Finding the right school district is just as important as finding the right family
home. Just ask the littles in your life — your school matters. That’s good news
for anyone who lives in Coquitlam. It’s practically the scholastic epicentre of
Metro Vancouver with so many diverse, excellent options all around.
First up is Eagle Ridge Elementary School, a quaint K-5 school walkable from
Aalto Townhomes. Across the street from Eagle Ridge is Scott
Creek Middle School (Go, Coyotes!). This picturesque setting has a creek to the
south, mountains to the north and a nice greenbelt to the west. And to the
south? That’s the school’s multi-sports zone. It has open fields, a ball hockey
court, three basketball and tetherball courts, and more. Rain or shine, this is
where the kids from Scott Creek get their game on.
The two Coquitlam secondary schools near Aalto Townhomes also have a lot to be proud of.
Pinetree Secondary has high-calibre teachers for all its core subjects plus some
fun, extra-curricular activities for kids to challenge themselves. Want to learn
Mandarin or Spanish? – Sure! Feel like taking tourism training or electronic music
composition? – Yes! Looking to join rugby, cheer squad or the ski & snowboard
club? – You bet! Plus, its location near Lafarge Park and next to the David Lam
campus of Douglas College creates a neat partnership that brings programs
here that no one else has.
Not to be outdone, nearby Gleneagle Secondary School has one of the highest
rates of university acceptance of any high school in BC. The kids here love
learning. You can see it in their successful Model United Nations Team, their
Animation & Multimedia programs and their theatre production group.
But Gleneagle is probably best known for the popular school program where
kids aren’t in school. The C.O.A.S.T. Program (the Coquitlam Outdoor Academic
School Term) is an 11-month program for grade 11 students who will use the natural
world as their classroom. Winter camping, ocean kayaking and rock climbing
are just a few of the exceptional (and adrenaline-pumping) experiences that
await these lucky students.
Whatever school you pick, the message is clear: education is always changing
and Coquitlam is changing with it.