Catholic education has come a long way over the last few decades. 

As the 2019/2020 school year got into gear this September, we look back on what Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Vancouver look like then and now.

By the numbers:

Before 1960, there were 20 elementary and three secondary schools in the archdiocese.

The office of Catholic Independent Schools of the Vancouver Archdiocese estimates there were about 6,000 students enrolled at that time.

Two young women at Marian High School in an undated photo. (RCAV Archives)
Sister Bertrand with Kindergarten students at Our Lady of Assumption School in Power River in 1959. (RCAV Archives)

Sixty years later, much has changed. There are currently 40 elementary and seven secondary schools as members of CISVA, teaching approximately 14,000 students.

There are also three congregational (non-diocesan) Catholic schools: Little Flower Academy, St. Thomas More Collegiate, and Vancouver College, pushing the total number of Catholic school students to more than 16,000.

Students smile on their first day of school at Sacred Heart Elementary in Delta. (Agnieszka Ruck photo)
Sacred Heart Elementary school has an enrolment of about 400 students this year, up from 330 five years ago. (Agnieszka Ruck photo)

In addition, a new Catholic school opened in Surrey last September: Saint John Paul II Academy. This year 40 students are enrolled in Grade 8 and 9.

CISVA employs about 1,400 teachers and education assistants.