Lake West and Turtle Mountain (3.4).
- J.W. Inglis Elementary and Charles Bloom Secondary (Lumby) (4.0).
High school catchments
The Fraser Institute hasn't rated BC high schools since its 2020 report card, because the province replaced its exams. In that last report, Kalamalka rated 6.9, W.L. Seaton 6.8, Clarence Fulton 6.2 and Vernon Secondary 5.9. Here's who goes where:
- Kalamalka Secondary School: Coldstream, Kidston and Lavington feed here. AP courses and a long list of academies.
- Vernon Secondary School: BX, Hillview and Silver Star feed here. The district's biggest high school, rebuilt in 2013.
- Clarence Fulton Secondary School: Okanagan Landing, Ellison and Mission Hill feed here. AWAKEN outdoor program and the largest international program.
- W.L. Seaton Secondary School: Alexis Park and Harwood feed here, plus French Immersion students. Known for music and drama.
French Immersion in Vernon
French Immersion runs at École Beairsto Elementary (early entry in Kindergarten or Grade 1, late entry in Grade 6) and continues at W.L. Seaton Secondary. It's open to families in every catchment. You apply in the district's winter program-of-choice window, and if there are more applicants than spots, there's a lottery with priority for siblings. Beairsto rated 7.2 in 2026, third in the area.
Christian, Catholic and independent schools
- Vernon Christian School: Preschool to Grade 12 on Pleasant Valley Road. Top-rated elementary in the area in 2026 (7.9).
- St. James School: Catholic, Kindergarten to Grade 7, in central Vernon, with French, music and a hockey and golf academy (6.7).
- Pleasant Valley Christian Academy: a Seventh-day Adventist school for Kindergarten to Grade 9 at 1802 45th Avenue.
- Okanagan Indian Band Cultural Immersion School: Kindergarten to Grade 7 on Westside Road, with daily nsyilxcən language and culture, in a new building that opened in 2025.
Independent schools don't use catchments, so their pages show homes within a short drive instead. Vernon also has a public Montessori program for Kindergarten to Grade 6 at Silver Star Elementary, filled by district lottery.
How catchments work in SD22
- Your address sets your catchment school. You register there, and catchment kids get priority.
- Priority isn't a guarantee. The district places students subject to space, and a few groups come first, such as Okanagan Indian Band students and medical transfers.
- Catchments change. For 2026–27 the district moved part of Ellison's catchment to Okanagan Landing Elementary and part of Hillview's to Coldstream Elementary.
- Some schools are closed to transfers. The district says the Vernon Secondary family is closed to out-of-catchment transfers.
- Always check the address. My catchment searches follow the district's 2026 maps as closely as I can draw them, so confirm any home with the SD22 school locator.
My tips for buying a home for a school
- Check the exact address with the SD22 school locator before you write an offer, not after.
- Register your kids as soon as you have an accepted offer, especially for Kindergarten.
- If a program of choice (French Immersion or Montessori) is the goal, the application deadline matters more than your address.
- Look at the five-year average, not just this year's score.
- Visit the school and drive the route at 8:30 a.m. before you commit.
Questions buyers ask me
What is the best school in Vernon, BC?
By the Fraser Institute's 2026 report card, Vernon Christian School (independent) rated highest at 7.9 out of 10, and Coldstream Elementary was the top public school at 7.8. Ecole Beairsto (French Immersion) was next at 7.2, then Kidston and BX Elementary at 7.1.
What is the best public elementary school in Vernon and Coldstream?
Coldstream Elementary rated 7.8 out of 10 in the 2026 report card. Kidston Elementary has the strongest five-year average among public schools at 7.0.
Where is French Immersion in Vernon?
Ecole Beairsto Elementary runs early and late French Immersion for Kindergarten to Grade 7, and W.L. Seaton Secondary continues it for Grades 8 to 12. It's open to every catchment, with a lottery if there are more applicants than spots.
Are there Christian or Catholic schools in Vernon?
Yes. Vernon Christian School (Preschool to Grade 12), St. James Catholic School (Kindergarten to Grade 7) and Pleasant Valley Christian Academy (Seventh-day Adventist, Kindergarten to Grade 9).
How do I find out which school catchment a home is in?
Use the SD22 school locator and enter the address. Catchments can change from year to year, so check before you make an offer.
Are there current rankings for Vernon high schools?
No. The Fraser Institute's last BC secondary report card was published in 2020. In it, Kalamalka Secondary rated 6.9, W.L. Seaton 6.8, Clarence Fulton 6.2 and Vernon Secondary 5.9.
Selling a family home in Vernon or Coldstream?
If you're thinking about selling, I can tell you what your home is worth in today's market and how to market it to families shopping by school. Here are the questions sellers ask me most.
What is my home in a top school catchment worth?
I'll prepare a comparative market analysis using recent sales of similar homes nearby, adjusted for your home's size, condition, updates and views. Families pay close attention to school catchments, so I'll make sure buyers know which schools your address is in. It's free and there's no obligation. Request a free home valuation or call or text Sarah, my assistant, at 604-227-4810.
Does the school catchment matter when I sell?
It can widen your pool of buyers, because many families search by school first. I list the catchment schools in your marketing and point buyers to the SD22 school locator so they can confirm it themselves.
When is the best time to list a family home?
Many families like to move over the summer so kids can start the school year in their new home, so spring is often busy. The right timing still depends on your plans and the market, and I'll walk you through it.
Should I sell before I buy my next home?
It depends on the market and your finances. Selling first gives you certainty; buying first lets you take your time. I'll help you plan the timing, including subject-to-sale offers and bridge financing options.
What does it cost to sell a home in BC?
Commission in BC is always negotiable. My standard fee is 6% on the first $100,000 of the sale price and 3% on the balance, plus GST, shared equally with the brokerage that brings the buyer. On an $800,000 sale, for example, that's $6,000 + $21,000 = $27,000 plus GST. That covers a lot of work behind the scenes, from me and from the technology I put in place, all aimed at getting you the best price and the easiest possible sale. Your other costs are legal or notary fees and any mortgage discharge costs or penalties. In BC the buyer, not the seller, pays property transfer tax. I'll give you a net-proceeds estimate before you list.
Looking for a home near a great school?
I'm Sean Phillips, a REALTOR® with Coldwell Banker Executives Realty in Vernon. Call or text Sarah, my assistant, at 604-227-4810 any time to set up a tour, a same-day price check or a free home valuation. When you're ready to write an offer or list your home, call me directly at 778-363-0542.
Want to compare neighbourhoods too? See my Vernon & Coldstream Neighbourhood Guide.
