JOHN O’FEE -- School Enrolment Data Showing Interesting Trends ... down in Metro Vancouver – up in Kamloops and BC interior
Parents fully understand that children bring us both great joy and great expense. While the happiness vastly outweighs the cost, money is not something that can be ignored. For most families shelter costs account for the biggest share of the household budget. When shelter becomes less affordable, families vote with their feet to find decent housing at an affordable price. This phenomena reveals itself in school enrollment figures. As housing prices climb, we would expect families with school aged children to seek more affordable options. With even basic family housing above a million dollars per unit in Vancouver, it should come as no surprise that school enrollment numbers are dropping there. Over the past year Vancouver schools saw a decline in enrollment of nearly 200 students. Contrast this with a much smaller population like Kamloops, and the difference becomes stark. Enrollment within our school district climbed 235 students i...